♫ It’s Not Unusual ♫

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Tash & Nala

Miss Goose & Princess Nala — circa June 2010

We had to have our oldest kittie, Princess Nala, put to sleep today.  It made for a solemn day for us all, and I’m still feeling quite down, so I decided I needed to play something upbeat tonight.  After a few false starts, I was just about to revert to re-posting Kermit the Frog singing Rainbow Connection when Tom Jones popped into my head.

This was written by the classical music arranger and conductor Les Reed along with Tom Jones’ manager Gordon Mills. They wrote it for the British singer Sandie Shaw, but she turned it down. Tom Jones saw the song’s potential, recorded it, and it became his first hit single.

“I did the demo on this song when it was being offered to Sandie Shaw. I was just starting out and, God bless her, she said: ‘Whoever’s singing this, it’s his song.’  Finding great new songs is never easy, and back in those days, finding one that would fit me – the way I felt and sang anyway – was difficult. I’m indebted to Sandie for being so generous.”

Tom Jones’ real name is Thomas Jones Woodward. Early on, manager Gordon Mills suggested the name Tom Jones and secured him a deal with Decca. After a succession of hit singles in the UK and US he moved to California in 1969, performing regularly in Las Vegas.

In 2006 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music.  His personal life has been … um … shall we just say “interesting” and leave it at that.  By the way … the header photo is Tom Jones, then and now.

 

It’s Not Unusual
Tom Jones

It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone
It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It’s not unusual to see me cry,
I wanna die

It’s not unusual to go out at any time
But when I see you out and about it’s such a crime
If you should ever wanna be loved by anyone,
It’s not unusual it happens every day
No matter what you say
You’ll find it happens all the time
Love will never do what you want it to
Why can’t this crazy love be mine?

It’s not unusual to be mad with anyone
It’s not unusual to be sad with anyone
But if I ever find
That you’ve changed at anytime
It’s not unusual to find that I’m in love with you

Songwriters: Gordon Mills / Les (gb) Reed
It’s Not Unusual lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management

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33 thoughts on “♫ It’s Not Unusual ♫”

  2. I too, am sorry that Princess Nala is no longer with you, but you will have treasured memories of her.

    Tom Jones? Loved him, and I am sure I created fantasies around him as a teenager!

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    • Thank you, Anne! Yes, it’s always hard, for they are furry family members, but it was for her own good and we always treasure their memories.

      Glad you liked Tom Jones! I think you and a few million others had fantasies about him! 😉

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  4. Sir Thomas John Woodward or, as the more well known, Tom Jones (the Jones from his maternal side) is another complicated talented man who has admitted to his human failings, albeit belatedly at times. I became a fan, though not one of the “panty throwers”, back in his early days after being present at a live performance, that included this very song, at a summer fair on a makeshift stage in the late 60’s. I was with a group of fellow nursing students that stood amidst the screamers that nearly drowned out his voice, but I fell under his spell and have never emerged. I might also add that some of my group were also amongst the throwers, a practice that I found rather repulsive. His TV series “This Is Tom Jones” that ran from 1969-1971 was one of the best weekly musical variety shows ever, in my less than humble opinion. I recall appearances by Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, just to name a few of the more memorable ones. I must call attention to the October 2015 “Over the Top and Back : The Autobiography” as a must read for any fan. He writes unabashedly about his career, including his well known friendship with Elvis. Total side : There has been talk of his dating Priscilla, though I haven’t followed that. Tom Jones has risen above dyslexia, quitting school at age 16, close marriage and parenthood at the same age, to become the admired man of today through grit and determination…talent has helped too! A well documented philanderer, he did honor his vow of ’till death us do part’ with his childhood sweetheart and long suffering wife of 59 years, Melinda Trenchard. Their son Mark, became his manager along with his wife Donna back in the 80’s. His other son, Jonathan Berkery aka Jon Jones, deserves a mention if not the details. Tom Jones, like most of us, has his shortcomings and lives with them. He does show his years, but at almost 79…still looks pretty good. Thank-you!

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    • Unbelievably after this P for L, I want to add yet another tribute for Princess Nala. “Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud. A lovely photo, thank-you for sharing!

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      • Awww … thank you, my friend! And you are right … every now and then I toss Ollie off my lap when I am busy working, but I always relent and call him back for a few more pets before resuming my work. No wonder I’m still working at 3:00 in the morning!

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    • Whew! I am relieved to know you weren’t a ‘panty-thrower’!!! Funny, but for some reason I don’t recall him having a tv series! I’ve never been a big tv watcher, though, and back then, before the days of closed-captioning, it had little enough appeal, so perhaps that ‘splains it. I hesitate to ask this question, for I fear you will faint with shock at my ignorance, though by now I’m sure you are used to it, but … who is Priscilla? ‘Tis true that we all have our human failings and flaws, but I admit to having been a bit shocked last night when I read that he had admitted to sleeping with 250 different women in the space of a year! Anyway … thank you for the additional info!!!

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      • Good Grief! Priscilla, as in the former Mrs. Elvis Presley and mother of his only child Lisa Marie, aka the former Mrs. Michael Jackson! I ceased watching TV years ago, there seemed to be little to no value in it anymore, at least from my perspective. I don’t know if you could find one of Tom Jones old shows on YouTube, perhaps I will try. Indeed, he had an overabundance of testosterone! One has to wonder how many other little Tom’s or Tomasina’s there are to be found all over the world! Thank-you!

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        • See … I knew you would be disappointed in me yet again. I don’t know if I ever knew of Elvis’ wife’s name! I do recall Lisa Marie, however, who married Michael Jackson. I did find some clips from Tom Jones’ show, though not whole episodes, which is fine, for who has time to watch a whole episode of anything anyway? I watched a couple, including one where he did the “Funky Chicken”, and also one with Stevie Wonder where they do a duet of “A Place in the Sun”, which I enjoyed immensely! He did have a certain appeal, didn’t he? 😉

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  5. Jill, sorry about Princess Nala. We had to put our cat down on Monday. It is a necessary step, but nonetheless a sad, sobering and painful one. Best wishes, Keith

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    • Awww … I’m sorry, Keith. Yes, we know it’s the best thing for them, for we don’t want them to be in pain or suffer, but it’s so hard … they are, after all, family members. Thanks for the well wishes, and same to you, my friend.

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  8. Damn it. I feel for ya.

    We had an old tom who just went down too far to fast, we had to put him to sleep. This was maybe 2 months ago. We also had a really good dog, she was getting old but was always a great mutt, intelligent, understood a lot of words, pleasant personality. But she developed a bad odor from her mouth, we thought maybe a gum infection or something an antibiotic would take care of, turned out she had a tumor on her tongue, also x-rayed her lungs, where it should have been dark in there it looked like a blizzard. So we put her down then and there. That was maybe a month ago. Strangely enough, her name was Nala.

    Then yesterday out other cat started exhibiting unusual behavior, puking a lot, not eating, hiding out in a back room. Of course can’t take him to a vet till tomorrow. He is such a cool cat I hate to even think what the future might be.

    So… I certainly can understand your loss, and feel your pain.

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    • Oh my … you have had more than your share of grief recently! Yes, it is hard, for they aren’t just pets, but are family members who just happen to be furry, and we love them all dearly. All of ours are rescue kitties, so we have a multitude of physical and emotional issues to deal with, and in the past few years we have gone from 10 down to 5. I always say, “No more!!!”, but then when a stray shows up at the door, or we hear of one being abused … well, who can refuse? I hope that the one who just got sick has only a virus or something curable and you don’t lose him! Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your own experiences. Let me know how the vet visit goes tomorrow. Hugs!

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  10. So sorry about your kitty…pets are family and sometimes even more so, as that love is unconditional..
    I share a kitty with my SIL and I just love her!

    You are in my thoughts😢

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  11. So sorry. It’s always a bad time. Sending Hugs.

    I remember seeing Tom Jones live. He was in his 60s but still getting ladies clothes thrown at him. My mum didn’t like him but she absolutely adored him singing the Green Green Grass of Home.

    Thame care xx

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