The atmosphere at Cardiff Castle turned unexpectedly tense on Wednesday night when legendary Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones, 85, headlined the venue as part of its summer live outdoor shows — and addressed the controversy surrounding his beloved 1968 hit, “Delilah.”
Fans who had come to hear classics like What’s New Pussycat?, Sex Bomb, and I’m Growing Old were left stunned when Tom brought up the ban on the iconic ballad — a decision that still divides opinion across the country.
The moment the singer mentioned that “Delilah” had been blacklisted, loud boos erupted from the audience, echoing through the historic venue. The ballad, once proudly belted out by Welsh rugby crowds, was banned from sporting events in 2023 due to its controversial lyrics referencing the stabbing of a woman.
The Welsh Rugby Union defended the move at the time, saying the track’s lyrics — which tell the dark story of a man waiting for his lover’s partner to leave before committing murder — were inappropriate for match-day celebrations.
In a defiant moment on stage, Tom fiercely pushed back at the censorship and urged fans not to take the lyrics literally.
“Who’s that man who said we shouldn’t sing that song anymore? That used to make my day during an international match,” he told the roaring crowd.
“I used to wait for it, and then they said we can’t sing it anymore. They said it’s about a man killing his wife with a knife. Well, it is — but you shouldn’t take it literally.”
As the boos turned into cheers, Tom launched into a fiery, impromptu performance of the banned hit, showing no signs of backing down.
The night wasn’t just about the music. The Voice UK coach also took a jab at politicians, firing off one of his signature one-liners:
“You’ve got to be careful of politicians. You know when a politician is lying? When his lips move.”
The outspoken performance comes just weeks after Tom was forced to cancel a scheduled show in Bremen, Germany, due to a sudden health issue.
The singer revealed to fans on Instagram that he had contracted an upper respiratory infection, sharing an apologetic message just hours before the performance was due to start.
“Hello to all the fans in Bremen,” the Sex Bomb hitmaker wrote. “Unfortunately, I must postpone my show this evening, as I’ve contracted an upper respiratory infection that needs treatment and rest.
I know this is really disappointing and will cause inconvenience to you all, and I’m very sorry about that. But the show will now go ahead on Monday 28th July, so I look forward to seeing you then. All tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled date.”
Fans, along with fellow Voice UK stars Anne-Marie and Olly Murs, flooded his social media with messages of support and well-wishes for a speedy recovery.
Now fully recovered, Tom proved in Cardiff that even at 85, his energy — and his refusal to be silenced — remain unshaken.
Source: Daily Mail
