Sir Tom Jones is marking a major milestone as his iconic song, "It's Not Unusual," celebrates its 60th anniversary. The beloved singer, now 84, shared his gratitude and reflections on Friday, January 31, commemorating the song that launched his international career.
Jones took to social media to post a nostalgic clip from his 1960s TV show, This Is Tom Jones, featuring a lively performance of the classic hit.
"60 years ago I released It's Not Unusual, and what a ride it's been!" Jones wrote. "Back then, I would never have believed this one tune would lead to such a wonderful life and career, full of music, fantastic people, and touring all over the world."
Expressing heartfelt appreciation for his fans, he added, "None of this would have been possible without the enduring support from my fans from day one, so thank you. You are sincerely loved and appreciated."
Jones also commented on the shared video clip, "It's great fun to see the style and energy of those times. So here's to music, the stage, and YOU!"
Originally released in 1965, It's Not Unusual was Jones' second international hit and the first to break into the U.S. charts. The song became the theme for his late 1960s variety show, This Is Tom Jones, and has continued to resonate with audiences worldwide.
The track found renewed popularity in the 1990s thanks to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where it became part of a running gag featuring Alfonso Ribeiro's character, Carlton Banks. Carlton's signature dance to the song became an iconic TV moment, and Jones himself made several memorable cameos on the show.
Reflecting on the dance's origins in a 2015 Variety article, Ribeiro shared, "The Carlton Dance was created when it said in the script: 'Carlton dances.' It was never even intended to be funny; it was just that he was dancing. The dance is ultimately Courteney Cox in the Bruce Springsteen video 'Dancing in the Dark.' That’s the basis. Or in Eddie Murphy’s Delirious video, 'The White Man Dance,' as he called it."
Decades later, It's Not Unusual continues to bring joy to fans old and new, proving that great music truly stands the test of time.
Source: People Magazine