What: Engelbert Humperdinck's Legacy Of Love World Tour

Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium

When: Last Thursday

Attendance: 5,000

TOM Jones must be writhing in absolute annoyance.

Not only did his archrival, Engelbert Humperdinck, take to the stage last Thursday (an ill Jones was forced to cancel not once but twice on his Singapore audience in March) at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, but the 74-year-old also absolutely rocked it.

Heck, the guy - who last played a sold-out show here in 2006 - even has a talent for making corny jokes actually funny.

"Can you believe I've been doing this for four years?" joked Humperdinck (real name Arnold George Dorsey) to his full house after turning out classics like Can't Take My Eyes Off You (off the album Man Without Love, released in 1968).

"Actually, I've been doing this for 44 years," said the man, who has sold over 150 million albums worldwide.

But don't think that Humperdinck is content with his success, which includes many a gold- and platinum-selling album.

At his show, he also announced the release of a new single entitled Tell Me Where It Hurts, a heartrending ballad scheduled for release on iTunes on Wednesday, proving that the King of Romance just won't quit.

But I guess that makes sense, for, at his show, Humperdinck was a fountain of youthful energy who could dance with all the pizazz of a 20-year-old. His personality, too, was vibrant and youthful. And, man, can he turn on the charm.

During the song You Don't Know Me, he pulled an audience member onto the stage and directed that inimitable charm right at her.

She looked like she was ready to rip her shirt off for him, right in front of the crowd.

It's clear that his music gives him his mojo, and he knows it.

However, Humperdinck makes it clear he won't stand for being slapped with the "crooner" tag, even though he's put out ballads like The Way It Used To Be and After The Lovin'.

He insists on being referred to as a "contemporary singer", he said.

"No crooner has the range I have," boasted Humperdinck before leaving the stage.

"I can hit notes a bank couldn't cash."

Eat your heart out, Tom Jones.

myp@sph.com.sg

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