ALED JONES | INTERVIEW
Aled Jones At 50, a documentary that does what it says on the tin, is screened on the BBC tonight. Carl Marsh had a watch before speaking to the Bangor choirboy who grew up.
It’s been a crazy year, but the one thing that has knocked me for six more than COVID-19 was hearing that someone I admired so much from my childhood is now 50 years old!
Well, it’s a surprise that’s hitting me quite a bit as we get closer to it, to be honest with you! It’s one of those things – only a number, I keep telling myself, but you know it’s one of those landmark moments. The only good thing that’s come out of lockdowns is that I won’t have to have a massive surprise party.
I’ve seen the documentary [Aled Jones At 50], and found it to be a very poignant hour of viewing that touched on a lot of things I didn’t know about you. One memory that made me smile was of the first time you ever received any money after singing – 50 pence! Did you save that coin or spend it?
I think I went out and got an ice cream the very next day! [laughs] To be honest with you, I was always made to perform in front of family and friends – I wouldn’t say I liked it because I am quite a shy person, even now. But that moment changed everything, really: the reaction I got on stage, and the thought that other people liked my singing, became more and more insightful for me, in that I knew that I wanted to sing. Then I joined Bangor Cathedral, and singing took over my life.
You mentioned that you are still a shy person, but are you nervous when you get up on stage or perform something on Songs Of Praise?
It’s different. You’re only nervous if you’ve not prepared – that’s the bottom line. I am always sort of apprehensive before going out, but when I walk on stage, that’s where I’m at home. I know that I am in control; I know that I can deliver what I need to deliver.
The biggest problem with being a singer is that other things get in the way all the time. You might have a cold or whatever, and that’s when nerves come in and it’s not as fun to do. But your technique keeps you going, and I’m fortunate that I can sing through a cold or chest infections. But for me, singing is the same as breathing, because that’s all I’ve done all of my life. That’s why this year has been so weird and unusual – I think I’ve only done two live concerts, whereas otherwise I probably would have done about 150.
The documentary condenses a career of nearly 40 years into an hour. Did you have much input into what was going to be included?
Nothing! I didn’t really want to control it at all, because I think the best documentaries are the ones where the subject does as he is told. One of my favourite bits in it – even though I haven’t seen it yet – is where I look at the archives of some shows that I’ve never seen. There’s also a clip of me singing for the first time on TV, which I did see live, but back then we had no VHS or any mechanism to record it; I must have only been six or seven, so to see that again was amazing. I am aware that I spent most of my time with my mouth open going “oh my god!” with the archive bit. So that was a nice treat.
Aled Jones At 50 is broadcast at 7pm, Wed 30 Dec, on BBC One. Info: here
words CARL MARSH