Humperdinck still ‘shocked’
Fifty-two years on from its release, Ten Guitars still holds a special place in Engelbert Humperdinck’s heart.
The song, which was little more than a B side to Release Me, became an instant Kiwi classic.
Humperdinck tells Stuff he was ‘‘shocked’’, but in the very best way.
These days, the 82-year old can’t imagine putting on a show in Aotearoa where he doesn’t indulge in playing it twice: ‘‘once for me and once for the audience,’’ he says.
The surprise success of the song means New Zealand remains one of the Spanish Eyes singer’s favourite countries to tour.
‘‘I do love playing in New Zealand. I love it because Ten
Guitars is like the national anthem of New Zealand,’’ Humperdinck says.
He’ll return to the country later this month, performing in Auckland on February 28, Christchurch on March 2 and Wellington on March 4. He’s playing sizeable venues, but none of them will compare to the New Zealand show that remains one of his fondest touring memories.
‘‘I believe we played in New Zealand to quarter of a million people at one time,’’ he recalls.
‘‘I couldn’t see the back of the crowd, it was that big and that large. That’s the time I had to do
Ten Guitars three times. That’s one of the highlights of my life, because it’s one of the biggest