Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens

[Patti]

Have you heard his new single, Indian Ocean? I just heard it on the radio today. I love it!!!

[Patti]

http://www.yusufislam.org.uk/

tongue.gif XXXXXXXOOOOOOO tongue.gif

[Sheryl]

Isn't he a follower of Osama?

[Borderstone]

A new song? :confused: On a news feature I saw on either 20/20 or Nightline or something,it was said by himself that he as a Muslim would never record or perform again. ...and that he's totally devoted to his faith.

Then maybe with this new found freedom in that part of the world,maybe he doesn't feel it's such a big deal?

Anyway,a few weeks ago I checked out his 1976 concert "Majikat" on Dvd,here at the library. It was a wonderful reminder of how great his music was and still is. I can only say that I find it hard to believe a man who sang about the "Peace
Train",would have any sort of
solidarity or agreement with someone like Osama
B.L. (Big Loser!) :D Had to say that! ;)

I'd rather think of him for his music and not any supposed or alleged politics. I could care less about those.

It's been me,later! :cool:

[brink]

Borderstone Baby Hi!
I heard some place that he was recording again to raise money for his orphanage and for his schools. That is the only reason he sings and plays anymore. He misses that part of his life but he is very content with his wife and children. His parents chose his wife BTW.

[The Rez]

Steve Giorgio, Cat Stevens, or Yusef Islam: he continues on quite a journey. In his way, a similar search to John Stewart's.

In the Cat Stevens days, on rare occasions, I'd find myself travelling in his circles. My memory is of a very serious human being who never took things lightly.

To this day there has not been another w/ his particular style and outlook. His conversion to Islam didn't surprise me. It did disappoint me, for both personal and professional reasons.

Yes, upon his conversion, he said he'd no longer record - certainly not as Cat Stevens. People do change their minds, however.

In today's post 9/11 world, the allegiance question is valid. When he supported the Fatwah against Salmond Rushdie, I was dumbfounded. He's since explained that to my satisfaction.

We all know Muslims who are fine folks. Not at all by any definition are followers of Osama. And yet . . . there's that seed of doubt again always popping up.

Is the man of peace still inside? I figure, yes. I was as passionate, still am, of Cat Stevens music as any other.

I haven't heard Indian Ocean yet, but will visit that website. I do want to hear it - very.

One Easter Sunrise Service morning, Rick Wakeman took to the stage, sat at the piano, and did the intro (w/ variations) he'd created, as a young man still in his teens, to Morning Has Broken.

A forever-fixed moment in time - for me.

I, too, saw Majikat. Bought it. As far as I know that's the only concert captured on film. Tempos were a bit faster than he usually did them, but still captivating.

If the man inside is still the man of peace I once lightly knew, I not only give the benefit of the doubt, but wish well.

I'm anxious to learn more, but for know, "That's All I Know."

The Rez

[ April 22, 2005, 20:05: Message edited by: The Rez ]

[Patti]

I could be wrong, but I don't think it matters what religion a person is. It seems more like an individual thing to me. Everyone has their beliefs. When I first heard that Cat Stevens quit the music business (I heard he became a monk), I did respect him for his religious reasons, but I felt some sadness because I liked his music very much. In my opinion, he is more a man of peace than most. I'm not up on trivia, but I've heard a little more about him recently. I knew nothing about the muslim religion until this year and still know very little. I'm glad he is recording again and I hope he is comfortable doing so.

[Borderstone]

As long as a person doesn't worship any element of evil or idols,they're okay to me. :) Also,as long they are a good person in general,with as few vices as possible,that's okay too. ;)

[Patti]

I believe that Jesus is God's son and that he suffered and died for our sins. I believe that he is coming back soon.


I don't think it's right to idolize things good or bad. I worship 4-leaf clovers, but I'm going to a 12 step program for that.

[Patti]

Originally posted by Patti:
I believe that Jesus is God's son and that he suffered and died for our sins. I believe that he is coming back soon.


I don't think it's right to idolize things good or bad. I worship 4-leaf clovers, but I'm going to a 12 step program for that. :) I'm just kidding about the 4-leaf clovers. I'm not an idol worshiper. :eek:

[The Rez]

Howdy all,

Do you recall The Boy w/ the Moon and Star on His Head? Never really understood it from Cat's Perspective (that's a bi-monthly Readers Digest item - sorta like Bullwinkle's Corner), but loved to hear it and play it.

Two yrs ago, John Stewart recorded his own Star in the Black Sky Shining. Nothing alike musically, but mystically, yes. Not VooDoo. Just John's Perspective (tri-weekly on Matt Drudge's page.)

Both songs are mighty and lyrically dancing - and capture a similar look. I'll hunt the lyric down.

I figure the song matters first. The beliefs, lifestyle, etc. don't. Evil people have written heavenly songs. Maybe vica-versa.

If the message is clear in the lyric, and I'm uncomfortable w/ it, I don't sing it. If camoflaged (Stairway to Heaven?) I admire it as a piece of music, but would probably leave it be. Can't sing like Plant or ax like Page, anyway.

Patti - I stand right w/ you & the Lord. That's why, when I used to sing John Lennon's masterpiece Imagine, I'd leave the verse out about Heaven & Hell.

Sometimes even change a lyric here and there to suit me. Or even to make it more personal to me.
Did that w/ Moonshadow.

A long, ramblin' way of sayin' I never much cared whether Sinatra had Mob Ties (pass on that gag) or Brother Ray was a junkie. It was the music that soundly floored me.

Still haven't heard Indian Ocean. Do they play it on Prairie Home Companion (liberal pinkos!) That's a program I love, too.

I've been greatly saddened by meeting a musician/singer I admired deeply, only to find they are personal jerks. And thrilled when they are kind. Gord, above most.

Have you heard Phillips, Craig, and Dean's There's a Little Bit of Morning Outside.

Do.

The Rez

. . . Morning Has Broken - same-same

[The Rez]

THE STAR IN THE BLACK SKY SHINING

John Stewart:

THERE WAS A WOMAN I SAW ON THE STREET
I SWEAR SHE WAS WEARING THE MOON ON HER FEET.
SHE SAID DO YOU KNOW ME
I SAID, I DON'T KNOW
SHE TOLD ME TO LISTEN
AND THEN I COULD GO.

SHE SAID

I AM THE COURSE THAT THE RIVER IS WINDIING
I AM THE HORSE THAT THE ANGEL IS RIDING
I AM THE SOURCE OF THE LOVE YOU ARE FINDING
DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM
IT IS BLINDING.
I AM THE STAR IN THE BLACK SKY SHINING.

THERE WAS A CHILD I SAW ON THE ROAD
I ASKED, ARE YOU LOST WITH NOWHERE TO GO?
HE SAID, NO I'M NOT
I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE
AND TOLD ME TO SIT ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR.

HE SAID

I AM THE CRY OF THE WOMAN WHO'S DYING
I AM THE WINGS OF THE SPARROW WHO'S FLYING
I AM THE HOPE OF THE CHILD WHO'S CRYING.
DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM
IT IS BLINDING
I AM THE STAR IN THE BLACK SKY SHINING.

THERE WAS A DOG WHO FOLLOWED ME HOME.
HE WAS NOT YOUNG
YET NOT FULLY GROWN.
HE SAID, DO YOU KNOW ME
WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE.
I AM A KING AND THE WORLD IS MY THRONE.

HE SAID

I AM THE FLAME IN THE HEAT OF THE FIRE
I AM TO BLAME FOR THE TONGUE OF A LIAR.
I AM THE SAME AS THE BIRDS ON THE WIRE
I COME FROM THE LIGHT
IT IS BLINDING.
I AM THE STAR IN THE BLACK SKY SHINING.

THERE WAS A THIEF WHO WAS TIED TO A POLE.
AT HIS FEET WAS A LIST
OF THE THINGS THAT HE STOLE.
HE SAID I AM ONLY PLAYING A ROLE
AND ASKED IF I DARE
LOOK DEEP IN HIS SOUL

HE SAID

I AM THE HEART OF THE WARRIOR CHILD
I AM THE MOMENT THE BEAST BECOMES MILD.
I AM THE PART OF THE SOUL THAT IS WILD.
I AM THE ANSWER YOU'RE FINDING.
I AM THE STAR IN THE BLACK SKY SHINING.

AND I COME FROM THE LIGHT
IT IS BLINDING
I AM THE STAR IN THE BLACK SKY SHINING.

The Rez,

[Sheryl]

That's wondrous and beautiful, Rez. Although I've never heard of John Stewart, I can see his genius shining through. Thank you for sharing that.

[The Rez]

Sheryl,

John used to be one of The Kingston Trio in the 60s. He and Gord come out of the same tradition.

John, like Gord, has released stunning albums all across the intervening years. If Gord is the Bard of Canada, then John is the Bard of America. He's somehow remained under the radar - not intentionally.

Best known to non-folkies are John's penned tunes Daydream Believer (Monkeeys) and Gold (himself.) But, oh, there is so much more.

It's the same for Gord as to folks who only know him through IYCRMM and Edmund Fitzgerald. Oh, there is so much more.

I'll tell you more b/c.

The Rez

. . . now you know how funky I can be.

[The Rez]

A little addendum:

Morning Has Broken, on Cat Steven's album, writer' credits went to E. Farjon and Cat Stevens. Never could figure that one out.

Morning Has Broken is an old hymn of the church, written in the late 1800's by Ethel Farejon. Cat Steven's did a wonderfully styalized performance of the song, but changed not a word, nore a note.

Perhaps, because Morning Has Broken is in the Public Domain, he included Ethel Farejon out of courtesy and reverence. I choose to believe that.

The only word he said differently was in the phrase "God's recreation." Ethel intended it to be "God's re-creation" Small difference, really. I always sang re-creation.

The Rez

. . . There's a Morning Outside

[ April 29, 2005, 16:03: Message edited by: The Rez ]