MUSIC

And the Cat Came Back

Yusuf Islam ditched music, fame and his name: Cat Stevens. Now he's emerging from his moon shadow.

By Lorraine Ali | NEWSWEEK
Published May 2, 2009
From the magazine issue dated May 18, 2009

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  • Posted By: IndyRocker @ 06/17/2009 9:41:14 PM

    Politics aside before and after Father and Son one of the Cat's greatest

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jek6iP6AuAQ

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cpX1ZjuaiA

  • Posted By: kumon @ 05/12/2009 1:58:16 PM

    I'm one of the younger generation who have recently discovered Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam. Definitely a big fan. I don't think any of us care about the fatwa or Salman Rushdie.

    • Posted By: cechastain @ 05/12/2009 3:20:51 PM

      And that's a sad statement about your generation then...

      • Posted By: pauvrerichard @ 06/05/2009 12:48:45 PM

        Once and for all, Yusuf was misquoted, his comments taken out of context and he vigorously denied it - at the time, not years later. So much ignorance and intolerance in some of these comments. Sad. Yusuf - I am so glad you returned and I am happy foryou with the path that you chose in 1976.

  • Posted By: JWTruth @ 05/15/2009 5:56:02 AM

    Prince converts to the Jehovah's Witnesses not good for him or for the fans.
    Look,it gets to the point where you cannot protect every "belief system" the Jehovah's Witnesses are run by the Watchtower society which is a cruel oppressive cult in everyway.

    They WILL burn out Prince just like MJ.

  • Posted By: fluffy II @ 05/14/2009 2:57:58 PM

    Why are so many people here so prejudiced? Islam is as good a religion as any.

    Yusuf Islam is a wonderful singer, songwriter and human being. We need his input in today's world to create understanding among the religions and among the various cultures.

    I wish he would come to America and establish a talk show (heavy on the music) in order to better project his unique talents in music and human understanding.

  • Posted By: rho1953 @ 05/13/2009 5:27:33 PM

    He was a talented musician. I wonder if his music will be reflective of his radical religion. I wonder if the money he earns will fund terrorism. I think it better to listen to his old music and remember him as he was.

  • Posted By: Trooper101st @ 05/13/2009 11:32:50 AM

    Go back to where you came RAT Stevens. You pogue, ur "music" SUX!!! Allah Akbhar!! LOL!!!

    • Posted By: nimodahooligan @ 05/13/2009 2:48:16 PM

      since your a soldier with an obvious distaste for anything "un-american" and "anti-christian" why do you say "Allah Akbhar"?

      of all people, you should know what it means...

      alot of your comments make you look like a hateful idiot. It really saddens me that you wear our uniform and represent our country and yourself in other countries the way you do on this message board. it really is no wonder why others despise america with people like you running around. your so violent and crude. i just dont understand where it all comes from all the time. it really makes no sense to be that way.

  • Posted By: idonow @ 05/12/2009 5:16:05 PM

    he needs money,and people have short memories

    • Posted By: Trooper101st @ 05/13/2009 11:37:48 AM

      You are so right, back to the US for MONEY. I bet if he went to A-stan or PAK, the T-ban would hang him with his guitar strings, saying that music is "un-islamic"...welcome back 1st BCT, 101st, see ya soon. Then its off to Talibanistan. You coming CAT? Or RAT? Ur invited...bring that geetar too...see how long you last with ur "brothers" [islomaniacs]

  • Posted By: deluk @ 05/13/2009 9:37:44 AM

    Noticeably here in the UK, Cat, Yusuf. or whatever appears to have dropped the 'Islam' part of his moniker and become plain old 'Yusuf' a la Oprah. I sense rhe dictates of commercial realism.

  • Posted By: rscoby @ 05/09/2009 11:22:25 AM

    "For the next five years, the prolific songwriter would create some of the most moving, indelible and uplifting music of the era: "Peace Train." "Wild World." "Morning Has Broken." The bittersweet "Harold and Maude" soundtrack."

    I don't know the history of the other songs, but "Morning Has Broken" was written by Eleanor Farjeon in 1931, as a children's hymn to spring, not by Cat Stevens.

    • Posted By: jimbo719 @ 05/12/2009 5:26:19 PM

      The words were written by E. Farjeon, the music was written by Cat Stevens, complete your homework next time.

      • Posted By: flintfredstone @ 05/13/2009 6:38:18 AM

        The music is a several hundred year old Gaelic tune called Bunessan. Islam did nought but "cover" this old hymn! By the way the piano arangement you are familiar with was created and performed by one Rick Wakeman, a classically trained pianist. I suggest you do your homework, JIMBO>

    • Posted By: jimbo719 @ 05/12/2009 5:25:30 PM

      The words were written by E. Farjeon, the music was written by Cat Stevens, complete your homework next time.

  • Posted By: zz333 @ 05/06/2009 12:44:43 PM

    Even he realised how intolerant he had become. Lost almost 25r years of GOD given talent and beauty, how sad. We all lost.

    • Posted By: patrickbuckles @ 05/12/2009 5:48:22 PM

      Losts? I can't seem to figure what I've lost with yusaef, Cat, whatever the hell being out of the music industry. I figure he'll suck just as bad today as he did with his wimp inspired dribble back in the seventies...:)

  • Posted By: Jane A. @ 05/12/2009 5:47:49 PM

    Anyone who could write a song like "Peace Train" has to have love in his heart.

  • Posted By: gordonthurman @ 05/07/2009 4:06:38 PM

    Regarding the fatwa against Salman Rushdie the article states " In 1989, the British media claimed he called for a fatwa against Salman Rushdie during a university lecture (Islam denies it)". Was Newsweek unable or unwilling to do a little research and clear up this matter once and for all? Islam's denial was good enough for the reporter? Islam either did or did not call for (or support) the fatwa, he has constantly denied doing so but he is the only one likely to profit from this denial. Newsweek, do some research!!! OJ Simpson's denial of murder didn't hamper your investigations did it?
    I grew up on Cat Stevens' music, it is part of my life ,but to think that the man who wrote those great songs condones murder in the name of "god" is something that just makes me want to vomit. If islam did endorse the fatwa he should admit it, if he has since changed his mind he should also admit that. I want the TRUTH!

    • Posted By: fuzzytruthseker @ 05/12/2009 4:53:13 PM

      Are you not assuming that he DID, as you put it "condone murder". Is it not always possible that his position may then have been subtly non-committal, like Obama's position on investigating Bush for war crimes, but, on the face of it objecting to it? Yusuf's position might have been that he could understand the issue of the fatwa without necessarily justifying it.

      If TODAY, you asked Newsweek to pin down Obama's position on the issue of investigating Bush for war crimes, their best journalistic investigating team would not be able to pronounce itself.

  • Posted By: tdoyle9760 @ 05/03/2009 6:28:53 PM

    He reminds me of the athletes and musicians that retire...then get bored and want to come back. What about the new guy thats busted his butt working his or her way up..only to be pushed aside by a "name" player wanting his ego pumped up again?. No thanks..he had his chance and gave it up. (garth Brooks take note) I'll support the new people...or at least the people that stick to it. How many "retirement tours" are we going to be suckered into?

    • Posted By: fuzzytruthseker @ 05/12/2009 4:43:11 PM

      Unfortunately, you really cannot stand anything that is authentic, pure, generous. Too bad for you, tdoyle.

      But, let's see what YOU can do.

    • Posted By: Cazador72 @ 05/07/2009 12:17:47 AM

      Well, all big artists were small artists at some point. It's not about "fair" or not, it's about the market which is composed by people. If people like it they will buy it, it has nothing to do with fair.

      I give him one thing, unlike most artists he stuck to his faith and doesn't seem to want to abandon it. I hope he has changed because from what little I know of him (I grew up in the '80s after he had retired) he seemed self-righteous, and arrogant. Funny how so many people love to bash America but love it when their stuff gets sold here. Nevertheless, I wish him many blessings on his trip.

  • Posted By: gordonthurman @ 05/07/2009 6:49:15 PM

    An update to my earlier post. According to the NY Times of May 23, 1989 Stevens did indeed support the fatwa against Rushdie.

    http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/04/18/specials/rushdie-cat.html?_r=6&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=login&oref=slogin&oref=login


    May 23, 1989

    Cat Stevens Gives Support To Call for Death of Rushdie
    By CRAIG R. WHITNEY

    LONDON, May 22 -- The musician known as Cat Stevens said in a British television program to be broadcast next week that rather than go to a demonstration to burn an effigy of the author Salman Rushdie, ''I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing.''

    The singer, who adopted the name Yusuf Islam when he converted to Islam, made the remark during a panel discussion of British reactions to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's call for Mr. Rushdie to be killed for allegedly blaspheming Islam in his best-selling novel ''The Satanic Verses.'' He also said that if Mr. Rushdie turned up at his doorstep looking for help, ''I might ring somebody who might do more damage to him than he would like.''

    ''I'd try to phone the Ayatollah Khomeini and tell him exactly where this man is,'' said Mr. Islam, who watched a preview of the program today and said in an interview that he stood by his comments.

    So apparently Mr Islam is a liar as well as a zealot!

    Note to Newsweek: I think the NY Times are a little more objective than Mr Islam concerning the fatwa. This story was in their archives, very easy to access. Investigating, give it a try.

    • Posted By: Vigilance @ 05/12/2009 3:16:35 PM

      This was twenty years ago. Salman's still alive, and people make mistakes. Let it go.

  • Posted By: rramjet @ 05/12/2009 2:57:34 PM

    Now that we have a Muslim sympathizer in the White House, i guess he thinks it's time to come out of retirement and bilk the uneducated masses.

    • Posted By: Dave in NM @ 05/12/2009 3:01:18 PM

      "Muslim sympathizer?" Seriously? Wow. I am amazed that it is considered a mark against President Obama that he does not harbor the proper amount of hatred for religions other than his own. What country do you think you are in?

      • Posted By: Vigilance @ 05/12/2009 3:15:39 PM

        Don't worry - this kind of nativist xenophobia lost the GOP the election, and it's costing them the support of any and all moderates left in the party. The remaining few are likely to only get more rageaholic as they realize that "wait until the other party screws up" may not be enough to save them this time around.

  • Posted By: deananash @ 05/12/2009 3:01:47 PM

    I love the music of Cat Stevens, and I had one of my students splice together his Father & Son, with Cat Stevens playing the son and Yusuf Islam, playing the father. Please look for it here, on my blog: http://ruzikejiao.com/index.php/2009/05/13/father-and-son-cat-stevens-and-yusuf-islam/

    If you are a Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam fan, then I promise that YOU WILL LOVE IT.

  • Posted By: flintfredstone @ 05/12/2009 2:54:28 PM

    This article erroneously attributes "Morning has Broken" to Islam. This is in fact an old Christian hymn written by English children's author Eleanor Farje in 1931 and put to an even older Gaelic tune called Bunessan. Islam did nought but "cover" this old hymn!

  • Posted By: kumon @ 05/12/2009 1:55:42 PM

    gordonthurman, give up already. no one gives a damn.

  • Posted By: RustyJones @ 05/10/2009 8:12:27 AM

    Gordon Thurman is correct -- in Entertainment Weekly Stebvens confirmed the comments but said that while this is what the Koran teaches he didn't think anyone would actually do it. The interviewer didn't ask him about the two non-English edition editors of the Satanic Verses who were murdered.

    I'm really said that a reporter with the name "Ali" wrote this -- maybe it was just sloppy, but it raises the suspicion of intentional cover-up.

  • Posted By: Rich Monk @ 05/07/2009 10:19:00 AM

    The Music of "Cat Stevens" is timeless. Skilled and crafted, compassionate and forthcoming. Islam the present day religion is anything but! Of all the Human concepts to enslave females, Islam rules the roost. There is no dehying this when you see what Sharia law is about, the Taliban, Al Queda, the Fundamentalists teaching Worldwide, Honor killings. This is religious Bullshit! Religion itself is the most dangerous concept invented by men, for men to enslave all females regardless of age, to control the weak minded, and to manipulate the chosen ignorant. Religion relies on two factors: fear of anything and everything, and a complete ignorance of all known scientific facts. Yusuf, the person appears to be a gentle soul. Why not just enjoy your own Spitituality? Why belong to a religious club that is self serving as they all are? Religion is a business. Power, Wealth, Greed, and conquering ambition are their only real goals. It is simply slavery on a World scale.

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