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Post by butterfly on Nov 11, 2009 13:05:18 GMT -5
Wow Gabi, thank you very very much for finding and posting all these pictures and videos.
D A N K E
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Post by SuzieQ on Nov 16, 2009 11:53:06 GMT -5
From Myspace
Monday, November 16, 2009 Yusuf in Dublin Last night at the o2 arena in Dublin, Yusuf gave his first ever performance in Ireland. The show marked the start of the Guess I'll Take My Time tour, his first series of shows in over three decades.
Beginning the concert alone on acoustic guitar, Yusuf was joined over the course of the first act by his band, before breaking for the pre-advertised musical preview of Moonshadow. Following the preview, Yusuf returned to the stage to perform more of his songs both old and new. An incredible finale saw Ronan Keating surprise the crowd with a guest appearance, joining Yusuf for Father and Son - his first live performance since the death of his friend and fellow Boyzone member, Stephen Gately.
The show has received positive reviews from critics and concert goers, both for Yusuf's own performance and the musical preview of Moonshadow.
Click here to read the Daily Telegraph's review of the gig.
The set list was as follows:
Lilywhite The Wind Thinking 'Bout You Where Do The Children Play Boots & Sand Fill My Eyes Roadsinger Midday (Avoid City After Dark) Sitting I Think I See The Light
[Interval]
"Moonshadow" the Musical - Exclusive Preview
Miles from Nowhere Don't Be Shy Glass World Bad Brakes Moonshadow Peace Train
All Kinds of Roses Lilywhite (2009) Tuesday's Dead Father and Son (with Ronan Keating)
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Post by helen on Nov 17, 2009 10:32:54 GMT -5
FROM YUSUF BLOG
14:31 A Stormy Start to the TourStrange how God’s nature has a way of telling you the way things are going to go. Perhaps, if I had understood the message hidden in the stormy weather forecast on Saturday evening, I might have been better prepared for what happened the next night at Dublin’s O2.
It was uncanny in more ways than one – not least given that the leading figure of the Moonshadow part of Sunday’s show (which caused most of the controversy for a small section of the audience) was also called Stormy!
I must admit, it was something I’d never experienced for most of my musical career – apart from Greece perhaps, where I stormed off stage because of the half empty halls back at the end of the 1976 Majikat Tour. They had a right to complain, those fans who had taken the trouble to come undeterred by the football match (against England) that day, or the looming exams which they were about to face.
The fact that another major tournament coincided this time (Ireland vs. Australia rugby match) – and the tendency of some to drown away the blues of a hapless draw with a few more gallons of Guinness – obviously didn’t help either.
But the good thing was that this time, the Hall wasn’t half full – it was full; brimming with excited fans and music lovers from all over the world. In fact, for me that was the most positive aspect of the whole climactic event; the real message was that they missed me being on stage! Well that’s much easier to take that not buying tickets or booing me off.
So I took the complaints overall as a compliment, albeit an unnerving one especially for the cast and creative team who had put their entire bodies and souls into the Moonshadow section, so I can only feel sorry for them. They did a great job and 90% of the audience that night (and some major reviews) recognised that.
Philosophically and educationally I have gained something from the experience, so has the public generally and we can now move on to the next gig a bit more prepared. One thing is clear: many of the fans didn’t know much about the Moonshadow section – and some thought I wasn’t coming back on stage. That can easily be fixed with a free program for the night and me personally informing the audience of what’s going to happen.
Perhaps a shorter segment of the Musical will also help tighten things up, and we’re already working on that.
Nevertheless, for those who believe that 33 years away from stage spotlights doesn’t change anything, it must be a wake up call. I didn’t go through my life, altering my pattern of behaviour, building my faith and getting close to Divine consciousness without making serious changes to the way I do things.
My voice doesn’t seem to have altered, which for many fans is already a Godsend. But to not expect me to sing my favourite new songs, from two carefully and thoughtfully created albums, and demand a ‘Beam me up Scotty’ return to the Cat Stevens persona of yesterday, is more than any amount of imagination can hope for. If the advertising was in anyway sending out a different message, then I can only apologise for that – but my name, ‘YUSUF’, can’t practically be printed any bigger.
Hey, I’m back. And as I said in Dublin, ‘I didn’t leave you.. so don’t leave me.’
Yusuf
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Post by paulo on Nov 17, 2009 17:43:02 GMT -5
HEAR HEAR YUSUF
After reading Yusuf's thoughts on the whole affair this morning it has made me feel much better! As Yusuf says, 90% of the audience loved the show! and heaps of reviews did too!
He even mentioned the Australia vs Ireland Rugby match as perhaps being a reason some of the audience were tanked up on grog! (I hope none of my fellow country men were amongst the trouble makers!)
I love Yusuf's attitude to this- he doesn't sound angry, or frustrated- he doesn't sound offended. He has recognised any potential issues with the show and has committed to making the remaining gigs better (the idea of issuing a free program, and also information and direction being provided from Yusuf on the night should sort out some of these issues)
He is an incredibly patient and forgiving man. I wish I had his ability to cop this kind of thing on the chin- as a fan, even all the way in Australia, I am still furious about how this man was treated. Not only the lack of respect shown for the musical but also the lack of respect for his newer material (which is excellent!) As Yusuf says:
"But to not expect me to sing my favourite new songs, from two carefully and thoughtfully created albums, and demand a ‘Beam me up Scotty’ return to the Cat Stevens persona of yesterday, is more than any amount of imagination can hope for."
But that said Yusuf has no reason to fundamentally change his show- he should be proud of what he has put together.
As Yusuf says, I feel sorry for the young kids in particular who are part of the musical- I'm sure they put their hearts in to their performance and really didn't need a pack of drunken idiots to ruin it for them.
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Post by G-One on Nov 18, 2009 8:02:48 GMT -5
From his webside: [Update 18/11/09] A message from Yusuf:
Dear Mes Amis (My Friends)!
I am overawed by the amount of support and goodwill you’ve all expressed to me through your wonderful comments. Please take it straight from my heart, I am not upset and I understand there are some who have to fulfil the words in my song, Boots & Sand:
It’s a strange strange thing, Whatever songs you have, Some call good, Some call bad…
Life is made up of good and bad, let’s be happy if we all feel it’s good!
Yusuf
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Post by SuzieQ on Nov 26, 2009 9:10:15 GMT -5
25th Nov 2009 23:23 Birmingham, I Wish You Could've Been There. By Alun Davies
After a lesson learnt in Dublin, the excerpts from the Moonshadow musical opened the evening. Yusuf, sitting on a wooden crate, patiently laid out what would follow. Then the cast took over and delivered the promise. The audience leant in, intrigued to hear old songs from new lips, you could’ve heard a pick drop.
The band remained anonymous as a pit orchestra until Yusuf’s acoustic set began. We slowly emerged out of hiding, progressing through The Wind, Where Do The Children Play, Thinking ‘Bout You.
During new song Boots & Sand, Yusuf turns to me and asks “What do you think of this one?”
“It’s just like a Cat Stevens song”, is the truthful reply.
Much spontaneity when Yusuf loses his place in the set list. “Trouble is, I’ve never been old before!”
You can feel the warmth curling in.
Trevor Barry is accustomed to more bedlam during arena performances, “but this is like a massive folk club!”
Oh, they’re listening and singing with us over Peace Train and Father & Son, until the house lights stifle any more encores.
I say hello to a tongue tied Jack and his Mum and Dad afterwards, send the photo on, don’t be shy.
Alun
———————————- The Birmingham set list was as follows:
Lilywhite The Wind Where Do The Children Play Thinking ‘Bout You Boots & Sand Welcome Home Oh Very Young Bad Brakes (Crate Moment / Story About Tillerman) Wild World Miles From Nowhere Don’t Be Shy Roadsinger Morning Has Broken I Think I See The Light Glass World Moonshadow ( joined by 'Stormy') Peace Train encore Sitting All Kinds Of Roses Tuesday’s Dead 2nd encore Father And Son
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Post by faithfullight on Dec 1, 2009 9:19:48 GMT -5
Yusuf, I'm still here. My heart will never leave you. (I couldn't, even if I try.)
And please, Yusuf, don't make too many serious changes to the way you do things. You are what you are for a reason - you can accomplish your divine mission. Don't you see the signs? I'm keeping faith and praying for you.
Faithfullight
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Post by suncatcher on Apr 22, 2011 21:40:52 GMT -5
Does anyone remember Jane Fonda's excellent blog entry about Yusuf, and how Jane had written about trying to get a picture of Yusuf and Fauzia: " My camera wasn’t working so I asked someone else to take our photo. The problem is they never sent it to me..." I just came across what I think is the "missing" photo. It seems someone finally sent it to Jane, because it's in the blog now. I'm not sure if it was posted at majicat before, so I thought I'd share it:
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Post by ilovemycat on Apr 22, 2011 22:09:32 GMT -5
Nice picture - why is Jane Fonda's clothing so weird looking? Looks like someone put some paper doll clothing on her, folded the tabs back around her.
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Post by sabina on Apr 23, 2011 2:49:46 GMT -5
:)LOL Hmm I see what you mean @'ilovemycat!!Jane looks fab but flat! On a more human note,I see Yusuf has his arm round Fausia..ahhhh....sweet... ---say what you mean ,mean what you thinking and think anything....cough erm...no .... not this time... (s'funny how it's possible to say one thing and think another)..Shiiiiish....... Thanks for bringing this thread to light @sun ! ..enjoying it...
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Post by suncatcher on Apr 23, 2011 12:13:45 GMT -5
ilovemycat and @sabina, Seems that maybe the image was scanned and got corrupted before being sent to Jane Fonda. She does look like she's wearing a paper doll dress. Oh, and Sabina, I noticed the same thing about Yusuf's arm around Fauzia. And he looks so proud (in a good way). I love it. I wonder if this thread will come in handy during the European Tour. I'm glad you're enjoying it, Sabina.
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