If Cat Stevens was making music today

[Justin]

Hi Folks,

I was wondering what Cat's music would of sounded like today.... do you think he would of got a top10 hit in the 80s, 90s and 00s if he didn't convert to a Muslim? Or do you think he would've played more Piano work than guitar?

Best,
Justin

[Whisper]

Yes Justin I think he would have had more hits IF his heart was in doing it. I really don't know which instrument he would favor cause that sometimes changes.
whisper

[Jancat]

Had he remained in pop music, I don't think he would have had a "Top Ten" hit - at least, not in the way of the type of things that dominated the charts at those times.

But he definitely would have retained his audience and had success. I could see him doing things that were "experimental" - more instrumentals, jazz-fusion things, Broadway or movie music (since that's where his interest was from the very beginning). Remember that he was tired of the formulaic music that his record company and promoters wanted him to keep cranking out. AND, he is a creative person - and a creative soul doesn't want to write the same song, or paint the same picture, or pen the same poetic sentiment, over and over again.

Good question, Justin... I've wondered this same thing many times...

[Vivian]

I think he would have had some top ten hits! I think he probably would play what he played in the old days-a combination of piano and guitar! His style would have changed, though, modified with the times of change!

Peace,Vivian

[robinssong]

I could imagine Cat making very versatile World Music today, working together with musicians from Asia - as he has been interested in Eastern cultures from the beginning, from Greece - like in Rubylove, from Latin America - as he had planned a musical related to Mexico and was probably influenced by Brasilian and Jamaican music, and from Africa - like he has done now with the new 'Peace Train'.

Maybe his styles of music would be a little similar to those of Paul Simon as a solo musician.

Love,Sanna

[Aisha]

I figure that Cat would do like Fleetwood Mac did. Come out with a great CD which many fans would go for, but I don't know if he would reach the younger market. They would just see this old guy making music. The youth tend to stick to certain genres of music like rap, and hip-hop.... I think Cat would sell big with folks like us, like Fleetwood Mac's "Say You Will" CD did. I know many folks my age who bought it but few young people. I think Justin has it don't you?...

This is not to say that Cat isn't talented, but the music business has changed a lot and they push youth and beauty and avoid people who have been around awhile.

Love,
Katie

[boneheadedwoman]

I can't separate his life as a musician from his private. spiritual quest. Had he not become a muslim, I can't imagine he would just have gone on with his Single-guy-hot-shot-rock-star lifestyle. He would have still married at some point and become a Dad. At that stage, I can't see him being a globetrotter to promote CDs. Perhaps he would have taken a long hiatus, and returned to the seen right about now!

[Whisper]

boneheadedwoman said:

I can't separate his life as a musician from his private. spiritual quest. Had he not become a muslim, I can't imagine he would just have gone on with his Single-guy-hot-shot-rock-star lifestyle. He would have still married at some point and become a Dad. At that stage, I can't see him being a globetrotter to promote CDs. Perhaps he would have taken a long hiatus, and returned to the seen right about now!

Great post. I never seperate the person in my mind the name is different & the lifestyle has altered pretty much...but he is still the same human being. He didn't morph into another creature. I also think his lifestyle and many of his values would have altered somewhat anyway given time and family. I think that's a very good observation. I mean how many times have we run across childhood friends that are nothing like they were way back when. I am absolutely nothing like I was when I was a teenager . Staring into the face of my first child made giant changes in me and in my choices from then on.
whisper

[Celticat]

Life is all about change, and I feel if Yusuf had not become a Muslim his path would have been just as spiritual. Many musicians of his era are making their come-back now after disappearing from popularity for 20 years or more. I guess you can take "the man out of the music, but you can't take the music out of the man." I often think that Yusuf would feel more connected to his music now than he might have in the mid to late 70's. Hey, so he should.........it's fabulous! ;D

Jackie

[Aisha]

You know, I think that Cat would have taken some time off Islam or no Islam. I think that he would have come to a point in his life where he wanted to settle down and start a family. He was already growing dissatisfied with the music business before he embraced Islam. I don't know what religious path Cat would have taken but I really believe he would have taken a few years off to reconnect with himself and I think he would have re-emerged with a different musical evolution. He is one of those people who doesn't allow himself to grow stagnant. He seems to like to change and evolve.

Love,
Katie

[Vivian]

Aisha said:

You know, I think that Cat would have taken some time off Islam or no Islam. I think that he would have come to a point in his life where he wanted to settle down and start a family. He was already growing dissatisfied with the music business before he embraced Islam. I don't know what religious path Cat would have taken but I really believe he would have taken a few years off to reconnect with himself and I think he would have re-emerged with a different musical evolution. He is one of those people who doesn't allow himself to grow stagnant. He seems to like to change and evolve.

Love,
Katie

This I agree with, and this has even been proven today, at least by those of us who have stayed loyal to Cat/yusuf throughout the years! I do think it is too bad that Yusuf's songs, today would never be accepted by the mainstream! They are truly beautiful.

Peace,Vivian

[nefertiti]

Hmmmm, I can picture his music sounding like Van Morrison's.

[robinssong]

Hi Nefertiti,

Welcome to Majicat!

Love, Sanna

[Girlhowdy233]

Jancat said:

Had he remained in pop music, I don't think he would have had a "Top Ten" hit - at least, not it the way of the type of things that dominated the charts at those times.

But he definitely would have retained his audience and had success. I could see him doing things that were "experimental" - more instrumentals, jazz-fusion things, Broadway or movie music (since that's where his interest was from the very beginning). Remember that he was tired of the formulaic music that his record company and promoters wanted him to keep cranking out. AND, he is a creative person - and a creative soul doesn't want to write the same song, or paint the same picture, or pen the same poetic sentiment, over and over again.

Good question, Justin... I've wondered this same thing many times...

I AGREE wholeheartedly with ALL your ideas voiced here! ;D

Shirley

[Vivian]

YO SHIRLEY!!

Me too!

Peace,Vivian

[DJ]

Judging by the huge worldwide interest in his work that has never seemed to diminish, and that his music appeals not just to his older fans but can still attract a new young generation of fans(as evidenced on this and other websites), I think he could have had hits right up to the present day, if that determination to succeed in the pop world, that had already got his career to the top twice before, had still remained part of his nature.

As mentioned before, the point is I don't think he ever lost his love, or talent, for music, but it was the music business he was tired of, and I don't believe any of us could imagine him playing that game up to the present day.

If he had continued as Cat Stevens, I think he would have found a niche, something like Paul Simon or Peter Gabriel, and I agree there would probably have been more elements of 'World Music' involved, like those artists just mentioned.

One song I did hear on the radio a year or so ago that did make me do a double-take in thinking Yusuf had made a new 'pop' record, was by a group called 'The Lighthouse Family', and the single was called '( I wish I knew how it would feel to be ) Free/One'.

The singer had one of the closest sounds to Cat's style I have heard, and the theme of the song was also very easy to imagine Cat singing, with it's soul searching lyrics.

The second part of the track goes into a version of U2's song 'One', with a gospel choir kind of arrangement which again reminded me of the hymn like songs Cat was attracted to.

If you get a chance to hear it, close your eyes and imagine Cat performing it.
In fact, it would be great now with Yusuf singing it with just vocals and percussion, similar to his recent version of 'Peace train'.

[Vivian]

DJ said:

.

As mentioned before, the point is I don't think he ever lost his love, or talent, for music, but it was the music business he was tired of, and I don't believe any of us could imagine him playing that game up to the present day.

Exactly! Yusuf even said this when I went to see him in Orlando! He wanted to make sure we, website members understood that it wasn't the music or his fans he was escaping from, but, like DJ said, the business! And Yusuf make that perfectly clear, when he said, in a room of maybe one thousand, that, we, website members, that is is "A PRIVLEDGE HAVING US HERE!" That is when he motioned to a few of us, and added, "I CALL THEM MES AMIS!!" I thought that was SO SWEET of him! So, it is easy to see why he is still loved so very much! Of course, as many of you already know, I LOVE Yusuf's music as well!

Peace,Vivian

[Daddy-o]

Interesting thread this! I think we can only speculate on how things would be. I think that Yusuf's music, as it is now, is the natural progression. It's what suits him and it's not really about making a commercial or westernised sound with guitar/ piano. As DJ and Vivian so rightly say, there's just too much in the music business that is not acceptable to his faith. As a pop star he was always taking diverse influences (folk, blues, gospel, disco even!) and that's what made him so unique... and of course, that voice. It's great that new artists are clearly influenced by the erstwhile Cat. There's still some great melodies and words in Yusuf's Islamic material. I think you're right DJ, if he'd stayed as Cat Stevens he'd be continually changing and taking in World Music influences. Thinking back, he lived in Brazil, which influenced things like 'Banapple Gas' and 'Nascimento'. It's now his faith that's his influence and motivation. I find it hard to believe that he's been a Muslim for about 25 years now. The music he is now producing suits him. He just has a more traditional view of music and its place in Islam. Even compared to other Islamic artists. I'm only grateful that he's almost as prolific now as he once was. It could've been much worse, he could've stayed as Cat Stevens and developed into being some bland Phil Collins type character.

[robinssong]

robinssong said:

I could imagine Cat making very versatile World Music today, working together with musicians from Asia - as he has been interested in Eastern cultures from the beginning, from Greece - like in Rubylove, from Latin America - as he had planned a musical related to Mexico and was probably influenced by Brasilian and Jamaican music, and from Africa - like he has done now with the new 'Peace Train'.

Maybe his styles of music would be a little similar to those of Paul Simon as a solo musician.

Love,Sanna

I'm glad you agree with me about my thoughts on Paul Simon, on Brazilian music and World Music, DJ and George!

Love, Sanna

[Daddy-o]

Totally agree on your observation Sanna. I just find it difficult to speculate. Though secretely I'd love to hear a duet with Bono of U2 and a gospel choir!! I do like 'God Is The Light' and 'The White Moon Has Arisen Over Us' and I think they can sit comfortably next to 'I Love My Dog'. Talking of 'sound-alikes', there is an Irish singer called Christie Hennessy. Interestingly, sometimes produced by Paul Samwell-Smith. His voice sounds like Cat's with an Irish accent.

[robinssong]

George, I'd love to hear Christie Hennessy!
What kind of music does he make?

'God Is The Light' is JUST BEAUTIFUL, isn't it?

Love, Sanna

[SuperTrouper]

I definitely agree with what you guys have stated. If he had not converted to Islam, I believe he would still be recording albums very similar to the ones he's recording now only without the religious connotation. I probably make no sense (which isn't new haha) but what I mean is that he would be putting out personal records that reflect his taste and spirituality. His new records, in this make-belief world, most likely would not attract a tremendous mainstream audience like say, Paul McCartney but his loyal listeners would probably still tune in as well as others interested in the genre... whatever that genre may be.

One thing is for sure, he would never... ever... play at a county fair.

- Lissette

[DJ]

SuperTrouper said:

If he had not converted to Islam, I believe he would still be recording albums very similar to the ones he's recording now only without the religious connotation.
- Lissette

Cat seemed to be on a spiritual search from very early on in his career, and that part of his nature does make me wonder what would have still motivated him if he hadn't found a connection within the Islamic faith, as he seemed to have already investigated most other beliefs.

In the beginning just to become a successful popstar was enough motivation for him for a while, but that appeal soon waned, and could never be enough to have kept him engaged in the pop world. Without finding some kind of faith I think he would have found it very hard to continue.

Even if he had never found what he needed in the Islamic faith, I still think he would have used his music to raise money for charities and disaster appeals, and that would have always become a big part of his life.
His interest in other countries music would have constantly brought him in to contact with musicians from other cultures, and getting to know them would inevitably mean you would learn about and become concerned about their social or political problems.

The thing that has always struck me is he has always appeared to have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, throughout all his incarnations, and a curiosity for new discoveries, both spiritually and musically.
As George said, where Yusuf is now, is the natural progression from his Cat days, and we should be thankful that he did find the new motivation he needed to keep going.

As far as I can see, that powerful drive and energy he initially used to reach the top of the music world, seems undiminished, it is just redirected into charitable works now, and into helping others achieve their own potential and reach the top of their own worlds.

[Daddy-o]

Sanna,

Christie Hennnessy... hmmm... I think he'd be filed under folk/rock or singer songwriter. He's highly recommended. Not quite sure what he's up to these days but a few years back he was played regularly on Radio 2 over here in the UK. Comments were often made on how it sounded like Cat and Christie were separated at birth!

Everyone have a fabulous weekend!

George

[robinssong]

George, Christie Hennessy sounds like a great musician!
Maybe he is played on BFBS over here?!
Anyway, I'll try and find a CD by Christie.

Have a wonderful weekend too!

Love, Sanna

[Daddy-o]

Thanks Sanna. You won't be disappointed with a Christie Hennessy CD. Sorry, I've never heard of BFBS. Or vaguely... British Forces Broadcasting??

[robinssong]

Good guess, George!
It's the British Forces Broadcasting Service. I think their programmes are partly original BBC programmes, so I hope that's a chance for me to hear him on the radio too ...

Love, Sanna

[sjv]

My first post !!!!

No doubt he would be doing World music, and probably with his mate, Peter Gabriel. After all, he did play flute on Mona Bone Jakon (and I think it was Kathmandu) I'm quite sure.