jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 6, 2008 12:21:57 GMT -5
I've noticed in several pictures that Cat/Yusuf is photographed with a walking stick or cane.
Does anyone know: is it because he likes the look and/or feel of a walking stick, or is it because he has an actual physical need for a cane?
Just curious.
joni...
|
|
|
|
Post by Vivian on Jun 6, 2008 13:08:41 GMT -5
I think he just likes it.
Peace,Vivian
|
|
|
|
Post by butterfly on Jun 7, 2008 6:14:11 GMT -5
I don't think, that Yusuf has a pysical problem. Is it possible, that it could be an umbrella?? I know that in London a lot of persons take an umbrella along, because sometimes in this city it is rainy.
When I saw Yusuf last year in Bochum he jumped on the stage, no sign of a physical problem, fortunately.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lucy13 on Jun 7, 2008 12:43:17 GMT -5
His name is Amberthwiddle III. Grandson of the great Willow Amberthwiddle.
|
|
jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 7, 2008 13:26:07 GMT -5
I don't think, that Yusuf has a pysical problem. Is it possible, that it could be an umbrella?? I know that in London a lot of persons take an umbrella along, because sometimes in this city it is rainy. When I saw Yusuf last year in Bochum he jumped on the stage, no sign of a physical problem, fortunately. Anette, there are several photos of him with a walking stick, but this is the only one I can find offhand:  Will look for more, as examples. joni... |
|
jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 7, 2008 13:55:32 GMT -5
Anette, here are 3 more shots of Cat with a walking stick:    I know I saw a photo of Yusuf with a walking stick, but I can't find it at the moment. joni... |
|
jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 7, 2008 14:18:15 GMT -5
His name is Amberthwiddle III. Grandson of the great Willow Amberthwiddle. Lucy, is that the name of Yusuf's walking stick? I love it!  joni... |
|
|
|
Post by Lucy13 on Jun 7, 2008 17:25:21 GMT -5
Joni, Here's the proof. and... of course the Buddha boy carries a cartoon version of Amberthwiddle with him as well... |
|
|
|
Post by butterfly on Jun 7, 2008 23:48:23 GMT -5
Thank you for these photos, now I see what you mean, Joni.
|
|
|
|
Post by jonathanjzero on Jun 8, 2008 8:15:14 GMT -5
Hey Joni! Your question and the resulting posts and photos have been very interesting. I too love the name he gave his walking stick - Amberthwiddle! Cool indeed! There has always seemed to me a 'place' that was, in a sense 'Cat Stevens' - this place was like a 'magical middle earth', a land of wonder and beauty which he would go to within himself. The secret door was via his heart and soul and unique mind, and he would always bring something magical back with him. Then he would quite innocently and happily share such things with the world. We can feel imbued, uplifted, contemplative, joyous and re-claim moments of shared childhood awe and wonder, with the various gifts he would lighten our own paths with. In conversation with the audience during the concert in 1971 'Live in Santa Monica California', Cat finishes singing 'Miles from Nowhere' and is 'thrown' for a little while and says how, 'everytime I sing that about my body, I just go... up! (laughts) ... 'cause it's true... I find it difficult to stay on this earth sometimes...' That bit of conversation reveals how he would enter that unique place. I'm sure others know well, the place you can go to, fall into, or reach up to. However it's reached, it's a wondrous state of mind. As a singer/songwriter, I've entered that place of wonder - both in the process of songwriting and also during the song I'm singing... and it's just so moving... With Cat, he could touch us in so many ways and still does. But, there is only one Cat Stevens, and it's been his exceptional, unique and extraordinary whole, that has allowed us - especially his 'fans', to experience the beautiful and treasured artistry that was born with and within his very soul. It seems a shame that he decided to throw his Amberthwiddle into the sea - still, the sea gained that little treasure I would still wonder about the answer to your question tho', seeming he threw away his walking stick back then? Might it mean that the affection toward walking sticks has been resurrected coinciding with his singing and playing again? Or might it indeed be an as yet unknown reason pertaining to an issue of health. After all, although he's looking very well, he is turning 60. Peace and wonder, from Jonathan |
|
|
|
Post by Lucy13 on Jun 8, 2008 11:39:16 GMT -5
Loved your post, jonathan. The staff might indeed be some sort of talisman.  Very philosophical question to ponder at any rate. Fun, if nothing else. Which reminds me of his laissez-faire reaction to having one of his beloved guitars stolen from his flat: at least it's still on this Earth somewhere. I loved that. (P.S. I think a talisman's a good idea. Think I'm gonna get me one. ) |
|
|
|
Post by Lucy13 on Jun 8, 2008 11:41:39 GMT -5
Oh, yeah -- meant to react also to the soul-elevation that can occur with good music. How true, how true. We all run in different "soul circles" (I believe) (and I believe they intersect like Boolean sets) and that's why some music affects one set of people but not others. But we all know what it feels like to reach that state of elevation. |
|
jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 8, 2008 12:41:30 GMT -5
Joni, Here's the proof. and... of course the Buddha boy carries a cartoon version of Amberthwiddle with him as well... Thanks, Lucy. Great interview/article, in addition to the info re: Amberthwiddle. joni... |
|
jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 8, 2008 13:07:19 GMT -5
Jonathan, I agree with Lucy -- loved your post! I also agree that, regardless of whether we're musicians or simply music lovers, we can all reach that elevated "plane" when the right combination of sounds fills our souls. For me, the combination requires a pleasant, if not unique, vocal [i.e., on pitch  ], interesting harmonies, skillful guitar & keyboards, plus bass & drums that go beyond the "just keeping the beat" role. [Come to think of it, that's quite a list of requirements! LOL] Horns & strings are the icing on the cake. Which is not to say I can't be happy with a simple guitar accompaniment -- sometimes, that's even better than a major arrangement [i.e., Cat's Katmandu and McCartney's Blackbird]. When the right combination happens, I soar. And all my earthly troubles vanish -- at least, temporarily -- which makes it totally worthwhile. Perhaps the walking stick was indeed a talisman -- which would explain his disposing of it after becoming a Muslim. I think Muslims, Jews and Christians share most of the same beliefs rejecting occult objects and practices. At any rate, it is a fun topic that has veered off course a bit -- to my delight! joni... |
|
Chris
Oh Very Young
Posts: 0
|
Post by Chris on Jun 8, 2008 22:15:35 GMT -5
Adding one more amberthwiddle photograph to the list.  |
|
Chris
Oh Very Young
Posts: 0
|
Post by Chris on Jun 8, 2008 22:26:04 GMT -5
It seems a shame that he decided to throw his Amberthwiddle into the sea - still, the sea gained that little treasure I would still wonder about the answer to your question tho', seeming he threw away his walking stick back then? Might it mean that the affection toward walking sticks has been resurrected coinciding with his singing and playing again? Or might it indeed be an as yet unknown reason pertaining to an issue of health. After all, although he's looking very well, he is turning 60. Peace and wonder, from Jonathan When I saw Yusuf in 2004, he seemed quite fit to me. hmmm, I considered Yusufs attraction to his walking stick as in association with recent pictures, was more of a British gentleman association. |
|
jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 9, 2008 13:38:39 GMT -5
This is the only photo I've been able to find of Yusuf with a walking stick. I know I saw one of him crossing an airport tarmac with a walking stick on the favorite photos thread here a while back, but I can't find it now. Maybe it was one of the dozens that have been deleted/removed from photobucket. That's a shame!   I copied this from the favorite photos thread, so I'm going on the assumption that it's legal to re-post it here! joni... |
|
|
|
Post by flemmishfangent on Jun 10, 2008 10:41:54 GMT -5
In hisvideo intervieuw of 2004 YOU CAN SEE HIM WALK WITH A CAVE TO;was it not the first one in 2001 IN THE LAST EPISODE I THINK but i can't find it back on YOU TUBE
|
|
|
|
Post by flemmishfangent on Jun 10, 2008 10:46:46 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by helen on Jun 11, 2008 3:17:56 GMT -5
I have just worked out why Cat carries a walking stick.
The answer is to fend us fans off. ;D ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by downunder72 on Jun 11, 2008 7:05:24 GMT -5
Hi Helen, seeing you live in London, have you ever had the pleasure of meeting Cat/Yusuf on the steets of London. If ever I had the luck of confronting him on the street, I wouldn't mind being fended off with his walking stick. What an expirience that would be. I thought your conclusion was still amusing though.
|
|
|
|
Post by helen on Jun 11, 2008 8:00:37 GMT -5
I do spend alot of time in central London and have been to places that I know he goes as well, even a restaurant one day, the waiter told me that Yusuf was in a few days ago.  Sadly I have never bumped into him in the street, so he did not need his walking stick to defend himself from me. I did speak with him, way back in the 70's and again last year, but as I froze as he spoke to me so he did not need the walking stick. |
|
jsdonze
Moonshadow Member
Je serais plut?t ? Paris.
Posts: 323
|
Post by jsdonze on Jun 11, 2008 14:31:16 GMT -5
I have just worked out why Cat carries a walking stick. The answer is to fend us fans off. ;D ;D LOL You may be right! T'would make a formidable weapon. joni... |
|
], interesting harmonies, skillful guitar & keyboards, plus bass & drums that go beyond the "just keeping the beat" role. [Come to think of it, that's quite a list of requirements! LOL] Horns & strings are the icing on the cake. Which is not to say I can't be happy with a simple guitar accompaniment -- sometimes, that's even better than a major arrangement [i.e., Cat's Katmandu and McCartney's Blackbird].
Sadly I have never bumped into him in the street, so he did not need his walking stick to defend himself from me.