Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 3, 2009 22:47:24 GMT -5
Back in the seventies, when so many of today's Majicatters were attending Cat's concerts and some were even lucky to meet him, he was not even a face to me but just a voice. That voice affected me deeply when I heard it but it's not like I was a crazy fan. When he faded away it was easy enough for me to forget him except that some of my favorite Cat Stevens songs would periodically pop up in my head and keep playing and I always felt good to have that "presence" at the back of my mind. So you can see that the link never really snapped. However, little did I know what was destined to take me by suprise so many years later. And make me realize that his music and his message had been embedded in a deep recess within me, merely through those dozen or so songs of his that I'd had the opportunity to hear frequently. I feel like the past five weeks have made up for all that I missed. Suddenly in a sweep, forty years of musical history have wrapped themselves up and presented themselves to me. And become such an important part of my life. Nothing will be the same again. "cause time will never seem the same, Ahh, no more, never again." I feel like I've always known him now. I think I'm very very lucky! So this review www.superseventies.com/spstevenscat1.html from nearly forty years ago, made me smile. Smile thinking of how some of the songs that were dismissed back then have come right back at us with their full impact so many years later. Changes IV is one of my absolute favorites. I'm gonna be writing my own review  I smile thinking that there were so many back then who had no idea of what a phenomenon he would be and how that phenomenon could endure the way it has done. Could anybody else have retained that connection with lovers of his music and himself the way he has done and come back with his genius intact? I just can't wait to see where he goes next. I'm grateful for this place where I feel at home and just drop by to express myself. |
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Post by richina on Oct 4, 2009 0:22:09 GMT -5
Thank you so much for that post Incognita!! I guess I never saw that review and I was a bit taken aback as I read it. I kept thinking to myself "How dare he...",  "He hasn't got a clue...",  etc. Then I had to remind myself that it was written in '70's, how could the guy know?  So I agree, it makes me smile too. To see how this "trivial" music has affected so many, over so many years! My only sentiment is "Whatever...Cat Rulz!!!" ;D  ;D Long may he continue to entertain, and make us think while we're singing along! I know I've learned a lot from a song.  |
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 4, 2009 9:24:04 GMT -5
Richina, you are so right about thinking while singing along. The lyrics all come alive with an even deeper meaning, now that we're moving towards our mellow years. His wisdom at that young age amazes me. And I must say that listening to his songs, both old and new, has filled me with a renewed desire to "Sing Out."
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Post by richina on Oct 4, 2009 10:00:50 GMT -5
His words have always inspired me and I didn't know why. I do now (I think). Cat was basically singing what I felt in my heart. He was asking and answering questions I had as a young person. And if he didn't answer them, I at least felt as if I had a direction to go in order to find them.  I never knew, until recently, that my sister quit a job she was unhappy with because of the Cat Stevens song "If You Want To Sing Out". As frightening as it was, she never regretted her decision and has gone on to much bigger and better things!  As for me...his music has encouraged me to be true to myself, and the things I believe strongly in, no matter what anyone else thinks. This has served me well in life, even though it has led to more than one battle. Yet in the end, everything works out as it should. In his words, I have found different messages at different stages in my life, and for that I am truly beholding to the man and his music.  |
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 4, 2009 10:16:13 GMT -5
His words have always inspired me and I didn't know why. I do now (I think). Cat was basically singing what I felt in my heart. He was asking and answering questions I had as a young person. And if he didn't answer them, I at least felt as if I had a direction to go in order to find them. You have said this so beautifully. I seem to be getting that direction now at this stage of my life, and it is so comforting. I'm so happy for her. You must ask her to post her story here. And hey that song is doing it for me too |
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Post by Sir Lorry Load on Oct 4, 2009 15:48:19 GMT -5
What a terrific thread you have created, Incognita!
Your thoughts about the impact that first, Cat, and, later, Yusuf, has had on your life are so deep and sincerely heartfelt.
It has been an insightful pleasure to read the give and take between you and Richina on this topic and down through the thread... wonderful reading and so thought-provoking.
As is true with the other Majicat 'newcomers' and 'relative newcomers', your presence here is a grand addition to the site!
-Bud
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 5, 2009 22:55:30 GMT -5
What a terrific thread you have created, Incognita! Your thoughts about the impact that first, Cat, and, later, Yusuf, has had on your life are so deep and sincerely heartfelt. It has been an insightful pleasure to read the give and take between you and Richina on this topic and down through the thread... wonderful reading and so thought-provoking. As is true with the other Majicat 'newcomers' and 'relative newcomers', your presence here is a grand addition to the site! -Bud Thanks so much Bud for all your encouragement. I don't feel like a newcomer at all and that's because of the warmth and love here. This twin persona of Cat-Yusuf that suurprised me out of "nowhere," is an enigma. It's going to take me quite a while unravelling it. I'll post my new discoveries and insights as and when I stumble upon them. |
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Silent Sunlight
Katmandu Member
If you want to sing out, sing out !
Posts: 69
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Post by Silent Sunlight on Oct 6, 2009 12:48:30 GMT -5
make us think while we're singing along! Funny, just yesterday, while I was in rush-hour traffic listening to music, I was thinking how when I listen to Cat/Yusuf music, I always THINK about what I'm listening to, think either about what it means to me, or what it may have meant to him, etc... but when I listen to just about anything else, it's just background music to me and I don't think much at all. Something about Cat/Yusuf's music grabs and holds my attention and no matter how many hundreds of times I hear his songs, I always listen to them carefully and think, think, think. In a good way! |
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Silent Sunlight
Katmandu Member
If you want to sing out, sing out !
Posts: 69
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Post by Silent Sunlight on Oct 6, 2009 12:51:45 GMT -5
I feel like the past five weeks have made up for all that I missed. Suddenly in a sweep, forty years of musical history have wrapped themselves up and presented themselves to me. And become such an important part of my life. Nothing will be the same again. What happened to trigger this re-connection? (I hope I'm not prying!) |
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 6, 2009 13:21:59 GMT -5
What happened to trigger this re-connection? (I hope I'm not prying!) Oh no, it is great to share here. I had a dream about him out of nowhere majicat.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=introduction&action=display&thread=3066I've written about this in my first post on Majicat which is down the page. I don't think I will get over the power of this experience. It has moved me in some important direction and set me on a journey I feel. Yes isn't that amazing? The songs can repeat forever but each time I find myself thinking again and more deeply about some aspect. Or about something in my own life. |
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Post by richina on Oct 6, 2009 14:01:43 GMT -5
His words and music have had a profound effect on my life for many years. I can't explain why and only know that, like many of you, the meanings change, morph even, according to whatever I may be going through at the time. The songs make me see images...like reading a book. And as reading a book, everyone sees things differently and yet the same. It is all based on personal experience, and life lessons, as to what you see when you listen. The only wonderful difference is that his "books" are set to music and the poetry is often so ambiguous that it can fill many voids at once. Some may call that "clever", I call it... "genius" and always will! Cat Rulz! |
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Post by downunder72 on Oct 6, 2009 16:09:12 GMT -5
Rechina, my sentiments exactly. Love how you can always express your thoughts, so clearly. I feel we all think alike here, just some have the gift of expressing these inner feelings better. Thankyou Rechina. |
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 6, 2009 22:09:00 GMT -5
His words and music have had a profound effect on my life for many years. I can't explain why and only know that, like many of you, the meanings change, morph even, according to whatever I may be going through at the time. The songs make me see images...like reading a book. And as reading a book, everyone sees things differently and yet the same. It is all based on personal experience, and life lessons, as to what you see when you listen. The only wonderful difference is that his "books" are set to music and the poetry is often so ambiguous that it can fill many voids at once. Some may call that "clever", I call it... "genius" and always will! Cat Rulz! Richina you are every bit of a genius as our Cat. I should now say Richina Rulz! Your line on ambiguity filling many voids at once is a gem of thought and expression. Your post here has given me inspiration for something I've been wanting to write on my blog and not quite finding the words for. Heartfelt thanks! |
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Post by richina on Oct 6, 2009 22:43:46 GMT -5
Thank you for the kind words Downunder and Incognita! But I have to admit, when it comes to Cat/Yusuf and his music, the inspiration to reveal my feelings comes from a place even I don't fully comprehend. I have never been so touched by an artist and found it so easy to convey those feelings. Maybe it's because I know I am talking to kindred spirits, and that gives me a bravado I wouldn't normally have. But no matter the avenue, or the reason for the ride, I'm glad I'm here among friends that understand. now see, y'all made me go all soft and smushy! Love ya! |
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Post by Sir Lorry Load on Oct 6, 2009 23:38:38 GMT -5
His words and music have had a profound effect on my life for many years. I can't explain why and only know that, like many of you, the meanings change, morph even, according to whatever I may be going through at the time. The songs make me see images...like reading a book. And as reading a book, everyone sees things differently and yet the same. It is all based on personal experience, and life lessons, as to what you see when you listen. The only wonderful difference is that his "books" are set to music and the poetry is often so ambiguous that it can fill many voids at once. Some may call that "clever", I call it... "genius" and always will! Cat Rulz! Richina you are every bit of a genius as our Cat. I should now say Richina Rulz! Your line on ambiguity filling many voids at once is a gem of thought and expression. Your post here has given me inspiration for something I've been wanting to write on my blog and not quite finding the words for. Heartfelt thanks! One more "Amen" for Incognita vis-a-vis Richina! In my book, you are both students in excellent standing at the "University of Yusufology" post-graduate school (an adjunct of "The Majicat College of Musical Knowledge"*). -Bud *as overseen by 'Dean' Christine |
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 7, 2009 0:35:51 GMT -5
One more "Amen" for Incognita vis-a-vis Richina! In my book, you are both students in excellent standing at the "University of Yusufology" post-graduate school (an adjunct of "The Majicat College of Musical Knowledge"*). -Bud *as overseen by 'Dean' Christine I'm in awe of Richina, Bud! I'm only just a freshman and I'm grateful to Dean Christine for this incredible place and these opportunities to express my thoughts and emotions. |
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Post by Sir Lorry Load on Oct 7, 2009 7:59:56 GMT -5
One more "Amen" for Incognita vis-a-vis Richina! In my book, you are both students in excellent standing at the "University of Yusufology" post-graduate school (an adjunct of "The Majicat College of Musical Knowledge"*). -Bud *as overseen by 'Dean' Christine I'm in awe of Richina, Bud! I'm only just a freshman and I'm grateful to Dean Christine for this incredible place and these opportunities to express my thoughts and emotions. A "freshman"? Your great modesty matches your grand insightfuness, Incognita. I, too, am in awe of Richina (my 'S.F.A.O.' -- in this, the 'age of the acronym', I guess one more won't hurt!), as well as of you, Incognita, Dean Christine, and, additionally, of each and every Majicatter, and I do include everyone! As you have stated, every aspect of Majicat (the people, the opinions, the shared support, the good-time feeling, the unsurpassed knowledge and information) truly "rocks"! -Bud |
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 7, 2009 8:11:27 GMT -5
A "freshman"? Your great modesty matches your grand insightfuness, Incognita. I, too, am in awe of Richina (my 'S.F.A.O.' -- in this, the 'age of the acronym', I guess one more won't hurt!), as well as of you, Incognita, Dean Christine, and, additionally, of each and every Majicatter, and I do include everyone! As you have stated, every aspect of Majicat (the people, the opinions, the shared support, the good-time feeling, the unsurpassed knowledge and information) truly "rocks"! -Bud And all of Majicat is in awe of BUD!!! ;D ;D ;D In your honor I must start that thread. The Cat's Whiskers anyone? |
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Post by Sir Lorry Load on Oct 7, 2009 12:19:28 GMT -5
A "freshman"? Your great modesty matches your grand insightfuness, Incognita. I, too, am in awe of Richina (my 'S.F.A.O.' -- in this, the 'age of the acronym', I guess one more won't hurt!), as well as of you, Incognita, Dean Christine, and, additionally, of each and every Majicatter, and I do include everyone! As you have stated, every aspect of Majicat (the people, the opinions, the shared support, the good-time feeling, the unsurpassed knowledge and information) truly "rocks"! -Bud And all of Majicat is in awe of BUD!!! ;D ;D ;D In your honor I must start that thread. The Cat's Whiskers anyone? How very kind of you, Incognita, thank you. Re: "The Cat's Whiskers" thread: yeah, why not? As the great man, himself, once sang: "Why not!...Why, why, why not?" I would quite honored to be so honored. ;D Does anyone 'second' Incognita's proposal? -Bud |
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Incognita
Wild World Member
And now that the clouds roll back, hold on to me baby
Posts: 278
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Post by Incognita on Oct 7, 2009 20:29:44 GMT -5
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frmsaturn
Bitterblue Member
?Music is part of God's universe.?
Posts: 133
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Post by frmsaturn on Oct 9, 2009 1:45:14 GMT -5
If Tiffany doesn't second it, I most willingly will!
I used to think of Cat Stevens/Yusuf's music as just one more of the thought provoking folk singers of my older siblings' generation. As the second to the youngest Cat/Yusuf was a part of the awe older siblings seem to radiate.
But now I see how truly brilliant he was, an old soul really. I'm learning so much that I wasn't even aware had influenced me as I grew up.
I re-found my admiration for Yusuf while searching for a message to identify my young mediators as a group. What I really found was a door to not just enlightenment but all of you here at Majicat, a group of people that really do personify this world as a wonderful place, maybe his "Peace Train" isn't such a far fetched idea when you visit here.
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Post by windofmysoul2 on Oct 20, 2009 0:56:51 GMT -5
Back in the mid seventies I remember buying my first Cat Stevens album, his Greatest Hits collection, and being in awe of what I was listening to. His music moved me, his words captured me, and touched me in ways that the mind cannot know, but the heart truly understands. At that time I knew I had to have all his records, for I wanted to experience all his songs. As I listened to the albums and absorbed each song, I felt that there was something truly magical, in many ways mystical and spiritual, in the songs that I was listening to. Many years later, when the mysteries of this universe started to make sense for me, I also started to understand the inner meanings of many of Cat's songs. There is no doubt in my mind that many of the things that Cat, and now Yusuf, sang and sings about come from that which many of us call God or The One. He has touched so many souls with his music, and continues to this very day, especially with the new music that he is creating, to enable me to listen "to the wind of MY soul".
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I smile thinking that there were so many back then who had no idea of what a phenomenon he would be and how that phenomenon could endure the way it has done. Could anybody else have retained that connection with lovers of his music and himself the way he has done and come back with his genius intact? 
"He hasn't got a clue...", 
etc. Then I had to remind myself that it was written in '70's, how could the guy know? 
;D Long may he continue to entertain, and make us think while we're singing along! I know I've learned a lot from a song. 
I never knew, until recently, that my sister quit a job she was unhappy with because of the Cat Stevens song "If You Want To Sing Out". As frightening as it was, she never regretted her decision and has gone on to much bigger and better things! 
As for me...his music has encouraged me to be true to myself, and the things I believe strongly in, no matter what anyone else thinks. This has served me well in life, even though it has led to more than one battle. Yet in the end, everything works out as it should. In his words, I have found different messages at different stages in my life, and for that I am truly beholding to the man and his music. 
