Post by paulo on Jun 24, 2010 19:53:04 GMT -5
Welcome Home, Yusuf
A review by Paul Ell
It’s funny how some memories stay with you whilst others disappear into the shifting sands of time- I can’t remember some really important times in my childhood like birthdays etc and I can’t tell you about my first day at school, but I can tell you about the first time I heard the voice of Cat Stevens. My story is not one of having grown up with the music of Cat Stevens sweeping across the globe and topping the charts, because I was born in 1990 more than ten years after Cat’s conversion to Islam and withdrawal from the music business.
However, the enduring importance of his music meant that it was still played on the radio... and I can remember like it was yesterday being in the car with my Dad at the age of probably 4 years old, and the song “Remember the Days of the Old School Yard” came on the radio. I remember my Dad turning up the dial and we’d both listen to the song together. This would happen whenever this particular song would play on the airwaves, it wasn’t that my Dad was a particularly big Cat Stevens fan (he’s a died in the wool member of the KISS Army, which is where my first and middle name Paul Stanley actually comes from) but he just loved that song in particular; in fact I can even recall him referring to this song as being “our song.” Well due to the tragic nature of this cruel world, I was at the age of five separated from my father, it wasn’t something that I understood at the time and to this day I still don’t understand but in short I grew up without my father in my life.
As I got older I’d constantly hear Remember the Days on the radio as well as other Cat Stevens songs, I’d always ask my Grandmother (who raised me) who sang these amazing songs, who had that amazingly unique voice?? and she said in response that it was just some guy who became a Muslim twenty years ago. Eventually I tracked down “Remember: Cat Stevens” on CD and played it from start to finish over and over again, discovery new nuances in every song and instantly falling in love with this unique voice who sang about insightful and meaningful topics, not just love, but about different kinds of love like between a parent and their child and also about obscure ideas and images.
Every song told a different story, but they were all woven into a richly woven fabric, into one narrative. From there my obsession with Cat Stevens began, I bought each of his CDs in order and listened to them all, including buying a copy of the Majicat live DVD (which I have watched so many times I’m about due for a new one!). I eventually found Yusuf’s website (and of course Majicat.com!) and soon learnt that Yusuf was due to release a new album! The album, aptly titled An Other Cup represented Yusuf’s return to music, this was in 2006 and like many fans I was filled with the hope that he would return to the stage once more. Yusuf began to play a few small gigs including the Cafe Sessions (which I have also watched to death!) but they always seemed to be in the United Kingdom or for charitable events.
However, I held out the hope that he would eventually tour worldwide. Soon news spread that Yusuf was recording again with another beautiful album, Roadsinger in the pipeline. Once again the prospect of a new album sparked the possibility that Yusuf would tour and sure enough with the Album’s release last year, Yusuf did indeed embark on a “Guess I’ll take my Time Tour.” If he was touring the UK I thought to myself it was only a matter of time before he returned Downunder.
Whilst 2009 was a very big year for Cat Stevens fans with a new album on the shelves, the Island 50 Celebrations and the tour of the UK, it was also an incredibly momentous and exciting year for me personally... after 14 years of separation I was finally reunited with my Dad. I remember the day before I was due to see him face to face again in March of 2009 I played ]b]Father and Son[/b] on repeat as I began to interpret a new meaning behind this song, which I’d obviously never had an ability to relate to. Since that time I have developed an incredibly close relationship with my Dad and it is as though we were never apart, and yes he still remembers playing Remember the Days of the Old School Yard for me when I was young!
While Yusuf toured venues in the UK I attended two very successful Cat Stevens tribute shows which had sold out right across the country... I am certain that Yusuf’s realisation that the demand for him was so great that people were willing to pay money to see someone pretending to be the Cat that he couldn’t resist the need to tour here. And well needless to say, the rest is history. Yusuf made a ‘Bluemoon’ announcement that he would indeed be touring Downunder, when I heard that news I think I almost had a heart attack. And eagerly waited to hear details of the imminent concerts. This announcement came unexpectedly and literally out of nowhere, and it wasn’t long before June was pencilled in as the Month the Cat would be back. My Dad immediately took on the responsibility of buying my ticket for me and after they’d gone on sale he rang me to tell me the news that he had secured a front row ticket for me right in the middle! Needless to say I nearly hit the roof I was so excited! I was just happy to be there nomatter where I was but the prospect of being down the front was the sweetest thing in world...... this is where my story now begins....
The 21st of June 2010 began like any other day- I awoke in the morning with the same routine as normal, only today was quite like unlike any other day I had lived, because today was the day that I had the opportunity to tick a lifelong dream off the list and see my greatest hero and favourite artist Yusuf (Cat Stevens). Monday also had another special significance for me on a personal level, because it was also the first time I got to meet my newly born niece. So before I headed in to the city for the concert, I spent some important time with her- holding a little baby in your arms really does give you some perspective and makes you appreciate the small things in life, and why it is just so important that we all work toward a better world, the world envisioned by Cat Stevens over forty years ago.
Well the concert was due to start at around 8pm so I obviously made sure I was at the Entertainment Centre two hours early- I found a park for my car a few blocks away from the venue and then made my way down there. As I was walking the city streets and I was looking up at the old Sydney buildings and the night sky and I began to hum and whistle “Portobello Road” and the excitement built inside of me. I walked through the front doors of the Entertainment Centre and saw emblazoned above “YUSUF IN CONCERT” (I was in the right place!) and felt the first of what would be many chills up and down my spine for the night, I then decided to check out the merchandise stand and decided to purchase a “Yusuf in Concert” t-shirt and concert program.
I was then taken to my seat and sat by myself in the virtually empty arena because most people were still some time off of arriving. They were playing Cat Stevens songs over the loud speakers and hearing songs like ”Laughing Apple” and ”I Never wanted to be a Star” made the anticipation grown even further. I gazed up at the still empty stage wondering where Yusuf’s microphone would be and it wasn’t long before I concluded that from where I was sitting he would be ten meters at most away from me. As time rolled on and 8pm drew nearer, the hall began to slowly fill up as people spilled in from various entries. At this point I had a conversation with a rather odd fellow about how terrorism was all some Western Conspiracy or something (I just smiled and nodded!) and met a few other fans, I’d gone to the concert alone because no one else could make it but that didn’t matter at all because I made some new friends!
As 8 o’clock arrived the lights went dark for the support act, Noxshi. Yoriyos is so much like his father in so many ways, their music is very different but many of the mannerisms are the same. Noxshi began to play their set and to be honest I couldn’t recognise many of their songs and thus can’t provide a set list for this act. But I can only describe it as being a psycadelic fusion of the blues and rock. Admittedly I did feel that their music was perhaps better suited to a smaller night club atmosphere as opposed to a big stadium performance and whilst I loved everything they did, some Cat Stevens fans didn’t necessarily appreciate it and some insensitive so and so’s decided to boo them and tell to get off the stage.
I felt sorry for Yoriyos and their band, but the vast majority of the audience were willing to listen with an open mind and appreciate their work for the artistic integrity that it holds. Noxshi played for around 45 minutes and when they were finished the stage hands began setting up the stage for Yusuf and his band. The audience waited for around 15 minutes for the great man’s entrance and we all chatted to ourselves, I was the resident Yusuf expert and gladly provided others with a detailed update on what he has been up to for the last thirty years and directed them toward the merchandise stand in order to buy Roadsinger (do I get a commission? ) I also explained to them what would happen with the musical section so they were aware.
Well suddenly the lights all went out again and the stage was very dark. The moment had come. Ever so softly we could hear the sound of an acoustic guitar being strummed and I could make out a figure walking between the dustbins and lampposts strumming his guitar. My jaw dropped when I saw him, I’ve watched him on youtube everyday for the last few years and nothing could prepare me for seeing him walk on stage, it wasn’t a flashy majicatesque entrance, it was like an old friend coming out to say hello. Well the whole place erupted when he reached the microphone and began to sing the opening verse to ”Lilywhite”, his voice echoing around the quiet centre. Alun Davies then walked on stage behind Yusuf and took his place to Yusuf’s right hand side where he would remain for the rest of the show. After Lilywhite concluded they began to play ]b]The Wind which sent the audience into a frenzy, I think the welcome he received from us Sydneysiders threw him off a little bit because he accidently repeated the first verse again, the expression on his an Alun’s face was classic but it didn’t deter them.
Next came my favourite song off of An Other Cup, Midday which was beautifully sung and ha,s like so many of his songs, been reworked slightly; it’s a great song which uplifts the spirit greatly.
After that was Where do the Children Play, which Yusuf prefaced by firstly having to turn his phone off! He still had it in his pocket and talking abou the BP Oil crisis. This was the first of many songs which had everyone singing along. Of course I sang every song throughout the night but it great to hear a song that everyone knows.
The “Catmedley” was up next and wow it was good! Yusuf’s voice is so good at the moment that he even almost sounds like his teenage self of the 60s singing I Love My Dog/ Here Comes my Baby/ First Cut is the Deepest (the audience once again went wild!)
The next song has always been a favourite of mine and my second favourite off of Mona Bone Jakon behind Katmandu, and has an inner depth to it which gets to me everytime, of course it was “Fill my Eyes” beautifully sung once again with every note perfect.
Up next was “Boots and Sand” Yusuf explained the story behind the song and had a quick jibe at George Bush as his cartoon figure came on screen as the song’s video played (“We all know George Bush can’t spell anyway!”)- I really love this song and think Yusuf makes a great country singer! He also clearly has a lot of fun doing this number as well, especially when he asked Alun: “What kind of song is this?” and Alun replied with “It’s a bloody bonza one mate!”
Miles from Nowhere was next and was superb- I’d love to see Yusuf get back on the piano with this one at some point in the future but the passion that he shows during this number was remarkable.
Next up came the musical preview, I was really looking forward to this because I know how much it means to him and how much work he has been putting into this over the last few years, I was really hoping that it would be well received as well. Yusuf is such a great storyteller, his voice as it echoed out around the concert hall really did paint a picture of this world far, far away in outta space somewhere, and by the end of this preview I felt that I knew the character of Stormy personally, such was the impact of Yusuf’s use of imagery and expression. Yusuf began the musical preview with “World of Darkness” from the new album, which really sounded wonderful live, next came “Maybe there’s a world” which is probably my second favourite song off of Cup. ”Matthew and Son” was next and really had the crowd going again, once again Yusuf’s voice at the moment is just so good.
“But I Might Die Tonight” from Tillerman was the next song and I was so happy to hear it live, it’s only a short song but has always been an old favourite. Now the next song had my eyes watering to be honest because, well, it was the first Cat Stevens song I ever heard. “Remember the Days of the Old School Yard” was just amazing, even though it was a much shorter version I loved how Yusuf built the song up by starting quieter and slower until he let out a “And I remember you! Remember the Days of the Old School Yard!” I didn’t think he would ever do this one live, but I am so very grateful that he did.
The next song is one I hadn’t heard before and is obviously one from the musical, I’ve heard it referred to in previous set lists and reviews but never been able to find it on Youtube, it was “When a Door Closes...” I would love for Yusuf to record this song in the studio because it really is a great song. Finally, the musical set finished with a great rendition of “On the Road to Find Out”- I love it how Yusuf has changed some of these songs around, adding different emphasis or changing the tempo, and this was one which really did fit perfectly into the musical and I feel has always been a reflection of his life journey.
Now if memory serves me correctly I think that Yusuf left the stage at this point in order for Alun Davies to take on “Waltzing Matilda” which for those who don’t know, is a song which is probably about a hundred or so years old and has long been part of the folklore of Aussie culture. To be honest I’d never really liked this song (because we used to have to sing it at school) that much because it had always been performed by pretentious school choirs or some country singer I didn’t like, but Alun’s version was just fantastic! If Yusuf hadn’t won the audience over at that point, this certainly tipped the balance. Next up was the title track from the new album, Roadsinger. I know I say I love all of his songs, but this one really is great (it’s still in my signature from when we all got the chance to hear the one minute preview in that radio interview he did!) and once again is a reflection of his own personal journey and spiritual discovery (“They showed him the path to heaven, through the desert sand”) Next up was the Harold and Maude classic, “Don’t be Shy” which went down a treat. After that came one of my probably top ten songs in the form of “Sitting” from Catchbull, well it actually began with “To be What You Must...” but it is such a good song (and as I’m writing this I’ve got it stuck in my head again!)
The show had been going for probably an hour and a half at this point when “Morning has Broken” made its way into the show, once again the whole audience sang along, like being in an enormous choir or at church singing a hymn. “Wild World” was next and Yusuf began by explaining how he went to South Africa and rediscovered this song and wanted to learn how to sing it in Zulu, which he did for a verse but then launched straight into the song, as has been seen on all the other videos from previous concerts, Yusuf had the crowd singing along and the camera focused on us all on the big screen!
The final song of the substantive show came next and of course it was “Father and Son.” This is a song which I think is just so special to so many people and I think expresses human emotion better than any other song I know- now that Yusuf has aged himself, I love how the emphasis in this song has changed dramatically from him being moreorless the young and rebellious son to being the older man giving the sage advice- when Yusuf uttered the words “Look at me I am old, but I’m happy” the crowd cheered and Yusuf just smiled. During the instrumental break in the middle, the photos ran across the big screen and sure enough my photo of my Dad, me and young brother came up! I choked up big time and had tears running right down my face right till the end of that song. Yusuf then left the stage as expected and the crowd leapt to its feet demanding more, we didn’t have to wait too long before Yusuf obliged and returned to perform a very intimate “All Kinds of Roses” to be honest this is a song which I didn’t really warm to at first off of the new album but hearing it again live and hearing Yusuf describe it as a song which has a deep personal meaning for him, I now appreciate it and love it for its deep spiritual metaphorical representation of how happy Yusuf is at this point in his life.
Next up was “Moonshadow” which once again I love it how he’s changed the tempo of the song and added different aspects like the “Moonshadow, Moonshadow-owow” and at the end how it doesn’t just finish but ends with a really deep “Mooonshaaaadoooow...!” I love it! Next he sang “Rubylove” which once again he just sounds awesome doing right now! I don’t speak Greek but I reckon he sounds just as good as when he sang it on Teaser! And the final song of the first encore was my favourite song “Ruins” which he performed with such anger and emotion that made it one of the best of the night, I’ve always loved how Cat’s voice could perform what I tend to describe as a “whip crack” with his throat and, in this song this is more present than any other; though Yusuf’s voice has gotten older he can still do the whip crack on this one (“And you better watch your eyes, 'Cause if smoke gets in them, baby you won't RISE again.”)
And with the conclusion of this song he left the stage despite the cries of “Peace Train” from the audience. But of course I knew he’d be back and just waited patiently, though to be honest I got a little worried when the stage crew came out and started packing things away! But rest assured Yusuf returned to a thunderous applause and proceeded to sing “Tuesdays Dead” with a Jamaican twist! This song has so much vibrancy about it and really puts people in a happy mood. And now the moment I’d been dreading all night came with the final number, “Peace Train” which had everyone on their feet singing and clapping; and with the conclusion of Peace Train, that was it.
After he left the stage I spent like five minutes applauding and cheering, I just had to sit down because I was feeling dizzy, one of my dreams had just come true. It was a weird feeling after the show; it was like it never happened. If you’ve ever had an out of body experience before you’d know what I mean. It certainly wasn’t an anti-climatic feeling but just a strange kind of “well that’s it, it’s finally happened” I then went back to my sister’s house and tried to sleep but you know it, I didn’t sleep a wink! I had an exam on the next day but I was filled with such energy I couldn’t calm down enough. I sat for my exam the next day and felt like I had found an inner peace which I think really helped me steam through a 3.5 hr Property Law exam.
Unfortunately I tried to get videos and did get a couple (I’ll post them soon) but the Security Guards told me off a few times and even threatened to throw me out actually :-p ... I even tried to record my own bootleg on my mobile phone but that wasn’t even allowed. I didn’t get too many decent photos either, but what I do have are my memories and one of the most amazing memories of the night was during some of the songs, particularly the new stuff, Alun Davies and I had direct eye contact, probably because I knew every lyric and was singing along (some people obviously wouldn’t know the newer stuff or more obscure songs on the older albums).
My seats were fantastic and the only time Yusuf was more than ten metres away from me, was during the musical preview, so for that I am truly blessed.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review, I once again apologise for its length! Peace.
As the FOH man Alan said, the Sydney sound was one of the best.
But these are tears of joy. I knew we could count on our "OH VERY YOUNG " member here named Paul. Paul has given us the most detailed report ever. Your pure, clear, train of thought is due to your youth, and your gift to express your most personal thoughts, made reading your report, my heart to sing. 
I am still trying to hold back the tears, but it is not possible. 
You deserve a big hug from all of us here. ;D 
But I hope that it expressesm in some small way, how I felt at the time and how I still feel to this day.