Post by aurarisma on Mar 31, 2011 9:33:21 GMT -5
translated fron german to english with the assiatance of google translate 
"Only a musical commentator"
Rock: Interview with Yusuf, the singer, formerly Cat Stevens was, and will sound again as the rock icon of the past
By Jörg-Peter Klotz
To hear that voice, almost every one of the songs take immediately - regardless of whether old or new. Even more than 30 years after the Cat Stevens' radical departure from the Rock Circus in 1979, two years after he had converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam. Meanwhile, who lives in London and Dubai 62-year-old has long since made his peace with the pop music. The fact that he is serious about show, not just two strong folk albums since 2006, but also the impressions of his recent Australian tour, where he played with an ambitious ribbon around his veteran guitarist Alun Davies, the Welsh. For his concert on 29 May at the SAP Arena in Mannheim promises the superstar of the 70s, which today would just like Yusuf are called, in our interview, a balanced mixture of his entire musical spectrum.
Right now the world knows not where to look to Japan, Libya, Bahrain, Egypt ... that captivated your attention the most?
Yusuf: I'm just a kind of musical commentator. This is the best I can do - and the only ... From what has happened in Tunisia and especially in Egypt, I was suddenly inspired. Mainly from Egypt, where these extreme upheaval ultimately went very peaceful conduct. In addition I have the song "My People" written and available for free download on the Internet. To what happened in Japan, I've done 40 years ago, the right song, "Where Do The Children Play". At that time it was important for me to think about what we have left our children in the world.
They have "My People" taken in Berlin's Hansa Studios - near the Berlin Wall in 1989 with the cry "We are the people!" was brought down. Was that an inspiration for you?
Yusuf: No, I did not do this slogan. Very interesting, that's probably happened instinctively. You see, this is a good example of that art sometimes strikes a direction from which the mind knows nothing. But the place was a great deal of inspiration - the famous club, and in particular the proximity to the place where the wall is down literally. Great!
How much influence can a pop song like "My People" today, take - more or less than in the 60s and 70s, when there were no Internet?
Yusuf: The power of pop music can be immense. if it succeeds in capturing a historic moment and makes it tangible. Today one needs a video that was not previously required (laughs). Therefore, we have made "My People" an elaborate video in order to clarify the message. This has become very fashionable, I think. Transported but also the spirit of the 70s - especially about the colors (laughs)
Musically, "My People" ultimately classical folk - a Western style of music that is regarded in some parts of the Arab world as a decadent American or even diabolical. Had a few oriental elements does not increase the effect of power on site?
Yusuf: That would be a mere finger exercise and I would have been imposed on a music style that is not necessarily my own. I write in my own style, although I always wanted to explore music in the new territory. But here I felt more and more about finding new ways to express how important music.
Okay, I could just as well you may well ask why you did not make a rap song for the hip-hop affine young North Africans ... Artists such as the Tunisian rapper El General was important to the jasmine revolution. In this country, such names are not familiar, they are known in England?
Yusuf: No, I say this with most anything. They are often very local issues that have for the local people, of course, very important.
You live with your family in part in Dubai. One feels there also the "Wind of Change"?
Yusuf (laughing): Right now I feel more the air-conditioning. But seriously: The situation in Dubai is very stable. Therefore we have chosen the country, too - it is very multicultural, cosmopolitan and liberal.
Liberal on the topic: How did the United States now go with you? 2004 you were still refused entry and the plane in which they were diverted ...
Yusuf: About the incident I wrote the song "Boots and Sand" and recorded with the participation of my former hostess Dolly Parton and Paul McCartney. I have a large, dynamic fan base all over the world, including the United States.
But the official relationship has probably normal. 2009 you have after 33 years, first played live again in the U.S., in October 2010 you have been celebrated at Jon Stewart's March on Washington for the reason of 215 000 people.
Yusuf: Yes, that was great. But the point was that this action gives a perfect example of how music can overcome the chasms between people. Just think: Ozzy Osbourne and I on one and the same stage - that makes a difference! It shows when we start, "Peace Train" to sing - and feel how the air and encourage people to be taken. Have a great time - shame that it took too long, Ozzy, and he stormed the stage (laughs).
They should have supported Michael Jackson to convert to Islam. Is that true?
Yusuf: Yes. However, we should have met three times already, it unfortunately did not take place. I know that his brother Jermaine is a Muslim. He wanted to arrange a meeting between us, the opportunity will not come anymore. I hope that Michael has found his peace - he was a great artist who has given much of the world. Often in a similar spirit of love and understanding, as I try it too.
Since his comeback into the music business in 2006 you have released two albums - what will turn out the balance between Cat Stevens and Yusuf classic material for the upcoming tour of Germany?
Yusuf: On my last tour leg in Australia, I again saw how important it is for my fans - is to cover the entire spectrum of my work - and also myself. Therefore, I've been playing relatively early in the evening old songs like "The Wind", "Where Do The Children Play?" and a little "Cat Medley" with "I Love My Dog," "Here Comes My Baby" and "The First Cut Is The Deepest". And in the end, of course, come the big hits. But of course I throw a look at the music I've made since then - after all, like many people, the new album "An Other Cup" and "Street Singer".
Apart from the fact that the cup on the cover of "An Other Cup" in 1970 on "Tea For The Tillerman" was - what did you do with the young man, who as Cat Stevens an icon of rock music, yet common, what distinguishes you?
Yusuf: The point is: As soon as you appear in this world, your mind must go through certain roads that make up the end of life. The spirit and the attitude of the past me like some have become strangers. My dreams I had as Cat Stevens, but now come true.
In Mannheim you were last on 10 May 1976, was still in the ice rink. Meanwhile, there is the Yavuz-Sultan-Selim mosque until 2008, the largest Muslim worship in Germany. Visit such facilities may, if you're on tour?
Yusuf: Not necessarily. Especially since I did not know that in Mannheim there is such a large mosque. Perhaps this is an opportunity to, if I will soon make a preliminary visit to Germany. But since I will probably be mainly in Hamburg.
"Only a musical commentator"
Rock: Interview with Yusuf, the singer, formerly Cat Stevens was, and will sound again as the rock icon of the past
By Jörg-Peter Klotz
To hear that voice, almost every one of the songs take immediately - regardless of whether old or new. Even more than 30 years after the Cat Stevens' radical departure from the Rock Circus in 1979, two years after he had converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam. Meanwhile, who lives in London and Dubai 62-year-old has long since made his peace with the pop music. The fact that he is serious about show, not just two strong folk albums since 2006, but also the impressions of his recent Australian tour, where he played with an ambitious ribbon around his veteran guitarist Alun Davies, the Welsh. For his concert on 29 May at the SAP Arena in Mannheim promises the superstar of the 70s, which today would just like Yusuf are called, in our interview, a balanced mixture of his entire musical spectrum.
Right now the world knows not where to look to Japan, Libya, Bahrain, Egypt ... that captivated your attention the most?
Yusuf: I'm just a kind of musical commentator. This is the best I can do - and the only ... From what has happened in Tunisia and especially in Egypt, I was suddenly inspired. Mainly from Egypt, where these extreme upheaval ultimately went very peaceful conduct. In addition I have the song "My People" written and available for free download on the Internet. To what happened in Japan, I've done 40 years ago, the right song, "Where Do The Children Play". At that time it was important for me to think about what we have left our children in the world.
They have "My People" taken in Berlin's Hansa Studios - near the Berlin Wall in 1989 with the cry "We are the people!" was brought down. Was that an inspiration for you?
Yusuf: No, I did not do this slogan. Very interesting, that's probably happened instinctively. You see, this is a good example of that art sometimes strikes a direction from which the mind knows nothing. But the place was a great deal of inspiration - the famous club, and in particular the proximity to the place where the wall is down literally. Great!
How much influence can a pop song like "My People" today, take - more or less than in the 60s and 70s, when there were no Internet?
Yusuf: The power of pop music can be immense. if it succeeds in capturing a historic moment and makes it tangible. Today one needs a video that was not previously required (laughs). Therefore, we have made "My People" an elaborate video in order to clarify the message. This has become very fashionable, I think. Transported but also the spirit of the 70s - especially about the colors (laughs)
Musically, "My People" ultimately classical folk - a Western style of music that is regarded in some parts of the Arab world as a decadent American or even diabolical. Had a few oriental elements does not increase the effect of power on site?
Yusuf: That would be a mere finger exercise and I would have been imposed on a music style that is not necessarily my own. I write in my own style, although I always wanted to explore music in the new territory. But here I felt more and more about finding new ways to express how important music.
Okay, I could just as well you may well ask why you did not make a rap song for the hip-hop affine young North Africans ... Artists such as the Tunisian rapper El General was important to the jasmine revolution. In this country, such names are not familiar, they are known in England?
Yusuf: No, I say this with most anything. They are often very local issues that have for the local people, of course, very important.
You live with your family in part in Dubai. One feels there also the "Wind of Change"?
Yusuf (laughing): Right now I feel more the air-conditioning. But seriously: The situation in Dubai is very stable. Therefore we have chosen the country, too - it is very multicultural, cosmopolitan and liberal.
Liberal on the topic: How did the United States now go with you? 2004 you were still refused entry and the plane in which they were diverted ...
Yusuf: About the incident I wrote the song "Boots and Sand" and recorded with the participation of my former hostess Dolly Parton and Paul McCartney. I have a large, dynamic fan base all over the world, including the United States.
But the official relationship has probably normal. 2009 you have after 33 years, first played live again in the U.S., in October 2010 you have been celebrated at Jon Stewart's March on Washington for the reason of 215 000 people.
Yusuf: Yes, that was great. But the point was that this action gives a perfect example of how music can overcome the chasms between people. Just think: Ozzy Osbourne and I on one and the same stage - that makes a difference! It shows when we start, "Peace Train" to sing - and feel how the air and encourage people to be taken. Have a great time - shame that it took too long, Ozzy, and he stormed the stage (laughs).
They should have supported Michael Jackson to convert to Islam. Is that true?
Yusuf: Yes. However, we should have met three times already, it unfortunately did not take place. I know that his brother Jermaine is a Muslim. He wanted to arrange a meeting between us, the opportunity will not come anymore. I hope that Michael has found his peace - he was a great artist who has given much of the world. Often in a similar spirit of love and understanding, as I try it too.
Since his comeback into the music business in 2006 you have released two albums - what will turn out the balance between Cat Stevens and Yusuf classic material for the upcoming tour of Germany?
Yusuf: On my last tour leg in Australia, I again saw how important it is for my fans - is to cover the entire spectrum of my work - and also myself. Therefore, I've been playing relatively early in the evening old songs like "The Wind", "Where Do The Children Play?" and a little "Cat Medley" with "I Love My Dog," "Here Comes My Baby" and "The First Cut Is The Deepest". And in the end, of course, come the big hits. But of course I throw a look at the music I've made since then - after all, like many people, the new album "An Other Cup" and "Street Singer".
Apart from the fact that the cup on the cover of "An Other Cup" in 1970 on "Tea For The Tillerman" was - what did you do with the young man, who as Cat Stevens an icon of rock music, yet common, what distinguishes you?
Yusuf: The point is: As soon as you appear in this world, your mind must go through certain roads that make up the end of life. The spirit and the attitude of the past me like some have become strangers. My dreams I had as Cat Stevens, but now come true.
In Mannheim you were last on 10 May 1976, was still in the ice rink. Meanwhile, there is the Yavuz-Sultan-Selim mosque until 2008, the largest Muslim worship in Germany. Visit such facilities may, if you're on tour?
Yusuf: Not necessarily. Especially since I did not know that in Mannheim there is such a large mosque. Perhaps this is an opportunity to, if I will soon make a preliminary visit to Germany. But since I will probably be mainly in Hamburg.
