Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

[Ruins]

Yusuf's cover brought tears to my eyes, he sang it from his heart with great emotions, indeed he's totally misunderstood; ignorant people calling him a terrorist and so.

What do you think of the cover??

[SP4313]

I've listened to it many times. I really enjoy the CD, but this is my lease favorite song on "An Other Cup". Being a musician, I think I just can't get around how the song was arranged. From the first time I heard it (the day it was released) I thought It was too slow and the timing off in parts. I just haven't been able to enjoy the song because I hear this every time I listen to it. I'm glad others are able to enjoy it though. It's just a personal thing I guess.

As far as Yusuf being misunderstood, people are often fearful and judgemental over what they don't understand. I was talking to another musician about which artists had the most influence on us musically. When I said Cat Stevens, he said, "Isn't he head of the Taliban now"? Ignorance is a very ugly thing at times. When I saw that Yusuf chose this song for the CD, I imagined he must run into this type of thing often.

Gino

[suncatcher]

sp4313 said:

I've listened to it many times. I really enjoy the CD, but this is my lease favorite song on "An Other Cup". Being a musician, I think I just can't get around how the song was arranged. From the first time I heard it (the day it was released) I thought It was too slow and the timing off in parts. I just haven't been able to enjoy the song because I hear this every time I listen to it. I'm glad others are able to enjoy it though. It's just a personal thing I guess.

As far as Yusuf being misunderstood, people are often fearful and judgemental over what they don't understand. I was talking to another musician about which artists had the most influence on us musically. When I said Cat Stevens, he said, "Isn't he head of the Taliban now"? Ignorance is a very ugly thing at times. When I saw that Yusuf chose this song for the CD, I imagined he must run into this type of thing often.

Gino

Great comment, Gino.

Not only Yusuf, but every Muslim, runs into this type of thing very often. And I think it goes the other way, too, with some Muslims thinking of Westerners in bad ways as well.

There's a lot of "misunderstanding" on all sides, and that's why Yusuf's work is so important. It's also why Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood is my favorite song on An Other Cup. (I tend to be more into lyrics, so the arrangement and timing don't bother me at all - actually, I like them!)

~Sun~

[catty]

Seems really bad and not a very good cover

[suncatcher]

catty said:

Seems really bad and not a very good cover

Hi, Catty

A lot of people agree with you - it seems they prefer spunkier covers such as this one by The Animals: Please don't let me be misunderstood or this really terrific version: Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. I can imagine Cat singing it like either one of these, and it'd be great.

I also like Yusuf's version because it's so heartfelt and repentant, and I think his interpretation is true to the Nina Simone version - though I have to admit that she has a very beautiful bluesy sound and a swing rhythm that Yusuf doesn't have in his cover:

Nina Simone - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood[/i][/url].

I really hope you will watch the Nina Simone video - it blew me away, made me cry, and made me want to say, "Just listen, Catty! And look - there's Rosa Parks!"

(Totally coincidentally, I happened to mention Rosa Parks and the Atlanta bus boycott in the R.H.O.F. Controversy thread today.)

It'd be nice if you'd share your favorite version of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Catty. I'd love to listen to it as well.

~Sun~

[catty]

who is rosa parks? anyways?

Its a good song with a great melody.i like cindy laupers cover very bluesy and version of kill bill is really good with the accoustic guitar part is, wow.

this song is alway better played stripped down.If u pushed me this one of my favourite covers of the Misunderstood.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA-22GLkNzQ

Yusuf's version is not a bad cover but but not for me.Certains parts is just "Mike Hurst" over kill.

[suncatcher]

catty said:

who is rosa parks? anyways?

Its a good song with a great melody.i like cindy laupers cover very bluesy and version of kill bill is really good with the accoustic guitar part is, wow.

this song is alway better played stripped down.If u pushed me this one of my favourite covers of the Misunderstood.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA-22GLkNzQ

Yusuf's version is not a bad cover but but not for me.Certains parts is just "Mike Hurst" over kill.

Rosa Parks is a black woman who in 1955 refused to give up her seat, in the front row of the "colored" section on the Atlanta city bus, to a white woman. She simply refused to be treated as an inferior. She was arrested and became a victim of KKK threats, risking her and her family's lives. The Atlanta city buses were boycotted by the blacks and as a result, the separate seating for blacks and whites was eliminated. With her brave act, Rosa Parks sparked the modern Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., inspiring both blacks and whites to stand against centuries of injustice against blacks in the South.

I also like the Kill Bill version of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - yeah -- it's wow.

I just listened to Cyndi Lauper's version. I've always liked her voice, and she certainly sings this song very touchingly. I see what you mean about preferring a "stripped down" version - this is a simple piano accompaniment with her powerful, haunting, vulnerable, sweet voice. Oh, and her mask-like, yet communicative, face, which reminds me of a mime. Her version is very nice.

The Ulli Bögershausen & Mohammad Tahmassebi video is totally new to me -- the hand drumming is exquisite -- and the guitar is wonderful.

Thank you for sharing these, Catty.

~Sun~

[Ruins]

Wow!!i didn't know that many people disliked that song, i personally thought it was probably the best song in the album.

[suncatcher]

ruins said:

Wow!!i didn't know that many people disliked that song, i personally thought it was probably the best song in the album.

There are probably even more people who do like it. Yusuf's cover still remains my favorite.

~Sun~

[cat911]

This isn't my favorite song from An Other Cup, but it is certainly one of my favorites on there. Really good. It's true, if you really think of Yusuf as he sings it, it really is a powerful song.

[mjtrewhella]

I met and talked to some Turkish folk . whilst on holiday, A Restaurant owner ,a Jeweller and diving Instructor , Naturally I asked them about their views on Cat Stevens/Yusuf. They dismissed him as a newcomer to their faith and all saw him as a radical .One even thought he was the dark side of Islam, Can you imagine my distress ,I defended him passionately ,as a true man of peace Then I played them some of his music , they were pleasantly surprised.
Digging a bit deeper I noticed two of them smoked and they all drank alcohol .though they were all adhering to the rules of Ramadan. Then I twigged ,these were average folk . Like many Catholics me included they follow the parts of their religion that they want to . Of course this was just three opinions , and I can not say what the majority of the Turkish people think. I welcome everyones comments . I was very perturbed Michele

[suncatcher]

mjtrewhella said:

I met and talked to some Turkish folk . whilst on holiday, A Restaurant owner ,a Jeweller and diving Instructor , Naturally I asked them about their views on Cat Stevens/Yusuf. They dismissed him as a newcomer to their faith and all saw him as a radical .One even thought he was the dark side of Islam, Can you imagine my distress ,I defended him passionately ,as a true man of peace Then I played them some of his music , they were pleasantly surprised.
Digging a bit deeper I noticed two of them smoked and they all drank alcohol .though they were all adhering to the rules of Ramadan. Then I twigged ,these were average folk . Like many Catholics me included they follow the parts of their religion that they want to . Of course this was just three opinions , and I can not say what the majority of the Turkish people think. I welcome everyones comments . I was very perturbed Michele

Thank you for defending Yusuf, Michele.

No offence, but these three sound quite uneducated (Yusuf a "radical"? - ridiculous!!) It's wonderful that you played Yusuf's songs for them. I've noticed that his songs stop all his critics in their tracks. Afterall,

"You can't argue with a good song."
~Yusuf~

That's why he has to put out more songs, and they have to be every bit as good and even better than his songs as Cat.

God-willing, Yusuf's songs will give everyone something that's worth listening to. And they can even help us Muslims to open our hearts and better see the "light" of Islam, which in fact, has no "dark side!"

~Sun~

P.S.
For the record, many of the best Muslims who ever existed were "newcomers" to the faith, including most of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him. I hope these brothers learn this one day - maybe from one of Yusuf's songs!

[mjtrewhella]

Thanks Suncatcher ,I will never let him be misunderstood. as us brits would say he warms the cockles of my heart michele

[suncatcher]

mjtrewhella said:

Thanks Suncatcher ,I will never let him be misunderstood. as us brits would say he warms the cockles of my heart michele

Ha! Ha!
I'm so happy to hear that!

Thanks again, Michele!

~Sun~