"What's it to you???"

[dormouse]

I'm wondering why people listened to, and still listen to Yusuf's songs; both his Cat Steven's and Yusuf Islam songs.

My uncle gave my family a copy of "Teaser and the Firecat" in the 70's, so "Peace Train" and "The Wind" were part of my childhood. I remember playing inside on rainy days with that album on the record player. I also recall "Morning has Broken" being sung at school and church. I'm sure that I absorbed something of the soulfulness and yearning for truth and peace behind those songs as a child.

In the early 90's I added a couple of Cat Stevens cassettes to my collection of tapes, and found it somewhat soothing through the tumultuous times of my 20's, to know that someone else had searched for meaning and felt the anguish of love.

More recently a dear friend gave me a gift of "One Cup". It was a real thrill to realise that Yusuf was again sharing his heart and spiritual journal with lifelong fans.
I think the common denominator for
r me is the spiritual element of Cat Stevens songs. They have helped me to slow down and reflect upon deeper meanings, and ultimately to be inspired.

What have Yusuf's songs meant to other members of this board?Their mellow sound? Their message? Nostalgia for the 70's?

[Vivian]

By your last sentence, I'd have to say all of the above. I first listened to Cat as a young girl in the 70s and fell in love with his beautiful voice and soothing sound. I really didn't get into his provocitive messages and what meanings they could have, until many years later. Today, I listen to Yusuf for the same reason, but much much more. There are so many thought provocing messages in his songs, most about wanting peace in this troubled world. Of course, the nostalgia will always be there as well.

Peace,Vivian

[fulaluv]

The music, the voice, was completely unique. It stood up and shouted it's originality, something undeniable even to this day. In addition it was beautiful, mystical, and important, the product of a very gifted craftsman.

[tydirious]

I first listened to cat when I was around three three years old (probably earlier but I can't remember)


Interestingly my dads last name is "Stevens" and my mum's last name was "Ell"
If I adopted my dad's last name he would have named me "Cat Stevens" after one of his favourite artists "Cat Stevens" but I adopted my mum's name so I became "Paul Stanely Ell"
Named after the frontman to the band named "KISS"
Very sad I know on behalf of my parents but from a very young age cat has been part of my world.

[laurieann]

Cat/Yusuf's music is real and from the heart.
Always has been... and the reality of it is growing better every day, in my humble opinion.

Laurie

[SP4313]

On the back of the "Matthew and Son" album cover, Mike hurst writes that more than anything else, Cat Stevens is "original". I don't know if he has been so correct about anything since then, but he nailed it the day he wrote those words. Who is there that has ever sounded anything like him? In the 60s I was listening to Herman's Hermits, The Animals, The Monkees, The Beatles, and a ton of Motown, and then in '72 I heard my first Cat music and was hooked. I was only 12 years old, but I couldn't get enough. The voice first, the music, the songs all changed something inside me and became a part of who I was.

When I first heard Yusuf's voice in "Maybe There's A World", It was like tasting something sweet for the first time in almost 30 years. I pulled my car into a parking lot and listened to it about 5 times. His voice has changed a little, but it's still original, and sweet to the ears like the voice of an old friend.

Gino