Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam, commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, humanitarian, and education philanthropist. His 1967 debut album reached the top 10 in the UK, and the album's title song "Matthew and Son" charted at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. His albums Tea for the Tillermanand Teaser and the Firecatwere both certified triple platinum in the US by the RIAA. His musical style consists of folk, pop, rock, and Islamic music...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionFolk Singer
Date of Birth21 July 1948
CityLondon, England
I enjoy life. I think I'll enjoy death even more. Life is too confusing.
You can argue with a philosopher, but you can’t argue with a good song. And I think I’ve got a few good songs.
In Islam there is a line between let's say freedom and the line which is then transgressed into immorality and irresponsibility and I think as far as this writer is concerned, unfortunately, he has been irresponsible with his freedom of speech. Salman Rushdie or indeed any writer who abuses the prophet, or indeed any prophet, under Islamic law, the sentence for that is actually death. It's got to be seen as a deterrent, so that other people should not commit the same mistake again.
Now I've been crying lately, Thinking about the world as it is. Why must we go on hating? Why can't we live in bliss?
In the early days I had a very black-and-white view of everything. I think that's kind of natural for anyone who's just embraced Islam - or any religion - as a convert. It was important for me to duck out of the fast and furious life I'd been living as a pop star. I was in a different mood.
Say what you think; think what you mean.
I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul Where I end up, well, I think only God really knows
I think I will just use guitar as backing. I'm not doing a traditional folk thing, but a contemporary thing-my own version of folk, if you like.
Take your time, think a lot, Why, think of everything you've got. For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not. From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen. Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away. I know I have to go.
I'm a little bit out of it, I suppose; I'm more of the golden oldie type.
Peace Train is a song I wrote, the message of which continues to breeze thunderously through the hearts of millions of human beings.
It seems to be the easiest thing in the world these days to make scurrilous accusations against Muslims, and in my case it directly impacts on my relief work and damages my reputation as an artist. The harm done is often difficult to repair.
Man may live and man may die searching for the question why. But if he tries to rule the sky, he must fall.
I'm gonna get me a gun, all those people who put me down you better get ready to run.