Review: Yusuf Islam in Liverpool (From Asian Image)

Review: Yusuf Islam in Liverpool

9:00am Monday 7th December 2009

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By Nazir Musa »

Yusuf Islam returned on stage tour after a 33 year long absence on Saturday at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

Formerly known as Cat Stevens his journey of faith and beyond enabled a comeback performance to a full house. Regarded as one of the finest songwriters of his generation Yusuf Islam beamed a message of Peace and Hope to a capacity audience entranced with his musical abilities.

Under his present and former persona as Cat Stevens he sold over 60 million copies in the 1970’s. With a glittering young career then and regarded as one of the great icons of his generation he turned his back on this with his conversion to Islam in 1977.

Subsequently he became the founding Chairman of Muslim Aid and became instrumental in promoting Islam and various charities as the Maqam Educational Centre (www.themaqam.com) in London and his own charity Small Kindness. (www.smallkindness.org) which reaches out to orphans.

This was truly a most memorable night with Yusuf reliving some his all time hits including ‘Father and son’ ‘ Tea for the Tillerman’, ‘Morning has Broken’ and a whole array of hits encapsulating the launch of his Moonshadow Stage Production The Tour has seen performances in Dublin, Birmingham and included a gala performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London on Tuesday.

In his notes in the Concert Programme Yusufs personal letter summarises his innermost thoughts.

Titled, Guess I’ll Take my Time he says.

“When you consider how many coincidences it takes to get anything together or undertake any multi functional task, you can only thank God that anything happens at all.

The harmony of hearts and motion, in heaven and on earth, are governed by the unseen. No Scientist or soothsayer can predict with accuracy the events but only approximate. This is how I felt when deciding to return back on the road after 33 years”.

As he performed I couldn’t help wondering how he could reconcile his musical comeback with his religious beliefs. Yusuf as the ageing master answered in one sweeping statement when he finally concluded in his parting words to the audience. “Thank you very much for coming and paying so much to see me. All the money raised will be going to Charity”.

The mark of a genius and a truly remarkable human being.

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