Pop star revisits past glory for tsunami victims<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The tragedy in Aceh moved Yusuf Islam to revisit his past as
\npop singer Cat Stevens.<\/p>\n
Abandoning his musical career 24 years ago to adopt a strict
\nMuslim lifestyle, Yusuf walked down memory lane on Monday by
\nsinging a moving rendition of his seventies hit Wild World at a
\ncharity concert to raise money for the construction of hospitals
\nin tsunami-affected areas.<\/p>\n
Yusuf also composed Indian Ocean, a new song marked by his
\nsignature sound of gentle folk music coupled with his gravelly
\nvoice. Yusuf premiered the song during a charity show organized
\nby the International Islamic Committee for Aceh Reconstruction,
\nthe Concern for Aceh Indonesian Community and music promoter Java
\nMusikindo.<\/p>\n
Wild World, a song that describes the lurking dangers of city
\nlife and was originally composed by Stevens for reggae superstar
\nJimmy Cliff, took on a whole new meaning for Yusuf after the
\ntsunami.<\/p>\n
\"In the seventies, the world was wild. Later it was wilder and
\nthen turned the wildest lately and the people of Aceh were turned
\nupside down,\" Yusuf said before singing the song.<\/p>\n
Backed by Kyai Kanjeng, an ensemble of musicians playing
\ntraditional Javanese instruments conducted by poet Emha Ainun
\nNadjib, Yusuf sang the song with a tear in his voice.<\/p>\n
Indian Ocean is a call for more affluent countries to lend a
\nhand to tsunami victims.<\/p>\n
It tells the story of a European couple who went for a
\nholiday, seeking paradise on a tropical island in the Indian
\nOcean, when the tsunami struck. After surviving the tidal wave by
\nclimbing up a hill, on the way down the couple found an orphaned
\nchild and decided to look after him.<\/p>\n
\"Looking after the child was the true paradise they wanted to
\nfind. There are people who are waiting now for people like us to
\nhelp them.<\/p>\n
\"If we look after the poor then God will look after us,\" Yusuf
\nsaid, quoting a verse from the Koran.<\/p>\n
Indian Ocean was recorded by the singer in response to the
\ntragedy and is to be released next month. The original version of
\nthe song features Magne Furuholmen of Norwegian pop group A-ha
\nand Neil Primrose of Britpop band Travis, and makes use of
\nmusical instruments Yusuf has eschewed since embracing Islam.<\/p>\n
However, Yusuf said earlier that the song did not represent a
\nrevival of his pop career.<\/p>\n
\"It's not a return to Cat Stevens, I see it more as a natural
\nresponse to express my concern as a Muslim and as an artist. I
\nbelieve both can exist side by side, particularly when the cause
\nis right,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Prior to the concert, Yusuf toured Meulaboh and Calang, two
\ncities hard hit by the tsunami, and witnessed the utter
\ndestruction of nature's wrath. He prayed at the Baiturrahman
\nGrand Mosque before touring the two cities.<\/p>\n
Yusuf, who had several hits in the seventies with songs like
\nMatthew and Son, Peace Train and The Wind, has engaged in
\nhumanitarian efforts over the past several decades through his
\ncharity foundation Small Kindness. He plans to open a regional
\nbranch of the foundation here during his visit.<\/p>\n
Over the years, Yusuf has lost many of his original fans from
\nthe sixties and seventies. He was quoted as calling for the death
\nof writer Salman Rusdhie for his controversial book Satanic
\nVerses.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pop-star-revisits-past-glory-for-tsunami-victims-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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