“I thought to myself, ‘Do I want this level of success?’ In 1977, he turned his back on his stellar career when he converted to Islam and subsequently changed his name. With smiling eyes and grey-white hair and beard, Yusuf, 73, looks every inch the wise elder statesman and he comes with a fascinating back-story. He apologises in advance for the likelihood of builders’ noise but thankfully his insights prove eloquent and audible. Yusuf is sharing reflections, via Zoom, on his pivotal role in a momentous year for popular culture. “I’m not sure John didn’t believe in God,” he says. It’s a beautiful song.”Īlthough Lennon famously rejected the Bible, Jesus, Buddha (as well as Hitler, Elvis, Dylan, The Beatles . . . you name it) on his song God, Yusuf questions the assumption that he was an atheist. “He and Yoko projected a weird kind of unity and, of course, we’ve learned that she had a lot to do with the inspiration for Imagine. “I admired John so much - his message within The Beatles led them towards a social conscience,” he affirms. Today, he retains nothing but affection for Lennon. “We were looking to change the world but we weren’t politicians and we didn’t want to be,” says Yusuf. You can be certain these contrasting characters didn’t swap notes but together they captured the prevailing mood. On Peace Train from Teaser And The Firecat, Stevens struck an even more optimistic tone: “Oh, I’ve been smiling lately/Dreaming about the world as one.” On the title track of Imagine, the ex-Beatle issued the rallying cry: “I hope some day you’ll join us/And the world will be as one.”
It was the height of the Cold War AND the Vietnam War when both singers released iconic albums, just a month apart, bearing a message of peace.
‘I admired John so much - his message within The Beatles led them towards a social conscience’ 5 Today, Yusuf retains nothing but affection for Lennon.
0 kommentar(er)
