Cat Stevens at the O2 in November..

MMD · 16-11-2009 4:54pm

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

From the times:
(Thats the UK Times)
It’s hard to imagine a singer less likely to cause a rift in a crowd than the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. Yet on the debut date of his first tour in 33 years, Yusuf Islam saw fans storm out and heard two of his best-known songs spoiled by booing. Those he didn’t disappoint showed their support with a standing ovation. “Now I know what Dylan felt like,” laughed a disappointed Islam in an attempt to diffuse the tension. An artist as famous for his spirituality as his songs had tested his fans and found some of them wanting.

90 minutes earlier, Islam had sauntered on stage strumming a guitar and delivered an hour of pretty folk-pop that could hardly have been less controversial. Sounding like a serene preacher and looking like a gentle geography teacher, the grey-haired, grey-bearded singer started solo with "Lilywhite" in front a giant backdrop of an urban alleyway, surrounded by packing crates and a Victorian-style street lamp.

Joined first by his 1970s sidekick Alun Davies on guitar, then gradually a full band, Islam was initially revered by the entire audience. They applauded songs from his current album, "Roadsinger", as loudly as they did tracks from seminal albums "Tea For The Tillerman" and "Teaser And The Firecat". They tutted at his tale of the authorities who, five years ago, refused him entry in to the States and even clapped along to the song the incident inspired,"Boots And Sand", despite its clearly poor quality.

The bad vibes began when Islam paused his performance for a 40 minute preview of his forthcoming musical, "Moonshadow". A cast led by former Hear’say singer Noel Sullivan trouped on to act, dance and deliver a mix of new material and the Cat Stevens classics "Father & Son" and "Wild World". By the latter, streams of people were walking out, dismayed at Islam for handing over his hits.

In truth, the musical segment lasted far too long and was confusingly introduced. In London’s West End, where it is due to open next year, "Moonshadow" could go down a storm. In front of an audience who had come to hear Islam trawl his back catalogue, it was never going to work.
The bulk of the audience, however, remained for a final segment of the show that began on shaky ground – they groaned as Islam introduced more new songs and pulled a plucky Sullivan back on to duet – but ended on a high with a lengthy, rocky rendition of "Peace Train".

As fans began to file out, Islam had to halt them with the promise of a second encore. During a spine-tingling "Father and Son", he was joined by an unshaven Ronan Keating and the crowd roared with delight. Home-time then was happy, though this gig was a bumpy ride.
Tour continues at the NIA, Birmingham (Nov 23), Echo Arena, Liverpool (Dec 5), Royal Albert Hall, London (Dec 8).
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article6918682.ece

adequately sums the night up IMHO

Brian Chris · 16-11-2009 4:57pm

balla wrote: »

I quote
"Back in concert after 33 years.
Singing all of Cat Stevens' Greatest Hits"

Shame on you concert promoters. Blatant lies and misleading advertising because the concert was not selling out as fast as you thought it would so you decided to lie to sell the rest of the tickets.
This is the ONLY ad I saw and was what made me want to go to the concert!!! (which I didn't in the end as we couldn't pay over 150 euro for 2 tickets) but I am so glad I didn't.

This criticism is totally against the promoters not Yusef.....

You weren't even at the gig? Why are you adding to this?

Brian Chris · 16-11-2009 4:59pm

B1G Al wrote: »

+1

+3

careca · 16-11-2009 5:11pm

First off, he didn't play a lot of his classics. Whether or not you were happy with last night's playlist doesn't change that. However, thats pretty standard fare nowadays. Most artists will stuff the first half of the show with new material then blast out the hits for the second half to send everyone home happy.

The main gripe i have is that a lot of his classics were sang by the cast from the musical. If I wanted to hear other people singing Cat Steven's i would have loaded up youtube.

Also, if anyone thinks that he had planned to sing Father and Son with RK, then you are more naive than Yusuf. He was obv dragged on at the end to 'save' the show. Ironically enough Yusuf would have been better off singing it on his own, lol.

MMD · 16-11-2009 5:14pm

careca wrote: »

The main gripe i have is that a lot of his classics were sang by the cast from the musical. If I wanted to hear other people singing Cat Steven's i would have loaded up youtube.

That was the only sore point of last night, I agree.

beereilly · 16-11-2009 5:20pm

This is my first post to boards.ie but I felt it necessary to throw in my experience of last night as I was one of the lucky/unlucky audience. I wouldn't exactly call myself a Cat Stevens or a Yusuf Islam fan however I enjoy all of his music and I am willing to go to any concert which promises to be good and a bit different. My boyfriend bought the tickets as a present and also told me about the musical preview which I was really looking forward. He read about this before buying the tickets which were expensive at 76.40 plus all the first born we paid ticketmaster for the priviledge of buying from them.

anyway the concert opened and wound it way to the interval with a solid and pleasant performance with some quirky stories and a bit of irratating heckling...(in my opinion heckling is for eijits, an artist shouldn't have to change their set list for a complete moron..). So after our interval it started with Yusuf on stage and he had promised a surprise so I wasnt all that surprised when the musical section started. It ambled along until Matthew and Son which was brilliant and vibrant and I thought would have engaged everyone but just after it finished some people around me start shouting and booing ..not everyone just a few loud idiots. One shouted ' I didn't pay to see the panto...booo...booo...etc'. I resisted the temptation to shout back 'oh yes you did' but instead just encouraged him leave. as for those who stuck it out and then continued to be fools and call on 'cat' to play peace train or whatever. Whatever about doing that but booing a new song is completely uncalled for and just downright rude. If you come to see someone surely you should be delighted to hear a new song for the first time ever anywhere....anyway thats all I have to say the show lasted over 2 and a half hours with the last 1 and half being the best show i've been at all year.

I suggest the people who left examine what it was they did after apart from get worked up and maybe reconsider the option had they just stayed put and given the musical a chancea and enjoyed the rest of the show.

careca · 16-11-2009 5:28pm

beereilly wrote: »

I suggest the people who left examine what it was they did after apart from get worked up and maybe reconsider the option had they just stayed put and given the musical a chancea and enjoyed the rest of the show.

I could be wrong but I would imagine a lot of them left so that they could complain outside and hopefully get a refund. You're right though, idiotic thing to do after paying so much in the first place.

Funny you mention the panto bit, cos when he emerged from the 'door' at half time and started kinda creeping across the semi dark stage, I was tempted to shout "he's behind you". Thankfully I resisted the urge

Anyway, I'm all talked out on the subject. at worst it was an experience.

Off to listen to Sad Lisa on youtube !!!

siscri · 16-11-2009 5:31pm

careca wrote: »

First off, he didn't play a lot of his classics. Whether or not you were happy with last night's playlist doesn't change that. However, thats pretty standard fare nowadays. Most artists will stuff the first half of the show with new material then blast out the hits for the second half to send everyone home happy.

The main gripe i have is that a lot of his classics were sang by the cast from the musical. If I wanted to hear other people singing Cat Steven's i would have loaded up youtube.

Also, if anyone thinks that he had planned to sing Father and Son with RK, then you are more naive than Yusuf. He was obv dragged on at the end to 'save' the show. Ironically enough Yusuf would have been better off singing it on his own, lol.

1) What were the 'a lot of' classics he didn't play?

2) What were the 'a lot of' classics that were sung by the cast?

3) Obviously Ronan was planned all along. He even made mention of having a surprise person at the beginning.

If he had of played the exact same setlist minus the musical everyone would be happy. So why are you unhappy that you also got the musical?

broadrock · 16-11-2009 5:33pm

I was at the gig last night as well. The musical stuff was not really my cup of tea either but I managed to resist the temptation to make a holy show of myself, my city and my country by shouting abuse/walking out. All in all though he gave us a 2 3/4 hour show! You can't really say fairer than that.
A friend of mine was working on the production last night and said Yusuf was shaken and that they would be tweaking the show (i.e. reducing the musical part) as a result. I think maybe he needed to let people know before the musical started how long it was going to last and that he would be coming back on afterwards to sing some of the old songs.

MMD · 16-11-2009 5:37pm

I think perhaps discussion on this show has been beaten to death now at this stage. Not much more that can be said.

careca · 16-11-2009 5:38pm

siscri wrote: »

1) What were the 'a lot of' classics he didn't play?

2) What were the 'a lot of' classics that were sung by the cast?

3) Obviously Ronan was planned all along. He even made mention of having a surprise person at the beginning.

If he had of played the exact same setlist minus the musical everyone would be happy. So why are you unhappy that you also got the musical?

Ok, last comment on the subject.

1) Sad Lisa, Hard Headed Woman, Oh Very Young, Morning has Broken, Another Sat Night, prob more but thats top of my head

2) Wild World, Matthew and Son, Father and Son

3) No he didn't say a surprise person. He said a surprise after the break. If its not obvious to you that the 'surprise' was the musical then fair enough. If it was possible to get confirmation then I would have a large bet that Ronan Keating was there as an ordinary punter and was 'dragged' on stage. Again, not much point discussing this as its my opinion only.

siscri · 16-11-2009 5:43pm

He sand Father And Son at the end so I assume you're happy with that?

He introduced his guitarist and asked if we remembered him. And then he mentioned something about another surprise person later and then interrupted himself.

As has been said before he couldn't possibly play all his songs. He played 20 songs himself so I don't see how anyone can be dissatisfied.

Yeh I think end of thread. 20 great songs (some old, some new) is a worthwhile concert in my book. Let's just forget about the musical debacle and appreciate the man for the show he put on.

MMD · 16-11-2009 5:46pm

siscri wrote: »

Yeh I think end of thread. 20 great songs (some old, some new) is a worthwhile concert in my book. Let's just forget about the musical debacle and appreciate the man for the show he put on.

+1

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 5:51pm

careca wrote: »

Ok, last comment on the subject.

1) Sad Lisa, Hard Headed Woman, Oh Very Young, Morning has Broken, Another Sat Night, prob more but thats top of my head

2) Wild World, Matthew and Son, Father and Son

3) No he didn't say a surprise person. He said a surprise after the break. If its not obvious to you that the 'surprise' was the musical then fair enough. If it was possible to get confirmation then I would have a large bet that Ronan Keating was there as an ordinary punter and was 'dragged' on stage. Again, not much point discussing this as its my opinion only.

For the record..

As it stands, unless something changes.. you will *never* hear Yusuf Islam sing Morning has Broken, it's a Christian hymn or Another Saturday Night, it's immoral ("find me a honey to help me spend my money") nor for that matter will you ever hear Lady Darbonville.

It's Yusuf that played last night, not Cat Stevens, and while he played an amazing snapshot of an incredible back catalouge, there are certain songs that simply will never be played by him again.

For the record, Oasis never play wonderwall anymore.

MMD · 16-11-2009 6:10pm

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

Oasis never play wonderwall anymore.

em, not being smart and with respect:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/oasis/2009/v-festival-stafford-england-2bd79c7e.html

last played August 22 2009

Charles Onions · 16-11-2009 6:16pm

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

Unless you are one of the morons who left early, you saw a full gig, and you saw a chunk of a musical.

I left early. I didnt boo or heckle, I just left because I thought the musical was absolutely rubbish - it was like watching some post modern version of Hi-5. Can you explain to me why Im a moron? Might be best to only use small words though just in case you're right.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 16-11-2009 6:30pm

Charles Onions wrote: »

I left early. I didnt boo or heckle, I just left because I thought the musical was absolutely rubbish - it was like watching some post modern version of Hi-5. Can you explain to me why Im a moron? Might be best to only use small words though just in case you're right.

He's been chucking insults about willy-nilly, best off just reporting him and not rising to it tbh.

Btw, I left early too. Despite paying €200 for my tickets it just wasn't worth staying.

Even this evening and thinking back, I'm pretty shocked at the aggression and almost down right hatred from some of the audience last night.

Last thing I thought I'd see at a Yusef Islam concert was garda re-enforcements being called in.

Charles Onions · 16-11-2009 6:33pm

Khloe Gifted Boot wrote: »

He's been chucking insults about willy-nilly, best off just reporting him and not rising to it tbh.

Ta' but he's quite entitled to call me whatever he feels like but it's always polite to offer an explanation

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 6:50pm

Charles Onions wrote: »

I left early. I didnt boo or heckle, I just left because I thought the musical was absolutely rubbish - it was like watching some post modern version of Hi-5. Can you explain to me why Im a moron? Might be best to only use small words though just in case you're right.

ok

It.. was.. not.. over

You missed the best parts, but I'm glad.

Those heckling freaks didn't deserve to hear Moonshadow played so magnificantly, as an amazing duet, or to hear the rest of the crackers that the ex Cat played.

shampoosuicide · 16-11-2009 6:52pm

Khloe Gifted Boot wrote: »

He's been chucking insults about willy-nilly, best off just reporting him and not rising to it tbh.

Btw, I left early too. Despite paying €200 for my tickets it just wasn't worth staying.

Even this evening and thinking back, I'm pretty shocked at the aggression and almost down right hatred from some of the audience last night.

Last thing I thought I'd see at a Yusef Islam concert was garda re-enforcements being called in.

you have to admit there's a surreal humour about the whole thing

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 6:54pm

Khloe Gifted Boot wrote: »

He's been chucking insults about willy-nilly, best off just reporting him and not rising to it tbh.

Btw, I left early too. Despite paying €200 for my tickets it just wasn't worth staying.

Even this evening and thinking back, I'm pretty shocked at the aggression and almost down right hatred from some of the audience last night.

Last thing I thought I'd see at a Yusef Islam concert was garda re-enforcements being called in.

I'm sorry,

but those people last night were morons, and I will not apologise for saying as such.

If you left early (how early) you missed a great show.
But, if your patience is so small that you cannot bear to sit through a part of a musical written by the man you came to see before seeing him again, well, really, perhaps you need to go see a special doctor.

Stain Boy · 16-11-2009 6:59pm

fryup wrote: »

"play peacetrain you f&ckin bollix"

only in ireland:rolleyes:

Yup I heard that too. The irony was not lost on me.

shampoosuicide wrote:

you have to admit there's a surreal humour about the whole thing

once i got over the initial shock of peoples reactions, I was laughing my arse off

And there's a big bloody difference between an advertisement and a showcase.

May I ask you all how much time you expected to see Yusuf on stage, Is 20 songs not enough? And yes, Yusuf, with band, without musical cast sang TWENTY tunes! Proof of the pudding:

Lilywhite
The Wind
Thinking ‘Bout You
Where Do The Children Play
Boots & Sand
Fill My Eyes
Roadsinger
Midday (Avoid City After Dark)
Sitting
I Think I See The Light

Break
Miles from Nowhere
Don’t Be Shy
Glass World
Bad Brakes
Moonshadow
Peace Train
All Kinds of Roses
Lilywhite (2009)
Tuesday’s Dead
Father and Son (with Ronan Keating)

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 6:59pm

MMD wrote: »

em, not being smart and with respect:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/oasis/2009/v-festival-stafford-england-2bd79c7e.html

last played August 22 2009

Wow.

Didn't know that.

They went for a while without playing it.

Something to dso with Noel claiming it was for a specific relationship. Occassionaly they would play it at the end over the tannoy from a CD.

DavidMJTDoyle · 16-11-2009 7:00pm

Thought the concert last night was great. The musical bit had been on all the advertising and I knew about it long before the concert. In fact I liked it. There was a great mix of old and new throughout the night. The people who walked out missed a lot later on.

Also I arrived when doors opened and they were still doing the sound check and heard Ronan Keating during it, so he was certainly planned as part of the concert and wasn't just brought on to appease the crowd at the end.

Mickolution · 16-11-2009 7:16pm

It's been argued to death, but the musical bit coming in the middle ruined the rhythm of the show all together. By the time he came back on stage properly, the atmosphere was gone. I had seen the advertisements, but didn't expect that. It would have made more sense to put it at the beginning as "support" or whatever. What annoyed me more than having to sit through it, was knowing that he then wouldn't be performing those songs. As for Ronan Keeting, I never realised how terrible a singer he really is.

The people booing new songs were wrong, but they were just in bad form by that stage.

MMD · 16-11-2009 8:10pm

Mickolution wrote: »

It would have made more sense to put it at the beginning as "support" or whatever.

that is a magnificent idea TBH

fryup · 16-11-2009 8:42pm

fryup wrote: »

"play peacetrain you f&ckin bollix"

only in ireland:rolleyes:

delbertgrady wrote: »

WHAT?! Did someone shout that out?

yep, listen to the *gerry ryan show > 43 min in

*click on listen back near the top of the page

http://2fm.rte.ie/gerry

furiousox · 16-11-2009 8:55pm

Mickolution wrote: »

It would have made more sense to put it at the beginning as "support" or whatever

That makes perfect sense, maybe that's what he'll do from now on?

Doe's anyone else think that the 'vibe' in the new O2 is different from the old Point due to being able to bring alcohol into your seat?
Don't get me wrong its a great venue, but for seated concerts l've noticed there is a constant swarm of people coming and going for beer, fag, toilet breaks etc which l never noticed happening at gigs in the old 'Point'....can be very distracting.:(
l usually go to rock gigs (Ac/Dc, Neil Young etc) but the 'drunkest' crowd l ever saw was at the Leonard Cohen gig in Kilmainham!

tannapol · 16-11-2009 11:02pm

I didn't hear Gerry Ryan and allegedly aggrieved 02 Security Manager re the behaviour of the audience. It's true lots of the audience were tanked up but the 'show' was brutal, it's being touted as an extra but it was a filler, no doubt about it. And the 'show' left no cliche unexplored -winsome kids, star-crossed lovers, peasants in kerchiefs. You name it.

And re the tanking up what does 02 expect when they try to sell as much drink as possible and allow punters to bring pints into auditorium to spill over their neighbours? The floor in the row where my seat was was tacky from spilled drink, predating Yusuf Islam gig. While i'm at it, the 'food' in 02 is vile, worse than a cineplex so you wouldn't even be tempted to leaven your drink intake with food.

But to return to the main point, a simple question: if we weren't getting the full Cat Stevens, as it were, why were we charged superstar prices?

Sonic_exyouth · 17-11-2009 12:06am

tannapol wrote: »

I didn't hear Gerry Ryan and allegedly aggrieved 02 Security Manager re the behaviour of the audience. It's true lots of the audience were tanked up but the 'show' was brutal, it's being touted as an extra but it was a filler, no doubt about it. And the 'show' left no cliche unexplored -winsome kids, star-crossed lovers, peasants in kerchiefs. You name it.

And re the tanking up what does 02 expect when they try to sell as much drink as possible and allow punters to bring pints into auditorium to spill over their neighbours? The floor in the row where my seat was was tacky from spilled drink, predating Yusuf Islam gig. While i'm at it, the 'food' in 02 is vile, worse than a cineplex so you wouldn't even be tempted to leaven your drink intake with food.

But to return to the main point, a simple question: if we weren't getting the full Cat Stevens, as it were, why were we charged superstar prices?

Filler?

There was a full 20 song concert! There was no need to 'fill' anything!

mattfender · 17-11-2009 12:16am

Was talkin to security guard this afternoon at load in for childline, said that girl who got bitten and all had to get a tetnis shot and night in hospital :rolleyes:
such fukin scumbags dont deserve to listen to music let alone go to gigs

Mickolution · 17-11-2009 12:23am

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

Filler?

There was a full 20 song concert! There was no need to 'fill' anything!

You have to remember though, that this is an artist with many very short songs. He hardly played for 90mins.

I'm not one of these people who insists artists play only their hits, but it's taking the piss a little to include some of your biggest hits performed by someone else.

Charles Onions · 17-11-2009 1:11am

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

I'm sorry,

but those people last night were morons, and I will not apologise for saying as such.

If you left early (how early) you missed a great show.
But, if your patience is so small that you cannot bear to sit through a part of a musical written by the man you came to see before seeing him again, well, really, perhaps you need to go see a special doctor.

I thought the first half was 50/50 and found the musical unbearable and insultingly trite. I dont think it is the mark of limited patience to sit through 25 minutes of something, hate every minute of it and with no end in sight, decide to leave. And if you find the idea of conflicting opinions so distasteful that you feel the need to insult anyone who holds one then might I suggest that maybe you stay off the internet and spend your days on your own in front of a mirror giving yourself the thumbs up for being so completely right all of the time

Maldini2706 · 17-11-2009 1:50am

I think what we're seeing here is an effect of these "super-gigs" which have become more prevalent in the last 4/5 years, the ones with huge acts from the 60s/70s/80s which cost over €100 a ticket. The audience for these gigs are largely populated by middle-aged people who don't get to many gigs and so expect to hear ALL of their favourites and are pissed off when this doesn't happen. It's almost like a sense of entitlement, "I've paid my money and if you don't give me EXACTLY what I want you'll hear about it". That's not the way it works!

delbertgrady · 17-11-2009 9:26am

tannapol wrote: »

And re the tanking up what does 02 expect when they try to sell as much drink as possible and allow punters to bring pints into auditorium to spill over their neighbours? The floor in the row where my seat was was tacky from spilled drink, predating Yusuf Islam gig.

The O2 is primarily concerned with selling booze. When it was being renovated, all we kept hearing about was how many bars the place would have. Pat Kenny had Harry Crosbie on the radio a few weeks ago, and someone texted in to ask was it not the case that Van Morrison refused to do his Astral Weeks show in the O2 because they would not agree to close the bars during the performance. Cue a telling pause of a few seconds from Crosbie, before he denied - unconvincingly - that this was the case.

BaZmO* · 17-11-2009 9:36am

tannapol wrote: »

And re the tanking up what does 02 expect when they try to sell as much drink as possible and allow punters to bring pints into auditorium to spill over their neighbours?

Well it's better than the old Point where you couldn't get a drink because of the ridiculous queues, or lack of queues, it was just a free for all at the bars.

Sonic_exyouth · 17-11-2009 9:59am

Charles Onions wrote: »

I thought the first half was 50/50 and found the musical unbearable and insultingly trite. I dont think it is the mark of limited patience to sit through 25 minutes of something, hate every minute of it and with no end in sight, decide to leave. And if you find the idea of conflicting opinions so distasteful that you feel the need to insult anyone who holds one then might I suggest that maybe you stay off the internet and spend your days on your own in front of a mirror giving yourself the thumbs up for being so completely right all of the time

wow, what a great idea.. and not moronic at all. :rolleyes:
You sure proved me wrong!

Spending €100, maybe more, to see a singer, and leaving half way through because you dislike a bonus section.. not moronic at all.

Booing, hissing, swearing at child actors .. not moronic at all.

yeah.. you sure proved me wrong :rolleyes:

BaZmO* · 17-11-2009 10:09am

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

Spending €100, maybe more, to see a singer, and leaving half way through because you dislike a bonus section.. not moronic at all.

Bonus section? I think in this case that's a very subjective term.

Sonic_exyouth · 17-11-2009 11:26am

BaZmO* wrote: »

Bonus section? I think in this case that's a very subjective term.

There was a full concert.. 20 songs in total.
+ This Bonus.

Snickers Man · 17-11-2009 1:53pm

BaZmO* wrote: »

A 30 min advertisement during his show? Wow

If he was a poster on Boards he'd be banned for being a shill.

.

+1*10000

ROTFLMAO.

:D:D

geeky · 17-11-2009 3:00pm

Just to mention - there's a huge difference between leaving if you're not enjoying yourself and screaming abuse at the singer and child actors. It's probably useful to separate the two in discussion of this.

Degsy · 17-11-2009 3:16pm

carpedeum wrote: »

We got our tickets sometime ago and the musical was clearly advertised! We knew that some classics would not feature because of Yusuf's change in beliefs.

The musical did go on for too long and we wanted Yusuf to sing those songs sung by the actors. However, there was no excuse for the heckling, booing and slow handclappling. Some people beside us, mid 50ish, were knocking back the booze and were effing and shouting! We felt embarassed as Irish people. 15 mins of the musical would have been sufficient though.

The worst moment was when the gougers booed when he announced that he was going to sing a new composition! I have never heard this reaction to new material at any other gig including Springsteen, Christy Moore, U2 etc.

I wonder how much of the carry-on was due to people just venting their frustration at the mess the country is in!

It wasn't a classic concert, but, let's face it, Cat Stevens is long gone.

P.S. Credit to Harry Crosbie on the new Point.

Gerry Ryan is that you??

refusetolose · 17-11-2009 4:19pm

MMD wrote: »

did you not think that particular section of the show was even remotely self indulgent? I mean come on...having west end actors signing some of your classic songs is in my opinion a disgrace.

All in, how long was he actually on stage??

Onstage 8pm...8 songs, interval...THAT section...then 3 encores.

Don't get me wrong Dolittle, when he was good, he was awesome, but that section of the show was just a very very bitter pill to swallow. I, unlike a lot in my section, stayed to the end.

As a very frequent gig goer, I cannot remember anything like this happening at a gig before.

part of this post is quoted in the sun today.......the parts in bold....

Sean K · 17-11-2009 5:05pm

The main mistake Yusuf made was to hold this event at such a big venue - it obviously resulted in many half hearted "fans" forking out to see him play a Cat Stephens' Greatest Hits show. Holding it in Vicar St. would have cut out most of the riff raff and left the genuine fans to celebrate attending the exclusive world premiere of his musical (and his own remarkably impeccable performance after such a long absence) without the heckles of disgruntled whingers. True fans who have actually listened to his music know that he is not a man who pays any respect to convention:

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are

You can do what you want
The opportunity's on

Degsy · 17-11-2009 5:11pm

Sean K wrote: »

he is not a man who pays any respect to convention:

Very true...he sides with fundamentalists to suppress freedom of speech
http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/04/18/specials/rushdie-cat.html

Sonic_exyouth · 17-11-2009 5:14pm

Degsy wrote: »

Very true...he sides with fundamentalists to suppress freedom of speech
http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/04/18/specials/rushdie-cat.html

This George Bush?

MMD · 17-11-2009 5:24pm

refusetolose wrote: »

part of this post is quoted in the sun today.......the parts in bold....

:eek: I always knew I'd make the media someday...the Sun eh? Plagarists

I hope at least they fixed my original typo!!

Ash.J.Williams · 17-11-2009 5:35pm

i have a question for the people who are particularly vociferous about last night...Do you go to many gigs?

It seems to me like Mr. Islam really thought he was putting on a good show last night. He did not deserve that treatment. Fair enough he made a mistake.

refusetolose · 17-11-2009 6:11pm

MMD wrote: »

:eek: I always knew I'd make the media someday...the Sun eh? Plagarists

I hope at least they fixed my original typo!!

yeah they fixed the typo....

have you seen it? would you like me to scan it?

MMD · 17-11-2009 7:00pm

refusetolose wrote: »

yeah they fixed the typo....

have you seen it? would you like me to scan it?

thanks a mill mate, but will pop across to shop if I ever get out of work and get it!!

If the article refers to other posts also, it would be good for the other boardies to see it too!

Thanks again

Cat Stevens at the O2 in November..

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