Rock stars crowded the main stages at Glastonbury in 2023, including Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, and Blondie. However, London folk-rock icon Cat Stevens adjusted his performance to the sound of the 1960s, tying his laid-back sing-along that has amassed 1 million views on YouTube with his acoustic smash “Wild World”!
With his sunburst acoustic guitar, a three-piece band, and at least five supporting vocalists, Cat—also going under the musical name Yusuf Islam—takes center stage and creates the uplifting, sanitizing vibrations that Glasto’s penultimate day was longing for. Though his subdued Sunday afternoon performance at the Pyramid Stage scarcely put the sea of admirers to sleep, it’s amazing to hear them all sing along to Cat Stevens’ songs 53 years after they were originally composed!
Yusuf’s voice, which sounds precisely like it did when “Wild World” first debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1970, stunned fans and internet users. Readers of Music Man will undoubtedly find it equally refreshing to see as younger generations flawlessly perform this classic tune, revealing how Cat’s eternal hits appear to envelop admirers throughout their entire lives.
Later, on his official website, Cat Stevens said, “Seeing 100,000 rapturous faces standing in front of me on that huge field at Glastonbury was something of a dream.” I had never felt such warmth and love in Britain before; it was just lovely. Our hearts grew closer, in time with the momentous occasion. I express my gratitude to all those who shared their affection on that beautiful afternoon.
A tribute to The Beatles and George Harrison was included in the 21-song set, which featured some of Cat Stevens’ greatest hits, such as “The First Cut Is The Deepest,” “Moonshadow,” and “Morning Has Broken.” A 75-year-old Yusuf introduced the song “Here Comes The Sun” with sentimentality, saying, “This song is dedicated to the one who inspired me, who inspired many people, to go on a long search to find the light, and his name: George Harrison.”
The Beatles’ career was coming to an end at the same time that Cat Stevens’ began. His first two albums were issued in 1967, and then two more in 1970 (one of which was the breakout album “Tea for the Tillerman,” which featured “Wild World” for the first time). Throughout the 1970s, a new record was released almost year.
After adopting to Islam in 1978—which sparked a discussion about what constitutes haram music—Cat called the music industry “a chore, and not an inspiration anymore” and ended his career.
Yusuf Cat Stevens performed an open acoustic sing-along of his iconic hit song “Wild World” at Glastonbury 2023, bringing the 1960s alive and thriving. The lyric-chanting audience’s captivating power was completely overwhelming, even with five backing vocalists on stage. It’s amazing to see so many young fans singing these classic songs alongside Cat’s own oldies but goldies! With one million views on YouTube to date, this viral movie demonstrates how certain musical singles stick with their listeners for the rest of their lives, even if decades go by. Furthermore, Cat Stevens’ voice still sounds just like it did on the original single, which was recorded 53 years ago!
If you would like to hear more from this talented guitarist you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel for more incredible music. Follow Cat Stevens on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and visit his official website for more information.