Yusuf Islam

Yusuf Islam has been especially interesting to watch lately. After converting to Islam in the late 1970s, the former Cat Stevens withdrew from the music world. He re-emerged in the 1990s, tentitively, with islamic songs, nasheed, in english. He tip toed back into the pop world, re-recording his pop hit Father and Son with Ronan Keating. Most recently, he has released his first full pop album in decades, An Other Cup.

But, out of everything he has done as Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam, it is this video from a celebration of the Prophet's birthday in Abu Dhabi.



I think these songs appeal very strongly to me because they mix the traditional muslim style of nasheed with a more western, almost a gather around the campfire feel.