Cat Stevens (born Steven Demetre Georgiou on 21 July 1948) is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam. His musical style consists of folk, pop, rock, and, in his later career, Islamic music. In December 1977, Stevens converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam the following year. He began embracing Islamic music and, for a time, abandoned his musical career.
Stevens has been a major figure in the world of music for more than four decades. His first hit single, “Matthew and Son,” was released in 1967 and he subsequently rose to fame as part of the British folk rock movement. He has released over a dozen albums, including Tea for the Tillerman (1970) and Catch Bull at Four (1972), both of which sold more than two million copies. In the mid-1970s, Stevens embraced Islam and subsequently dropped out of the public eye for several years. He has since returned to the public eye with a series of acclaimed albums, including An Other Cup (2006) and Tell ‘Em I’m Gone (2014).
In addition to his musical career, Stevens has been involved in a range of humanitarian and educational initiatives. He has been awarded several honors, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire in 2007, and was named a UN Messenger of Peace in 2009. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
| Name | Cat Stevens |
| Genres | Folk rock, pop rock, soft rock, classical |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, harmonica |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor |
| Years active | 1964–1978 |
| Labels | Apple, Island, A&M, Mercury |
| Date of Birth | July 21, 1948 |
10 Best Cat Stevens Quotes
1.
“I think music is a language in itself, and it’s a language that everyone understands.”
– Cat Stevens, from Rolling Stone
2.
“It’s like the universe is a vast ocean, and we are all little drops of water. We may be different shapes, sizes and colors, but we are all part of the same ocean.”
– Cat Stevens, from The Sydney Morning Herald
3.
“I want people to feel the music and I want them to feel the peace, I want them to feel the love that the music can bring.”
– Cat Stevens, from NPR Music
4.
“I’ve always tried to make my music accessible to as many people as possible, without the music being trite or dumbed down.”
– Cat Stevens, from The Guardian
5.
“I think it’s important for people to be aware of the fact that music is more than just entertainment.”
– Cat Stevens, from Consequence of Sound
6.
“I think it’s easy to get lost in the details and the mechanics of music, but I always try to keep the emotional content of the music at the forefront.”
– Cat Stevens, from Rolling Stone
7.
“I’m always looking for ways to make the music more accessible, to make it more universal, and to connect with people on an emotional level.”
– Cat Stevens, from GQ
8.
“The most important thing for me is to create music that has an emotional connection with the listener.”
– Cat Stevens, from The Guardian
9.
“Music has the power to bring people together, to help them understand each other, and to create a sense of peace and harmony.”
– Cat Stevens, from The Guardian
10.
“I’ve always tried to make music that speaks to the heart and speaks to different cultures.”
– Cat Stevens, from NPR Music
5 Inspirational Cat Stevens Quotes
“To me, it’s a constant effort to be aware of the beauty of life, and to allow that to be a part of what I do.”
– Cat Stevens, from Billboard
“I’m just trying to find a way to bring life together. That’s my job, to put them together in a way that they can relate.”
– Cat Stevens, from Billboard
“My music has always been about connecting and about coming together. That’s my passion, that’s my goal.”
– Cat Stevens, from Billboard
“I’m very aware of the world, and I’m very aware of the spiritual side of life, and how those two things can go together.”
– Cat Stevens, from Billboard
“It’s been a journey of connecting the dots, connecting the pieces of life together, and making sense of it, in a way.”
– Cat Stevens, from Billboard
8 Famous Cat Stevens Quotes
“I think music is a language in itself. It’s something that everyone can understand.”
– Cat Stevens, from Rolling Stone
“I believe in the power of music. I believe it can heal the world.”
– Cat Stevens, from uDiscover Music
“I think more and more people are getting interested in wanting to know what it is that’s causing the problems in the world, and how we can solve them, and I think music plays a part in that.”
– Cat Stevens, from uDiscover Music
“I think my mission is to bring out a sense of joy and peace in the world.”
– Cat Stevens, from uDiscover Music
“I think the greatest thing you can do is be a mediator between divine and earthly things.”
– Cat Stevens, from uDiscover Music
“It’s the music that matters, not what’s attached to it.”
– Cat Stevens, from uDiscover Music
“When I write a song I’m trying to capture a feeling.”
– Cat Stevens, from uDiscover Music
“I think music is a way of connecting to a higher power, something bigger than ourselves.”
– Cat Stevens, from uDiscover Music
6 Cat Stevens Quotes About Love
“Love is a very powerful emotion and there is nothing more powerful”
– Cat Stevens, from Rolling Stone
“My songs are about love, about understanding, about trying to find a way to make love work in this world”
– Cat Stevens, from NPR
“Love is a state of being and it’s a connection with the divine”
– Cat Stevens, from The Guardian
“Love is the answer. We all know it and we’ve known it all along. But the question is how to make it work”
– Cat Stevens, from HuffPost
“Love is the only constant in this world, and it’s the only thing that will stand through time”
– Cat Stevens, from CBS News
“We all share the same love, the same joy, the same pain. I think that is something that we need to remember as we go through our lives”
– Cat Stevens, from Bloomberg
5 Cat Stevens Quotes About Life
“Life is so precious, and we have no idea how long it lasts, so let’s make the most of it while we can.”
– Cat Stevens, from The Guardian
“Life is a process of discovering who we are.”
– Cat Stevens, from The Guardian
“The main thing is to enjoy life and be yourself in this world.”
– Cat Stevens, from Billboard
“Life is a gift, and life is a journey.”
– Cat Stevens, from Udiscover Music
“Life is not a bed of roses, but it’s a bed of petals, and there are different kinds of petals.”
– Cat Stevens, from Udiscover Music
7 Quotes About Cat Stevens
“Cat Stevens (a.k.a. Yusuf Islam) is one of the most talented and influential singer/songwriters of the rock era.”
– Paul Zollo, from songfacts.com
“Cat Stevens is one of the most popular singer-songwriters and performers of the late 1960s and early 1970s.”
– Biography.com Editors, from biography.com
“Cat Stevens created music of great beauty and insight, and his transformation from pop star to spiritual seeker has been an inspiration to many.”
– AllMusic, from allmusic.com
“Cat Stevens creates music that is both passionate and reflective, making it a perfect fit for the Adult Contemporary format.”
– Associated Press, from apnews.com
“Cat Stevens is a legendary singer-songwriter who has created a huge body of work that has been praised for its depth and insight.”
– Rolling Stone, from rollingstone.com
“Cat Stevens is an iconic singer-songwriter, whose work has been praised for its emotional depth and spiritual resonance.”
– BBC, from bbc.co.uk
“Cat Stevens has been a major influence on both popular and folk music, and his songs are still beloved by millions.”
– The Guardian, from theguardian.com
Interview with Cat Stevens
Frequently Asked Questions About Cat Stevens
1. What are some of the most popular Cat Stevens quotes?
Cat Stevens is a renowned singer-songwriter and musician who has written some of the most iconic songs of all time. His music and lyrics have resonated with people around the world, and he has become a beloved figure in popular culture. As such, he has also been known to utter some of the most inspiring and thought-provoking quotes. Here are some of Cat Stevens’ most popular quotes:
- “If you want to be free, be free. Because there’s a million things to be.”
- “If you laugh at yourself, you’ll never cease to be amused.”
- “Life is like a roll of the dice. You can never predict how it will turn out.”
- “You don’t have to choose between right or wrong. You can choose both.”
- “The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.”
- “A heart that is open to every experience is a heart that will never be broken.”
- “The key to happiness is to accept the moment for what it is, not for what you think it should be.”
- “The journey is the reward.”
- “No one knows what’s going to happen, so don’t worry about tomorrow.”
- “The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.”
2. What is the message behind Cat Stevens’ music?
Cat Stevens’ music is often associated with spiritual and philosophical themes. He has written and performed songs about peace, love, and humanity, and his lyrics have been interpreted as a reflection of his deep spiritual beliefs.
Some of the most common messages in Cat Stevens’ music include:
- Peace and harmony: Cat Stevens often sang about the need for peace, understanding, and unity between people. He believed that by embracing love, peace can be achieved in the world.
- Tolerance and acceptance: In many of his songs, Cat Stevens encourages people to accept and appreciate each other’s differences. He also promotes understanding and empathy for those who are different from us.
- The power of nature: Cat Stevens often spoke about the power of nature and the importance of finding balance in the world. His songs are often filled with references to nature and its beauty.
- The importance of kindness: Cat Stevens was a strong advocate of kindness and compassion. He wrote songs about how kindness and love can bring people together and help to create a better world.
Cat Stevens’ music is a reminder to be kind and understanding, to practice peace and harmony, and to appreciate the beauty of nature. By embracing these values, he believed that we can create a world of peace and understanding.
3. What is the Story Behind Cat Stevens’ Conversion to Islam?
Cat Stevens is an international music icon and best known for his works in the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in London and his real name is Steven Demetre Georgiou. He changed his name to Cat Stevens after he started his musical career.
Cat Stevens was raised as a Greek Orthodox Christian, but converted to Islam in 1977. This conversion came after a dramatic personal experience. Here is the story behind his conversion to Islam:
- In the mid-1970s, Stevens was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was extremely ill for many months.
- He was told by doctors he was close to death.
- At his bedside, Stevens had a spiritual experience which made him re-evaluate his life and beliefs.
- He read extensively about various world religions, including Islam.
- He attended a lecture by a Muslim scholar and felt a connection with his words.
- He officially converted to Islam in December 1977.
Since then, Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) has dedicated a large part of his life to promoting Islamic values and advocating for peace and understanding between religions. He has released many albums and songs that reflect his spiritual beliefs.
4. What are Cat Stevens’ Most Influential Songs?
Cat Stevens is widely known for his folk-pop sound and his poetic lyrics. Throughout his career, he has released a variety of timeless songs that have had a lasting impact. Here are some of his most influential songs:
- “Father and Son” – This song is a conversation between a father and son, exploring the generational gap between them. It is one of Cat Stevens’ most beloved songs, and is often covered by other artists.
- “Peace Train” – This upbeat folk-rock song is one of Cat Stevens’ most recognizable songs. It speaks to his message of peace and understanding, and it is often used as an anthem for social justice movements.
- “Moonshadow” – This whimsical song speaks to the beauty of nature and the appreciation of life. It has been covered by many different artists, and it has been played in movies and commercials.
- “Wild World” – This song is a reflection on the changing world, and it speaks to the message of hope and resilience. It is one of Cat Stevens’ most popular songs and has been covered by numerous other artists.
- “Morning Has Broken” – This uplifting song speaks to the beauty of nature and the power of faith. It is often used in religious ceremonies and has been covered by a variety of other artists.
5. How did Cat Stevens’ songwriting style evolve over time?
Cat Stevens’ songwriting style evolved over time from a somewhat simplistic folk-style to a more sophisticated and lyrically rich style that was also more musically varied.
- In his early days, Cat Stevens wrote folk and pop songs with simple, straightforward lyrics that typically described his feelings or experiences.
- Later, his songs began to incorporate more complex and poetic lyrics, as well as elements of other musical genres, such as rock, jazz, and reggae.
- He also experimented with different musical instruments, such as the sitar, and incorporated musical elements from other cultures.
- He also developed a more sophisticated approach to songwriting, as his lyrics often contained deeper philosophical or spiritual messages.
- By the end of his career, Cat Stevens had developed an impressive repertoire of songs that incorporated a variety of musical styles and lyrical themes.
Conclusion
Cat Stevens is a singer-songwriter who has had a significant impact on the music industry through his timeless hits. His songs, which often address spiritual and social issues, have resonated with audiences around the world. His quotes, which show his deep insight into life, have inspired generations of fans. His words also serve as a reminder to us all to live life to its fullest and appreciate the beauty of it. Cat Stevens is an artist who will continue to live on in our hearts and minds for many years to come.
