Transcript Samy, Maher and Cat Stevens

Sami Yusuf Vs. Maher Zain
Outline:
 A brief about Sami Yusuf.
 Reciting “Make Me Strong”.
 A brief about Maher Zain.
 Listening to “Paradise”.
 Similarities.
 Differences.
 Influence.
 Reception Theory.
 Critics Perspective.
Samy Yusuf:
 He was born in July 1980 into a musical family of Azeri
origin Tehran, Iran, learning to play several
instruments at a very young age and demonstrating a
keen interest in singing and composing.
 He studied music at several institutions and with
famous composers and musicians including
composers from the Royal Academy of Music in
London, one of the world most prestigious music
institutions.
 He is a singer, songwriter & composer.
 In 2003 Yusuf released his first album “Al mualim" at
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the age of 23
His second album “My Ummah" in 2005
Third official album “Wherever you are“ 2010
“Salam" is his fourth album 2012
Yusuf's fifth official album "The Center“ 2015
We chose “make me strong”
I know I’m waiting
Waiting for something
Something to happen to me
But this waiting comes with
Trials and challenges
Nothing in life is free
I wish that somehow
You’d tell me out aloud
That on that day I’ll be ok
But we’ll never know cause
That’s not the way it works
Help me find my way
My Lord show me right from
wrong
Give me light make me strong
I know the road is long
Make me strong
Sometimes it just gets too
much
I feel that I’ve lost touch
I know the road is long
Make me strong
Maher Zain:
 Age: 34 Years old.
 Education: BA in Aeronautical Engineering
 Maher Zain is a Swedish Islamic singer, songwriter &
music producer of Lebanese origin.
 He released 2 albums with Awakening Records, Thank
You Allah (2009) & Forgive Me (2012).
 Maher worked in New York with internationally
renowned producer RedOne (Akon, Lady Gaga, etc)
but he chose instead to make music that reflects his
Islamic roots.
 Maher Zain’s first musical inspiration came from his father,
who was a singer himself, performing locally in the
beautiful Mediterranean city of Tripoli - Lebanon.
 His famous statement which I like most “I loved the music
but I hated everything that surrounded it, it always felt like
something wasn’t right.” Maher still felt like something is
missing. Therefore, he was restless and eventually decided
that the music industry and all that surrounded wasn’t the
right place for him and he returned to Sweden.
 In early 2009, Maher Zain re-entered the music industry
albeit with a different kind of music and decided to work
with Awakening Records (UK) on an album that reflects his
identity – Arab, Muslim and Swedish.
 Maher Zain’s music (dynamic and modern mix of East
& West) mixes the sounds of R&B with traditional
spiritual, soul and contemporary pop music, not just
updating spiritual music and inshad but fearlessly
reviving it with contemporary flair. Maher’s songs are
instant classics of great power and timeless,
unassailably intense spirituality.
 We chose his beautiful song “paradise”
I remember when I first met you
I felt that God answered my call
There was that one place I always thought about
And I just wanted to be there with you
The place that no eye has ever seen
The place that no heart has ever perceived
I had a great feeling inside of me
That one day I’ll be there with you
And now that we’re here feeling so good
About all the things that we went through
Knowing that God is pleased with us too
It’s not a dream, this is so true
Feeling the peace all around
Seeing things we could never imagine
Hearing the sound of rivers flow
And we know we’ll be here forever
The feeling is indescribable
Knowing that this is our rewards
Similarities:
 Both are lyrical poems.
 Form (poetic style – ballad)
 Rhyme scheme both have imperfect rhyme.
 Both grew in an artistic family.
 The message of both poets:
 They are the Islamic messengers of peace, love,
repentance & hope.
 Meaningful & Islamic entertainment.
 Supporting others, specially those in regions conflict.
Differences:
 Make me strong & paradise are different in the theme..
It is like that paradise continues the idea of the first
one.
 Sami is polyglot; since he knows more than one
language, as Indian, French, English, Arabic, Azeri,
Chinese & so on.
 Maher mainly knows three languages: English, Arabic
& Swedish.
 Nationality of both as we said previously.
Influence:
 There is about sex years between the appearance of
Sami & Maher. Sami appears earlier sex years than
Maher; so there is a strong possibility that Maher
could be influenced by Sami.
 But, the fact that they are both originally influenced
by their fathers.*
Reception theory:
 Both are well received & very popular. However, Maher
Zain is much popular than Samy Yusuf according to
their followers on FB & Twitter.
 "Thank you Allah” & “forgive me” were in the top 10
bestselling albums on Amazon UK.
 Sami also is one of the UK’s biggest exports in the last
decade. In the course of 10 years, he has masterfully
navigated through unchartered waters – he has won
over the hearts and minds of millions from across the
Middle East, Europe, North America and North Africa.
Critics perspective:
 Some Islamic preachers rejected the idea of using
musical instruments in the Nashid, justifying that
these instruments is taboo in Islam.
 But the majority of critics encourage this kind of
meaningful songs, regarding the fact that it is better
than listening to impudent songs.
Cat Stevens ( Yusuf
Islam)
Yusuf Islam:
 Thinking that his given name- Steven
Georgiou- might not be memorable to
prospective fans, he first chose the stage
name Cat Stevens.
 Steven Georgiou or Cat Stevens, also
known as Yusuf Islam, is a British singer,
songwriter, multi-instrumentalist,
humanitarian, and education
philanthropist.
Yusuf Islam:
 He was born on 21 July 1948 in
London.
 Inspired by the popularity of the
Beatles, at 15 he extended his
interest to the guitar.
 In 1965, he began his musical
career.
Yusuf Islam:
 In December 1977, Stevens converted
to Islam, and he adopted the name
Yusuf Islam the following year.
 In 1979, he auctioned all his guitars
for charity and left his music career
to devote himself to educational and
philanthropic causes in the Muslim
community.
Yusuf Islam:
 In 2006, he returned to pop
music – releasing his first
album of new pop songs in
28 years, titled An Other
Cup.
Conversion into Islam:
 While on holiday in Marrakesh,
Morocco, Stevens was charmed by the
sound of the Aḏan- the call for prayer.
 After he had heard the call for prayer,
Steven asked about its meaning.
 People described it to him as a “ music
for God”
Conversion into Islam:
 Stevens said, "I thought, music for God?
I'd never heard that before – I'd heard of
music for money, music for fame, music
for personal power, but music for God!“
 In 1976 , Stevens nearly drowned off the
coast of Malibu, California, United States,
and said he shouted: "Oh, God! If you
save me I will work for you."
Conversion into Islam:
 Stevens' brother David Gordon brought
him a copy of the Qur'an as a birthday
gift from a trip to Jerusalem.
 Then Yusuf converted to Islam.
 Following his conversion, Yusuf
abandoned his music career for nearly
three decades, after some sheiks had
told him it was prohibited.
Music Genre:
 Folk , music transmitted orally, or as
music with unknown composers.
 Pop, short to medium-length songs
written in a basic format (often the
verse-chorus structure) as well as
the common employment of
repeated choruses, melodic tunes,
and hooks.
Music Genre:
 Rock, centered on the electric
guitar, usually as part of a rock
group with electric bass guitar
and drums.
 Islamic, Muslim religious
music
Influence:
 Stevens emphasized that the
advent of West Side Story , an
American musical with a book by
Arthur Laurents, in particular
affected him, giving him a
"different view of life".
Songs
 Can’t Keep It In
 Morning Has Broken
 Morning Has Broken
 Moonshadow
 God Is The Light “Islamic”
 Bismillah “Islamic nasheed”
Music Life:
Stevens performed in cafes, pubs, and coffee
houses.
His stage name, Cat Stevens.
Mike Hurst (producer).
Decca Records.
“Mathew and son”
“Tea for Tillerman”
“Wild World”
Conversion to Islam
Mostly drowned.
(His promise to God)
“I didn’t have any strength left, there was only one place to
go, and that was God. I never doubted God’s existence
but I never called on him because every thing had
seemed all right in my life. This is life and death.”
1977-1979 ( Yusuf Islam)
His money in favor of Muslim schools.
1983: Islamia primary school.
1922: a foundation that brought up all
Muslim schools together in the UK.
90’s & 2000’s: didactic music that
teaches children about their faith.
Returning back to music (1989)
“I was getting criticism from the Muslim community, why are
you picking up a guitar again? What’s happening to you?”
“Listen to me, this is a part of the Islamic civilization we have lost
our contact with it, we lost our vibrant approach to life and
culture.”
“There was so much antagonism in the world.”
People who want to remember me as Cat Stevens, welcome. Those
who want me as Yusuf Islam, here we are.”
Message:
“I just want to write music from my
heart and give people a message of
hope and the search for a better
life.”