Yusuf Islam, previously known as pop star Cat Stevens, has publicly joined the growing international peace movement calling for an end to war in Iraq by recording a new version of his multi-platinum 1970s hit, Peace Train.
Yusuf Islam made a personal appearance with South African vocal artist Zain Bhikha last night at BurJuman Centre. He is to make another appearance at 7.30 tonight.
The event was to premiere the video clip of Zain Bhikha's haunting and lyrical call for universal peace, Our World, which is released under Yusuf Islam's Mountain of Light label.
Audiences were also treated to an exclusive showing of a video clip of the new version of Peace Train recently recorded in South Africa.
Proceeds from the sale of both Peace Train and Our World will be distributed to Iraqi child victims through the UK-based and UN-registered Small Kindness charity organisation.
He said the new version of Peace Train does not signal the comeback of Cat Stevens. "I wrote Peace Train to protest another tragic war that filled my generation with sadness and uncertainty. It seems to me that Peace Train is now more relevant than ever."
The idea to record a new version of the original song, listed by BMI as one of the most played recordings ever, came in response to an invitation to participate in 'One Big No', a concert organised in London to protest the war against Iraq.
It featured George Michael, David Bowie, Neil Young, Ronan Keating, Yoko Ono, Elton John, Michael Moore and Coldplay, among many other artists against the war.
He re-arranged Peace Train using South African backing singers in place of musical instruments, and a live performance, recorded at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, transmitted and included in the concert.
"We are delighted that Yusuf and Zain are with us at BurJuman. Their songs are a tremendous response to their efforts to lend their voices to the world," said Eisa Ibrahim, General Manager of BurJuman.
The song's new version will also be included in War Child, a compilation album of major international artists against the war which will be released in April.
The Our World album and all Mountain of Light books and recordings are available in Magrudy's, Dubai Library Distributors, Dar Al Balagh bookstores and other outlets throughout the country. The song will be released in April as a CD Single with 'Angel of War', a second anti-war song composed by Yusuf.
The song can be downloaded from www.yusufislam.org.uk and contributions for the children of Iraq can be made through the www.smallkindness.org website
Gulf News
