From Arctic Monkeys and Guns N’ Roses to Queens of The Stone Age and Blondie, Glastonbury 2023 was packed with rock legends. But when London folk-rock icon Cat Stevens took the stage, he brought a whole different vibe—one straight from the heart of the 1960s. His acoustic classic “Wild World” turned into a magical sing-along, and the performance has already racked up over 1 million views on YouTube!
Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam, stepped onto the Pyramid Stage with his sunburst acoustic guitar, a talented three-piece band, and five powerful backing singers. His performance gave Glastonbury’s final day exactly what it needed—calm, uplifting energy. But make no mistake, this wasn’t a sleepy Sunday afternoon set! The crowd was anything but quiet, belting out every word of his timeless songs, proving that even 53 years after they were written, his music is as loved as ever.
Fans and online viewers couldn’t believe how Cat’s voice sounded exactly like it did when “Wild World” first climbed the Billboard charts in 1970. Seeing younger generations sing along so passionately was just as incredible. His songs have truly stood the test of time, following fans through every stage of life.
Reflecting on the experience, Cat shared on his official website:
“It was something of a dream, seeing 100,000 rapturous faces standing in front of me on that huge field at Glastonbury. The love and warmth I felt was heavenly, beyond anything I’d experienced in Britain before. Our hearts were joined together, in rhyme with the historic moment. Thank you, to everyone who shone their love that dazzling afternoon.”
His 21-song set was packed with classics, including “The First Cut Is The Deepest,” “Moonshadow,” and “Morning Has Broken.” He also paid tribute to The Beatles and George Harrison with a touching performance of “Here Comes The Sun.” Introducing the song, the 75-year-old legend said:
“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.”
Cat Stevens’ career began just as The Beatles’ was winding down. He released his first two albums in 1967, then skyrocketed to fame in 1970 with “Tea for the Tillerman,” which featured “Wild World.” He continued to release albums throughout the ’70s, becoming one of the era’s defining singer-songwriters.
In 1978, he stepped away from music after converting to Islam. He later explained that the industry had started to feel like “a chore, not an inspiration anymore.” This decision sparked debate about what music is considered haram in Islam, but his influence never faded.
At Glastonbury 2023, Cat Stevens transported the audience back to the 60s with an unforgettable acoustic sing-along. Even with five backing singers, the real power came from the thousands of fans chanting every lyric alongside him. His music has touched generations, and this viral performance—now at 1 million YouTube views—proves that some songs never grow old.
Want to hear more from this legendary guitarist? Subscribe to his YouTube channel for incredible music, follow him on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and visit his official website for more info!
