Barnes and Noble pissed me off.

[Robert_S]

So, I was happily browsing in the bookstore when I got trolled by the in-store music. It was a cover of Usuf Islam's "Wild World", which I think is a rather condescending song, and the particular version struck me as even more whiny and pathetic that Cat's. I just couldn't get past the irony of a bookstore playing the music of a man who thinks it would be grand to kill someone over the writing of a book.

I was going to say something to the staff, but I didn't think I could retain my composure long enough to get through it without screaming "Fuck all Islam! Especially Usuf!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs.

[maiforpeace]

So, I was happily browsing in the bookstore when I got trolled by the in-store music. It was a cover of Usuf Islam's "Wild World", which I think is a rather condescending song, and the particular version struck me as even more whiny and pathetic that Cat's. I just couldn't get past the irony of a bookstore playing the music of a man who thinks it would be grand to kill someone over the writing of a book.

I was going to say something to the staff, but I didn't think I could retain my composure long enough to get through it without screaming "Fuck all Islam! Especially Usuf!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs.

[Hermit]

Oh, yes, the nerve of it all. Just look at the lyrics:

• Lalalalalala...
  
  Now that I've lost everything to you
  You say you wanna start something new
  And it's breakin' my heart you're leavin'
  Baby, I'm grievin'
  But if you wanna leave, take good care
  Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
  But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there
  
  CHORUS:
  Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
  It's hard to get by just upon a smile
  Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
  and I'll always remember you like a child, girl
  
  You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
  And it's breakin' my heart in two
  Because I never wanna see you sad, girl
  Don't be a bad girl
  But if you wanna leave, take good care
  Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
  But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
  
  CHORUS
  
  Lalalalala....
  
  Baby, I love you
  But if you wanna leave, take good care
  Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
  But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
  
  CHORUS (x2)

Fundamentalist religious shit like that should not be allowed to be broadcast anywhere, even if it was written seven years before the author actually converted to it.

[charlou]

I just couldn't get past the irony of a bookstore playing the music of a man who thinks it would be grand to kill someone over the writing of a book.

I think that's the key point?

This is what muslims are told by Islamic fundamentalists should happen, but does this man (Cat/Yusuf) goes along with that 'interpretation' of Islamic dogma?

[Hermit]

Yusuf Islam did say about the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's execution: "He must be killed. The Qur'an makes it clear - if someone defames the prophet, then he must die." The irony is not lost on me either, but I would not get emotionally worked up about barnes & Noble playing a song written by the same pop artist that was created seven years before his conversion, and the lyrics of which cannot be thematically more removed from the writings in the qur'an.

[Robert_S]

Yusuf Islam did say about the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's execution: "He must be killed. The Qur'an makes it clear - if someone defames the prophet, then he must die." The irony is not lost on me either, but I would not get emotionally worked up about barnes & Noble playing a song written by the same pop artist that was created seven years before his conversion, and the lyrics of which cannot be thematically more removed from the writings in the qur'an.

I don't know if Yusuf gets any royalties from the store playing his music, but the exposure probably helps him with royalties and all that.

If I recall right, Yusuf backtracked a little and said he would only be a party to Salman's death if it were state sanctioned. That makes him a coward on top of everything else in my book.

And the lyrics... they just make me want to puke.

[FreeThinker23]

I was going to say something to the staff, but I didn't think I could retain my composure long enough to get through it without screaming "Fuck all Islam! Especially Usuf!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs.

A lot of stores have a third-party source (such as Muzak) for the in-store music, so they may not have had control over what was being played. Your complaint probably would have fallen on deaf ears anyway.

[Robert_S]

I was going to say something to the staff, but I didn't think I could retain my composure long enough to get through it without screaming "Fuck all Islam! Especially Usuf!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs.

A lot of stores have a third-party source (such as Muzak) for the in-store music, so they may not have had control over what was being played. Your complaint probably would have fallen on deaf ears anyway.

Or perhaps helpless but sympathetic ones.

[Animavore]

and I'll always remember you like a child, girl

Muslim through and through

[Link]

and I'll always remember you like a child, girl

Muslim through and through

[mistermack]

It's a great song. Cat Stevens was a fabulous song-writer.
I don't think it's condescending. I always thought it had a hint of a father letting his daughter go. He did write the father-and-son song as well.

Anyway, lot of girls do get by "just upon a smile". It's their most deadly weapon.
They are nowhere near as vulnerable as Cat Stevens thought at the time. I don't think it's condescending, it's just a bit innocent.
.

[tattuchu]

Teaser and the Firecat is one of the greatest pop records of all time. It's flawless from start to finish, and infused with a rare magic. Sad, though, that the man who sang "Peace Train" now advocates death to "blasphemers"

[tattuchu]

In fact I'm gonna put it in my CD player right now...

[Imagination Theory]

Yusuf Islam did say about the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's execution: "He must be killed. The Qur'an makes it clear - if someone defames the prophet, then he must die." The irony is not lost on me either, but I would not get emotionally worked up about barnes & Noble playing a song written by the same pop artist that was created seven years before his conversion, and the lyrics of which cannot be thematically more removed from the writings in the qur'an.

I don't know if Yusuf gets any royalties from the store playing his music, but the exposure probably helps him with royalties and all that.

If I recall right, Yusuf backtracked a little and said he would only be a party to Salman's death if it were state sanctioned. That makes him a coward on top of everything else in my book.

And the lyrics... they just make me want to puke.

Fucking dick, I'd be pissed too.


Did you buy anything there, by the way, I think people should just go to overpriced book stores to look for books and skim inside them and then go online and buy the book for half the price or less.

[Robert_S]

Yusuf Islam did say about the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's execution: "He must be killed. The Qur'an makes it clear - if someone defames the prophet, then he must die." The irony is not lost on me either, but I would not get emotionally worked up about barnes & Noble playing a song written by the same pop artist that was created seven years before his conversion, and the lyrics of which cannot be thematically more removed from the writings in the qur'an.

I don't know if Yusuf gets any royalties from the store playing his music, but the exposure probably helps him with royalties and all that.

If I recall right, Yusuf backtracked a little and said he would only be a party to Salman's death if it were state sanctioned. That makes him a coward on top of everything else in my book.

And the lyrics... they just make me want to puke.

Fucking dick, I'd be pissed too.


Did you buy anything there, by the way, I think people should just go to overpriced book stores to look for books and skim inside them and then go online and buy the book for half the price or less.