Amid a lineup bursting with rock legends like Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, and Blondie, it was Cat Stevens—now known as Yusuf Islam—who delivered one of the most soul-stirring moments of Glastonbury 2023. Armed with just his acoustic guitar and that unmistakable voice, he turned the massive Pyramid Stage into an intimate, emotional gathering.
And when he played Wild World, the real magic happened.
🌌 A Sea of Voices, One Song
Fifty-three years after its original release, Wild World still struck a universal chord. As Stevens began to sing, the crowd—tens of thousands strong—responded instantly, echoing each lyric with reverence and clarity. Young festival-goers sang beside lifelong fans, creating a moving harmony that floated under the open summer sky.
“It was something of a dream,” Stevens later shared, calling the energy from the audience “beyond anything I’d experienced in Britain before.”
🎸 A Setlist Steeped in Legacy
The legendary singer-songwriter didn’t stop with just one emotional high. His 21-song set included timeless classics like:
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The First Cut Is the Deepest
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Moonshadow
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Morning Has Broken
He also paid a heartfelt tribute to George Harrison, covering Here Comes the Sun in a moment that many called one of the weekend’s most beautiful.
✨ Music That Defies Time
Though Stevens famously stepped away from the spotlight for years, his Glastonbury performance proved one thing loud and clear: his music is as vital and resonant today as ever. His voice, nearly unchanged since the 1970s, carried decades of wisdom, warmth, and truth.
For a few unforgettable minutes, the festival wasn’t just about the music. It was about memory, connection, and the kind of timeless storytelling that only an artist like Cat Stevens can deliver.
