Latest news with #TheFirstCutistheDeepest
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Rod Stewart at Glastonbury: Pop superstar brings some Vegas razzmatazz to Worthy Farm, but it's an odd fit
But his superpower has always been his voice, and at 80 it is starting to show signs of wear and tear. Which is not to suggest he can't sing. Give the old crooner a big ballad and he can still wring every last drop of emotion out of it, especially when floating around in the upper edges of a melody. He's a bit wheezing and breathier than in his prime, but his sense of where his voice can slip and slide through a song is second to none. Signature ballads such as The First Cut is the Deepest and I Don't Want To Talk About It were gorgeous in the afternoon sun. A version of I'd Rather Go Blind dedicated to the late Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac was momentarily stunning, as if the huge occasion had fallen away and we were watching Rod the Mod connect with his beloved soul music in a profound way. But much of the set felt misplaced, as he tried to bring cheesy Vegas razzmatazz to dated pop-rock hits that he no longer has the lung power to fully command. Young Turks was blasted out very fast and quite flat, as if he was straining to sing it in a key out of his natural range. The sentiments of Forever Young are fine, but he needs to sing it better than that to convince us of the merits of growing old disgracefully. It was notable that the vocal energy level shot up when Stewart went off to 'change me shirt and 'ave a cuppa tea' and his trio of female backing vocalists took over for a rip through Proud Mary. I wonder if the occasion actually got a bit too much for him? Which might seem absurd for a performer of Stewart's experience, but he admitted at one point to being 'so excited, I can hardly breathe'. He brought the hits, a slick band, and the desire, but he couldn't quite command a crowd, who only really joined in on the biggest songs, a sing-along of Sailing and a perhaps ironically well-received Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? that Stewart shouted rather than sang. A sign declaring 'Rod you're a plonker' suggested some still needed convincing of his charms. It took the arrival of his old guitar foil Ronnie Wood to really inject some rock spirit as they blasted through a raucous version of the Faces' Stay With Me, before Lulu joined them to charge through a cheesy Hot Legs. It was fun, but I suspect Stewart's ancient guest stars (who included his soundalike Mick Hucknall) don't quite have the wow factor for a younger generation of listeners. There's been a lot of talk about the Middle East, quite rightly so The phrase 'use your platform' has been bandied about a lot this year, as young bands seem to be rediscovering the urge to speak out on issues of the day. Established acts have been less vocal, perhaps more aware of possible career repercussions. Stewart is probably too venerable to worry about reputational risks, and weighed in with: 'There's been a lot of talk about the Middle East, quite rightly so.' But rather than encouraging chants of 'Free Palestine', he dodged to the ironically safer terrain of another war, dedicating a ropey cabaret version of The O'Jays Love Train to 'the Ukraine'. I'm not sure the song's generic universal love sentiments really count as a political statement, but at least he was making an effort to show he was in line with the festival's values. Stewart even brought out festival founder Michael Eavis in a wheelchair to celebrate his 89th 'birthday' (which was actually last October). The bearded old farmer and the pink-suited veteran star looked like a very odd couple, and, in truth, it all felt like a bit of an odd fit − a flashy cabaret in a field rather than a triumphant celebration of a superstar.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rod Stewart Admits His Lavish 80th Birthday Celebration Cost an ‘Absolute Fortune'
Rod Stewart spared no expense when it came to his 80th birthday. The legendary singer-songwriter, who turned 80 in January, revealed he celebrated his milestone birthday by cruising the ocean on a yacht with his loved ones. 'We hired a massive yacht. Cost me an absolute fortune. I don't mind—you're only 80 once,' Stewart told AARP in an interview published on Thursday, May 22. The 'Maggie May' hitmaker, who has been married to wife Penny Lancaster since 2007, said he took his whole crew on the trip. 'I've got eight kids and five grandchildren, plus various boyfriends and husbands, so there were 15 of us,' he noted. 'We had three chefs. The boat was so big that I didn't even see some of it.' The Grammy winner also recounted the heartwarming way his family paid tribute to him one evening. 'We dressed up every night, with a different theme,' he explained. 'One night, they all dressed up as Rod Stewart and didn't tell me. My dear wife brought wigs for everybody and some of my old outfits. It was a wonderful time.' The fun didn't stop on the high seas, as the rockstar also had a belated birthday celebration with his Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood. The 77-year-old Rolling Stones member posted an Instagram carousel with photos and videos that showed Stewart wearing a 'Birthday Bhoy' pin as they enjoyed a night out with each other and their wives. ' Really fun night celebrating Rod's 80th!' Woods captioned the post, shared in January. While the 'The First Cut is the Deepest' vocalist has gotten older, that hasn't slowed down Stewart's career, as he told the outlet he's still 'got so much more music to do.' He also continues performing live as he is on his One Last Time tour. Stewart reflected on touring at his age, telling the publication, 'When I feel I might be sick enough to cancel a concert, that's when I go, 'Maybe I'm getting old.' Then a couple of days later, bang, I'm back at it again.' He added, 'I enjoy doing concerts more than I did back then. Maybe I've come full circle to appreciate how lucky I've been.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yusuf/Cat Stevens Announces Memoir ‘Cat on the Road to Find Out'
Yusuf/Cat Stevens, one of the most beloved singer-songwriters of his generation, announced his upcoming memoir Cat on the Road to Find Out on Tuesday. The autobiography is set to release in the U.K. on September 18th through Constable, and in North America on October 7 through Genesis Publications. Cat on the Road to Find Out chronicles Stevens' career from his start as a recording artist in the '60s and subsequent ascent into superstardom by the '70s off iconic records like 'The First Cut is the Deepest' and Tea for the Tillerman. The book will also detail the 1975 near-drowning experience that inspired him to convert to Islam and change his name to Yusuf Islam as he left the music business behind, as well as his steady return since the '90s. (He released An Other Cup, his first pop album in nearly 30 years in 2006 and has released five more albums since then, including his most recent album, King of the Land back in 2023.) More from The Hollywood Reporter Capitol Music Group Launches Nashville Division, Hires Candace Watkins as President Zach Bryan Removes Collaboration With John Moreland From Streaming Services Amid Feud Amazon, ACM Awards Extend Streaming Deal Through 2028 Yusuf/Stevens has toured several times since he came back to pop music, including his first comeback tour in 2014. He's sold over 100 million records to date and was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. He was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. Preorder information for the book and presale info for his book tour is available on Stevens' website. 'I've been on an amazing journey, which began in the narrow streets of London, and led me through the most iconic cities, to perform upon the great stage of Western culture, ascending the dizzying heights of wealth, recognition and artistic pinnacles; freely exploring vast ranges of religions and philosophies, wandering through churches, temples, all the way to the Holy abode in Jerusalem — ignoring myths and warnings — and crossing the foreboded, desert heartlands, to arrive at the House of One God in Abrahamic Arabia,' he said in a statement. 'What finally elevated my perspective was a luminous Book that perfectly alchemized my thoughts, beliefs, with human nature. It taught me Oneness, and my place and purpose within the universe.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Al Etihad
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Tickets go on sale for Rod Stewart live at Etihad Arena
17 Apr 2025 23:50 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)He's an oldie but he's a goodie, and he's coming to Abu Dhabi on December British rocker Rod Stewart brings his iconic raspy voice to the Etihad Arena on Yas Island for a one-night-only go on sale on Friday, April 18, via highly anticipated concert promises a night of timeless hits from one of the best-selling music artists of all a setlist that reads like a greatest hits anthology, concertgoers can expect to hear Stewart's chart-toppers including Maggie May, You Wear It Well, Do Ya Think I'm Sexy, The First Cut is the Deepest, and Forever Young, alongside fan favourites like Tonight's the Night, Young Turks, and Rhythm of My in his sixth decade of stardom, 80-year-old Sir Rod shows no signs of slowing down. In 2024, he released his 33rd studio album Swing Fever, a lively collaboration with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues over 250 million records sold worldwide, two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a knighthood to his name, Stewart continues to redefine what it means to be a rock icon. And come December, Abu Dhabi will be centre stage for another unforgettable performance.
What's On
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Rod Stewart is coming to Abu Dhabi
It's time to rock out… Fresh off his 33rd studio album Swing Fever , Sir Rod Stewart has been confirmed to play at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on December 17 this year. One of the best-selling artists in history, the eight-decade strong legend will bring his timeless hits including Maggie May , The First Cut is the Deepest , Forever Young , and many others to town. Rod has sold over an incredible 250 million records to date, and with his incredible charisma, stage presence, and his ability to create an electric atmosphere no matter which sell-out arena he performs at, fans of iconic rock and roll tunes are in for an absolute treat in Abu Dhabi. Did we mention Sir Rod Stewart has also been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? That's the kind of legacy we're talking about. He'll be coming to town after having toured across Asia and Europe, before wrapping up a record-setting thirteen-year Las Vegas residency. Prior to his Abu Dhabi show, he'll have performed at The Colosseum, at Caesars Palace. To see this superstar who's been wowing the world with his records (as he creates records in the process) perform live in Abu Dhabi, grab your tickets when they go on pre-sale this Thursday, April 17, followed by general sales on Friday. Rod Stewart Live, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, December 17, pre-sale April 17 at 8am, general sales on April 18 at noon. Media: Instagram, supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
