Pop Star

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Pop Star" by Cat Stevens from his 1970 album Mona Bone Jakon, and this track is a gem with some wild trivia. In a 1972 interview, Stevens revealed the album’s title, Mona Bone Jakon, was his quirky nickname for his penis, a cheeky nod that gives the album a layer of playful irreverence. "Pop Star" itself is a satirical jab at the fleeting nature of celebrity, reflecting Stevens’ own experience as a teen idol in the late '60s. Posts on X from Stevens’ official account highlight the album’s intimate vibe, noting how producer Paul Samwell-Smith captured a raw, introspective mood. The song’s lyrics and upbeat rhythm mock the superficial glitz of fame, a theme that resonated with Stevens as he reinvented himself after a health scare. Fans on sites like Majicat point out that "Pop Star" showcases Stevens’ vocal shift, moving from his earlier pop sound to a grittier, folk-rock style, a transformation that defined his early '70s work.

Another cool tidbit comes from fan discussions on the Cat Stevens Fans Facebook group, where some speculate "Pop Star" was Stevens’ way of closing the chapter on his days as a chart-topping teen sensation with hits like "I Love My Dog." The song’s guitar riffs, detailed in a fan breakdown, show Stevens’ knack for blending catchy hooks with introspective lyrics. The official Cat Stevens store celebrated the album’s 50th anniversary in 2020, sharing on Instagram that Mona Bone Jakon was the "kernel of the seed" for Stevens’ later masterpieces like Tea for the Tillerman. This track, with its sly humor and stripped-down sound, marked Stevens’ pivot to a more authentic artistic identity, a move that Zoo Freaks can vibe with as they groove to its rebellious spirit.

Cat Stevens, born Steven Demetre Georgiou in London in 1948, kicked off his music career as a teenager with a Greek-Cypriot father and Swedish mother. Growing up above his family’s restaurant, he was drawn to folk and rock & roll while studying at Hammersmith College. By 1965, performing as Steve Adams, he caught the ear of producer Mike Hurst, formerly of the folk-pop group The Springfields. Hurst recorded Stevens’ song "I Love My Dog," which led to a deal with Decca’s Deram label. Adopting the name Cat Stevens—supposedly because a girlfriend said his eyes were cat-like—he dropped "I Love My Dog" in 1966, hitting the UK Top 40. His 1967 single "Matthew & Son" nearly topped the charts, and his song "Here Comes My Baby," covered by The Tremeloes, became a Top Five hit. These early successes, shared on his Facebook, set the stage for his meteoric rise, though the pressure of fame and a tuberculosis diagnosis in 1968 forced a pause that led to the introspective shift heard in Mona Bone Jakon.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, check out Stevens’ official website for tour updates and merch. His Facebook and Instagram accounts, under his current name Yusuf Islam, share throwbacks and new projects, while his X posts often reflect on his '70s classics. Fan hubs like Majicat offer archives of articles, photos, and tour history, and the Cat Stevens Fans Facebook group is a lively spot for Zoo Crew listeners to swap stories and vinyl finds. Stevens’ journey from pop prodigy to folk-rock legend, mirrored in "Pop Star," keeps his music spinning on THE ZOO’s turntables.