With a message of hope for all, out Nigerian Reverend Rizi Nasele Timane steps forth with the album Come Out. Here, the strikingly beautiful Timane's intent is to mend the misunderstandings of the Bible with the LGBTQ community. Having studied the Greek and Hebrew translations, Timane wants to ensure listeners, especially queer youth, that God loves all and that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. The title track is particularly comforting as she repeats, "no more pain, no more fear." Featuring songs like "You Mean So Much to Him" and "He Brought Me Out," Timane's Come Out is available at www.rizigospel.com .
Underneath that big sun hat and behind those oversized sunglasses, just who is that singing "Big Mama's House?" It is not the usual suspects, Martin Lawrence or Eddie Murphy. It is Capretta, better known to those in Columbus as Father Anthony. Yes, an out and proud Catholic priest has scored a club hit by preaching, "everybody dance now, Big Mama's in the house." With remixes by Chris Shannon, DJ Kilo, The Perry Twins and Rod Carrillo, "Big Mama's House" is available on iTunes.
Timane and Capretta give me reasons to rejoice since, as religious figures, they are making headlines with messages of love and unity instead of being caught in a compromising scandal or preaching against equality and civil rights from a non-profit forum.
Not too long ago, somebody brought up the gospel-soul duo Mary Mary. The sisters, Tina Atkins and Erica Campbell, recently performed at the BET Music Awards. Having heard the pair's songs "Shackles ( Praise You ) " and "Heaven," I thought this would be a great act to recommend to friends, especially those with children, since the material is relatively wholesome. Then I heard about the interview in Vibe Magazine. In the March 2007 issue, Mary Mary was asked about the group's gay fanbase. Atkins is quoted, "Like Erica said, we don't necessarily agree with the lifestyle, but we don't pride ourselves on bashing. Everyone has things in their life that they need to correct, everybody has struggles. Even though that's the way we feel, we don't bash, and we embrace everybody who enjoys our music." I won't bash, but did Atkins mean "enjoys our music" or "buys our music?" There are Christian pop artists who publicly thank, acknowledge and appreciate their LGBT fans, such as Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson and Michelle Williams. Remember: We are told to love thy neighbor and to save the judging for a higher power. The full Mary Mary interview can be found at www.vibe.com .
Two of music's top female singer-songwriters are coming through Chicago. On Wed., Aug. 12, Tracy Chapman ( pictured ) will be at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, and the following night, Susan Werner will be at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress. Chapman is making a two-week summer trek to promote 2008's Our Bright Future. This set has the delightful "Sing for You" and "I Did It All." On her latest outing, Classics, Werner brilliantly married beloved hits of the '60s and '70s with chamber music, accompanied by Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops instrumentalists.
In the '70s, Pat Benatar and Blondie led the way for rocking women onto the pop charts. This summer, they are hitting the road together with the Call Me Invincible Tour. The veterans will be sharing the stage at Ravinia on Monday, Aug. 17. The Donnas will be opening.
Benatar can rock out with her full-throttle anthems "Heartbreaker," "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" and "Hell Is for Children." Now the pint-sized singer is working on recording an acoustic album of her hits per an interview on www.billboard.com . Also on Benatar's horizon is an autobiography about being a woman in the male dominated music industry in the late '70s.
A follow-up of The Curse of Blondie is under way. Last year, a special 30-year anniversary edition of the timeless Parallel Lines was issued. It includes "Heart of Glass" and "One Way or Another" as well as my favorites, "Picture This" and "11:59."
Teena Marie's Congo Square is populated with mid-tempo love songs. Still, Lady T. pleads "don't funk with my heart." The R&B icon returns with collaborations with MC Lyte on "The Pressure" and Faith Evans on "Can't Last a Day." But the set's finest moments are her butter-melting pairing with Shalamar's Howard Hewett on "Lover's Lane," the smoldering "Marry Me" and the jazzy "The Rose N' Thorn." The upbeat "You Baby" is radio-ready and funky enough to keep devoted fans grooving. This "lovergirl's" Congo Square is solid gold.
Do not limit celebrating pride just to the month of June. Centaur's Party Groove: Pride 09 ranks among the label's best pride compilations. This year's summer anthem, "When Love Takes Over," is remade by Airi L. Eighties gems "All I Need Is a Miracle" and "Electric Dreams" are given dance-pop treatment by Love Freak and Evolution Allstars, respectively. But it is Mad8's update of Chicagoan Shawn Christopher's "Another Sleepless Night" that I have on repeat. This house classic still sounds vital nearly two decades after it was a club fixture. The set is mixed by DJ Max Rodriguez and is out now.
