I decided to pose that question to openly gay gospel artist, Rizi Timane, whose message of love, hope, and acceptance of the LGBT community in God’s eyes has often come under fire by religious groups but praised by lives her message has helped and even saved. Born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa and now residing in Los Angeles, Rizi, “challenges the Status-quo and encourages the LGBT Community to continue to move towards achieving FULL Human Rights while at the same time, asking our opponents to stop their hatred, ignorance and persecution of our community. Her lyrics in the single, “Come Out” and songs like, “Do you know” provide a direct confrontation to the religious fundamentalist notion that God/Bible Condemns homosexuality and strives to educate the public about what the Bible really says and does not say about homosexuality. Rizi’s ultimate goal is to enable any LGBT person who wants to know God but has been turned off by Religion to know that God loves them just as gay as they are and also to help those who are struggling with their spirituality and sexuality”
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Just The Way You Are I’m not sure which is more fascinating; Rizi Trimané, the artist – or Rizi Trimané, the person. But since this is a CD review, we’ll leave the personality profile for another day and concentrate on the music. Just The Way You Are, Ms. Trimané’s sophomore indie project, is definitely Gospel, but with a house/street underpinning that spins it in unexpected directions. The title track opens with mellow strings before launching into a melancholy, funky, autobiographical, ‘can I get a witness’ testimony of redemption paired with a bold declaration that this salvation is for everyone. The tune segues nicely into an encouraging, understated piano-based ballad called, “Hold On.” Ms. Trimané gets seriously ‘house’ on “No Broken Promises,” a four and a half minute marathon that goes on for a minute and a half too long. Ms. Trimané calls on her Nigerian roots for the trance-inducing “Jesus Loves Me,” and she recalls her dark days of cocaine addiction on the moody, intercessionary “Help Me Reach My Friend.” Best cuts include the jazzy, Gospel/blues number, “Someone Tell Me Why,” and the funky dancehall tune, “And I Just Wanna Say Thank You.” |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 February 2008 ) |
