May 9 WRIU Playlist - Soul Ruled the World

by Reza Corinne Clifton

KINGSTON, RI - Yesterday, May 9, I was charged with hosting and running Voices of Women, a program on WRIU, 90.3 FM. VOW airs weekly, on Saturdays from 9-11 AM, thanks to the love and time put into it by Gail, Beth, Liza and me. Wanting to make things special, I themed the show - and preempted the selections I would weave into it - ...If Soul Ruled the World....

With all that excitement and preparation as a priority, I accidentally failed to carry to the station many of the CD's from which I intended to demonstrate that focus. Still, I managed. Furthermore, in a way, I was freshly aided and inspired by what was a rainy Rhode Island Spring morning - and many of my listeners noticed; I don't know if I ever received so many calls!! Thanks to the words of support, requests, and artist recommendations from and by Rick, Jesse, Erin, Vera, Medicine Man, Kwasi, Jimmy, and Bill.

Below is my playlist, an adventure in my preferences - and yours.

(Artist / Song / Album)

• Lauryn Hill / Ex Factor / Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
• Amel Larrieux / Lucky to Be Me / Lovely Standards
• Adele / First Love / 19
• Margie Joseph / I'd Rather Go Blind / Margie Joseph
• Duffy / Syrup & Honey / Rockferry
• Aretha Franklin / Day Dreaming / Aretha Franklin's 30 Greatest Hits, Disc 2
• Corinne Bailey Rae / Day Dreaming / Corinne Bailey Rae, Disc 2
• Adele / Chasing Pavements / 19
• Fiona Apple / First Taste / Tidal
  
• Etta James / All I Could Do Was Cry / Etta James Rocks the House
• Sade / Jezebel / The Best of Sade
• Yusa / Conga Pasajera / Haiku
• Les Nubians / Demain / Princessess Nubiennes
• The Cardigans / Celia Inside / Life
• Les Nubians / Hymne Nubien / Princesses Nubiennes
• Shakira / Pies Descalzos, Suenos Blancos / Shakira: The Remixes
• Floetry / Closer / Flo'ology
• Lilly Allen / Friend of Mine / Alright, Still
• Amy Winehouse / Love is a Losing Game / Back to Black
• Sara Tavares / Lisboa Kuya / Balance
• Jill Scott f. The Isley Brothers / Said Enough / Jill Scott Collaborations
• Ruthie Foster / Cuz I'm Here / The Phenomenal
  
• Queen Omega / Looking for Love / Away from Babylon
• Maria Da Barros / El Tambem J'Dame / Danca Ma Mi
• Wunmi / Keep It Rockin / A.L.A.
• Dawn Penn f. Bounty Killer / No No No Remix / Ragga Jungle Anthem
• Adriana Calcanhotto / Justo Agora / Putumayo Presents: Women of Latin America
• Lily Allen / Everybody's Changing / Alfie EP
  

Sunshine and Laughter,
Reza Rites

Why 'Go Global or Go Home'

by Reza Corinne Clifton

'Go Global or Go Home' was my theme on April 25, but was it a political statement or economic slogan as some interpreted?

KINGSTON, RI - It was a long, cold voyage, but my partner and I finally picked up cable several months ago after at least 4 years without it. Now, before you judge and deem me as a pure consumer-capitalist, let me explain it, briefly: I was sick of going to journalism conferences not necessarily aware of each minute aspect of every major news item of the day or recent past (oh no!!!). Now of course that's not the worst area in which to have a deficiency...unless you're trying to make it out here calling yourself a journalist.

On the other hand, and to open up the flood gates of finger-pointing, typecasting, and ridicule, one of my nonnegotiables if we were going to finally agree to cable was that we had to include movie channels. But how would the content of HBO or Showtime help me with the conference issue the way programming on BBC or CNN would? I'll clear it up right away: That wasn't the point; I just wanted some fun. More than that, though, I've received inspiration for my Venus Sings slots on Voices of Women, a show that airs weekly on WRIU (90.3 FM in and around RI or at www.wriu.org) from 9-11 AM (EST) on Saturdays.

With respect to what it is inspiring me, I have to give credit to HBO in particular, for they've got me hooked like stolen fish on not one, but two series: 'The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency' and 'Alice.' Both shows are set outside of the U.S., with Detective Agency (we'll call it for short) based on characters, storylines, and the cultural nuances of Botswana - a small country in the Southern region of Africa - while Alice is based on the adventures of a woman who has recently moved to Sao Paolo, Brazil. Alice, by the way, mainly airs on HBO Latinoamerica.

Besides playing into the part of me that holds a fondness for studying and analyzing different cultures and people, I'm drawn into the two programs by the independent, adventurous, multifaceted protagonists in each show - women who take chances, listen internally, and embrace and walk the uneven road of change.

And perhaps it is because of the intersection that currently joins my career and sense of self - or maybe it's just good programming - but watching, I often end up feeling that their experiments are my experiments; their mishaps are my mishaps; their small successes are my small successes...And their music is my music.

So no, Go Global or Go Home was not a political statement or slogan, at least not this time. It was a shout-out to my two new favorite shows, and to everyone who feels connected to the world - through music.

Sunshine and Laughter,
Reza Rites

April 25 Playlist - Go Global or Go Home

by Reza Corinne Clifton

KINGSTON, RI - On April 25, I hosted Voices of Women on WRIU under the theme, "Go Global or Go Home." With artists from places like Brazil, Cuba, England, France, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Jamaica, and Houston, Texas, the idea was to represent for people all over the world. Take a look at my playlist (and search for info on the artists) and you'll see that I did just that.

Artist, Song, Album

• CEU / Malemolencia / CEU
• Sara Tavares / Lisboa Kuya / Balance
• Yusa / Conga Pasajera / Haiku
• Belo Velloso / Toda Sexta-Feira / Putumayo Presents Women of Latin America
• Adele / First Love / 19
• Feist / 1234 / The Reminder
• Lauryn Hill / Nothing Even Matters / The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
• Esperanza Spalding / Precious / Esperanza
• Janelle Monae / Sincerely Jane / Metropolis: The Chase Suite, Special Edition
• Les Nubians / Ebrasse Moi / Princesses Nubiennes
• Erykah Badu / Honey / New Amerykah, Part One: 4th World War
• Estelle / Back in Love / Shine
• Zap Mama / Ca Varie Varie / Ancestry in Progress
• Chiwoniso / Gomo / Rebel Woman
• Ivy Queen / Yo Soy La Queen / Flashback
• Sister Nancy / Bam Bam / Bam Bam
• Lilly Allen / Nan You're A Window Shopper / Alfie EP, Japanese Release
• Dawn Penn f. Bounty Killer / No No No remix / Ragga Jungle Anthem
• Rihanna / Say It / Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes
• Wunmi / Greedy Body / A.L.A.
• Solange Knowles / Sandcastle Disco / Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams
• Janet / 2 Nite / Discipline
• Lykki Li / Let it Fall / Youth Novels
• Jill Scott / Whatever / Beautifully Home
• Floetry / Closer / Flo'ology
• Estelle / Magnificent / Shine
  
• Terry Lynn / Consumers / Kingston Logic, 2.0

Peace,
Reza Rites

Venus Sings and Begs

From new music to out-of-state conferences, your girl Reza Rites definitely needs a budget. But that doesn't mean that wishes can't come true. Below is my newest music wishlist, which I'll continue to build till the next bpp - big purchase period.

• Laura Reed and the Deep Pockets (Live at Tree Sound Studios)
• Miti Miti (Altar Espandex)
• SoulShaker Volume 5: More Deep Funk, Soul and Groovy Club Sounds from Today's Scene
• The New MasterSounds Re::Mixed
• Gnarls Barkley
  
• Teyana Taylor
  
• Zigmat
• Sheila E.
• Cecile
• Kelis
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Chaka Khan
• Minnie Ripperton (PRESENT POSSESSION - "Perfect Angel")
• First Choice
• Lillian Alexander
• Chrisette Michele ("Epiphany")
• Odetta
• Telepathe (Dance Mother)
• Amanda Blank
• Keri Hilson
• Bumblebeez
• Suai
• No Doubt (early Gwen Stefani)
• Grace Jones
• Joan Armatrading
• Estelle (PRESENT POSSESSION: "Shine")
• Barbara Morgenstern (BM)
• Melissa Czarnik (Strawberry Cadillac)
• Miriam Makeba
• Laura Izibor (Let the Truth be Told)
• Angel Taylor (Love Travels)
• Madeleine Peyroux (Bare Bones)
• Dusty Springfield (Dusty in Memphis)
• Charlotte Gainesbourgh
• Asha
• The Rough Guide to Afrobeat Revival
• Alberta Hunter
• Irma Thomas
• Betty LaVette
• Tanya Maria
• Miss Tess (MA-based artist)
• Sun-Ra and his Arkestra
  
• Pharaoh Sanders
• Lady Sovereign ('Public Warning' and 'Jigsaw')
• Rye Rye (Go! Pop! Bang!)
• Amadou & Mariam
• Laura Gibson
• Obi Best
• Gabriella Cilmi
• Betty Davis
  

Got some great ideas or hook-ups? Holler.

- Reza Rites