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Jill Sobule, singer-songwriter known for ’90s pop hit ‘I Kissed a Girl,’ dies in house fire at 66

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On Thursday, Jill Sobule, a renowned musician and lyricist known for her 1995 chart-topper “I Kissed a Girl,” which boldly introduced a queer perspective into popular culture of that time, passed away at the age of 66.

It was reported by her representative, David Elkin, that Sobule passed away due to a house fire in the Minneapolis suburb of Woodbury. Unfortunately, she was on tour and was set to perform a homecoming concert in Denver that very evening.

Through her keen humor and theatrical instinct, Sobule crafted stories revolving around individuals grappling with aligning their inner selves with society’s perception of them. She was particularly adept at creating vibrant, realistic settings where characters embark on self-discovery journeys.

The song “I Kissed a Girl” features a lively folk-pop rhythm, complementing Sobule’s slightly gravelly voice. The tune begins with two companions relaxing together late at night, discussing their dissatisfying romantic experiences. As they drink and smoke, the narrative friend removes her coat. In this song, Sobule, who openly identifies as bisexual, expresses her experience of kissing another woman: “I kissed a girl just to try it out”.

She called home to say she’d be late

He said he’d worried but now he’d feel safe

I’m glad you’re with your girlfriend

Tell her hi for me

And then I looked at you

You had guilt in your eyes

But it only lasted a little while

And then I felt your hand above my knee

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The song “I Kissed a Girl,” from Sobule’s 1995 self-titled album, became a top 20 hit on Billboard’s alternative radio chart and reached number 67 on the Hot 100 chart. The music video for this song, featuring Fabio as one of the poor boyfriends, was nominated for two awards at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Additionally, another track from Sobule’s self-titled album, “Supermodel,” gained popularity when it was included in the soundtrack for the popular movie “Clueless” that year.

In the mid-90s, Sobule was part of a group of gifted songwriters, which also included Juliana Hatfield, Lisa Loeb, and Liz Phair. These women’s success can be viewed as a counterbalance to the gloomy, male-dominated grunge trend that had dominated a few years prior. However, Sobule was aware of the ongoing sexism that continued to follow her and other female artists onto TV screens and magazine covers.

In 1995, she playfully remarked to The Times, “They enjoy setting us up as rivals, as if we’re characters from ‘Dynasty’, ready for a catfight between Joan Collins and Linda Evans.” She humorously added, “Me and Sheryl Crow, supposedly at odds with each other!

Born in Denver in 1959, Sobule honed her guitar skills in her high school’s jazz band. While attending college, she had the opportunity to study abroad. During this time, while busking on the streets of Madrid with a friend, they were discovered by a nightclub owner who offered them a gig at his club. Inspired, she decided to leave college just a month later to pursue her music career.

In 1990, Sobule released her first album, produced by Todd Rundgren, through MCA Records, but the album failed to gain commercial success despite garnering much critical acclaim. Critic Chris Willman of The Times even referred to it as “one of the most accomplished debuts you’ll hear this year.” Unfortunately, MCA dropped Sobule before they could release her second album, which she had created with Joe Jackson.

In an interview with The Times back in 1995, Sobule expressed that it was a particularly challenging period in his life. He explained that he didn’t have many other abilities to fall back on, apart from his education in political science.

After signing her up, Atlantic Records published the follow-up album titled “Happy Town” in 1997 for Jill Sobule. Unfortunately, this release did not produce another chart-topping pop single.

As a music enthusiast, I’ve consistently been creating and performing my own tunes, and I managed to carve out a niche in television as well. One of my notable accomplishments includes penning the theme song for Nickelodeon’s “Unfabulous.” In 2009, I had the chance to share some playful insights about Katy Perry on the Huffington Post. You might recall that her hit single “I Kissed a Girl” ruled the Hot 100 the year prior.

In her writing, she expressed that while she might harbor a slight skepticism about the business, she has never held any resentment or negative feelings towards Katy personally. Instead, there was a sense of relief in no longer being associated as “The ‘Kissed a Girl’ girl.

In composing her 2014 album “Dottie’s Charms,” Sobule crafted tunes based on the words penned by authors like Jonathan Lethem, David Hajdu, and Vendela Vida.

She told the New York Times with a chuckle, ‘Since I’m no longer creating a polished pop tune, I now have the freedom to do as I please.’

Recently, Sobule completed a personal, growth-focused musical titled “F*ck7thGrade,” which will release its original cast recording in June. Among her family members, she has a brother and multiple nephews who continue to survive.

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2025-05-02 06:01

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