Jill Sobule, an American singer-songwriter who is famous for her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl”, died in her home in Woodbury in a tragic fire on Wednesday. She was 66.
As per her manager, John Porter’s account, the fire started early in the morning and despite the arrival of rescue personnel, Sobule’s life could not be saved. Local fire officials have stated that they are still probing into the cause of the fire.
A Trailblazer in Pop Culture
Jill Sobule was indeed a trailblazer in the realm of American pop music. She was at the forefront of mainstream success in pop when it comes to LGBTQ+ themes; she was the one who brought them to the attention of the audience-mostly, it was true and she was full of passion. The song “I Kissed a Girl” (not the Katy Perry one) she produced in 1995 was one of the very first radio singles to tackle such a sensitive topic as same-sex attraction on mainstream radio.
The song reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped to expose Sobule to a wider audience. She released a series of hits, such as “Supermodel”, which was included in the cult film Clueless, and gave further boost to her appeal with the 90s teen and young adult market.
A Creative Genius Apart from Music Charts
Although she did not pursue commercial success like most others, her influence crossed many barriers. Through her remarkable career, she dropped 12 albums and gained great acceptance within the indie music community. Her songwriting was always very clever and funny as well as really deep and personal.
She was lauded for her musical Fck 7th Grade* in recent times, a show that was her own, autobiographical stage production. This offered an update of her coming-of-age story. Drama Desk rewarded her show with a nomination and it played at many theaters across America and with great success.
According to her team, a soundtrack recording for the play and a new edition of her eponymous album are going to be released next month, they have confirmed.
Early Advocate for Crowdfunding and Fan Support
Sobule was not just the one who leads the digital music revolution. Back in 2009, she managed to get $75,000 out of her fan base to make up for the costs of her album California Years, and thus, she was one of the first musicians who entirely crowdfunded the production of a music album. The method has therefore given rise to such (modern) examples as Patreon and Kickstarter, that are led by the work of the artist.
Colleagues and Fans Pay Tribute
Whether they are music creators, fans, or activists, people turned to their social media platforms to accompany the terrible news of her death throughout the Thursday.
“She was more than a songwriter—she was a truth-teller,” wrote singer Aimee Mann. Her achievements or bravery in confronting industry standards and her effort to spread positivity through art made people speak very highly of her.
It was made known by her family that a public memorial in the open to everyone would take place this summer. Her brother James, sister-in-law Mary, and two nephews are still living.
A Lasting Legacy
The influence of Jill Sobule is undoubted. She was an artist who directly addressed the issues of gender identity, mental health, and politics even before these issues became popular or safe to be talked about, thus providing an inspiration to the generations of listeners and of other artists.
Without her voice, but with its songs and the limits she tore down, her legacy will for sure live on.
