Quote:
Jill Sobule, singer of 1995 hit tracks “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel,” has died at the age of 66.
Sobule died early Thursday morning in a house fire, according to a statement from her publicity firm.
The Denver-born singer’s song “I Kissed a Girl,” off of her 1995 self-titled album, became the first openly LGBTQ-themed song to chart on the Billboard Top 20.
She is perhaps best known for her single “Supermodel,” also off her self-titled album, which was her second. “Supermodel” was prominently featured in the popular 1995 movie “Clueless,” helping Sobule break through to the mainstream.
John Porter, Jill’s manager, said in a statement that Sobule was “a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture” and that he hopes her “music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”
Damn, this one hurts a ton. Jill was one of my favorite artists, and I'd been a fan since I saw the "I Kissed A Girl" video on the Playboy channel nearly 30 years ago. That self-titled album (her second) had some fantastic songs and is one of my all-time favorite albums. I was lucky enough to see her numerous times and got to meet her several times and tell her how much her music meant to me. "Vrbana Bridge", which was written about a series of photos of two young lovers killed in the Bosnian War trying to escape across the bridge still gives me chills almost 30 years later. "Mexican Wrestler" still puts a lump in my throat every single time. And "Super 8" just...wow. It's not all maudlin - "Good Person Inside", "Karen By Night", "Bitter", "Good Life", "America Back", "Under The Disco Ball", and so many others still put a smile on my face. And how could someone forget seeing her call her mother to have her sing "Big Shoes" over a cell phone?
Damn it.
RIP, Jill, and thank you.
