On May 1st, 2025, singer-songwriter Jill Sobule sadly died in a house fire at the age of 66. She is most well-known for her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl” (which predates and is different from the Katy Perry tune of the same name) and for the tune “Supermodel” that appeared in the 1995 film Clueless. She was also a human rights advocate who spoke out on a wide range of topics. Here is a sampling of some of her socially conscious songs.
Disinformation (1990)
This tune is off Sobule’s debut album Things Here Are Different, which was produced by Todd Rundgren. The song analyzes false narratives transmitted through the media. It also includes the poignant lyric: Another fight to save the free world. Whose war and whose belief? And what’s new is what’s been forgotten. Remember history.”
I Kissed a Girl (1995)
Off her self-titled sophomore album, her biggest commercial hit wasn’t an explicit protest tune, but as an openly bisexual, Sobule was normalizing same sex relationships and desires at a time when it still bordered on taboo.
Resistance Song (1995)
Another tune off her sophomore album. It was written from the perspective of a cocktail waitress who wished she was part of the French underground fight Nazism (“Somewhere in France fighting traitors and fascists”).
Supermodel (1995)
Sobule referred to herself as a two-hit wonder, and this was her 2nd hit. It appeared on the soundtrack for Clueless and on reissues of her self-titled album. Initially, Sobule was reluctant to record it because she didn’t write it and wasn’t sure if she wanted to be associated with the movie, but after watching a pre-screener, she was able to pick up on the feminist themes. She also made some adjustments to the lyrics to make references to her struggles with an eating disorder, but unfortunately, she wasn’t given any songwriting credit. But the tongue-in-cheek song does effectively explore issues of body image and the media’s roles in promoting unreasonable and unhealthy beauty standards.
Soldiers of Christ (1997)
This tune is off her third album, Happy Town, is a biting satirical critique of Christian Conservatism and how they promote homophobia and other forms of hatred.
Attic (1997)
Another song from Happy Town. It references Anne Frank and poses the question, ” Would you have hidden me in your attic?” Sobule often tapped into her Jewish heritage and spoke out against anti-Semitism.
Under The Bridge (with John Doe) (2011)
This tune is on the collaborative album with the frontman of the influential punk band X, Day At The Pass. The tune also appeared on the 2012 benefit compilation Occupy This Album, in support of the Occupy movement. The lyrics deal with the challenges of being unemployed and homeless.
America Back (2016)
Originally released in 2016 and performed at Bernie Sanders rallies, it was also included as a bonus track on her 2018 album Nostalgia Kills. The lyrics are a perfect summation of the regressive MAGA movement. “When they say we want our America back/Well what the fuck do they mean?”
Ooh Child (2018)
This gorgeous cover of the 1970 5 Stairsteps classic appears on her final album before her passing, Nostalgia Kills. The song’s message of hope is needed as ever. The album’s title also well sums up the dangers of looking back at the past but ignoring the injustices. Failure to learn from the past can be deadly.
Commie Dyke Jew (2023)
This song was written and performed in response to her social media critics, with the title taken from one of the hateful slurs that she received.
