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Jill Sobule expresses her feelings for Katy PerryYou know how sometimes a thing happens that infuriates you more than you can say, but you have to be all polite and reserved about it? Like your boss takes credit for a great idea and someone says, “Wasn’t that your idea?” and you say, “It was a team effort” or some such bull-corn. Then one day, after you’ve left that job or your boss has retired or you just can’t take it anymore, all of the rage at injustice bursts out in a long string of expletives that silence the room but make you feel like you’ve just won the lottery. Or so I’ve heard. That happened to Jill Sobule last week.
In an interview with The Rumpus, Sobule answered the usual questions. She talked about the unique way she financed her last album, California Years, which was released in April (and is delightful).
She promoted her T-shirts, including the super-cool new one with a jetpack on the back.
Sobule revealed that she probably could’ve shredded an axe with the best of ‘em if she’d had some female rocker role models. And how she switched to the acoustic guitar because it was more “cute and feminine.”
And so on. But right in the middle of the interview, Sobule addressed the subject that she has been asked about most often over the past year or so: Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” Depending on your age, you may remember that Sobule wrote a little ditty in 1995 called “I Kissed a Girl.” Like Perry’s, it was about kissing a girl and liking it. Unlike Perry’s it was sweet and intimate and happened because two BFFs were feeling close to each other. When Perry’s song became a hit, Sobule pretty much always wished her the best, even though Perry claimed that the title came to her in a dream. A dream she had while listening to Jill Sobule, no doubt. This time, however, Sobule decided to say more. As a musician I have always refrained from criticizing another artist. I was, ‘well, good for her.’ It did bug me a little bit, however, when she said she came up with the idea for the title in a dream. In truth, she wrote it with a team of professional writers and was signed by the very same guy that signed me in 1995. I have not mentioned that in interviews as I don’t want to sound bitter or petty … cause, that’s not me.
It was good for me, too.
I can’t tell you how much I love Jill Sobule at this moment. All that is left is for me to let you tell me how you feel about what she said. And I know you will. Submitted by on August 5, 2009 - 4:00pm. |
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Beautiful
I love you, Jill Sobule!
So, if you, Jill, happened to stumble across this article I just want to let you know: I'm so glad you finally said that; it needed to be said. I listen to the ORIGINAL, the REAL, the HEARTFELT "I Kissed a Girl" all the time in my car. And I sing along (sorry)...loudly (sorry, again). Good luck in everything you do.
PS Does anyone know where I can find the video? I've only seen the clip from Bevis and Butthead where they watch part of it and I'd like to see the whole thing.
Love it!
o-mazing
awwww jill is my hero :-) and i'll always love this "i kissed a girl" better than perry's anyday
One life to live? Hell ill find a way to live it twice ;-)
LOL
whew!
more features, please?
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tunes, snark and such: http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com
YAY!
Yep, she's right
...she does so bitter and petty.
This song was last year's hit so why still even give it attention? She can't seriously be upset because her song in '95 didn't appeal to the mainstream crowd like KP's?
The only similarity between her song and Perry's is the title. Other than that they are two completely different songs. So I'm sorry to say Jill Sobule (because I really do like you) and AE for that matter:
GET OVER IT.
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The lonliest people are the one's who always spoke the truth.
aaaaw, your sig is a much
aaaaw, your sig is a much loved quote from a much loved song !
Apart from that totally useless comment, I kinda agree. Katy Perry is not worth it. The less we mention her, the sooner she'll disappear... And it's just a title. It's not Satriani VS Coldplay...
...............................;
http://carambar.wordpress.com/
I agree
It's not the same song. They don't even sound the same in tone. Katy Perry's was meant to be a party song. Katy Perry was writing about an experience that she personally had. Sure it was an experience that happened when she was drunk, but there are plenty of girls that get drunk and sleep with guys and no one gets mad at them for advertising it (or in some cases even writing songs about it).
I'm glad Jill got it off her chest because I am a firm believer that all people should vent their anger, but I can't believe that anyone else is still upset about this song.
So I just want to say: to Jill - be as angry about it as you want because that is your right. to everyone else - get over it because there is no reason for it to anger you.
Actually, I read an
Actually, I read an interview (I don't remember whether it was a credible source or not) where she admits that she had never actually kissed a girl before "writing" the song. If this is the case, I think the lyrics should be changed to "I rhetorically kissed a girl and I liked it." I'm not sure how all the straight bar girls would feel about it though.
yup
After the song became popular, Katy Perry publicly stated that she had never actually kissed a girl. Leading to a pretty weird scene on the View when Whoopi Goldberg asked if it was true that she hadn't actually kissed a girl, to which Perry said yes and then Whoopi promptly laid one on her. Awkward much?
So #487 of why I hate I Kissed a Girl would be that she never even had.
Yes.
I am in complete agreement.
I think taking someone down so harshly is in bad taste.
Sure you may not agree with the content of Katy Perry's song, but ridiculing someone in that way is not justified.
People need to at least be respectful of others.
I agree about respect, and I
I agree about respect, and I think her response was a bit juvenile.
Having said that - I think that ultimately she was responding to Katy Perry's inane success based on a song that is incredibly ridiculous and insulting to many gay people.
That doesn't make it right...but if you want respect, you have to give respect...and I don't think Katy Perry has done that.
I think they're both in the wrong here.
~Renée
...
Katy Perry (in some people's
Katy Perry (in some people's minds) disrespected the gay community by using something trendy but ridiculous to gain notoriety.
~Renée
Because People Keep Asking
People keep asking her about it. And so she answered because people keep asking about it.
_____________
Tweet: @GrrrlRomeo
YOU GO JILL SOBULE.
I can't stand Katy Perry. She did nothing good for the lesbian community but make us seem like drunken hookup partners who seek the permission to do so from our boyfriends.
Didn't she say she hasn't even kissed a girl before? I guess these days people wil say anything for a buck.
Awesome :) :)
Good for her! Reading that gave me so much pleasure.
I like Jill Sobule even more now and will enjoy the original "I Kissed A Girl" even more whenever I listen to it from now on.
Whew...
...you go Jill Sobule. You're song has won the test of time, I am hoping that KP's just fades to where all the other 'catchy' but empty songs fade.
I hate katy perry but i also
As do I, but I thought she said
do we know for sure if it's
do we know for sure if it's slut? maybe it's shit.
i don't like people throwing that word around either. :x
Just to clarify
Unedited: http://therumpus.net/2009/07/the-rumpus-interview-with-jill-sobule/
Yes, she said slut and I find that completely out of line. It's a petty word that girls always throw around to bring each other down. JS can't go around claiming her song was "empowering to women" and giving herself props while calling another woman who "stole" her title names like that. Despite the suggestive songs and music videos, when has KP ever acted slutty? Or even been involved with any sort of "scandal" because I can't think of anything. It just screams jealously and sour grapes.
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The lonliest people are the one's who always spoke the truth.
...
Definitely not okay for her to have used the word slut. Even if she was just venting.
Now if what was stated above is true and Katy Perry never really kissed a girl, then she definitely should not have sung the song and I really don't have much to say to defend her. But, for Jill Sobule to call her a slut was totally out of line. There was no reason to use that word and it made me totally lose all respect for her.
Right on Jill!
Good for her!
"I ate the mythology and dreamt."
---Yusef Komunyaka
Heh.
If the "I kissed a girl"
If the "I kissed a girl" Jill sang is the one at the end of "I can't think straight" movie, then, I must say it's 1000000 times better than Katy Perry's!
I totally love this song! It's sooooo SWEET~~~ and after getting the ICTS soundtrack, I just could stop repeating it~ Jill, you rock!
I don't hate either of them
Let it all out Jill!
lol I love it. That interview seemed cathartic for her. I'm sure she gets asked about it in EVERY interview and she was trying to be sweet about it but couldn't hold back how she felt anymore. And if you've seen her in interviews you know she seems like the sweetest person on the planet. So it makes that statement all the more endearing.
And she brings up a personal pet peeve of mine as well. This idea of pop singers writing their own songs and promoting the fact that they write their own songs when in reality they work with teams of professional songwriters who are proven hitmakers annoys me to no end.
Right on.
Right on.
Jill Sobule's song is a classic. It's now stuck in my head.
Katy Perry is useless... and should go away.
The simple fact is there are
The simple fact is there are so many songs out there with the same title. Some are originals and some are remakes. Noone owns titles to songs unless they are being remade.
I personally wasnt offended by Katy Perry's song at all. Ive heard it several times and quite like it.
get over it
seriously... the only people that are upset about this song seem to be the majority of women on this site. i understand being pro woman and being liberated from all the bullshit that we deal with on a daily basis as gay men and women, but get off your high horses! this whole pissing contest against katy perry is ridiculous! who cares if her song is catchy and it talks about her hoping her boyfriend doesn't mind it??? seriously??? we expect the rest of the world to be open about our lives, but when it comes to bisexual experiments we have to get all butt hurt and angry about it. so what if these women will never actually be in a relatinoship long term with another woman?? the fact they are open to their sexuality, and that they just feel and they don't necessarily "REGRET" it when it's over is a stop forward in itself. and the fact that someone can sing about that and it become as mainstream as it is, people, this is a good thing!!! why can't it be an empowering statement?? it could be interpreted by the lyrics of "hope my boyfriend don't mind it" as being flippant, meaning she doens't really CARE what he thinks? she kissed a girl and she liked it it's not about drunket orgies or being flippant w/ the lesbian community. it's about being open to new experiences, and even though it's not what society says good girls should do, she still did it and she liked it!!! she broke down those barries, just like we have to fight to break down every day!
Mann ist frei geboren, aber uberalles ist er in Ketten.
???
Quote:
"we expect the rest of the world to be open about our lives, but when it comes to bisexual experiments we have to get all butt hurt and angry about it. so what if these women will never actually be in a relatinoship long term with another woman??"
So are you saying that bisexual women will never be in long term relationships with other women? Or are you saying that bi-curious girls might not ever be in a long-term relationship with another woman? Because as a bisexual woman I have to say that I am as likely to end up in a long-term relationship with a woman as I am to end up in one with a man.
The song itself has NOTHING
Boring song
I'm sorry, but i looked this song up and it's not that great. I found it a bit lame, and just as superficial and sensationalistic as Katy Perry's song. Come on, having a few drinks and kissing your best friend? Hardly earth shattering. And as I'm sure someone else has mentioned, the phrase "I kissed a girl' is hardly Pulitzer material, it's not exactly original. Move on lady. I'm also amused at how Ms Sobule is apparently now claiming she was "only joking" when talking about KP. Random.
I'm the rainbow-coloured sheep of the family.
Sobule's "I Kissed a Girl" and "I Can't Think Straight"
Ms. Sobule's "I Kissed a Girl" is the final song in "I Can't Think Straight" movie... It is awesome that Shamim Sarif used Sobule's song when Tala and Leyla were there w/Leyla's parents!
I ordered ICTS and TWU from Enlightnment in London & it came with the soundtrack for ICTS... I listen to this soundtrack everyday & "I Kissed a Girl" is the final song that takes me home to my wife!
Thanks AE for supporting Ms. Sobule's efforts on behalf of the lesbian community!
Lisa
Yaay!
Does this mean we'll get a " I kissed a girl and I liked it" song every decade now?
I really didn't know, that it was by the same guy that signed on Jill, back in the day.
I remember the song from Middle school!We all used to sit in the car driving to the movies, and singing along to Madonna and Coolio's Gansta's paradise, but at "I kissed a girl" we'd all mysteriously shut up, even though we knew the song by heart.
I have very fond memories of that song!
It was sweet and sexy.
I'm sorry that we have gone from the sweet and sexy to exploiting with the same title.
Wonder in what direction next decades song is gonna go?
I kissed a girl and now I'm gonna go to hell?
I kissed a girl, and now I want to marry her?
Social Change whack upon the head lately..
Thank you SO much for that article,though!
Cheers!
T-SHIRT
Forget....
"I kissed Katy Perry and she wrote a song about it"
I want one that says:
"F#*k Katy Perry...i kissed Jill Sobule and she wrote a much better song about it!!"
She Kissed a Girl Way Before Katy Perry
Some people just exploit the gay community and our culture to make money, as Katy Perry has done.
Jill Sobule
She Kissed a Girl Way Before Katy Perry.
When "I Kissed a Girl" came out (1995), it was a tough call on talking about my sexuality. I wanted to talk about all the songs, but all anyone wanted to talk about was "so, what are you?" I didn't want to be an exclusive queer artist-only to play the "womyn festivals." At the same time, the idea of the song was to celebrate the joy of that first same-sex kiss and I did not want to underplay that. Since then, I have developed a diverse fan-base with a good sized gay following.
And, I did play that...Womyn's festival. The community is very important to me. I am part of the family.
_____________
Tweet: @GrrrlRomeo
Jill
Oh boo hoo
Get of your high horses already. I'm so fed up hearing everybody talk trash about Katy Perry. We've got some pretty agro lezzies in here. I STILL can't believe how Katy Perry's song have everyone so worked up! What she sings about happens ALL the time people. I happen to love the song and never ones felt disgusted by it or offended.
Seriously...sometimes I'm ashamed to be a lesbian. We always go on about wanting equal rights and freedom of expression. Seems like it all goes out the window when it's the other way round. Shish!!!
REPLACE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN WITH CURIOSITY.
"I STILL can't believe how
"I STILL can't believe how Katy Perry's song have everyone so worked up! What she sings about happens ALL the time people. I happen to love the song and never ones felt disgusted by it or offended."
Well I suppose we'll see how offended you are if (more like when) you find that you've fallen in love with a Katy wannabe. Most people would be pretty pissed off, and rightfully f**king so.
But...
the thing with bi-curious girls is that a lot of the time,yes, they end up being straight, but a lot of times they turn out to be lesbian or bisexual. A lot of us don't know who we really are until we have Katy Perry moments.
And I have fallen in love with a Katy wannabe and if it weren't for that "Katy wannabe", then I still wouldn't know who I really am.
HERDS of high horses
I'll get off my high horse when you get off yours. ;)
_____________
Tweet: @GrrrlRomeo
lol
So freedom of expression
So freedom of expression justifies exploiting lesbian culture to titillate the mainstream? Katy Perry can go ahead and sing lyrics that exploit heteromale lesbian fetishes while actually reinforcing her rock hard hetero identity, and we have the right to critique it. Her song is fun when ironically played at a homo dance party, and its catchy too, but there's nothing whiny or boo hooey about pointing out that it's not actually a song about kissing girls, its a song about REMAINING HETEROSEXUAL despite having experimented with a girl.
I think those of us who got dyke-bashed by straight girls in school/college have a right to be annoyed when those same girls make out to attract straight male attention.
That's just my opinion, I hope my boyfriend don't mind it...
The thing is...
hmmm..
"Seriously...sometimes I'm ashamed to be a lesbian"
for critiquing a song that makes says kissing girls"It's not what good girls do
Not how they should behave"
Wow...I pity you