I’m having a hard time with this loss. Jill Sobule, a singer songwriter who I’ve followed for over 20 years died last week in a house fire at age 66. It’s devastating. When a person dies, their spirit remains and hers was one of the sweetest and most generous ones. She knew how to make you feel like you were in her living room.
She was a sensitive and imaginative song writer and story teller, revealing her vulnerability. So many of her songs have stayed with me for years. “Jet Pack” and “Houdini’s Box.” She was also an outspoken activist. ( Check out “America Back”) Her “hit” “I Kissed a Girl” in 1995 was the first openly gay song to hit the charts at number 20, but she was not mainstream.
In NYC I saw her at Joe’s Pub and a couple of other spots. In Philly, I attended an intimate show at the Tin Angel. ( I miss that place!). Jill could make you laugh, then make you cry.Her music was healing. I saw her after I lost Lisa, then after I lost Suzanne and I always was uplifted after her performances. She was getting ready to play the World Cafe Live this June and I was getting ready to purchase my ticket. But then…
I’ve read a lot of tributes to Jill, but by far the best was on Philly musician Jim Boggia’s Facebook page. He completely gets the magic of Jill. How she worked an intimate crowd and how she made us feel like we were all in “this” together. This music, this life I’m hoping that the World Cafe does a tribute concert for her. Maybe Jim Boggia could host. I’d love that.
I didn’t sleep much the night I heard the sad news. The last thing I did before falling asleep was listen to her music and had a good cry. I’m still sad today but the music continues. I”ve been listening to it non-stop since then. It’s funny how some of the songs take on a different meaning now that she’s gone. It was like that with John Prices passing during the pandemic.
The last time I saw Jill was a few years ago in a concert here in Philly at the City Winery. She was with a group of other singers, including Jim Boggia and they did a round robin each taking a turn to sing. It was a small but lively audience and a wonderful show. When I left the venue, it was a frigid winter night and the streets were pretty quiet. I found myself singing out loud the chorus of Jill’s “Underdog Victorious” as I walked several blocks to the bus stop, carrying the energy of Jill into the city’.
Jill, I see you flying around with your Jet Pack, looking down at us now, and probably laughing a little bit about all the attention you are getting. You’ve found the” Island of Lost Things,” but you are not one of them. You are gloriously victorious. We will have your musical legacy forever. Thanks for a life well-lived!
If you’ve never heard her before, watch this. And enjoy. Sing along at the end!