Floor-breaking musician dies in Minneapolis home fireplace

Jill Sobule, a ground-breaking American songwriter whose hit I Kissed a Woman is extensively thought of the primary track with openly-gay themes to crack the Billboard Prime 20, has died in a home fireplace within the US metropolis of Minneapolis, her publicist has stated.

Sobule, whose satirical anthem Supermodel featured within the 1995 coming-of-age movie Clueless, was 66.

She had been as a consequence of carry out on Friday in her dwelling metropolis of Denver to showcase songs from her autobiographical stage musical. A free gathering will now happen in her honour.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media, together with from English musician Lloyd Cole, who stated: “I am actually too numb to put up a lot of something. We cherished her. She cherished us.”

Born in 1959, Sobule’s profession spanned three many years, her music coping with subjects together with the dying penalty, anorexia and LGBTQ+ rights.

However her most well-known work got here on her eponymous 1995 album, which included Supermodel and I Kissed a Woman.

The latter drew renewed consideration in 2008 when Katy Perry launched a unique single of her personal with the identical title.

Sobule later turned a pioneer of utilizing crowdfunding to launch albums, and wrote music for theatre and tv reveals, together with the theme for the Nickelodeon present Unfabulous.

John Porter, Sobule’s supervisor, stated she was a “power of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our tradition. I used to be having a lot enjoyable working along with her. I misplaced a shopper & a buddy at this time. I hope her music, reminiscence, & legacy proceed to stay on and encourage others.”

Eric Alper, a Canadian music correspondent, posted on X that she “paved the best way with coronary heart, humour, and honesty. The primary overtly homosexual artist to interrupt the Billboard Prime 20, her songs like “I Kissed a Woman” and “Supermodel” modified the soundtrack – and the dialog”.

“Jill Sobule was so particular. Heartbreaking information,” American actress Carrie Coon posted.

Police within the suburb of Woodbury are investigating the reason for the fireplace on the home the place Sobule was discovered, the Star Tribune reported.