Original “I Kissed A Girl” singer Jill Sobule to Katy Perry: ‘F you… slut’

jillsobulekatyperry
I remember the day I received a promotional e-mail to watch the new “I Kissed a Girl” video by an artist I’d never heard of, Katy Perry. I watched the whole video hoping to see a hot girl-on-girl kiss and there was no action whatsoever. I thought the song was too hard and the video was too much of a tease and never imagined that it would be a hit. In my mind, it didn’t compare to the cute “I Kissed a Girl” song I knew from 1995. The 1995 song is a sweet kind of sentimental tribute to experimental lesbianism while Perry’s version treats a same sex kiss as just another experience to brag about.

Perry managed to catapult that song to the top of the charts, though, and has had other hit singles, like “Hot ‘N Cold.” She’s a hard worker and a tireless self promoter and has won many fans with her wacky, friendly image. There’s at least one person who would rather not be a witness to Katy Perry’s massive fame. Singer Jill Sobule really resents the fact that Perry’s hit single has the same name as her 1995 song, particularly because Perry claimed that she came up with the title but just happened to be working with the same producers that helped make Sobule’s song a hit:

JILL SOBULE released a track with the same name, but totally different music and lyrics, in 1995.

And despite saying in the past that she wasn’t “precious” about her song title, Jill now claims Katy stole it – remarking it can’t be coincidence as they were both signed by the same music executive.

Jill blasted: “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, because that’s not me.

“Okay, maybe, if I really think about it, there were a few jealous and p***ed off moments.

“So here goes, for the first time in an interview…

“F*** you Katy Perry, you f***ing stupid, maybe ‘not good for the gays’, title thieving, haven’t heard much else, so not quite sure if you’re talented, f***ing little slut.”

[From The Sun]

That was really harsh and there’s no need to call names. Sobule should be blaming the people she worked with, not Perry. It’s not like there are any similarities to the songs other than the title and general concept. Sobule never really had a hit beyond that “I Kissed a Girl” song and another single at the time, “Supermodel,” and you can tell she resents it. According to Wikipedia, her last album was financed with fan donations made through her website. It must be really rough to be a musician and the odds of reaching sustained success are like hitting the lottery. Perry hit it big, but she could be old news in a few years too. There’s no need to bash her for having the same ambitions.

Jill Sobule’s “I Kissed a Girl” from 1995

Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” from 2008

Jill Sobule is shown in 2007. Katie Perry is shown on 7/24 and 7/26/09. Credit: WENN.com

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50 Responses to “Original “I Kissed A Girl” singer Jill Sobule to Katy Perry: ‘F you… slut’”

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  1. Katharine Jaynes says:

    Sounds to me like taking the high road didn’t bring much press, but starting a public feud brings a lot of attention to a forgotten one-hit wonder.

    Maybe she’ll get a spot on the surreal life out of this interview. She’s probably just glad we’re talking about her.

  2. dude says:

    So much for not wanting to sound bitter & petty! b/c you do! I believe the lyrics are “I kissed a girl & I liked it” Not “I f*cked about 10 guys just now & I liked it” so how is she a slut? There is no face sucking in the video either! Katy is a fun performer & i like her!

  3. icky says:

    huh..wonder why she JSobule is calling KP a slut? Did she sleep her way to a hit song and title?

  4. ! says:

    Well dude, to me, a girl who would kiss other girls for the amusement of men might not be a slut per se, but whatever she is, it isn’t positive. At the very least, she’s a slut for the attention. I guess that’s why she’s a pop star!

  5. Lori says:

    I HATE Katy Perry. The two songs are comletely different, but Katy and her “team” could have changed the song title. I believe it was calculated.

  6. Wresa says:

    Ha! FINALLY someone said it!! The second I heard Perry’s song, I said it was a cheap knock off of Sobule’s song. Don’t bother listening to any more of Perry’s “work”, Jill, I can tell you the girls is all boobs and no brains or talent. TEAM JILL!!

  7. MSat says:

    Ha Ha Ha! Team Jill, all the way. She’s actually a very talented singer and songwriter. Everything Katy Perry is NOT. All I have to say is, have you heard Katy Perry live? Without the studio magic, she sounds like shit. She’s just another pair of tits.

  8. dude says:

    if any can recall…Katy’s first CD’s were all christian/religious albums and NOBODY GAVE HER THE TIME A DAY! So now that shes singing something a little slutty per se’ she gets TONS of attention. AND now shes a whore? What is wrong w/ this world? Christian albums are shunned & advertising your curiousity makes you a skank! really great!

  9. manda says:

    I thought of the Jill Sobule song too, although I couldn’t remember the name of the original singer. That song was much better, I can’t stand the Katy Perry song.

    I wonder if Ms. Sobule’s rant is a joke? Tongue in cheek? I can’t believe all those f-bombs were said in seriousness, but it’s not like I know her…

  10. gg says:

    Eh, Sour Grapes anyone? She’s just jealous that she got the business for having a lesbian song at the time, yet Katy’s had a worldwide hit.

    The music biz is full of unfairness – get used to it. It’s the very nature of the Beast.

    I like the Katy Perry song better though I agree, Jill is way better live.

  11. Bodhi says:

    Jill’s song is worlds better than Katy’s

  12. ash says:

    ahaha, what a whiner. A lot of songs have the same track name. Jealousyyyyy.

  13. Larissa says:

    on a serious note, I don´t like Jill´s song at all, maybe because am not inclined to lesbianism and never had, not being judgmental, I just can´t relate…
    but KP is CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!
    this whole new pop chart generation does nothing for me , I am only 24 and I like pop! Well, used to…

  14. Jonzing says:

    I thought Susanna Hoffs sang this song — she sounds similar to Sobule to me.

  15. Iggles says:

    Omg, Dude, are you kidding me!? She was a christian singer? It wouldn’t be the first christian singer to switch to secular music for success. It is disturbing to see people turn on their “values” at the drop of the the dime (or hundred dollar bills).

  16. mxml says:

    when i first heard katy perry’s song the first thing i thought of was the other song. i thought it was a concept rip off myself.

    but why does she have to call her a slut? stupid.

  17. Enonymous says:

    Both songs sound nothing alike, the only similarities it seems to have is just the song’s title and that is no big deal because lots of songs happen to have similar titles. So Jill Sobule has no case to complain about. If Katy Perry had ripped off the lyrics or the music, then that would have been another story. Methinks someone is trying to get a slice of that publicity pie that comes with a very popular song and the ‘it’ artist of the year.

  18. L says:

    Blast from the past! I used to love that song by Jill Sobule.

  19. mollination says:

    FINALLY!!! Jesus I thought I was going insane if nobody else every mentioned Jill Sobule.

  20. Tia C says:

    @ ash: Good point – a lot of songs DO have the same title.

    The similarities between these two tracks end there. I don’t even know who either one of these chicks is, but I liked KP’s tune much better. It’s much catchier, and danceable. Jill Sobule’s song is lame vagina music (not that there’s anything wrong with that, just not my favorite genre). But she got people talking about her!

  21. lola says:

    there is not even a remote comparison between these tunes.

    And PS that jill sobule one was the most wretched piece of puff of its day and THAT is why she has no other hits.

    Katy perry ain’t high art, but she performs well, and she’s got more than one decent tune to her cred.

  22. Exterminator says:

    As soon as I heard Perry’s song I just couldn’t believe it. I knew the American people had a short memory but..

    I just wrote a few new songs that I hope everyone will like. One of them is called “A Hard Day’s Night” and there’s also “Stairway to Heaven”. Won’t anyone please listen to, “I’m black and I’m proud?”

    I know it’s hard to believe but, these song ideas came to me in a dream.

  23. Exterminator says:

    Having the same title is one thing (if the title is relatively simple). The same concept and idea behind the entire lyric though… Come on…

  24. wif says:

    Honestly, I don’t care either way, but I LOVE that potty mouth on Sobule. I don’t care if you’re in the right or the wrong, just say it strong.

  25. Wench. says:

    Exterminator – fair point but I’d say experimentation with the same sex isn’t exactly unheard of. Easy thing to come up with, non!?

  26. Vibius says:

    Both songs suck.

  27. Annie says:

    So since I named my dog Maloney’s, are a dozen different irish pubs going to go off on me?

    Pretty much the only similarity, as many have pointed out, is the damn title.

    And personally, I don’t like either song.

  28. Cinderella says:

    The songs are totally different. Jill does have a better voice and more talent, but she appealed to a much smaller market during her peak.

    Katie, who is your typical overly-produced, young pop star, appeals to a wider audience by using her Betty Boop/naughty preacher’s daughter image.

    Unfortunately, it will make her far richer.

  29. Firestarter says:

    I cannot stand thaty Katy Perry song, nor her stupid stage anitcs. God, if I never have to hear that song again, it will be too damn soon.

  30. jess says:

    i loved jill’s song. i’ve only made it thru a few seconds of katy’s.

  31. I Choose Me says:

    “F*** you Katy Perry, you f***ing stupid, maybe ‘not good for the gays’, title thieving, haven’t heard much else, so not quite sure if you’re talented, f***ing little slut.”

    Ahhh. I love a good run-on insult. I’ma just sit here and bask in the vitriol.

  32. walker says:

    So this lady may sound petty and bitter but how many of you wouldn’t be? If it’s true that Katy lied about her coming up with the title then she SUCKS big time.

  33. walker says:

    Katy Perry was a Christian artist? WOW. Sex sells. that’s all.

  34. Mme X says:

    that’s Fabio, isn’t it?, in the first video.

  35. orion70 says:

    @ ! the word you are searching for is barsexual http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Barsexual

  36. Hieronymus Grex says:

    Jill’s version is cute and endearing and about 90 degrees far and away from Katy’s. It’s apples and oranges. No comparison.

  37. Paulette says:

    This was such an obvious rip off of Jill’s concept that I thought all along that Jill was paid something or given partial writer’s credit. Sucks that Katy is trying to claim it as her own.

  38. Mairead says:

    I don’t remember the 1995 song at all :/ It was ok. Quite sweet. I think I prefer the KP song though.

  39. No Sensi says:

    interesting that they’ve both used the 50s style look too… I think it must just be the same guy somewhere behind both acts.

  40. Amanda says:

    I’m a HUGE Jill Sobule fan and have heard her jab at Perry before in concert. She’s really, really funny and probably her remark was much funnier spoken than printed.

    NEXT: “I Kissed a Girl” is just 1 of MANY hilarious, smart, catchy really great songs Jill’s written over the years. She’s an artist truly worth supporting. Get your hands on her latest “California Years” or her last one, “Underdog Victorious.”

    http://www.jillsobule.com

    FINALLY: If you ever have a chance to see her in concert, GO! Her live shows are super-fun, joyous, infectious and delightful. And she plays a #%$#ing great guitar to boot.

    I like a good pop single as much as the next girl, but Jill’s the real deal. Time will tell if Ms. Perry is too.

  41. assistantrachel says:

    Don’t worry Jill…in ten years no one will give a shit about Katy Perry, just like no one gives a shit about you now.

  42. MOO says:

    well, then umn. uhh. lets all forget this matter and sit down for a nice plate of nachos and salsa

  43. lway says:

    @ assistantrac – LOL! Well said!

    Yeah – who the hell is Jill Sobule anyway? I’ve been around since the early 80’s and i have never heard of this one.

    Whatsup with Katy’s eyes – she should avoid doing that. She reminds me of Casey Anthony – crazy biaatch

  44. RickyBobby says:

    Titles can’t be trademarked – even titles of books and movies. It’s sour grapes and Jill is just a jealous little c u next tuesday.

  45. helen says:

    a lil over the top with the insults, and tasteless. i don’t know if katy perry took her song. but either way, i like katy perry’s version better.

  46. Autumn says:

    Katy Perry is just a manufactured doll of mainstream music. The first time I heard that song, I thought it was just another obscure song from a lame, insignificant artist. The next week it was a huge hit. Shows what the people are interested in hearing. The same old shit.

  47. James says:

    Hey exterminator…the difference between Katy using the same title as Jill’s song and you pretending to write songs by those titles you quoted is that hardly anyone knows Jill Sobule or her song and the songs you mentioned are HUGE by even huger artists. So your comparison was a fail. Had Jill Sobule gone on to huge fame like the Beatles or Led Zeppelin then I’m sure nobody would be renaming their current songs after her former ones. However, since the best venue Jill Sobule’s played in the last 15 years is probably your local free trade coffeeshop, her FOUR word long song title (2 of those words only being 1 letter) isn’t really tied to her. And the biggest difference between the 2 is that in 1995 we as a country weren’t really openly embracing all things GLAAD, this was pre-Will and Grace era, and her song was really sweet and sentimental and therefore unscandalous. She was quirky in a mid 90s wanna be Alanis Morrisette/Lisa Loeb kinda way which in itself was kinda boring. However, KP’s version makes it more scandalous, is more about the sex of being bicurious and not the emotion, and our society has gotten alot more comfortable w/ this subject so its easier to mainstream a song about “lesbianism”. My last point…have you LOOKED at KP in her video vs. JS in hers? Hello! Music industry = sex. KP= sex appeal, JS =/= sex appeal. JS = fugly braided hair do.

  48. Valensi says:

    @MSat- I actually did see Katy Perry live about four days ago. She was absolutely brilliant AND she has nice tits.

  49. bored says:

    That trashy Katy Perry song just annoys me. I was glad when it finally died off on the radio. Why Jill Sobule would give her more media attention is beyond me.

  50. Heather says:

    Jill sounds a little cocky being pissed that Katy ‘stole’ her title. Jill’s song isn’t very good so could it really be that Jill’s song not so great and Katy really never heard of it? Possibly. Jill sounds like a petty child who is pissed she didn’t make it big like Katy.