Jill Sobule's fanciful songs captured an issue or irony, an emotion or epiphany that helped us understand what it's like to live now.
Why you should listen
This approach -- packaging hard-hitting social commentary in a wrapper of whimsy -- defined Sobule's career. Her endearing story-songs veer from fanciful storytelling to forceful satire and back again, covering a wide range of political and social issues from climate change to prostitution; anorexia to anti-semitism. Her winning combination of memorable characters, clever lyrics and catchy tunes inspired comparisons that range from Burt Bacharach to Gertrude Stein. It also makes her performances and recordings a delight.
Sobule's candy-coated commentary can be found in her steady stream of stand-out albums, including Jill Sobule (1995), Happy Town (1997), Pink Pearl (2000) and Underdog Victorious (2004).
What others say
Jill Sobule can claim her place among the stellar New York singer-songwriters of the last decade. Topical, funny and more than a little poignant ... grown-up music for an adolescent age.
Jill Sobule’s TED Talks
More news and ideas from Jill Sobule
Impact of Ideas
10 years of changing views on climate change, in TED Talks
June 25, 2016
10 years of TED Talks show how the conversation around climate change has developed, from awareness-raising to dire warnings to a growing sense that we can actually do something about it.
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4 chances to see TED speakers live, this week and next
March 17, 2009
TEDIndia’s Lakshmi Pratury will be interviewing two TED speakers next week in the Bay Area: + March 30, 2009, hear TED2009 speaker Nandan Nilekani, the founder of Infosys and the author of Imagining India, at the Crowne Plaza Cabana in Palo Alto, 6:30-8pm. Tickets: $15 members, $25 nonmembers. Premium tickets (includes reception, book and priority […]
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4 great talks for International Women's Day
March 8, 2009
To celebrate March 8, International Women’s Day, we suggest these four TEDTalks gems from some amazing speakers — artists, scientists and economists who think deeply about the role of women. Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, feminism — and the power of passionate thinkers and doers: The former Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi […]
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