The Kissed a Girl girl
Kissed a Girl -- yep, that was me.
Ah, the curse of the "novelty" song. It's my cross to bear, but it is also the thing that got me noticed. Plus I made a couple of bucks …well, not as much as you would think. Anyway, it was one of those songs that I wrote on a lark with my friend Robin Eaton. I never thought that it would actually be on a CD, nor thought in my wildest dreams that it would be an MTV hit. Or that I would be branded forever as "the Kissed a Girl girl."
Instead of being thought of as the serious artful singer-songwriter that I aspired to be, I was asked in Howard Stern-like interviews, "did you really kiss her?" "So, you don't like the penis?" My favorite, that I got all the time, was, "Hey Jill, you and me have something in common... we both kissed a girl! Ha ha ha..." What an idiot.
I started to resent the song. When asked to play it, I would, but with a bit of an eye roll. Oh, I could go on forever, but in the last couple of years I have started to embrace my one hit wonder hit (actually I had two hits, according to VH1). First of all, what is the shame of having "only one" hit? How many of you would love to even play the cowbell on one jingle? ...Well, I would play cowbell on anything anyone asked me.
And, in the last few years, I have started to embrace and have pride in my Kissed a Girl-ness. I mean, what other song includes the words "hairy behemoth"? Plus, I think it was the first song on the charts to deal with queer stuff -- not counting YMCA. It was way before the Ellen kiss on TV and The L Word. As innocent now as it seems (a kiss), it was scandalous in 1996. I was banned on many stations, especially in the Bible Belt. In fact one station in Nashville had a disclaimer before it played, so parents, I guess, could put their hands over their kids' ears.
I am so happy when someone comes up to me and says that the song made a difference, as they were young, gay, and feeling depressed in some small town in Alabama.
At one show, a big boned gal came up to me and said that when she was in the Marines, they would hum a couple of bars of the song to see who was gay or not. Don't ask, don't tell, but hum. I guess I really was "supporting our troops."
So, I am Jill, and I am the Kissed a Girl girl.
Side note: I always think how funny it is that the Village People's YMCA has become such a universal anthem -- and with choreography. Doesn't everyone know it's about anonymous queer sex at a gym in Chelsea?
Thanks a lot Jill. I'm just glad that I can actually let you know directly about the painful wound you inflicted on my ego back in 1995.
Don't feel bad about being a 'one hit wonder'...most people's 'one hits' aren't nearly as thought-provoking or ground breaking! It could be worst...your hit could've been "The Macarena"! UGH
My, how times HAVE CHANGED...The 90's are OVER :(
Though you may be labeled a "one-hit star" I appreciated your courage, and artistic style. You are a breakthrough artist.
I can still remember the song and I still like it. Forget what THEY say about you, it's when they stop talking that you should worry...STAY HAPPY, and BEAUTIFUL...
If it helps you're more than the 'I Kissed a Girl' girl to me. Your music has helped me through some tough times.
The great mystery/scandal about 'Lola' is it's unique language. The line you recalled is actually 'I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola.' The ambiguity built in to the phrase has sparked debate for decades. Did Davies mean Lola is physically a man (hinted in the song's earlier descriptions) or do the narrator and Lola agree that they are happy they found each other in a straight relationship? The implications make a simple song richer on repeat listenings. As if the guitar hook wouldn't do it anyway.
Jill, one of my favorite moments strolling though music blogs was discovering your duet on IKAG with Warren Zevon. Another layer onto the song and a fine performance.
your attitude is so right. Hey, it got you noticed and a lot of us wouldn't have heard you otherwise. Todd R used to refer to "Hello It's Me" as "the albatross", but eventually started to do it again. A lot of his fans wouldn't have ever heard of him either.
The nature of the "business" is that there are LOTS of talented people who never get heard.
Anyway, I first heard you with "Too Cool To Fall In Love" and it just keeps getting better.
Thank you.
In the book The Kinks: The Official Biography, Ray Davies says that he was inspired to write the song after the band manager, Robert Wace, had spent the night dancing with a transvestite. Ray said, "...remember an incident...Robert had been dancing with this black woman and he said 'I'm really on to a thing here.' I said, 'Have you seen the stubble?' He said, 'Yeah.' He was too pissed [drunk] to care..."
Some claim that "See My Friends" is the first top ten hit about bisexuality -- but in the documentary "Ray Davies: The World From My Window -- Ray said, "It's about loss. I wasn't aware that I was writing about someone questioning their sexuality. I loved the moment where this person is left alone -- the relationship has broken up -- there is another side to the river. I didn't know that crossing the river was such a bad thing."
In the documentary Elvis Costello and David Bowie call Ray a great song writer. I'm looking forward to Bowie jumping up on stage at one of Jill's concerts and saying that to her -- right before he falls to his knees and begs her to sing "All the Young Dudes" with him. I'll be the guy in the front row with glasses, Jill.
Anyway...thanks for the good memories, and the opportunity to leave a comment for such an awesome superstar girl.