ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jill Sobule - Singer/songwriter
Jill Sobule isn't just another singer-songwriter with catchy tunes and smart lyrics, she's one of the more insightful satirists of our age. Each of her fanciful songs captures an issue or irony, an emotion or epiphany that helps us understand what it's like to live now.

Why you should listen

Jill Sobule first found her place in music history with the controversial 1995 hit "I Kissed a Girl." The song's silly sweetness masked its significance: It broke new ground as the first Top 40 hit to deal with overtly gay themes.

This approach -- packaging hard-hitting social commentary in a wrapper of whimsy -- has 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 has 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 on her Huffington Post blog, as well as in her steady stream of stand-out albums, including Jill Sobule (1995), Happy Town (1997), Pink Pearl (2000) and Underdog Victorious (2004). Lately, Sobule has performed regularly with comedian Julia Sweeney (the two met at TED2006). They put on the "Jill and Julia Show," an utterly endearing evening of stories and songs. She's also recording an album with the string quartet Ethel (another TED2006 match).

More profile about the speaker
Jill Sobule | Speaker | TED.com
TED2006

Jill Sobule: Global warming's theme song, "Manhattan in January"

Jill Sobule chante pour Al Gore

Filmed:
718,541 views

Une joyeuse chanson sur le réchauffement climatique, par Jill Sobule.
- Singer/songwriter
Jill Sobule isn't just another singer-songwriter with catchy tunes and smart lyrics, she's one of the more insightful satirists of our age. Each of her fanciful songs captures an issue or irony, an emotion or epiphany that helps us understand what it's like to live now. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:26
Okay.
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OK.
00:30
StrollingSe promener alongle long de in CentralCentral ParkParc
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♫ flânant le long de Central Park ♫
00:34
Everyone'sTout le monde out todayaujourd'hui
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♫ Tout le monde est dehors, aujourd'hui ♫
00:39
♫ The daisiesmarguerites and dogwoodscornouillers are all in bloomFloraison
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♫ pâquerettes et cornouillers sont en fleurs ♫
00:43
♫ Oh, what a gloriousglorieux day ♫
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♫ Oh, quel jour grandiose ♫
00:47
♫ For picnicspique-niques and FrisbeesFrisbees and rollerrouleau skaterspatineurs, ♫
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♫ pour les piques-niques, les Frisbees, et les roller skaters, ♫
00:52
FriendsAmis and loversamoureux de la and lonelysolitaire sunbathersbaigneurs
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♫ Pour les amis, les amants et les adeptes du bronzage ♫
00:57
Everyone'sTout le monde out in merryjoyeux ManhattanManhattan in JanuaryJanvier
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♫ Tout le monde est dehors dans ce joyeux Manhattan en Janvier ♫
01:05
(LaughterRires) (ApplauseApplaudissements)
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(Applaudissements)
01:13
♫ I broughtapporté the icedglacé teathé; ♫
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♫ J'ai pris l'Ice Tea. ♫
01:15
♫ Did you bringapporter the bugpunaise sprayvaporisateur? ♫
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♫ As-tu emporté l'anti-moustique ? ♫
01:17
♫ The fliesmouches are the sizeTaille of your headtête
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♫ Les mouches font la taille de ta tête ♫
01:21
NextProchaine to the palmpaume treearbre, ♫
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♫ A côté du palmier, ♫
01:24
♫ Did you see the 'gators"gators
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♫ As-tu vu les 'gators ?♫
01:26
♫ Looking happycontent and well fednourris? ♫
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♫ ils semblent heureux et bien nourris. ♫
01:30
Everyone'sTout le monde out in merryjoyeux ManhattanManhattan in JanuaryJanvier
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♫ Tout le monde est dehors dans ce joyeux Manhattan en Janvier ♫
01:41
(WhistlingSifflement)
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(Sifflement)
01:47
EveryoneTout le monde!
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♫ Tout le monde ensemble ! ♫
01:49
(WhistlingSifflement) (LaughterRires)
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(Sifflements)
02:00
♫ My preacherprédicateur said, ♫
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♫ Mon prètre m'a dit, ♫
02:03
♫ Don't you worryinquiéter
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♫ Ne t'inquiète pas ♫
02:05
♫ The scientistsscientifiques have it all wrongfaux
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♫ Les scientifiques ont tous tort ♫
02:09
♫ And so, who caresse soucie it's winterhiver here? ♫
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♫ Et alors, qui se soucie de savoir qu'en hiver ♫
02:13
♫ And I have my halter-topressuscitez on ♫
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♫ je suis toujours en manches courtes ? ♫
02:17
♫ I have my halter-topressuscitez on ♫
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♫ Je suis toujours en manches courtes ♫
02:22
Everyone'sTout le monde out in merryjoyeux ManhattanManhattan in JanuaryJanvier. ♫
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♫ Tout le monde est dehors dans ce joyeux Manhattan en Janvier ♫
02:33
(ApplauseApplaudissements)
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(Applaudissements)
02:37
ChrisChris AndersonAnderson: JillJill SobuleSobule!
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Chris Anderson: Jill Sobule !
Translated by Yann Jouitteau
Reviewed by Emmanuel Parfond

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jill Sobule - Singer/songwriter
Jill Sobule isn't just another singer-songwriter with catchy tunes and smart lyrics, she's one of the more insightful satirists of our age. Each of her fanciful songs captures an issue or irony, an emotion or epiphany that helps us understand what it's like to live now.

Why you should listen

Jill Sobule first found her place in music history with the controversial 1995 hit "I Kissed a Girl." The song's silly sweetness masked its significance: It broke new ground as the first Top 40 hit to deal with overtly gay themes.

This approach -- packaging hard-hitting social commentary in a wrapper of whimsy -- has 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 has 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 on her Huffington Post blog, as well as in her steady stream of stand-out albums, including Jill Sobule (1995), Happy Town (1997), Pink Pearl (2000) and Underdog Victorious (2004). Lately, Sobule has performed regularly with comedian Julia Sweeney (the two met at TED2006). They put on the "Jill and Julia Show," an utterly endearing evening of stories and songs. She's also recording an album with the string quartet Ethel (another TED2006 match).

More profile about the speaker
Jill Sobule | Speaker | TED.com