"Why Can't I?" is a song by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair. It was released on May 5, 2003, as the lead single from her self-titled fourth album. It reached number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Phair's highest-charting single and only top-40 single. The song was certified gold in the US, having sold 500,000 copies there.
"Why Can't I?" was written by Phair and The Matrix. Phair released "Why Can't I?" in hopes that she would expand her audience and attract more listeners to its parent record, Liz Phair (2003). In an interview with Vice, Phair explained: "My hope was that someone would hear the song in the gym and buy the record and then start buying my albums and sort of have an awakening."[1]
Compositionedit
"Why Can't I?" is written in the key of B major and has a tempo of 81 beats per minute.[2] It follows a chord progression of B–B/A♯–G♯m7–E(add 2).[3]
Chuck Taylor of Billboard called the song a "melodic adult pop/rocker" and a "knock-out, stand-out, break-out record that adult top 40 should take right home."[4] Matt LeMay of Pitchfork said that with the "cookie-cutter rock/pop background" it could easily pass for Michelle Branch."[5] Mary Huhn of the New York Post called the song "a breathless romantic confection, and very un-Phair-like".[6] Mim Udovitch of Slate called the song an "almost parodically basic power ballad" but stated that the chorus is "hooky".[7]
Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club criticized the song, referring to it as "an embarrassingly awkward marriage of dumbed-down Phair songwriting and every tired production trick of the last year". Adrien Begrand of PopMatters compared the song to Avril Lavigne, referring to it as "a note-for-note retread of Lavigne's "Complicated".[8]
The video was directed by Phil Harder and was released in June 2003. It features a jukebox where an unknown man puts a coin in the jukebox where Liz Phair appears on every record cover on the jukebox indicating the song's lyrics.
^Liz Phair (CD liner notes). Liz Phair. Capitol Records. 2003. CDP 7243 5 22084 0 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Liz Phair – Why Can't I?" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
^"Liz Phair – Why Can't I?". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
^"Liz Phair Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
^"Liz Phair Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
^"Liz Phair Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
^"Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-80. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
^"The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 14.
^"2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 22.
^"Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1502. May 2, 2003. p. 26. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
^"Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1512. July 11, 2003. p. 24. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
January 01, 1970
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Why Can t I is a song by American singer songwriter Liz Phair It was released on May 5 2003 as the lead single from her self titled fourth album It reached number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 becoming Phair s highest charting single and only top 40 single The song was certified gold in the US having sold 500 000 copies there Why Can t I Single by Liz Phairfrom the album Liz PhairB side Jeremy Engle Fine Again ReleasedMay 5 2003 2003 05 05 StudioDecoy Studio City GenrePop rockLength3 28LabelCapitolSongwriter s Lauren Christy Scott Spock Graham Edwards Liz PhairProducer s The MatrixLiz Phair singles chronology Johnny Feelgood 1998 Why Can t I 2003 Extraordinary 2004 Music video Why Can t I on YouTube Contents 1 Writing and inspiration 2 Composition 3 Critical reception 4 Music video 5 Track listing 6 Credits and personnel 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 Certifications and sales 9 Release history 10 ReferencesWriting and inspiration edit Why Can t I was written by Phair and The Matrix Phair released Why Can t I in hopes that she would expand her audience and attract more listeners to its parent record Liz Phair 2003 In an interview with Vice Phair explained My hope was that someone would hear the song in the gym and buy the record and then start buying my albums and sort of have an awakening 1 Composition edit Why Can t I is written in the key of B major and has a tempo of 81 beats per minute 2 It follows a chord progression of B B A G m7 E add 2 3 Critical reception edit nbsp nbsp Why Can t I was compared to songs by Avril Lavigne left and Michelle Branch right Chuck Taylor of Billboard called the song a melodic adult pop rocker and a knock out stand out break out record that adult top 40 should take right home 4 Matt LeMay of Pitchfork said that with the cookie cutter rock pop background it could easily pass for Michelle Branch 5 Mary Huhn of the New York Post called the song a breathless romantic confection and very un Phair like 6 Mim Udovitch of Slate called the song an almost parodically basic power ballad but stated that the chorus is hooky 7 Keith Phipps of The A V Club criticized the song referring to it as an embarrassingly awkward marriage of dumbed down Phair songwriting and every tired production trick of the last year Adrien Begrand of PopMatters compared the song to Avril Lavigne referring to it as a note for note retread of Lavigne s Complicated 8 The song was featured in the films How to Deal 13 Going on 30 and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton Music video editThe video was directed by Phil Harder and was released in June 2003 It features a jukebox where an unknown man puts a coin in the jukebox where Liz Phair appears on every record cover on the jukebox indicating the song s lyrics Track listing editCD single 9 Why Can t I 3 28 Jeremy Engle 3 10 Fine Again 2 47Credits and personnel editCredits and personnel are adapted from the Liz Phair album liner notes 10 Liz Phair writer lead vocals The Matrix writer production arrangement recording additional vocals Krish Sharma drum recording Serban Ghenea mixing Corky James guitars Victor Indrizzo drums Wizardz of Oz additional vocalsCharts editWeekly charts edit Chart 2003 2004 Peakposition Belgium Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders 11 17 New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 12 37 US Billboard Hot 100 13 32 US Adult Top 40 Billboard 14 7 US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 15 10 Year end charts edit Chart 2003 Position US Adult Top 40 Billboard 16 20 US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 17 85 Chart 2004 Position US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 18 79Certifications and sales editRegion Certification Certified units sales United States RIAA 19 Gold 500 000 Sales figures based on certification alone Release history editRegion Date Format s Label s Ref United States May 5 2003 Hot adult contemporary radiotriple A radio Capitol 20 July 14 2003 Contemporary hit radio 21 References edit After 25 Years in Guyville Liz Phair Is Glad to Be in Woman World BPM Database Browse bpmdatabase com Retrieved November 29 2015 Why Can t I www musicnotes com October 27 2003 Retrieved November 29 2015 Billboard June 7 2003 page 42 Matt LeMay June 24 2003 Liz Phair Liz Phair Album Reviews Pitchfork Media Retrieved September 21 2012 Mary Huhn August 10 2003 Cynic Turned Sexpot Liz Phair Doesn t Want to Be Cool Anymore New York Post Retrieved September 21 2017 Mim Udovitch June 27 2003 What Is Liz Phair Thinking New York Post Retrieved September 21 2017 Begrand Adrien June 22 2003 Liz Phair self titled lt PopMatters PopMatters Retrieved September 21 2012 Why Can t I European CD single liner notes Liz Phair Capitol Records 2003 7243 5 52959 2 7 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Liz Phair CD liner notes Liz Phair Capitol Records 2003 CDP 7243 5 22084 0 1 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Liz Phair Why Can t I in Dutch Ultratip Retrieved June 8 2021 Liz Phair Why Can t I Top 40 Singles Retrieved June 8 2021 Liz Phair Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved June 8 2021 Liz Phair Chart History Adult Pop Songs Billboard Retrieved June 8 2021 Liz Phair Chart History Pop Songs Billboard Retrieved June 8 2021 Year in Music Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Billboard Vol 115 no 52 December 27 2003 p YE 80 Retrieved December 19 2023 The Year in Charts 2003 Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs Airplay Monitor Vol 11 no 51 December 19 2003 p 14 2004 The Year in Charts Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs Billboard Radio Monitor Vol 12 no 51 December 17 2004 p 22 American single certifications Liz Phair Why Can t I Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved June 11 2021 Going for Adds PDF Radio amp Records No 1502 May 2 2003 p 26 Retrieved June 11 2021 Going for Adds PDF Radio amp Records No 1512 July 11 2003 p 24 Retrieved June 11 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Why Can 27t I 3F amp oldid 1190742620, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
