Why Do Birds Sing?

Why Do Birds Sing?
Studio album by Violent Femmes
Released	April 30, 1991 (1991-04-30)
Recorded	1990
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	42:20
Label	Reprise
Producer	Violent Femmes, Michael Beinhorn
Violent Femmes chronology
Debacle: The First Decade (1990) Why Do Birds Sing? (1991) Add It Up (1981-1993) (1993)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone
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Why Do Birds Sing? is Violent Femmes' fifth studio album, released on April 30, 1991. It featured the single "American Music," which received modest airplay on modern rock radio, and became a staple of the band's live shows.

Track listing

All songs written by Gordon Gano, except where noted.

1. "American Music" – 3:49
2. "Out the Window" – 2:52
3. "Look Like That" – 2:45
4. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" – 4:50 (O'Dowd / Craig / Hay / Moss / Gano)
5. "Hey Nonny Nonny" – 4:34 (Shepard Tonie / Gano)
6. "Used to Be" – 3:38
7. "Girl Trouble" – 2:57
8. "He Likes Me" – 3:07
9. "Life is a Scream" – 1:54
10. "Flamingo Baby" – 2:37
11. "Lack of Knowledge" – 1:54
12. "More Money Tonight" – 3:58
13. "I'm Free" – 3:25

Personnel

• Gordon Gano - Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Slide Guitar
• Brian Ritchie - Banjo, Bass, Bouzouki, Glockenspiel, Jew's-Harp, Ukulele, Vocals, Didjeridu, Producer, Acoustic Bass, 8-String Bass
• Victor DeLorenzo - Percussion, Conga, Cymbals, Drums, Tabla, Tambourine, Tom-Tom, Vocals, Bells, Producer, Tympani (Timpani), Drums (Snare), Shaker, Sleigh Bells, Wood, Tranceaphone

• Michael Beinhorn - Piano, Harmonium, Hammond Organ, Background Vocals, Producer, Mellotron, Clapping, String Arrangements
• Tom Mandel - Keyboards
• Alex - Background Vocals, Clapping
• Larry Corbett - Strings
• Suzie Katayama - Strings
• Ilene Novog - Strings
• Sid Page - Strings

• Violent Femmes - Producer
• Susan Rogers - Engineer
• Tom Fritze - Assistant Engineer
• Lori Fumar - Assistant Engineer
• Mike Kloster - Assistant Engineer
• Eric "ET" Thorngren - Engineer, Mixing
• David Vartanian - Mixing
• Howie Weinberg - Mastering
• Mary Jones - Photography

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1991	The Billboard 200	141

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1991	"American Music"	Modern Rock Tracks	2