Why Can't I?
| "Why Can't I?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Liz Phair | ||||
| from the album Liz Phair | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | May 2003 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 3:28 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | The Matrix | |||
| Liz Phair singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Why Can't I?" on YouTube | ||||
"Why Can't I?" is a song by American pop rock artist Liz Phair. It was released in May 2003 as the lead single from her self-titled album, Liz Phair. It reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100, Phair's highest-charting single to date, and only top 40 single. The single was certified gold, having sold 500,000 copies.[1] The song is featured on the 13 Going on 30 Soundtrack.
Composition
"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
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] Adrien Begrand of PopMatters called the song a "note-for-note retread" of "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne.[8]
Music video
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 songs lyrics.
Chart performance
| Chart (2003–04) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[9] | 17 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] | 37 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 32 |
| US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[12] | 7 |
External links
References
- ^ Liz Phair Sales Certifications
- ^ "BPM Database - Browse". bpmdatabase.com. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
- ^ "Why Can't I?". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
- ^ Billboard - June 7, 2003, page 42
- ^ Matt LeMay (2003-06-24). "Liz Phair: Liz Phair | Album Reviews". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ Mary Huhn (2003-08-10). "CYNIC TURNED SEXPOT LIZ PHAIR DOESN'T WANT TO BE COOL ANYMORE". New York Post. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ Mim Udovitch (2003-06-27). "What Is Liz Phair Thinking?". New York Post. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ Begrand, Adrien (2003-06-22). "Liz Phair: self-titled < PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ "Liz Phair – Why Can't I?" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "Liz Phair – Why Can't I?". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Liz Phair Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
- ^ "Liz Phair Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
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