# Why Can't I?

"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.

## Writing and inspiration

"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."

## Composition

"Why Can't I?" is written in the key of B major and has a tempo of 81 beats per minute. It follows a chord progression of B–B/A♯–G♯m7–E(add 2).

## 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." Matt LeMay of Pitchfork said that with the "cookie-cutter rock/pop background" it could easily pass for Michelle Branch." Mary Huhn of the New York Post called the song "a breathless romantic confection, and very un-Phair-like". Mim Udovitch of Slate called the song an "almost parodically basic power ballad" but stated that the chorus is "hooky".
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".

## 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 song's lyrics.

## Track listing

* CD single
* "Why Can't I?" – 3:28
* "Jeremy Engle" – 3:10
* "Fine Again" – 2:47

## In popular culture

The song was featured in the films How to Deal (2003), 13 Going on 30 (2004), and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004). On television, it was featured on The O.C. episode "The Debut", Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County episode "18 Candles", Tru Calling episode "Past Tense", October Road episode "Let's Get Owen", and Everwood episode "Just Like in the Movies".

## Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Liz Phair album liner notes.
* 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 vocals

## Certifications and sales

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^*$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
| United States | May 5, 2003 | Hot adult contemporary radiotriple A radio | Capitol | |
| United States | July 14, 2003 | Contemporary hit radio | Capitol | |