#LetTheGirlsPlay Cover: Liz Phair, ‘Why Can’t I?’ [Watch]
Five #LetTheGirlsPlay artists paid tribute to a hip, edgy female pioneer at a recent Monday night Song Suffragettes gig in Nashville by covering Liz Phair's "Why Can't I?"
From left to right in the video above, Livy Jeanne, Lena Stone, Kalie Shorr, Hailey Steele and Mae Estes were on the bill for the weekly #LetTheGirlsPlay gig at the Listening Room in downtown Music City on Jan. 2. The weekly singer-songwriter showcase features a rotating roster of the most up-and-coming female talent in Nashville, and at the end of each performance, the women join forces to pay tribute to a songwriter who has influenced them.
Phair co-wrote "Why Can't I?" with Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards and Scott Spock, and released it as the lead single from her self-titled fourth album in 2003. "Why Can't I?" reached No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the Hot Adult Top 40, becoming her biggest charting song to date.
Unlike Phair's heavily-produced, electric guitar-laden track, the Suffragettes strip the song down to its bare essentials for their performance, and they also replace the racier original lyric with the more radio and family-friendly, "Here we go, we're at the beginning / We haven't kissed yet, but my head's spinning."
Take a look at the performance in the clip above.
The #LetTheGirlsPlay movement launched in Nashville to help address the marketplace inequalities for women in country music and provide them a showcase for their original work, as well as networking opportunities. So far it's working; LTGP artists have seen their careers take off, including Kasey Tyndall, who recently signed a deal with Sony/ATV, one of Nashville's most influential publishing houses.
Taste of Country remains a committed supporter of the movement. Look for cover songs on the site once a week, and monthly featured artist profiles in addition to regular special features. This month's featured artist is Taylor Noelle.
A #LetTheGirlsPlay Original! Listen to Kalie Shorr's "Nothin' New"