# Liz Phair and Hilary Duff
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liz-phair-and-hilary-duff/416112
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 19, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liz-phair-and-hilary-duff/416112 "2007-08-19T03:16:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liz-phair-and-hilary-duff/416112/1 "2007-08-19T03:16:35Z")
I was at work yesterday and the song “Why Can’t I” began playing on the radio. This lead to a discussion and my friend’s insistence that the singer was Hilary Duff. I told him it was Liz Phair but he refused to believe me. He finally insisted on betting me lunch.
Now I know that it was Liz Phair who wrote and performed that song and I know it was her singing it on the radio. But to remove any last hope from him, I was looking to see if Hilary Duff ever released a cover of the song. As far as can tell, she didn’t but does anyone know for certain?
For those unfamiliar with the song, here’s the [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4QiSL4V0sE).
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### Author:  [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2007, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liz-phair-and-hilary-duff/416112/2 "2007-08-19T03:24:57Z")
Liz Phair’s ASCAP listing shows her as the only listed performer of _Why Can’t I_- the listings usually list all of the artists that have recorded a particular song. Having heard Hilary Duff sing, I must say that she has a higher-pitched voice than Hilary Duff does. [Here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPnCOySQkH4) one of Hilary’s most well-known songs for comparison. Neat video, by the way- I’ve never heard of the artist, song, or video, so thanks for the link.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2007, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liz-phair-and-hilary-duff/416112/3 "2007-08-19T06:08:22Z")
Plus I have a hard time thinking Duff would cover a song about two people who are planning on cheating on their current partners. Or sing the line _“Here we go, we’re at the beginning. We haven’t fucked yet, but my heads spinning.”_