Why Do Birds Sing?

Why Do Birds Sing?
Why Do Birds Sing?
Studio album by Violent Femmes
Released	April 30, 1991
Recorded	1990
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	42:20
Label	Reprise
Producer	Violent Femmes, Michael Beinhorn
Violent Femmes chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Rolling Stone	^[2]

Why Do Birds Sing? is the fifth studio album by Violent Femmes, released on April 30, 1991. It was the band's last album with original drummer Victor DeLorenzo, who left two years later to devote his time to acting, and was produced by Michael Beinhorn, best-known then for his work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Mother's Milk and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.

The album featured the single "American Music," which rose to number 2 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart during the week of May 18, 1991,^[3] and became a staple of the band's live shows.

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Gordon Gano, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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?"	George O'Dowd, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Gano	4:50
5.	"Hey Nonny Nonny"	Shepard Tonie, Gano	4:34
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[]

Violent Femmes[]

Gordon Gano – vocals, guitar
Brian Ritchie – bass, guitar, bouzouki, banjo, ukulele, mouth harp, didgeridoo, xylophone, glockenspiel, vocals
Victor DeLorenzo – drums, percussion, tranceaphone, vocals

Additional musicians[]

Michael Beinhorn – Hammond organ on "American Music", Mellotron on "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" and "Used To Be", piano on "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" and "I'm Free", harmonium on "Used To Be"
Sid Page, Suzie Katayama, Ilene Novog, Larry Corbett – strings on "Used To Be"
Tommy Mandel – keyboards on "American Music"

Production[]

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

Charts[]

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA Charts)^[4]	27
United States (Billboard 200)^[5]	141

References[]

^ Why Do Birds Sing? at AllMusic
^ Rolling Stone^{[dead link]}
^ https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-songs/1991-05-18
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ Whitburn, Joel; Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums, 1955–1996; p. 819. ISBN 0898201179

[1] Why Do Birds Sing? at AllMusic

[2] Rolling Stone^{[dead link]}

[3] ttps://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-songs/1991-05-18

[4] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.

[5] Whitburn, Joel; Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums, 1955–1996; p. 819. ISBN 0898201179

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hide v t Violent Femmes
Gordon Gano Brian Ritchie John Sparrow Victor DeLorenzo Guy Hoffman Brian Viglione
Studio albums	Violent Femmes Hallowed Ground The Blind Leading the Naked 3 Why Do Birds Sing? New Times Rock!!!!! Freak Magnet We Can Do Anything Hotel Last Resort
Live albums	Viva Wisconsin BBC Live Archive Series No. 1: Live in Iceland Archive Series No. 2: Live in Chicago Q101
Compilations	Debacle: The First Decade Add It Up (1981–1993) Something's Wrong Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes
Extended plays	Happy New Year
Video albums	Permanent Record: Live & Otherwise No, Let's Start Over Live at the Haçienda
Singles	"Blister in the Sun" "Gone Daddy Gone" "Children of the Revolution" "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" "Crazy"
Other songs	"Add It Up"
Related articles	Discography