The Birmingham Festival Theatre recently held a fundraiser called “The Great Wrong Way” where they performed Broadway favorites for the audience.  The special trick was that each standard had to be performed by the wrong gender.  Neat idea.  You can see a full passel of pictures from the show here.

I didn’t get a chance to make it to this particular show, but it inspired me just the same.  I’m always laughing to myself about how I’ve learned a lot of songs over the years that were originally written and performed by girls.  Some are easy to translate to my own voice and it doesn’t really matter who sings them, but some of them – lots of Liz Phair maybe – would be uncomfortable for a straight guy to sing for an audience.

So here are three more rough cover songs, but I intentionally picked kind-of iconic chick songs (and a Chick song), covered by yours truly.  Still one microphone and one track.  If they all sound a little different, you’ve got good ears, and I’m experimenting with recording in different rooms in my house and microphone placements.  And a reminder to fellow amateurs: Art doesn’t have to be particularly good to be entertaining.  (Click each to play, or right-click to download)

Vacation – the Go-Go’s – I.R.S. Records

Galileo – Indigo Girls – Epic Records

Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks – Columbia Records

Still “live”.  Still only available temporarily for you to do whatever and then I’ll probably take them down.  And so castles made of sand, fall in the sea, eventually.

Go spend some money on these bands.  See concerts; buy t-shirts.  Big mean record companies: don’t sue me, please.