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Kay Hanley
Artist profile

Kay Hanley

Kay Hanley started out as the lead vocalist for the alt-rock band Letter Kills in the early 1990s. After the band dissolved in 1999, she went solo and signed...

album32 lyric pages photo_library1 photo groups15 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Start here

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17 16 visits arrow_forward Faded Dress 14 visits arrow_forward Fall 14 visits arrow_forward Take It Like a Man 14 visits arrow_forward You Don't See Me 14 visits arrow_forward Te Amo 13 visits arrow_forward
Editor's note

Kay Hanley's alt-rock voice and solo pop turn

From Letter Kills frontwoman to a solo career anchored by the hit "17."

For the full picture, listen to "17" and then something like "Faded Dress." They bookend the shift from her band's sound to her own lane.

Her song "17" landed in the Billboard Hot 100's top 20, a slice of pop-rock that caught a wider audience with its take on teenage heartbreak. It's the clearest point in a catalog that also includes tracks like "Faded Dress" and "Take It Like a Man," songs that hold onto that melodic, slightly haunted quality she brought from her band days.

She started as lead vocalist for the alt-rock group Letter Kills in the early '90s. After the band ended in 1999, she went solo, releasing albums like "Lipstick Traces" and "Cherry Marmalade," which contained "17." Later records included "The Black Swan" and "Trauma."

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 20
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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32 lyric pages live 1 photo available Editor's note live
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Kay Hanley
Background notes

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Kay Hanley started out as the lead vocalist for the alt-rock band Letter Kills in the early 1990s. After the band dissolved in 1999, she went solo and signed with MCA Records, releasing her debut album "Lipstick Traces" in 2000. Her second album, "Cherry Marmalade," came out in 2002 and included the song "17," which became a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

That song, with its haunting melody and lyrics about adolescent heartbreak, brought her wider attention. She followed it with two more studio albums, "The Black Swan" in 2005 and "Trauma" in 2011. Other songs in her catalog include "Faded Dress," "Lust For Life," and "Take It Like a Man."

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Where should I start with Kay Hanley on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with 17, Faded Dress, and Fall so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Kay Hanley?

LyroVerse currently has 32 visible lyric pages for Kay Hanley.

Does Kay Hanley have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 1 photo available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Kay Hanley?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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