View source for Not (song)

{{short description|2019 single by Big Thief}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Not
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Big Thief]]
| album      = [[Two Hands (Big Thief album)|Two Hands]]
| released   = {{Start date|2019|08|13}}
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| genre      = <!--do not add unsourced genres-->
| length     = {{Duration|m=6|s=07}}
| label      = [[4AD]]
| writer     = [[Adrianne Lenker]]
| producer   = Andrew Sarlo
| prev_title = Century
| prev_year  = 2019
| next_title = Forgotten Eyes
| next_year  = 2019
}}
"'''Not'''" is a song by American indie rock band [[Big Thief]], released as the first single from their fourth [[studio album]] ''[[Two Hands (Big Thief album)|Two Hands]]''. It was released on August 13, 2019, by [[4AD]] as a [[Single (music)|digital single]] alongside the album's announcement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://4ad.com/news/13/8/2019/newalbumtwohandsleadsinglenot |title=Big Thief: New Album, 'Two Hands', & Lead Single 'Not' |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[4AD]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/08/big-thief-new-album-two-hands-not-listen/ |title=Big Thief Announce New Album ''Two Hands'', Release "Not" |last=Cook-Wilson |first=Winston |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Martoccio|first=Angie|date=August 13, 2019|title=Big Thief Drop New Single 'Not,' Detail Second 2019 LP 'Two Hands'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/big-thief-new-song-not-new-album-two-hands-870877/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2054439/big-thief-not-two-hands/music/ |title=Big Thief – "Not" |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[Stereogum]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/big-thief-announce-new-album-two-hands-drop-new-song-not-listen/ |title=Big Thief Announce New Album ''Two Hands'', Drop New Song "Not": Listen |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/big-thief-announce-new-album-tour-share-emotive-new-single-not-2537732 |title=Big Thief announce new album, tour and share emotive new single, 'Not' |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2019/08/big-thief-two-hands-not-stream/ |title=Big Thief announce new album Two Hands, share lead single "Not": Stream |last=Kaye |first=Ben |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>
The song was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance|Best Rock Performance]] at the [[63rd Annual Grammy Awards]].
== Background ==
{{quote box
| quote="We found something between the four of us [...] It was like we were riding in the wind. I don't even remember at a certain point. We went somewhere."
| source = —[[Adrianne Lenker]]<ref name="Boston Globe" />
| width = 20em
| align = right
| style = padding:8px;
}}
The band debuted the song during a concert at [[Point Éphémère]] in [[Paris, France]] on March 28, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2018/03/30/598222158/watch-big-thief-debut-two-new-songs-live-in-paris |title=Watch Big Thief Debut Two New Songs Live In Paris |last=Boilen |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Boilen |date=March 30, 2018 |website=[[All Songs Considered]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/03/30/watch-big-thief-debut-two-new-songs-in-paris |title=Watch Big Thief debut two new songs in Paris |last=Maicki |first=Salvatore |date=March 30, 2018 |website=[[The Fader]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> Getting the recording of the song exactly right was important to the band, and they later re-recorded it at [[Sound City Studios]] in [[Van Nuys]], [[California]].<ref name="Boston Globe">{{cite news|last=Feldberg|first=Isaac|date=September 6, 2019|title=For 'Two Hands,' Big Thief found fertile ground in the Texas desert|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/specials/fall-arts/2019/09/06/for-two-hands-big-thief-found-fertile-ground-texas-desert/6j6WJs1rNtxowoS94IGBsI/story.html|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>
== Composition ==
Written by [[Adrianne Lenker]],<ref name="liner notes" /> the song's lyrics uses [[negation]] to describe something,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/08/big-thief-rush-release-new-single-not-announce-new.html |title=Big Thief Announce Another New Album, Release Lead Single "Not" |last=Thapliyal |first=Substitute |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> with Lenker repeating the use of "not" or "nor" at the beginning of each line.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/section/arts/big-thief-gets-down-earth-two-hands |title=Big Thief comes down to earth with 'Two Hands' |last=Cantie |first=Samantha |date=October 20, 2019 |website=[[The Michigan Daily]] |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> [[Bob Boilen]] of [[NPR]] described the song's subject as "the inability to describe what that something is, only to be able to explain what it is not."<ref name="NPR" />
The second half of the song is instrumental and features a guitar solo played by Lenker.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/26/790739469/one-big-breath-and-a-blazing-guitar-2019s-best-moments-in-music |title=One Big Breath And A Blazing Guitar: 2019's Best Moments In Music |last1=Huizenga |first1=Tom |last2=Lorusso |first2=Marissa |date=December 26, 2019 |website=[[All Songs Considered]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=January 4, 2020}}</ref>
== Performances ==
"Not" was performed live by Big Thief on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' on October 10, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-big-thief-perform-not-on-colbert/ |title=Watch Big Thief Perform "Not" on ''Colbert'' |last=Bloom |first=Madison |date=October 11, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> Claire Shaffer of ''Rolling Stone'' described the performance as a "[[Hard rock|hard-rock]] spin" on the song with "distorted" guitars and "manic" drums, comparing Adrianne Lenker's "wailing" vocals to that of [[emo music]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|date=October 11, 2019|title=Big Thief Perform 'Two Hands' Single 'Not' on 'Colbert'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/big-thief-not-two-hands-colbert-897768/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> Ben Kaye of ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' called it "an impassioned performance that demonstrated why they're one of the most engaging groups to emerge from the folk scene in some time."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2019/10/big-thief-colbert-watch/ |title=Big Thief perform "Not" on Colbert: Watch |last=Kaye |first=Ben |date=October 11, 2019 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>
The band performed "Not" as well as "Two Hands" and "Forgotten Eyes" on ''[[CBS This Morning]]'' on October 26, 2019, as part of the program's ''Saturday Sessions'' segment.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kaplan|first=Ilana|date=October 26, 2019|title=Watch Big Thief Perform Three Songs From New LP on 'CBS This Morning'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/big-thief-cbs-this-morning-904202/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/10/big-thief-play-three-songs-on-cbs-this-morning-watch/ |title=Here's What Big Thief Played on ''CBS This Morning'' |last=Arcand |first=Rob |date=October 26, 2019 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-big-thief-perform-two-hands-not-and-forgotten-eyes-on-cbs-this-morning/ |title=Watch Big Thief Perform "Two Hands," "Not," and "Forgotten Eyes" on ''CBS This Morning'' |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=October 26, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>
== Critical reception ==
The song was praised by ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', who named it Best New Track upon release and called it "a towering statement from a group constantly leapfrogging over themselves."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/big-thief-not/ |title="Not" by Big Thief Review |last=Moreland |first=Quinn |date=August 13, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> [[BBC Music]] compared Lenker's guitar solo to that of "[[Neil Young]] at his peak."<ref name="BBC Music" />
The song was also cited as one of [[Barack Obama]]'s favorite songs of 2019 in a Spotify playlist compiled by Obama at the end of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/barack-obama-names-big-thief-frank-ocean-rosalia-among-songs-of-the-year/ |title=Barack Obama Names Big Thief, Frank Ocean, Rosalía Among Songs of the Year |last=Ruiz |first=Matthew Ismael |date=December 30, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref>
=== Accolades ===
"Not" was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance|Best Rock Performance]] at the [[63rd Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adrienne Lenker |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/adrienne-lenker/251868 |access-date=March 12, 2021 |website=www.grammy.com}}</ref>
=== Year-end lists ===
"Not" appeared in several publications' year-end lists. [[NPR Music]] named it the best song of 2019 with [[Bob Boilen]] writing, "No song in 2019 felt more searing, more perfect, than 'Not'".<ref name="NPR" />
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Publication
! List
! Rank
! class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[BBC Music]]
| The 20 best songs of 2019
| {{center|19}}
| {{center|<ref name="BBC Music">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/story/20191220-the-20-best-songs-of-2019 |title=The 20 best songs of 2019 |date=December 23, 2019 |website=[[BBC Music]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''
| The 100 Best Songs of 2019
| {{center|56}}
| {{center|<ref>{{cite magazine|date=December 11, 2019|title=The 100 Best Songs of 2019: Staff List|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8545893/best-songs-of-2019-top-100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''[[Consequence of Sound]]''
| Top 50 Songs of 2019
| {{center|24}}
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2019/12/top-50-songs-of-2019/4/ |title=Top 50 Songs of 2019 |date=December 5, 2019 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''Flood Magazine''
| The Best Songs of 2019
| {{center|3}}
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://floodmagazine.com/72026/the-best-songs-of-2019/ |title=The Best Songs of 2019 |date=December 6, 2019 |website=Flood Magazine |access-date=December 15, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''[[The Guardian]]''
| The 20 best songs of 2019
| {{center|12}}
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/02/the-20-best-songs-of-2019-tracks |title=The 20 best songs of 2019 |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=December 2, 2019 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| [[NPR Music]]
| 25 Best Songs of 2019
| {{center|1}}
| {{center|<ref name="NPR">{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/11/778226410/the-25-best-songs-of-2019 |title=NPR Music's 25 Best Songs Of 2019 |last=Boilen |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Boilen |date=December 11, 2019 |website=[[NPR Music]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''
| The 50 Best Songs of 2019
| {{center|7}}
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/12/best-songs-of-2019.html |title=The 50 Best Songs of 2019 |date=December 3, 2019 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| The 100 Best Songs of 2019
| {{center|9}}
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-songs-2019/ |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2019 |date=December 9, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''[[Uproxx]]''
| The Best Songs of 2019
| {{center|10}}
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uproxx.com/music/best-songs-of-2019-ranked/ |title=The Best Songs Of 2019 |date=December 3, 2019 |website=[[Uproxx]] |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}}
|-
| ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]''
| The 100 Best Songs of 2019
| {{center|20}}
| {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/akwwxz/the-100-best-songs-of-2019 |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2019 |date=December 18, 2019 |website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |access-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref>}}
|}
== Cover versions ==
In November 2019, "Not" was covered by [[Matt Berninger]], vocalist and frontman of [[The National (band)|The National]], during a solo live performance at the sixth annual Dream Serenade benefit concert in [[Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=November 3, 2019 |title=Watch the National's Matt Berninger Cover Big Thief's "Not" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-the-nationals-matt-berninger-cover-big-thiefs-not/ |access-date=December 12, 2019 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |date=November 3, 2019 |title=The National's Matt Berninger puts his own spin on Big Thief's 'Not' – watch |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nationals-matt-berninger-fan-big-thief-covered-song-2564113 |access-date=December 12, 2019 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=November 3, 2019 |title=The National's Matt Berninger covers Big Thief's "Not": Watch |url=https://consequence.net/2019/11/the-national-matt-berninger-big-thief-not-cover/ |access-date=December 12, 2019 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]]}}</ref>
In April 2020, a cover was released by former [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] guitarist [[Josh Klinghoffer]] under the pseudonym of [[Pluralone]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hussey |first=Allison |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Watch Josh Klinghoffer (Ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers) Cover Big Thief's "Not" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-josh-klinghoffer-ex-red-hot-chili-peppers-cover-big-thiefs-not/ |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |date=April 23, 2020 |title=Watch Josh Klinghoffer as Pluralone cover Big Thief's 'Not' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/josh-klinghoffer-pluralone-cover-big-thief-not-2652732 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kohn |first=Daniel |date=April 23, 2020 |title=Josh Klinghoffer Shares Cover of Big Thief's 'Not' |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/04/josh-klinghoffer-shares-cover-of-big-thiefs-not/ |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref>
On September 4, 2020, [[Hamilton Leithauser]] released the live album ''Live! at Café Carlyle'', collecting 10 recordings made during his residency at the New York City [[Carlyle Hotel|Café Carlyle]]. It includes a cover of "Not".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=August 19, 2020 |title=Hamilton Leithauser Announces New Album Live! at Cafe Carlyle |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/hamilton-leithauser-announces-new-album-live-at-cafe-carlyle/ |access-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Uitti |first=Jacob |date=September 4, 2020 |title=Hamilton Leithauser Discusses Releasing Forgotten Show, 'Live at Café Carlyle' |work=[[American Songwriter]] |url=https://americansongwriter.com/live-at-cafe-carlyle-hamilton-leithauser-album-interview/ |access-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref>
== Personnel ==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''[[Two Hands (Big Thief album)|Two Hands]]''.<ref name="liner notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Two Hands (Big Thief album)|Two Hands]] |others=[[Big Thief]] |publisher=[[4AD]] |year=2019 |type=liner notes |id=4AD0180LP}}</ref>
* [[Adrianne Lenker]] – songwriting, vocals, guitar
* [[Buck Meek]] – guitar
* Max Oleartchik – bass
* James Krivchenia – drums, vocals, mallets
* Andrew Sarlo – production, mixing, engineering
== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|30|artist=Big Thief|song=Not|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 11, 2019}}
|}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Big Thief}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:2019 songs]]
[[Category:2019 singles]]
[[Category:4AD singles]]
[[Category:Big Thief songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Adrianne Lenker]]