{{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 | 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''.<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 |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> It was released on August 13, 2019, by 4AD as a digital single alongside the album's announcement.<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://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 |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>
The song was nominated for Best Rock Song and 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; }} Big Thief 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 |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 |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> Claire Shaffer of ''Rolling Stone'' described the performance as a "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 |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 |access-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>
== Critical reception == The song was praised by ''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 |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" /> At the end of 2019, Barack Obama listed the song among his favorites of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruiz |first=Matthew Ismael |date=December 30, 2019 |title=Barack Obama Names Big Thief, Frank Ocean, Rosalía Among Songs of the Year |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/barack-obama-names-big-thief-frank-ocean-rosalia-among-songs-of-the-year/ |access-date=January 2, 2020 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref>
=== Accolades === "Not" was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adrienne Lenker |url=https://www.grammy.com/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=https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/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'' | 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|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'' | 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 |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>}} |- | ''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 |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'' | The 100 Best Songs of 2019 | {{center|20}} | {{center|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-100-best-songs-of-2019/ |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2019 |date=December 18, 2019 |website=Vice |access-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref>}} |}
== Cover versions == In November 2019, "Not" was covered by Matt Berninger, vocalist and frontman of 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}}</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}}</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}}</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 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 |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''.<ref name="liner notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=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