Not Myself Tonight
Encyclopedia
"Not Myself Tonight" is a song recorded by American pop singer Christina Aguilera
. The song was written by Jamal Jones
, Ester Dean
, Jason Perry, and Greg Curtis, and produced by Polow da Don for Aguilera's sixth studio album, Bionic. The song was released on April 13, 2010 as the lead single
from the album. "Not Myself Tonight" is an electropop song with usage of synthesizers and tribal drums. Its lyrics refer to adopting a different persona on the dancefloor.
"Not Myself Tonight" received mostly positive reviews from critics, who complimented its club nature and Aguilera's vocals on the track. The song performed moderately on the charts, peaking inside the top forty in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States, while reaching top twenty positions in Canada, Japan, Slovakia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it also reached the top of the Hot Dance Club Play
chart.
The accompanying music video featured an S&M theme, with Aguilera sporting different bondage-inspired looks. Paying tribute to Madonna
's music video for "Express Yourself" (1989), the video received mixed reviews from critics, who complimented its aesthetic but called it unoriginal.
magazine. During the interview she also revealed that the first single was to be the Tricky Stewart
-produced "Glam", describing it as a "hip-hop throwback to Madonna
's 'Vogue' ".
On March 23, 2010, after a twenty-four hour countdown on her official website ended, it was revealed that a song called "Not Myself Tonight" would be released as the first single from the album. The single's artwork was also published, showing Aguilera dressed as a devil and sporting a PVC bodysuit, suspenders and chains. The lyrics of the song were released a day later and an 18-second excerpt of the piece was published on March 26. The song was initially set to premier on Aguilera's website on March 30, and received its first full airing on her A.P.E. radio station earlier that day. It officially premiered on US radio on April 5, 2010. The song was later released digitally
in the United States and many other countries on April 13, 2010. Vocal range, Christina sings its lowest note "D3", in medium "Bb4" on the second verse, and betls notes "D5" on the chorus, of which a long note "D5" in (2:00). She gives a shout of exclamation "E6"in the intro.
" era. James Montgomery of MTV News
praised the track and said it was "a whirring, whooshing thing, full of blaring synthesizers and spare snares speeding along over pounding, four-on-the-floor beat...the kind of track you'd expect to hear rattling the speakers at the massive, multi-level clubs of Europe". Bill Lamb from About.com
gave the song a positive review: "Whomever might think that vocal prowess makes little difference in a mainstream pop song needs to listen once to Christina Aguilera's stellar new single "Not Myself Tonight." The electropop tune sounds like it could be a bit ordinary until the vocals really kick in about 45 seconds into the song. From that point on Christina Aguilera towers over much of the competition proving why she is frequently included in the shortest lists of today's top pop singers". Vibe magazine was impressed with the song: "With a writing assist by Ester Dean and Polow Da Don on the boards, Christina sounds as if she's managed to coalesce all her personalities into a comfortably edgy, grown-ass woman ready to slap up Ke$ha
, Lady Gaga
, and Katy Perry
(she's "kissing all the boys and girls!") at the gay club. Frenetic with sparkling synths, blaring snares and glints of soul, Xtina's obviously found herself the right babysitter, because the fuck-me pumps are out and ready for wearing". Anthony Ramos of Access Hollywood
said "The tribal-beat infused track is her sexiest record we’ve heard since 2002’s “Dirrty" ... it is a high-octane anthem that is sure to get tons of requests at nightclubs all over. While she gets it going with a sultry whisper asking her fans, “Do you wanna get crazy? ‘Cause I don’t give a f**k". Michael Menachem from Billboard
gave the single a positive review: "Aguilera channels a more Euro-glamorous version of her former dirrty alter-ego Xtina on Tonight, dashing lyrics about self-reinvention with breathy chants and naughty expletives. [...] [The] dripping synths, pulsing basslines and tribal house drums [...] sound appealingly unfinished. Paired with Aguilera's unmatched vocal range, Tonight proves that the current dance-pop craze would be incomplete without her." Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly
was more critical of the song, claiming that it was "produced within an inch of its life" but adding that "there’s no mistaking that voice" and asking "when she sings “Tonight I’m not the same girl,” are you concerned she means, like, in terms of quality control?".
" debuting at number seven and 2006's "Ain't No Other Man
" which opened at number nineteen. After the physical release of the single, "Not Myself Tonight" debuted on the Australian singles chart on May 17, 2010 at number 22, and number six in the physical singles chart. In the UK, the song debuted at number 12 in the Singles Chart
, and at number ten in the Download Chart. In South Korea
, it sold 258,935 digital copies during 2010.
According to RCA, the song sold 450,000 copies in the US to date. The song sold a total of more than 1 million copies worldwide according Mediatraffic.
. In a radio interview with Z100 Atlanta, Aguilera said: “I’m more confident and comfortable in my own skin. I think I’m even a more sexual Christina." To celebrate the video premiere, her official site started to release photos from the video. Each day it featured a different look of Christina portrayed in the video. The music video officially premiered on Vevo
on April 30, 2010. UK music channel 4Music
then played the video for the first time on TV at 10:00 a.m. the following day. In an interview with MTV News
, Aguilera said that it was the first time she ever crossed paths with Williams. On working with Williams and the new looks she developed in the video, she stated,
Aguilera also stated that some of the inspiration for the film came from her work in Burlesque
, stating, "There is dancing, and I learned so much also as a dancer doing the 'Burlesque' film, moving my body in ways that were, I feel, never as precise before. Dancing always came sort of secondary to me. Vocals were my first love and where my heart really was. I never was as passionate about dancing, per se, but after 'Burlesque,' I really fell in love and I adapted that in the dancing for 'Not Myself Tonight,' but it was really, really fun to take what I learned from the movie." She also commented, "A lot of that [video] was based on my visual inspiration," she explained. "I took Hype into my salon area in my home ... it's like my creative den. He took the ideas and then took other ideas and related to the ideas, and it just was really iconic imagery." The video itself features a strong sexual theme with scenes of S&M and bondage, as well as scenes in a church and several prestigious-looking buildings. Aguilera wore several hairstyles and outfits, including many which were dominatrix-style.
, citing her music videos as its major influence, most notably "Express Yourself" (1989). She said "One of my favourite videos ever is 'Express Yourself' by Madonna which came across as really strong and empowering which I always try to incorporate through my expression of sexuality [...] I love the direct reference I made to Madonna with the eye glass moment and the smoke and stairs. I was paying tribute to a very strong woman who has paved the way before." James Montgomery from MTV News
noted "Truthfully, there are several Madonna videos referenced in "Not Myself Tonight," but especially this iconic 1989 clip helmed by David Fincher
[Express Yourself]. More than anything, it appears to be the primary influence on Aguilera's clip, from the monocle Xtina [Aguilera] wears to the Fritz Lang-ian sets." He also said that the S&M features in the video were reminiscent of her video for "Human Nature
", commenting, "The influence on "Tonight" is pretty evident, most notably in Christina's leather get-ups, her dominatrix attitude and the sultry chair-related activities she engages in throughout."
Aguilera goes back and forth between several hairstyles in the video, which have been compared to styles of Bettie Page
, Lady Gaga
, Beyoncé
, Britney Spears
and Gwen Stefani
. She also appears in a similar style as in her video for "Lady Marmalade". Aguilera also recalls her "Dirrty
" video, in which she rides on the front and back of a sweaty shirtless man. Gil Kaufman of MTV News ran through the video, naming, "riding crops, a handful of F-bombs, sexy, see-through skimpy raincoats, shirtless dancing in the rain and a throwdown in a church that ends with a writhing group grope." Kaufman also commented, "Most of the clip, in fact, unfolds as a virtual video catalog for fetishwear, including black leather undies, a chainmail bikini top and a bedazzled outfit that consists of little more than strategically placed silver chains and pasties connected to wrist and ankle manacles."
era, however some disliked the video's unoriginality and dirty vibe. James Montgomery of MTV News
called the video "jaw-dropping" with Aguilera "the pop star getting back to her "Dirrty" roots". Bill Lamb of About.com
dismissed claims that the video was trying to "out dirty" artists such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Rihanna
, stating that the song gave a good indication of what the video might be like. Lamb also commented, "Bondage and fetish wear are increasingly prevalent across the spectrum in pop music and pop culture imagery." He also said that the video was aesthetically "gorgeous" and that director Hype Williams "gives the clip a crisp, clean, colorful look that is arresting."
Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly
, commented that the video was very much like Lady Gaga, but said it was even more like Madonna. He also noted that, "When it comes to Madonna, nearly every pop star has taken pieces of her performances/styling/etc", and "With the Gaga argument, can we really fault Christina for taking from Gaga, when Gaga herself has so ripped from a variety of other artists?" Stransky also noted that Aguilera did indeed seem desperate in the "unoriginal" clip, saying that she had been gone for a long time and now "clawing for relevancy", but "maybe she should have gone in a totally different direction to avoid comparisons". Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone
stated that "Aguilera assumes no less than a dozen different guises, all scantily clad, ranging from carbon copies of Lady Gaga (borrowing heavily from her unique wardrobe), Madonna, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, the girls from Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible
" video and Michelle Pfeiffer
's S&M-inspired Catwoman from Batman Returns
. Despite the video's attempt to shock, it's unlikely Aguilera will ever out-Gaga Gaga or out-controversy Madonna. ... Hopefully next time she steps in front of the lens she'll be more herself and less like everyone else" Kreps did state that the video's "steaminess" made up for the unoriginality.
on May 7, 2010, in a black one-piece and long black trench coat with high boots, accompanied by green laser lights, smoke and Matrix
-esque dancers. She ad-libbed
several times during the performance, at one point explaining the song's concept, stating to the audience, "This song is all about letting go and expressing yourself!", as she confidently "stomped and fro across the stage". Aguilera also performed the song on her concert on The Today Show on June 8, 2010. She also performed the song on Live With Regis and Kelly
on June 10, 2010, and as a part of her concert on CBS
's The Early Show
on June 11, 2010. Aguilera performed "Not Myself Tonight" as a part of a melody with "Bionic" and "Woohoo" at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards
. Aguilera again performed the song as a part of her edition of VH1 Storytellers
.
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
. The song was written by Jamal Jones
Polow Da Don
Polow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...
, Ester Dean
Ester Dean
Ester Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...
, Jason Perry, and Greg Curtis, and produced by Polow da Don for Aguilera's sixth studio album, Bionic. The song was released on April 13, 2010 as the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from the album. "Not Myself Tonight" is an electropop song with usage of synthesizers and tribal drums. Its lyrics refer to adopting a different persona on the dancefloor.
"Not Myself Tonight" received mostly positive reviews from critics, who complimented its club nature and Aguilera's vocals on the track. The song performed moderately on the charts, peaking inside the top forty in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States, while reaching top twenty positions in Canada, Japan, Slovakia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it also reached the top of the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart.
The accompanying music video featured an S&M theme, with Aguilera sporting different bondage-inspired looks. Paying tribute to Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's music video for "Express Yourself" (1989), the video received mixed reviews from critics, who complimented its aesthetic but called it unoriginal.
Background
Aguilera revealed the title of her then upcoming sixth studio album, as well as the name of three new songs in the February 2010 issue of Marie ClaireMarie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
magazine. During the interview she also revealed that the first single was to be the Tricky Stewart
Christopher Stewart (music producer)
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart is an American songwriter, music producer, music publisher, executive producer, recording industry executive and recording studio owner. In a career spanning 16 years, Stewart, at the helm of his company RedZone Entertainment, is responsible for over 25 million...
-produced "Glam", describing it as a "hip-hop throwback to Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's 'Vogue' ".
On March 23, 2010, after a twenty-four hour countdown on her official website ended, it was revealed that a song called "Not Myself Tonight" would be released as the first single from the album. The single's artwork was also published, showing Aguilera dressed as a devil and sporting a PVC bodysuit, suspenders and chains. The lyrics of the song were released a day later and an 18-second excerpt of the piece was published on March 26. The song was initially set to premier on Aguilera's website on March 30, and received its first full airing on her A.P.E. radio station earlier that day. It officially premiered on US radio on April 5, 2010. The song was later released digitally
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
in the United States and many other countries on April 13, 2010. Vocal range, Christina sings its lowest note "D3", in medium "Bb4" on the second verse, and betls notes "D5" on the chorus, of which a long note "D5" in (2:00). She gives a shout of exclamation "E6"in the intro.
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from critics, warming up to Aguilera's return to her sound and style of the "DirrtyDirrty
"Dirrty" is a song performed by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Reggie "Redman" Noble. The song was written by Aguilera and Redman along with Jasper Cameron, Balewa Muhammad, and Rockwilder for Aguilera's fourth studio album Stripped...
" era. James Montgomery of MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
praised the track and said it was "a whirring, whooshing thing, full of blaring synthesizers and spare snares speeding along over pounding, four-on-the-floor beat...the kind of track you'd expect to hear rattling the speakers at the massive, multi-level clubs of Europe". Bill Lamb from About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
gave the song a positive review: "Whomever might think that vocal prowess makes little difference in a mainstream pop song needs to listen once to Christina Aguilera's stellar new single "Not Myself Tonight." The electropop tune sounds like it could be a bit ordinary until the vocals really kick in about 45 seconds into the song. From that point on Christina Aguilera towers over much of the competition proving why she is frequently included in the shortest lists of today's top pop singers". Vibe magazine was impressed with the song: "With a writing assist by Ester Dean and Polow Da Don on the boards, Christina sounds as if she's managed to coalesce all her personalities into a comfortably edgy, grown-ass woman ready to slap up Ke$ha
Kesha
Kesha village is a small village nestled in the mountains of Yongshun County, northwestern Hunan province, China, located at latitude 29 05' 50", longitude 109 57' 9". The name is pronounced in Standard Chinese. The official language is Manderin Chinese....
, Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, and Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
(she's "kissing all the boys and girls!") at the gay club. Frenetic with sparkling synths, blaring snares and glints of soul, Xtina's obviously found herself the right babysitter, because the fuck-me pumps are out and ready for wearing". Anthony Ramos of Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...
said "The tribal-beat infused track is her sexiest record we’ve heard since 2002’s “Dirrty" ... it is a high-octane anthem that is sure to get tons of requests at nightclubs all over. While she gets it going with a sultry whisper asking her fans, “Do you wanna get crazy? ‘Cause I don’t give a f**k". Michael Menachem from Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
gave the single a positive review: "Aguilera channels a more Euro-glamorous version of her former dirrty alter-ego Xtina on Tonight, dashing lyrics about self-reinvention with breathy chants and naughty expletives. [...] [The] dripping synths, pulsing basslines and tribal house drums [...] sound appealingly unfinished. Paired with Aguilera's unmatched vocal range, Tonight proves that the current dance-pop craze would be incomplete without her." Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
was more critical of the song, claiming that it was "produced within an inch of its life" but adding that "there’s no mistaking that voice" and asking "when she sings “Tonight I’m not the same girl,” are you concerned she means, like, in terms of quality control?".
Chart performance
During its first week on the radio "Not Myself Tonight" became the most added song on Mainstream Top 40 (886 plays in its first six days) and Rhythmic Radio stations in the United States. It was released for digital download in the US on April 13, 2010, and sold 77,000 copies in its first week. It is Aguilera's third solo highest chart debut behind 2008's "Keeps Gettin' BetterKeeps Gettin' Better
"Keeps Gettin' Better" is a song by American recording artist Christina Aguilera, taken from her compilation album, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits . The song was written by Aguilera, while additional writing and song production was done by Linda Perry. It was released as the first and only...
" debuting at number seven and 2006's "Ain't No Other Man
Ain't No Other Man
"Ain't No Other Man" is a song written by Christina Aguilera, Charles Roane, DJ Premier, Harold Beatty, and Kara DioGuardi for Aguilera's third studio album Back to Basics...
" which opened at number nineteen. After the physical release of the single, "Not Myself Tonight" debuted on the Australian singles chart on May 17, 2010 at number 22, and number six in the physical singles chart. In the UK, the song debuted at number 12 in the Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and at number ten in the Download Chart. In South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, it sold 258,935 digital copies during 2010.
According to RCA, the song sold 450,000 copies in the US to date. The song sold a total of more than 1 million copies worldwide according Mediatraffic.
Music video
The music video for the song was filmed from April 7 to April 9, 2010 in Los Angeles, directed by Hype WilliamsHype Williams
Harold "Hype" Williams , previously known as HYPE, is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. His nickname "Hype" comes from his hyperactive nature as a child....
. In a radio interview with Z100 Atlanta, Aguilera said: “I’m more confident and comfortable in my own skin. I think I’m even a more sexual Christina." To celebrate the video premiere, her official site started to release photos from the video. Each day it featured a different look of Christina portrayed in the video. The music video officially premiered on Vevo
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
on April 30, 2010. UK music channel 4Music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
then played the video for the first time on TV at 10:00 a.m. the following day. In an interview with MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
, Aguilera said that it was the first time she ever crossed paths with Williams. On working with Williams and the new looks she developed in the video, she stated,
"...someone with that much of a catalog under his belt and success as a video maker, he's like a legend. So again entering into the collaborating factor, I didn't know what to expect ... and he's probably thinking the same about me. And when we walked away from working with each other, it was just a love connection. I wanted to maintain and keep consistent with the look of the album packaging and book, and I really wanted to keep all that in line, and so he really paid attention, and I think it's really iconic and classic. We totally made magic together on a creative level, it was absolutely amazing. He really got in and listened to where my music was at."
Aguilera also stated that some of the inspiration for the film came from her work in Burlesque
Burlesque (film)
Burlesque is a 2010 musical film directed and written by Steven Antin and starring Christina Aguilera and Cher. The film was released on November 24, 2010 in North America....
, stating, "There is dancing, and I learned so much also as a dancer doing the 'Burlesque' film, moving my body in ways that were, I feel, never as precise before. Dancing always came sort of secondary to me. Vocals were my first love and where my heart really was. I never was as passionate about dancing, per se, but after 'Burlesque,' I really fell in love and I adapted that in the dancing for 'Not Myself Tonight,' but it was really, really fun to take what I learned from the movie." She also commented, "A lot of that [video] was based on my visual inspiration," she explained. "I took Hype into my salon area in my home ... it's like my creative den. He took the ideas and then took other ideas and related to the ideas, and it just was really iconic imagery." The video itself features a strong sexual theme with scenes of S&M and bondage, as well as scenes in a church and several prestigious-looking buildings. Aguilera wore several hairstyles and outfits, including many which were dominatrix-style.
Influences and concept
According to Aguilera, the music video of "Not Myself Tonight" is a tribute to the pop star MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, citing her music videos as its major influence, most notably "Express Yourself" (1989). She said "One of my favourite videos ever is 'Express Yourself' by Madonna which came across as really strong and empowering which I always try to incorporate through my expression of sexuality [...] I love the direct reference I made to Madonna with the eye glass moment and the smoke and stairs. I was paying tribute to a very strong woman who has paved the way before." James Montgomery from MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
noted "Truthfully, there are several Madonna videos referenced in "Not Myself Tonight," but especially this iconic 1989 clip helmed by David Fincher
David Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American film and music video director. Known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as Seven , The Game , Fight Club , Panic Room , and Zodiac , Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for his 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and...
[Express Yourself]. More than anything, it appears to be the primary influence on Aguilera's clip, from the monocle Xtina [Aguilera] wears to the Fritz Lang-ian sets." He also said that the S&M features in the video were reminiscent of her video for "Human Nature
Human Nature (Madonna song)
"Human Nature" is the fourth and final single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her sixth studio album Bedtime Stories, released on June 6, 1995 by Maverick Records.-Song information:...
", commenting, "The influence on "Tonight" is pretty evident, most notably in Christina's leather get-ups, her dominatrix attitude and the sultry chair-related activities she engages in throughout."
Aguilera goes back and forth between several hairstyles in the video, which have been compared to styles of Bettie Page
Bettie Page
Bettie Mae Page was an American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. She has often been called the "Queen of Pinups"...
, Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
and Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
. She also appears in a similar style as in her video for "Lady Marmalade". Aguilera also recalls her "Dirrty
Dirrty
"Dirrty" is a song performed by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Reggie "Redman" Noble. The song was written by Aguilera and Redman along with Jasper Cameron, Balewa Muhammad, and Rockwilder for Aguilera's fourth studio album Stripped...
" video, in which she rides on the front and back of a sweaty shirtless man. Gil Kaufman of MTV News ran through the video, naming, "riding crops, a handful of F-bombs, sexy, see-through skimpy raincoats, shirtless dancing in the rain and a throwdown in a church that ends with a writhing group grope." Kaufman also commented, "Most of the clip, in fact, unfolds as a virtual video catalog for fetishwear, including black leather undies, a chainmail bikini top and a bedazzled outfit that consists of little more than strategically placed silver chains and pasties connected to wrist and ankle manacles."
Reception
As with the song itself, several critics praised the video for its return to Aguilera's StrippedStripped (Christina Aguilera album)
Stripped is the fourth studio album by American pop recording artist Christina Aguilera. It was released on October 26, 2002. It reached the top two of the album charts in both the United States and United Kingdom and features two UK number-one hits: "Dirrty" which gained criticism and controversy...
era, however some disliked the video's unoriginality and dirty vibe. James Montgomery of MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
called the video "jaw-dropping" with Aguilera "the pop star getting back to her "Dirrty" roots". Bill Lamb of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
dismissed claims that the video was trying to "out dirty" artists such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
, stating that the song gave a good indication of what the video might be like. Lamb also commented, "Bondage and fetish wear are increasingly prevalent across the spectrum in pop music and pop culture imagery." He also said that the video was aesthetically "gorgeous" and that director Hype Williams "gives the clip a crisp, clean, colorful look that is arresting."
Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, commented that the video was very much like Lady Gaga, but said it was even more like Madonna. He also noted that, "When it comes to Madonna, nearly every pop star has taken pieces of her performances/styling/etc", and "With the Gaga argument, can we really fault Christina for taking from Gaga, when Gaga herself has so ripped from a variety of other artists?" Stransky also noted that Aguilera did indeed seem desperate in the "unoriginal" clip, saying that she had been gone for a long time and now "clawing for relevancy", but "maybe she should have gone in a totally different direction to avoid comparisons". Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
stated that "Aguilera assumes no less than a dozen different guises, all scantily clad, ranging from carbon copies of Lady Gaga (borrowing heavily from her unique wardrobe), Madonna, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, the girls from Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible
Simply Irresistible (song)
"Simply Irresistible" is the first single released from the 1988 studio album Heavy Nova by Robert Palmer and is presented in one of the most distinctive and memorable music videos of the 1980s....
" video and Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1980 in The Hollywood Knights, but first garnered mainstream attention with her performance in Brian De Palma's Scarface . Pfeiffer has won numerous awards for her work...
's S&M-inspired Catwoman from Batman Returns
Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to Burton's Batman , and features Michael Keaton reprising the title role, with Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman.Burton originally did not...
. Despite the video's attempt to shock, it's unlikely Aguilera will ever out-Gaga Gaga or out-controversy Madonna. ... Hopefully next time she steps in front of the lens she'll be more herself and less like everyone else" Kreps did state that the video's "steaminess" made up for the unoriginality.
Live performances
Aguilera first performed the song live on The Oprah Winfrey ShowThe Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
on May 7, 2010, in a black one-piece and long black trench coat with high boots, accompanied by green laser lights, smoke and Matrix
The Matrix
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
-esque dancers. She ad-libbed
Ad-Libs
Ad-Libs is an improvisational comedy troupe based in Dallas, Texas. Combining improvisation along with video segments, Ad-Libs was conceived by Phil Larsson in 1986...
several times during the performance, at one point explaining the song's concept, stating to the audience, "This song is all about letting go and expressing yourself!", as she confidently "stomped and fro across the stage". Aguilera also performed the song on her concert on The Today Show on June 8, 2010. She also performed the song on Live With Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
on June 10, 2010, and as a part of her concert on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
on June 11, 2010. Aguilera performed "Not Myself Tonight" as a part of a melody with "Bionic" and "Woohoo" at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards
2010 MTV Movie Awards
The 2010 MTV Movie Awards was the 19th annual ceremony which took place on June 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Aziz Ansari served as a host for the 19th annual ceremony. Voting the nominees began from a list of eligible contestants on March 29, 2010, and ended on April 9, 2010...
. Aguilera again performed the song as a part of her edition of VH1 Storytellers
VH1 Storytellers
Storytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network.In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged...
.
Formats and track listings
- Digital download
- "Not Myself Tonight" (Clean or Explicit) – 3:04
- Australian CD Single
- "Not Myself Tonight" (Clean Version)
- "Not Myself Tonight" (Super Clean Version)
- "Not Myself Tonight"
- "Not Myself Tonight" (Instrumental)
- "Not Myself Tonight" (Call Out Hook)
- German Maxi Single
- "Not Myself Tonight"
- "Not Myself Tonight" (Mark Roberts Ultimix) [Dirty]
- "Not Myself Tonight" (Jody den Broeder Radio)
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (European Hot 100) | 41 |
| Russia (Digital Chart) | 12 |
| Slovakia (IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... ) |
12 |
| South Korea (GAON Gaon Chart The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts... ) |
4 |
| US Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Top 100 RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... |
72 |
| US Dance Club Songs | 40 |
Certifications
| Country | Provider | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Gold |
Radio and release history
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States | March 30, 2010 | A.P.E. radio |
| April 5, 2010 | Radio impact Airplay * Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay... |
|
| April 6, 2010 | Mainstream radio | |
| Australia | April 13, 2010 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
| Belgium | ||
| Canada | ||
| Denmark | ||
| France | ||
| Finland | ||
| Greece | ||
| Ireland | ||
| Italy | ||
| Mexico | ||
| United States | ||
| United Kingdom | May 9, 2010 | |
| Australia | May 7, 2010 | CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |
| Germany | May 21, 2010 |