Не Та Я (Ne Ta Ya)

1966 song by the Beach Boys

"That's Not Me" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, it is distinguished for its sophisticated harmonic structure and its sudden shifts in mood and instrumental textures. Owing to its relatively sparse orchestration, it is the track on Pet Sounds that most closely resembles a conventional rock song. Asher expressed dissatisfaction with the lyrics for the song, describing them as "labored", and lamented that he had "missed the mark". He said, "This is all a criticism of my lyric writing, by the way; it's a very interesting series of chord changes. It goes in wonderful places that you don't expect it to. But for some reason, I found it very difficult to write to." Music historian Jim DeRogatis states that the song was written after Wilson, influenced by psychedelic drugs, had been inspired to turn his attention inward and probe "his deep seated self doubts". According to biographer Timothy White, the song was written about Wilson's feelings about his withdrawal from the group's regular touring line up after December 1964.

"That's Not Me" is the only track on Pet Sounds with an ABAB form, with every instance of AB being repeated with development. It starts in the key of F major, ascends up a minor third to A major, and ends back in F. Musicologist Philip Lambert felt that "the move from A to F major symbolizes the narrator's journey away from home to gain a new perspective". Fusilli describes the song as "subversive" and an "avant garde piece of pop music" partly for these key modulations. Musicologist James E. Perone observed a melodic "sighing" motif in "That's Not Me" that recurs throughout Pet Sounds, including the preceding track "You Still Believe in Me" and the track which follows, "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)". Perone explains,

In comparison to the other tracks on Pet Sounds, "That's Not Me" has a relatively small scale instrumental arrangement. Critic Stewart Mason considered the track to be "the closest thing to a conventional rocker" on Pet Sounds. Dennis Wilson, whose drumming contributions on the album were limited to "That's Not Me", Starting at 0:17, the pattern engages in extended tom drum rolls, which are rarely used in popular music. Music historian Charles Granata compares the music of "That's Not Me" to "the spacious atmosphere" heard in Aaron Copland's Billy the Kid and Rodeo ballets; moreover, the "uncluttered arrangement (featuring guitar, organ, bass, and percussion) allows each instrument to breathe, making the tune a study in contrast and texture." Mason supports, "The start stop quality of the tune a trick that Brian Wilson used quite a bit during this period of his career gives the song a sense of nervous tension that's exacerbated by the beaten down, anxious quality of Tony Asher's lyrics." Bruce Johnston remembered of the vocal arrangement, "That's just an 'ooh and aah' song vocally. That was easy; a gymnastic experience. I'm pretty rangy in my voice. But that was really a song for a lead vocal."

Wilson produced "That's Not Me" in February 1966 at Western Studio in Hollywood. The basic track was recorded on February 15, with Brian on organ, Dennis on drums, Carl on lead guitar, and their cousin Steve Korthof joining Terry Melcher on tambourine. When the track was remixed for stereo in 1996, Wilson asked for the "clack" sound in the bridge to be reduced in volume.