 Fraser McAlpine writing for BBC Music praised the song 's composition yet criticized its lyrics for " [ not ] escaping the feeling that she 's only getting up in our collective grill once again with the sexy and the [ atti ] ' tude " . Gavin Martin from the Daily Mirror wrote that " Not Myself Tonight " " shows the post @-@ natal Aguilera has pumped up her sex appeal . And , although her top @-@ shelf strategy is hardly startling in its originality , it 's accomplished with more class than her obvious competitors " . On behalf of The Village Voice , Drew Hinshaw criticized Aguilera 's vocals and lyrics on the song . Likewise , Dan Martin from NME opined that with the new musical style of Bionic and its lead single , Aguilera had very little chance to explore her vocal ability . Writing for Drowned in Sound , Richard Wink concerned that " Not Myself Tonight " showcased an " apparent identity crisis " that Aguilera experienced during the production of Bionic ; he questioned whether the alter ego " Xtina " was " the character that represents a freewheeling , risk taking , carefree party girl " or the contrasting " mask a desperate popstar wears when they are struggling to maintain relevance " . 
