In 1985, the song was remixed for the Greatest Hits album, emphasizing the drum track with added reverb.

"[4] Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield called it "the quintessential Ocasek combination: doom and gloom wrapped in a pop melody.

"[6] The song is played in a scene from the 1995 comedy film Billy Madison, where the title character (Adam Sandler) reads Valentine's Day cards in third grade.

[8] In 2005, the album, Substitution Mass Confusion: A Tribute to The Cars, was released on Not Lame Recordings, which included a cover of "I'm Not the One" by Gigolo Aunts.

The intro features two synthesizer parts layered on top of each other, one derived from Ric Ocasek's vocal melody, and the other a supporting counter-melody in a softer tone.