Speaking of the inspiration behind the song, Mann told Billboard in 1994, "We were talking about people who act like jerks but insist that they can't change because that would somehow erode the integrity of their personality.

Difford sent a fax to the radio station, praising Mann's material and performance, and left a phone number for her to contact him.

[5] Mann was then approached with the request of providing a track for the soundtrack of the American prime time television soap opera Melrose Place.

[8] The single was not released commercially in the United Kingdom but was used by BBC Sport as the Goal of the Tournament background music during the Euro 96 football championships.

In a review of the Melrose Place soundtrack, Faith Quintavell of The Philadelphia Inquirer picked "That's Just What You Are" as the best track and described it as a "graceful indictment of a lover who chooses to live the unexamined life".

He added, "Her low-key vocal, the inventive arrangement, and a memorable melody make the CD almost worth getting for this track alone.

He considered the lyrics to be "sly and witty" and felt the music was a "perfect match" as it "also wears its smarts on its sleeve" and "has a dark undertow in those minor-key piano breaks".