 Most contemporary critics complimented the song, noticing the confidence it hides and the carnival-esque, yet melancholy, theme.On the other hand, some considered it was not one of the album's best tracks and it makes the singer a "theoretical pop princess".The single peaked inside the top 40 of the charts of some European countries and Australia, while staying on the summit of the UK Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks and ended the year as the country's 11th most successful song.