 "Billboard" critic Larry Flick expected that the single would "explode" into a "surefire hit" immediately after the performance.Attending the ceremony introduced Aaliyah to several of Hollywood's most popular celebrities at the time, in addition to exposing the singer to exactly the kind of artist she was aspiring to become.Writing for "Complex", Julian Pereira identified the feat as "A big moment in Aaliyah's career", believing that her performance "overshadowed" the song's nomination.