"Spotlight" was raved with critical acclaim. Noah Yoo from
Pitchfork said that "Spotlight" drips "with the hallmarks of a long-lost
city pop classic; Ware's sultry vocals, nearly a whisper, float atop beds of string flourishes and
synthesizer swells courtesy of
Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford. Every aspect of 'Spotlight' — from its heart-wrenching final line to the subtle
acid house conclusion — betrays the handiwork of real studio experts."
ABC music critic Dan Condon found that "this is the kind of pulsing, alluring, maturely crafted
pop that we've come to expect from the 35-year-old
Londoner. It's a sophisticated take on the modern
disco phenomenon that's making pop music sound so good these days; at times you'll hear shades of
Sade, at others
Róisín Murphy, but it's Ware's immense talent that shines through."
YouTuber and music critic
Anthony Fantano ranked the single fourth on his "50 best songs of 2020" list, calling it the "biggest
dance anthem of the year" and a "sparkling throwback to the
disco era, touched up with gorgeous strings". Editors of
PopMatters, Mick Jacobs, Jessica Brant, and Mike Elliott described the song as a "smooth pop masterpiece of driving rhythms, understated vocals, and lyrics of longing and lust," inspired by the "underground
voguing scene of 1980s
NYC."
Billboard editor Krystal declared "Spotlight" a "slow-burner, it's sweet yet sultry, with a touch of acid to add some tension," while
MTV News critic Bob Marshall felt that the song "changes gear into a
'90s R&B-inspired disco track that fans of
Toni Braxton will no doubt want to spin on repeat."
Idolators Mike Wass ranked the song second on his The 30 Best Pop Songs of Q1/2020 listing and called it a "divine disco anthem," adding: "Pop this soulful and sophisticated only comes around once or twice a year." ==Music video==