1992 version In 1992, British
Lennox Herald named 'U R the Best Thing' a "
house track with hypnotic song and certain club smash." Paul Mathur from
Melody Maker wrote, "This sounds like nobody's business, has voices to turn nightingales green and according to the press release is, "as hard and stunning as a barren stepmother's slap". As metaphors go, that one is pretty
Himalayan."
Mixmag named it a "heart-stopping, piano pounding epic." A reviewer from
Music Week praised it as "excellent", noting that it "mates well-crafted lyrics with some of this year's most essential samples and breaks".
James Hamilton from the
Record Mirror Dance Update stated that the track is "featuring some soaring support by D'borah Asher but made most exciting by its rippling vibes breaks, husky pop singer
Peter Cunnah and DJ
Al McKenzie's thumping and surging jangly house bounder".
1993 version In 1993,
Larry Flick from
Billboard magazine wrote, "The element that sets this record apart from the pack of wolves vying for recognition is that there is a real song tucked beneath the barrage of studio tricks and
house beats. Here is one that doesn't lose any of its appeal once you stop twirling; the melody and lyrics stay with long after daylight. Props to the group's masterminds,
Peter Cunnah and M Mackenzie, for going the extra mile and giving us something to feel and whistle to." In his weekly UK chart commentary,
James Masterton said, "More dance crossover only it is hard to describe it as such this time, with such a strong pop chorus and vocal. This one may well emulate the current success of
Robin S. and climb slowly and gradually into the 10." Paul Mathur from
Melody Maker wrote that "the original of this was always guaranteed to send any end-of-night dancefloor into such a frenzy". He added, "One to fall in love to." Andy Beevers from
Music Week gave the song a top score of five out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, complimenting the "superb new
Morales mixes which have been getting a great dancefloor reaction". Roger Morton from
NME stated, "No doubt this one, which falls somewhere between
Inner City and
The Tyrrel Corporation, with its marshmallow groove and flyaway female vocal, will also have both suits and longhairs piling onto the polished bit of the ballroom. There's a million remixes, of which
Sasha's is the jumpiest. This is as undeniable as a waxed
Porsche."
James Hamilton from the
Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "wriggling jangly canterer".
Tim Southwell from
Smash Hits gave the '93 version three out of five, noting that it "brings together flutes, piano and a drumbeat that shuffles along, creating a wobbly wah-wah effect." He also highlighted its "impressive and powerful" backing singer.
1994 version In 1994, Scottish
Dundee Courier named 'U R the Best Thing' a "standout" track from the album. Ian Gittens from
Melody Maker stated, "D:Ream are the best E-shaped pop band to emerge from the dance explosion to date." A reviewer from
Music & Media wrote, "Yep, it's them again with their umpteenth rerelease. Remixed by
Paul Oakenfold and
Steve Osborne, it's another step up the stairs to stardom for the
pop dance duo." The magazine's Maria Jimenez constated that the track's "longevity is assisted by this wide spectrum of new remixes". Alan Jones from
Music Week rated the remix four out of five, naming it Pick of the Week and "a bankable follow up" to their number one hit, '
Things Can Only Get Better'. John Kilgo from
The Network Forty commented, "Looking for a flavorful uptempo dance track? Look no further than this
techno jammer that has scored the #1 position on the dance charts." Paul Moody from
NME commented, "
Peter Cunnah has come up with something here that will assail you in supermarkets, unnerve you when it bursts from car stereos and scare the charts rigid. Love it from the off and your life will be a whole lot easier." Tim Jeffery from the
Record Mirror Dance Update said, "These new Perfecto mixes keep the attractive flute part while adding strings and a piano sound to make the song an anthem once again. Stylish, commercial and probably a hit second time around." Another
Record Mirror editor,
James Hamilton, named it an "attractive huskily crooned throbbing 122.9bpm" Perfecto remix.
Adam Higginbotham from
Select described it as a "perfect feelgood pop-dance record" and felt it "left no one in any doubt about where they were coming from." Darren Ressler from
Vibe named it a "buoyant" smash. ==Music video==