While not as commercially successful as leading single "Girl Talk", the song peaked at number 21 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and in the United States, reached the top twenty of Billboard's Pop Songs chart.

However, Austin felt reluctant to give them the song after breaking up with TLC member Chilli.

"[2]As a result, Austin decided to give "Cool" to Gwen Stefani for her debut solo album Love.

Baby., and instead wrote another song for TLC with a slightly similar concept: It wasn't that cool to record it with them.

"David Browne from Entertainment Weekly called the track "a genuinely uplifting song about being emotionally screwed up, benefits tremendously from the use of live instruments rather than samples.

"[4] In the music video for the song, directed by Joseph Kahn, a young woman, (played by actress Justina Machado) works two jobs to support her family.