Musically it was described as a roots reggae and hip hop song, while lyrically it deals about looking to what is ahead, celebrating the present and also contemplating the past.

In these sessions, they would bring food, sit around the table and musicians would start playing instruments, singing fado and samba music.

[11] It begins with Madonna singing "You ain't woke" with vocals heavily worked by Auto-Tune, and a "slight, perhaps unconscious but audible white-person" Jamaican accent.

Asian News International noted that Madonna and Quavo's voices "blend together perfectly", while also commented that "with its catchy lyrics and upbeat tune, ["Future"] is sure to make way into playlists".

[18] Ben Beaumont-Thomas from The Guardian commented that the track was "her go at pop's next big trend, roots reggae", calling it "catchy and full-bodied".

[5] Another positive review came from Gay Times's Daniel Megarry, who said he had "grown to love it", and commented that its "reggae-tinged beats and optimistic lyrics" would help sell the track.

[20] Alfred Soto from City Pages wrote that the track "unfurls as listeners might expect", and selected it as one of the "OK to pretty good songs" on Madame X.

[23] Kitty Empire of The Observer criticized the lack of chemistry between Madonna and Quavo, an opinion that was shared by New York's Craig Jenkins.

[24][25] On a more negative review, Rich Juzwiak from Pitchfork said that "[Madonna] warbles through Auto-Tune and adopts a contemporary hip-hop posture that ends up just sounding like a flat sort of honking out of her nose.

[46][47] Later, the Kan Israel Broadcasting Corporation sued Live Nation over the performance, claiming the singer's representatives had violated the terms of their agreement and "reneged on financial promises".

[48] CNN's Holly Thomas expressed that Madonna "didn't do or say much besides create an obtuse spectacle against the backdrop of a frankly terrible song" and "offered her audience no meaningful education of the conflict she alluded to".

[49] In addition to the controversy, the singer was criticized for her vocal performance; Netherlands announcer Emma Wortelboer quipped she was “thankful for Madonna’s autotune” during the results segment of the competition.

[51] She played the piano, flanked by a pair of "robotic but sinuous" dancers with red lights on their eyes, while images of "urban and environmental destruction" and the word "warning" were projected on the video screen.