It was the first single from the album Fin de Siècle and features narration by presenter and columnist Katie Puckrik.

[2] The B-sides "Time Lapse" and "Chasing Sheep Is Best Left to Shepherds" are cover versions of music written by composer Michael Nyman for Peter Greenaway films.

"Time Lapse" comes from A Zed & Two Noughts while "Chasing Sheep..." is from The Draughtsman's Contract.

In an AllMusic review, critic Matthew Greenwald wrote that "Generation Sex" paints "a picture of hedonism in the late 20th century, as well as its affect [sic] on the media."

He noted that the song shows "Neil Hannon's black humor" and that overall is "an accurate account of the financially advantaged and over-sexed.