This song, just like all others in the musical A Chorus Line, was devised from the audio of real life dancers, recounting their experiences.
[5] Hi-Def Digest wrote "arguably the show's most exuberant song, "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love", [is] a clever, catchy celebration of adolescent agony".
[6] Florida Theatre On Stage wrote "Another memorable stretch was the extended fever dream of internal monologues about adolescence "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love".
"[7] The New York Times wrote "Driven by the rush of Mr. Bennett’s dynamic choreography, the mesh of story and songs is wonderfully seamless, especially in extended montages like the frenetic opening, "I Hope I Get It", and "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love", a complex salute to the million and one pains of growing up.
The ensemble packed great energy into this number, which sheds the innocence from the stage and turns the dancers into professionals.