In Australia, it peaked at number nine, and it reached the top 30 hit in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

"[8] Larry Flick from Billboard felt the female act "earns points for not succumbing to the temptation of being just another bunch of new fill swingers.

Instead, they choose to conjure memories of the Emotions by laying pretty vocal into the context of shimmying R&B bassline and subtle disco strings.

The song itself is a bit thin, but engaging nonetheless—thanks mostly to a charismatic new act with the potential to lure more than a few DJs to the fold.

[10] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote that it's a "jazzy soul laden jam, flexing rhythm and blues muscle.

"[11] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave it four out of five, complimenting it as an "excellent catchy soul track".

[3] John Kilgo from The Network Forty felt that "sultry and smooth, Zhane' brings a fresh tasting low groove that's nicely reminiscent of a relaxing, flavorful '70s summer tune."

He added that "their voices blend together like a shake from an ice cream parlor", and "proudly sing their tribute [to] record-spinners the world over.

"[12] A reviewer from People Magazine stated that "with a funky, old-school groove and light-as-air harmonizing", the song "jumps to the joys of getting down and having fun.

"[13] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin commented, "I remember this," I said, awash in a rosy glow of nostalgia triggered by Zhané's undulating "Hey Mr.

The opening and ending of the video shows group members Renée Neufville and Jean Norris arriving or leaving the party.

Retrospectively, AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis complimented the song as a "sleek slice of earthy, sophisticated soul that stands as one of the best R&B hits of the '90s.

The duo pronounced "Jah-Nay" let the slack groove thang take you away to a place where the DJ will keep playing that song all night.

A Complex editor, Brendan Frederick, called it "a simple ode to dancing the night away to your favorite song", and a "summertime party anthem".

They added, "Great harmonies, chill vibe, rap bridge; all the things you needed to make a perfect early-'90s R&B dance song.

"[31] In a 2019 retrospective review, Daryl McIntosh from Albumism wrote that Kay Gee's beat on the track "provided a sound reminiscent of late '70s disco band Chic, that, together with the perfectly complementary vocals, created a euphoria of modern funk".