"[2] Jazz Monroe of Dazed magazine described "If It Wasn't True" as "semidissonant pulses tickled by antsy snares and hi-hats – as Shamir's sinuous vocal vogues down memory lane.
"[5] Jazz Monroe of Dazed magazine wrote of the video: "It's a freeform assortment of twerking headstands, foam-beard fun and Las Vegas neon, all intercut with fabulous house party hijinks that echo '80s Manhattan loft culture.
"[3] Shamir's Twitter handle described himself as a "musician, comedian, singer, rapper, twerker, chef, writer, filmmaker, tumblr, skinny fat ass.
He also referred to the song as "[s]exy, dissonant, confident but a little amateurish" following a tradition of "high-rent body music made by people who probably take the bus to work.
"[9] In Vogue magazine, Thomas Gebremedhin reviewed the song, noting that "Bailey's delicate vocals glide effortlessly over the funky production that recalls '80s classics from Janet Jackson and Prince.