The song was not originally slated to be released as the first single from the album, but Sebastian said in an interview with Paul Cashmere of Undercover at the SXSW Music Festival in Texas in early 2009 that the feedback he had received from live performances had made it a strong contender as the lead single.

[16] In January 2011 the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia announced it was radio's most played song for the year.

[23] Sebastian sang a gospel-inspired reworked version of the song as the closing act at the 2010 ARIA Awards.

Sebastian portrays a musician performing at a hotel bar, who becomes attracted to a girl in the crowd.

Lyndsey Rodrigues plays Sebastian's love interest in the video, and also making an appearance as a bartender is Jason Stevens, retired NSW rugby league player and now rugby league writer.

Tim Byron from The Vine wrote that it was "an excellent fluffy pop song, with a melody that suited his voice, and surprisingly interesting sounds and musical ideas in the verses and coda.

"[29] The Music Network named "Like It Like That" as one of the best songs released in 2009, writing, "Idol alumni Guy Sebastian flooded the market with this upbeat song midway through the year, and it is hard to deny its infectious chorus, and summer feel.

"[30] Rave Magazine placed it fourth on its list of the best songs of 2009, saying, "What's a list without a controversial entry [...] listen to the last 50 seconds of layered backing vocals, horns and his band to hear a quality of pop that's a million miles from any TV talent show.

"[31] Jon O'Brien from AllMusic called the song "brilliant Brill Building pop", and in the Herald Sun Bryan Patterson wrote, "I may sue Guy Sebastian.

His insanely catchy little track, with its stupidly seductive flute, guitars and choruses, has been playing over and over in my head for days.

[5] In January 2010 ARIA released information on the highest selling songs in Australia in the previous decade.