A slow-tempo pop and rock ballad, it is a romantic love song, narrating the story of a man who misses his woman, while continuing to live and breathe for her.

[3] The song topped the charts in more than 30 countries,[4] and Martin performed it at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, which was greeted with a massive standing ovation and met with acclaim from music critics.

However, the huge interest in the disc encouraged Columbia Records to decide to rush the album to release two weeks ahead of schedule, on May 11.

[18] Ricky Martin was released on the specified date and "She's All I Ever Had" was included as the third track on the album, while the Spanish version of the song, entitled "Bella" (transl.

Chuck Taylor from Billboard labeled the song "[a] delectable anthemic ballad" and said "there was no doubt that" it was the track "to go with as the second single" from the album.

He added that the song "will do nothing but advance Martin's place not only as the leading pop male vocalist of the day but as a valid phenomenon", mentioning that it "absolutely succeeds on all levels".

He complimented Martin's vocal for being "tender and heartfelt", and "boasting a versatility that contrasts nicely" with his previous single, "Livin' la Vida Loca", as well as the song's production, which he described as "lush", "savvy" and "creatively executed".

[26] Celia San Miguel of Tidal Magazine gave "She's All I Ever Had" a positive review, saying it "left fans swooning over the charismatic heartthrob and his passionate and emotive vocals".

[35] Bustle's Maggie Malach stated that "this ballad hit every in the feels",[36] while The Indianapolis Star reviewer Diana Penner celebrated the song for being "suitable for slow-dancing and fantasizing".

[36] "Bella" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards,[45] but lost to "Tu Mirada" by Luis Miguel.

[53][54] In its seventh week, the song became Martin's second top-five hit in the country, following his chart-topper "Livin' la Vida Loca".

[59] In October 1999, the track was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over 500,000 copies in the United States.

[61] It subsequently reached number one on September 4, 1999, and stayed there for three consecutive weeks,[62][63][64] giving Martin his fourth number-one hit on the chart.

[74][75] "Bella" experienced commercial success in Latin American countries, reaching number one in Costa Rica,[76] El Salvador,[77] Guatemala,[78] Mexico,[79] and Panama.

[79] The accompanying music video was filmed at Boyle Ranch Chatsworth, Lovell House, and Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles, California, in June 1999 and was directed by British director Nigel Dick.

[82] Inspired by the American fantasy drama film What Dreams May Come (1998),[81] the video depicts Martin as the ghost of a deceased man returning to the mortal world and visiting his still-living lover, portrayed by Puerto Rican actress Charlotte Ayanna.

The man is seen romping on a beach, gliding through the forest, and singing the song on a cliff, while his lover feels his presence and occasionally encounters his spirit as she reminisces memories of her together with him, the latter of which are shown through intersped flashbacks.

"[23] Cristal Mesa from mitú named the visual Martin's 17th best music video on her 2018 list, comparing it to the American romantic fantasy thriller film Ghost (1990).

[52][96] Obie Bermúdez and Fonseca performed a live rendition of "Bella" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala in 2006, where Martin was honored with the accolade.

[98] The following year, Boris Soltariyski performed "She's All I Ever Had" as the snake on season two of the Bulgarian singing competition television series The Masked Singer.