"Show Me How You Burlesque" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised it as one of the best tracks from the soundtrack.
[5] Before being officially released, in early 2010, a demo version of the song, entitled "Spotlight", was leaked online.
[10][11] Set on the "freely" tempo of 100–110 beats per minute, "Show Me How You Burlesque" was composed in the key of B minor.
An online blog network, Blogcritics, agreed that the track, alongside "Express" are the two best songs throughout the soundtrack.
It also wrote, "Both ['Express' and 'Show Me How You Burlesque'] work better in the context of the movie, where the elaborate visuals help distract from their lack of melody and strong hooks.
[13] Alissa LeClair from Movie Buzzers was also positive toward the track, stated that "Show Me How You Burlesque", among with "But I Am a Good Girl", "Express", and "Guy What Takes His Time"; are materials that complement Aguilera's talent, as well as shows how well the singer prepared to be a good dancer for the film project.
In the United States, the song peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained for one week.
[24] He also praised Aguilera's vocals and outfits during the show, writing "[She] belted at the top of her talented lungs in true Christina fashion".
[24] South Korean singer Hyolyn covered the song two times — in 2013, during the You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook variety show,[25] and again during her 2022 concert.