Noah Yoo from Pitchfork said that "Spotlight" drips "with the hallmarks of a long-lost city pop classic; Ware's sultry vocals, nearly a whisper, float atop beds of string flourishes and synthesizer swells courtesy of Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford.

It's a sophisticated take on the modern disco phenomenon that's making pop music sound so good these days; at times you'll hear shades of Sade, at others Róisín Murphy, but it's Ware's immense talent that shines through.

"[4] YouTuber and music critic Anthony Fantano ranked the single fourth on his "50 best songs of 2020" list, calling it the "biggest dance anthem of the year" and a "sparkling throwback to the disco era, touched up with gorgeous strings".

[5] Editors of PopMatters, Mick Jacobs, Jessica Brant, and Mike Elliott described the song as a "smooth pop masterpiece of driving rhythms, understated vocals, and lyrics of longing and lust," inspired by the "underground voguing scene of 1980s NYC.

"[6] Billboard editor Krystal declared "Spotlight" a "slow-burner, it's sweet yet sultry, with a touch of acid to add some tension,"[7] while MTV News critic Bob Marshall felt that the song "changes gear into a '90s R&B-inspired disco track that fans of Toni Braxton will no doubt want to spin on repeat.