[1] Star News critic Michael Jensen said that the lyrics are "meaningful, and yet they don't waste a lot of words to describe a happening or a feeling," and that they "make Carmen's music enjoyable and worthwhile.

"[3] Kachejian also noted that song ends with the same chords as Elton John's "Love Lies Bleeding".

[7] Cash Box said of "Sunrise" that "There's a beautiful introduction, with horns and everything, and then the music breaks into some serious rock ’n’ roll.

"[8] Billboard said of it that Carmen's "wonderfully unmistakable sad tenor voice attacks an uptempo lyric message this time and produces the effect of a breaking heart desperately winning through to an optimistic outlook.

"[12] St. Joseph News-Press critic Terry Jordan called Carmen's vocal work "stunning.