Music critics gave the song positive feedback, but questioned the heavily auto-tuned chorus and the move away from the group's traditional sound.

"What About Us" gained commercial success, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart, as well as reaching the top ten in Ireland, Scotland, Poland and Hungary.

[7] An acoustic version of "Somebody Else's Life", which can be heard on the opening titles of the show, was released as a B-side to the single.

[11] The Saturdays would compliment Sean Paul, saying he was "perfect" for the UK version of the song, also mentioning he was "just so nice".

[11] It was also revealed that the track would be the lead single from the band's extended play, Chasing the Saturdays, which was named after the show.

[17][16] The single was released with the B-side of an acoustic version of "Somebody Else's Life", the opening theme to Chasing the Saturdays.

[20] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy noted that a lyric sung by Rochelle Humes, "Oh, why are we are waiting so long?

I'm suffocating", was in reference to "man-related drama", while pointing out the large amount of it in their reality series, Chasing the Saturdays.

[21] 4Music described the song as an "electro-pop affair with a bucket-load of synths thrown in for good measure", although criticising the single choice for its American release.

[1] Idolator wrote a mixed review criticizing the track for lacking the group's signature style.

[2] Jessica Sager from PopCrush also touched on the departure from their original sound, though highlighting it as "not necessarily in a bad way.

"[22] She concluded the review by labeling the song as "generic" and "not the best the Saturdays have to offer", rating it two and a half stars out of five.

[22] "What About Us" debuted at number 44 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the week dated 8 December 2012.

[11] However, it was revealed that the group had knocked Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" off the number-one spot on the UK Singles Chart.

The North American version of the video was released via the Saturdays' official Vevo account on YouTube on 11 January 2013.

[29] A variant of the video, featuring vocals and additional scenes of the women with Sean Paul, was later released on 5 February 2013.