Upon its release, the song received mixed to negative reviews from music critics who generally praised its pop sound and noted that it had the potential of becoming another hit with its "catchy" hook.

[1] Outside of the United States, "Whistle" topped the charts in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in many others, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Upon its release, it received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who noted that it was a perfect accompaniment for the song.

[7] The guitar riff has been noted for its similarity to the final track on the Silent Hill 2 OST, "Promise", by Akira Yamaoka.

[10] "There's the real problem, and it's probably inevitable: between the guitar mess and chorus comedown, 'Whistle' wants to be something like a Gym Class Heroes or Maroon 5 track.

A writer of Rap-Up described it as "catchy" and further wrote that it contains a whistling chorus, "that you won't be able to get out of your head".

[7] Kevin Rutherford of Billboard magazine praised the song, writing: "The result is a sun-drenched, happy-go-lucky tune, that's sure to provide Flo with a horse in the summer anthem race... Flo's not a formidable singer, so his latest offering may lack the pop pizzazz of 'Good Feeling' and 'Wild Ones.'

In that sense, 'Whistle' could be the most original song Flo Rida has turned out to date; even if the metaphor dreamed up by its thirteen co-producers is anything but.

"[12] Upon the release of "Whistle", many music critics commented on the song's sexually suggestive lyrics, with many claiming that the chorus is a subtle reference to oral sex.

[1][10] Rob Markman of MTV News noted that he makes "catchy tunes that appeal to the masses, but Flo is also a master of the double entendre, masking some pretty suggestive lyrics with a candy-pop coating.

"[5] Markman further noted that Flo Rida's 2009 hit "Right Round" contained sexual suggestive lyrics.

[5] Katherine St Asaph of the website Popdust, gave a negative review for the song, grading it with one-and-a-half out of five stars and writing: "The gimmick here, as you've probably guessed, is a whistled hook.

[16] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart on June 10, 2012 – for the week ending date June 16, 2012 – beaten to the top of the chart by "Sing" by Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band featuring Military Wives.

[19] According to the Official Charts Company, "Whistle" sold 620,000 copies in the United Kingdom in 2012, making it Britain's 15th best-selling single of that year.

Other video personnel: women in bikinis, some allowed to whistle to take Flo Rida’s dream outlined at the beginning of this track one step closer to reality.

"[9] Becky Bain of Idolator reviewed the video positively, saying: "Flo Rida's thinly-veiled sexual euphimism, 'Whistle', gets exactly the type of video you’d expect: shot in sunny Acalpulco, the ... vid[eo] features boobs, babes, bikinis, and little else.

"[30] A writer of Rap-Up noted that "Water, women, and wild parties rule" with the video and further wrote that viewers will "escape to paradise with Flo".