I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

"Pure and utter joy is this one, which is most reminiscent of the lovely 'Mimi' outtake 'When I Feel It'. Except this one’s, like, 10 times better. The chorus of DeBarge's 'Stay With Me' is the foundation of this track (as opposed to the verses, which provided the foundation for the single remix of Biggie's 'One More Chance' and Ashanti's 'Foolish', among tracks). However, the sample sounds more weathered, and overall, the track comes off as a '60s throwback rather than an '80s one. One hundred percent feel-good and packing in a killer breakdown and conclusion that’s a wall of Mariah voices, this was the first song that felt like the work of unstoppable pop genius."

"I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Many complimented the song's production and incorporation of the "Stay with Me" sample, while others were unimpressed with the chorus in general. Chuck Taylor of Billboard assured the song would endure strong success and radio appeal, and complimented its overall production, as well as Carey's voice: " a playful, beach-befitting groove, featuring a bright sample from DeBarge's "Stay With Me," lushly woven vocals and Carey's highs doting on fans with her sonic signature." The Republican's Kevin O'Hare claimed the song would be "destined for hits-ville", while Jennifer Vineyard from MTV News described it as a "joyful romp". Similarly, the song was described as a "party jam" by Julien Bittencourt from The Day, and "a fun, flirty tease" from Foster's Daily Democrat's Nekesa Mumbi Moody. Cathy Rose A. Garcia from The Korean Times complimented the song's "laid back R&B vibe", and felt the song was easily one of the album's best cuts. Digital Spy's Nick Levine called "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" a "safe-but-classy number", while aside from an "unfortunate title and chorus", Gregg Shapiro of Bay Area Reporter said it "virtually glows".

In a separate review for the song, Levine rated it three out of five stars, and wrote "in spite of its predictability, 'I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time' still makes for a satisfying listen, sounding classy, effortless and as summery as a glass of rosé in the garden after a work." Journalist for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), Svein Terje Torvik described the song as "One of the album's best cuts", while Fox News writer Roger Friedman wrote "its just enough of a new twist to create the most elusive thing of all: a radio smash. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine chose the song as one of his "top picks" from E=MC², and wrote "it has a lightness that so much of the album lacks." Richard Cromelin from the Los Angeles Times highlighted Carey's unadorned and raw form of singing in the song, writing "her singing is so direct, understated and unglamorous it's almost shocking -- like seeing a diva without makeup." Margeauz Watsman from Entertainment Weekly called the song a "dance-floor anthem", while PopMatters Evan Sawdey described it as "certainly worthy of some greatest-hits canonization". Slant Magazine editor Sal Cinquemani felt "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" was a "stroke of genius", and wrote " sounds like a hyperventilating cross between a graduation anthem and an early-'80s family sitcom theme song. Listening to it, I felt face to face with a couple of silver spoons: one heroin, the other grape jelly."