Reach Out (Hilary Duff Song) - Critical Response

Critical Response

The song received mixed reviews. Popjustice gave the song a negative review, stating that "ith so much medocrity in the song's three-and-a-half minute duration it's hard to pinpoint the most useless and perfunctory thing about Hilary Duff's toweringly boring new, track 'Reach Out'. E! Online called "Reach Out" a "muffed attempt". Digital Spy said that "The fact that Duff replaces the original lyric "reach out and touch faith" with "reach out and touch me" pretty much says it all. Originally written about Elvis's love for his wife Priscilla, the Lizzie McGuire star sacrilegiously turns this into an innuendo-laden squelch-fest. Accompanied by a video that sees Duff humping a marble statue, a tree trunk and the camera, 'Reach Out' has an unpleasant whiff of desperation about it". However, Allmusic gave the song a positive review, picking the song as one of the top 3 AMG Picks in the album. There's More Where That Came From gave the song a B, stating "So overall, the song is catchy. Hilary isn’t a great singer, but she has a good voice, which has always helped her in the past. The rapping in the song also, surprisingly, helps make the song better. And you have to give her some credit, she hasn’t become another X-tina, or Britney, as she goes through her 20's. All in all, while it isn’t the strongest single out there, it certainly has the potential for being a hit." NewMusicReviews gave the two versions of "Reach Out" a seven out of ten rating, calling Hilary's version a "great updated version of a classic track . The dance remixes are fantastic and this should bang the clubs, and could do decent on the radio." They also praised The Prophet's rapping parts stating he "has got some decent lyrics, but he’s not featured on much of the track." Andy H of Angryape (UK) said the song "should do well, no doubt there - considering the current trend of electro-pop, with the club beat, rocky guitar sample and a confident sexiness in the vocals." RightCelebrity said "while some are liking the new mature, sexy Hilary Duff, some say she tried too hard, and original songs are always better. You always get the haters when you do a remake, so it is always risky." Commonsensemedia called "Reach Out" a "hit single" that "features more aggressive sexual lyrics than on previous albums. While Dignity was OK for 11 year olds, the Best Of compilation pushes the target age higher."

Bill Lamb from About.com praised the production on "Reach Out" writing "Duff's new pop lyrics and vocals courtesy collaboration with Ryan Tedder, leader of OneRepublic and one of the hottest producers in the pop music industry." Tatiana Wiez said, "It is clearly an attempt scrape her Lizzie McGuire image. It is strange watching Lizzie McGuire telling them to reach out and touch her."