The Emperor's New Clothes (song)

Critical reception

Jodi Cleesattle from American Eagle called the song "the album's closest thing to a typical rock song," describing it as an autobiographical track with gritty vocals and strong guitar backing. Bill Coleman from Billboard labeled it a "jangly" and "clever, guitar-laced rocker" that could confirm O'Connor's status as a pop radio star. Tom Moon from Knight-Ridder declared it a "show-stopping moment" and a "bitter what-I-learned-on-the-road song." Simon Reynolds from Melody Maker felt it was a "shrill statement of independence" that might be directed at a male lover or the public's expectations. Music & Media viewed it as "hard-hitting pop," while David Giles from Music Week noted it was a rockier track similar to "Mandinka." William Shaw from Smash Hits named it "the most confessional record ever."

Retrospective response

In a 2020 retrospective, Matthew Hocter from Albumism said the song shows conviction that is part anger and part defiance against the judgment O'Connor faced amid her rising fame, scrutiny of her Catholic faith, and role as a single mother. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as one of several "moments of brilliance" on the compilation So Far... The Best Of. David Quantick from NME wrote in 1998 that the song is heavy on specifics, with lines like "He thinks I just became famous and that's what messed me up" and "You know how it is/And how a pregnancy can change you."

Mark Richardson from Pitchfork in 2009 noted that the lyric "It seems like years since you held the baby/ While I wrecked the bedroom" is delivered with a muted lilt, O'Connor's voice bright and hopeful. Pop Rescue in 2015 called it a rockier song with a great rhythm, showing O'Connor at home with harder pop rock.