Headline News (Everyday People song)

Upon its release, Chris Wells of New Musical Express wrote: "See for once here we are dealing with a trio of musicians whose main concern [is] how well they can write, perform and record a song based purely on musical talent. That's why 'Headline News' sounds as refreshingly organic as it does."^[4] Lisa Tilston of Record Mirror wrote, "This sounds a little like a hot, groovy George Michael, which isn't meant as an insult. It's that rare thing these days, a soul record that doesn't sound like it has to try too hard. It's also a record you can bop to without a housey beat. But then the singer and bassist are from the late, great pop/funk band Floy Joy, so it's not really surprising."^[5]

In the US, Billboard listed the single under their "new and noteworthy" section and described the song as "an uplifting and sophisticated midtempo R&B/pop jam glimmering with subtle vintage Motown nuances."^[6] In a review of You Wash... I'll Dry', CD Review wrote: "Songs like "Headline News" fuse a strong, bouncing beat, a beboppin' brass/sax backup section and triadic vocal harmonizing (characteristic of the 1960s Motown sound) with syncopated polyrhythms and a prominent, jerky bass line (popularized in 1970s funk)."^[7] Scott Benarde of The Palm Beach Post described the song as "snappy" and "crackling".^[8]