Carey since childhood" and added that the "power ballad" cast her as a "generic diva". Kyle Anderson from MTV complimented Simpson like "a second-generation Celine Dion" and stated that "I Wanna Love You Forever" is a "pretty traditional ballad" and a "towering achievement". He wrote that Simpson "sits back and belts like the Titanic is sinking, and it's produced with a majestic, almost stoic air of dignity. Her voice is for real, and the chorus of the song ("From the moment that I saw your face/ And felt the fire of your sweet embrace/ I swear I knew I'm gonna love you forever") has an epic prom song quality. It's no wonder it nearly topped the Billboard Hot 100." People Magazine said that the song is a "breathless hit". Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In wrote that "I Wanna Love You Forever" "pledges lifelong love to a partner." Jenna Bergstrom from Pueblo Chieftain commented that the song is "so powerful" in her review of Sweet Kisses. Sun-Sentinel said that Simpson "has a powerful voice that gives a new sound to pop music." Vibe noted the song as "beautiful" and added that it is "a classic big ballad, complete with seemingly impossible-to-reach high notes and a soaring melody." Commercial performance America In the United States, "I Wanna Love You Forever" was serviced to radio on August 30, 1999, as was released as a CD single on September 28, 1999. It was initially a success in North America in late 1999. The single entered at number sixty-nine position on Billboard Hot 100 in the United States with sales of 18,500 units. It's ranked at number three the following weeks, remaining in that position for five consecutive weeks, with a total of twenty weeks on the music list, eighteen of them among the top forty; the path is the third longest recorded so far by a single singer. The single also reached number one for six consecutive weeks on Hot 100 Singles Sales and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. On January 22, 2000, Billboard reported that "I Wanna Love You Forever" was the 18th best-selling single of 1999, with 800,000 units sold, only in 1999. "I Wanna Love You Forever" was the eleventh best-selling physical single of the 2000s, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It also became Simpson's best-selling physical single to date. The single also experienced a significant level of airplay, reaching the