Latino aceness" that features a "totally fab chorus". Charlie Porter of The Times called it "fantastic" but described it as "a chorus in search of a good verse". Critic Ian Watson from the Melody Maker was less enthusiastic, commenting that the song's production and instrumentation have a "black magic feel" that evokes depictions of the Mardi Gras and the Day of the Dead, he added that the introduction "sounds almost demonic" and that it resembles the "chant of a dance that goes on for all eternity". The song drew comparisons to the work of other artists. The staff of the Contra Costa Times noticed that the song have shades of Gloria Estefan. The Daily Record went even further, considering that it was a rehash of Estefan's '80s music, labeling it a "throwaway Latinstyle song". Melissa Ruggieri of the Richmond Times-Dispatch believed that the song was a copy of Miami Sound Machine's "Conga", and added that it had a "zingy mariachi-flavored rhythm and infectious chorus chant", while Ann Powers of The New York Times said that it "skates over Latin hip hop from Lisa Lisa to the Lambada". The Dallas Morning News noted influences of ABBA, Bananarama and Bow Wow Wow in the song, and added that it "doesn't quite reach the pop heights of 'Wannabe'". Jim Sullivan of The Boston Globe concurred about the ABBA reference, while describing the song as an "audio Benetton ad". Some reviewers were critical of the lyrical content. NMEs Dele Fadele called "Spice Up Your Life" "the poppermost pop single ever invented", and remarked about its "nonsense lyrics" saying that it represented "the Spice Girls' message of peace to the world". Kevin Courtney of The Irish Times commented that the song "is peppered with the usual 'girl powaaah' cliches", and added that it has "absolutely woeful lyrics". Writing for the Associated Press, David Bauder dismissed it as a song "written by a focus group who told them to add a Latin flavor". The Telegram & Gazettes Craig S. Semon enjoyed the song's melody and harmonies but criticised the lyrical content, commenting that the Spice Girls were "concerned more with shaking hips than moving social consciousness". Larry Flick of Billboard magazine was mixed on the track. Although he described it as "insanely catchy and devilishly fun", he did not considered it a real song, calling it "just a festive cha-cha groove and a lyrical command to