in time signature of common time and features a basic chord progression of B/E–Em–Cm–G7. Houston's vocals span from the note of Am7 to the note of D5. According to Stephen Holden of New York Times, the song is a "lovelorn lament with a realistic twist". He noted that, through the verses, the singer congratulates herself for breaking up with an abusive boyfriend and admits that she is still in love. Reception "Why Does It Hurt So Bad" garnered mainly positive reviews from critics. Craig Lytle of AllMusic noted that Houston's voice "sailed" through the song. Larry Flick of Billboard felt that it should have been released as the follow-up single to "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)". He added, "Paired with Babyface, Houston is positively luminous on [this] heartbreak ballad, performing with a perfect blend of theatrical melodrama and guttural soul". A writer for Boston Herald noted that the song was "understated". Steve Knopper of Newsday wrote, "It's lower-key and the singer, who also stars in the film, doesn't feel compelled to perform constant vocal feats." Cary Darling of Rome News-Tribune gave a negative review. She said that "[the] ballad 'Why Does It Hurt So Bad' is [more] standard Whitney-fare". Deborah Wilker of South Florida Sun-Sentinel was mixed in her review, commenting that the song was a "predictably histrionic follow-up" to "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)". Nick Krewen of The Spectator was even less enthusiastic, writing "[...] the two guaranteed [Whitney Houston] hits – 'Exhale (Shoop Shoop)' and 'Why Does It Hurt So Bad' – don't really offer anything new." Christopher John Farley of TIME stated that Houston "particularly held her own", with a "masterly balance of pop, zip, and soulful melancholy". Released as the seventh and final single from the Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album, the song debuted at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the issue dated August 3, 1996. On the same issue, the song debuted at number 34 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. The song later reached a peak of number 26 on the Hot 100, and 22 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. It also reached number six on the Adult Contemporary chart, while reaching a peak of 39 on the Adult Pop Songs chart. In Canada, the song debuted at number 98 on the RPM Singles chart, on the July 22, 1996 issue. Later, on the September 15, 1996 issue, it reached a peak of number