 " Frozen " was generally acclaimed by music critics . Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine gave the song a positive review , praising its production and claiming it was " one of the great pop masterpieces of the 1990s . Its lyrics are uncomplicated but its statement is grand . " David Browne from Entertainment Weekly had said the song was a " <unk> @-@ beats melodrama that 's often breathtaking . " Billboard 's Paul Verna described the song as " smashing " . In a separate review , Larry Flick called it a " stunning foray into the realm of electronica [ which ] [ ... ] underground purists and unwavering popstars will equally applaud " . Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone commented positively about the " arctic melancholy " of the song . Stephen Thompson from the The A.V. Club approved the song 's melodic beat and the sound , but he did dismiss the lyrics . The Baltimore Sun 's J.D. Considine called it a word @-@ focused , emotionally nuanced ballad . Jon Pareles from The New York Times was impressed how Madonna , <unk> and careful , performed the song . Joan Anderman from The Boston Globe said that on Ray of Light , only " Frozen " achieves a " state of divine balladry " , recalls the " emotional pitch " and simmers the " beauty of 1986 's ' Live to Tell ' with a dark , lush string section , the smash and patter of a lone drum , and an ominous , pulsing buzz " . 
