Jim Farber of New York Daily News criticized the song saying "Unlike the classic odes to our city, Swift's lacks the sophistication, or substance, of Gotham-themed hits by Frank Sinatra ("New York, New York"), Billy Joel ("New York State of Mind") or Alicia Keys/Jay Z ("Empire State of Mind")."[REF]
In more enthusiastic critique, Forrest Wickman from Slate considered it "a soaring synth-pop anthem of the kind you could imagine being sung by Katy Perry."[REF]