When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'

In his review of Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, Ned Raggett from AllMusic called the song an "surging, well-deserved European smash hit". He stated that the brothers "gleefully embraced the modern synth/house/techno explosion for their own purposes (an explosion which, after all, they had helped start with their work during the late '70s with Giorgio Moroder)."[1] Larry Flick from Billboard commented that it "will provide hours of joy for hi-NRG purists with its sugar-sweet melody, rapid syncopated beats, and cheeky chorus."[2] He also stated that Sparks "sound completely comfortable within the context of this deliciously dramatic anthem", adding that its "clever, eye-winking words are warbled with a cooing falsetto over a festive, trance-carpeted hi-NRG groove."[3] Liverpool Echo described it as a "chirpy, melodic disco track with its tongue in its cheek [and] it even mentions Sid Vicious."[4] Howard Cohen from Herald-Journal said the tune "features a great hook, a throbbing dance pulse and lush harmonizing. Think the Pet Shop Boys gone silly, or Erasure with warmth."[5] Music & Media noted that it "has them sounding like a cross between Alphaville and Pet Shop Boys."[6]

"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" was a hit on the chart in several European countries, reaching the Top 10 in Germany, where it peaked at number 7. It managed to climb into the Top 20 in Belgium and Finland, and was a Top 30 hit in Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, the single peaked at number 32 in its second run on the UK Singles Chart, on May 14, 1995.[7] On the Eurochart Hot 100, it went to number 49 in March 1995. Outside Europe, "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" was successful on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, where it reached the Top 10, peaking at number 9.

Treblezine included "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" in their A History of Synth-Pop in 50 Essential Tracks.[8] They wrote,

"Rarely declining a chance to inflict a puncture wound in grandeur’s rib cage, Sparks delivered an unforeseeably moving synth-pop response to the most narcissistic pop anthem in music history (not counting “I’m Too Sexy,” which was an intentional joke). Mirroring “My Way”‘s catalog of hard-won victories, Russell Mael counts off a rash of difficult close losses and mild humiliations with clever, but not mocking, anguish. Mael reflects on the un-specialness of it all over a consistent electro-pulse: “Sign your name with an X, mow the lawn.” What reads as a self-aware joke on paper winds up being a far-reaching realization, more universal than its source material, and one of Sparks’ all-time best songs. Regrets, you’ll have a ton."

A witty black-and-white music video in a '40s Hollywood style was made for the song. It was directed by British music video director Sophie Muller. The video was uploaded to YouTube in June 2012. As of September 2020, it has got more than 1,2 million views.[9]

• Sparks on Discogs