On the liner notes of Design of a Decade: 1986–1996, biographer David Ritz wrote that the track "infuses the melody with a lethal combination of carnal heat and emotional sensitivity". The singer told VH1 that "Twenty Foreplay" was a "kind of a sweet and sour thought" for her when she thinks about what the song is about, and she hears "the sadness in it and remember the sadness". The US version of "Twenty Foreplay" is lengthier than the international version, which was edited in order to fit two more songs on the international release of Design of a Decade: 1986–1996.
The liner notes for "Design of a Decade: 1986–1996" describe the song "Twenty Foreplay" as having a combination of sensual and emotional intensity, while the singer herself describes it as a bittersweet memory that evokes sadness. The US version of the song is longer than the international version, which was shortened to accommodate two additional songs on the international release.