"Time After Time" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 1985 Grammy Awards.[3] The song has been critically acclaimed, with Scott Floman, music critic for Goldmine magazine, describing the song as "gorgeously heartfelt" and "one of the decade’s finest ballads".[4]
The song, which is still played frequently on adult contemporary radio,[citation needed] is known for its numerous covers by a wide range of artists, including an instrumental version by Miles Davis on his 1985 album, You're Under Arrest. An acoustic version was sung by Lauper on her 2005 album, The Body Acoustic. In this version, Sarah McLachlan provided backing vocals. The version with Sarah McLachlan was used in Ugly Betty season 3 finale. Cyndi Lauper has performed the song live with Grammy Award winning singer Patti LaBelle twice in 1985 and 2004 and with Grammy Award winning singer Sarah McLachlan at the American Music Awards of 2005 and has also performed the song with Grammy Award winning rapper Lil' Kim in 2009. A jazz version by Tuck and Patti on their A Gift of Love album is a well received