Jade from MusicFix compared the song to all other Australian Idol winners' singles and wrote that the "black box" metaphor differentiates it from the others. She called the sound a "generic R&B beat" and continued by comparing Walker's voice to fellow Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian, saying that Australian Idol voters "decided one Sebastian just wasn't enough."[1] At the 2010 New Zealand Music Awards, "Black Box" won the award for the 'Highest Selling New Zealand Single'.[2] It was also named the 'Radio Airplay Record of the Year' at the ceremony, after topping the New Zealand Radio Airplay Chart for ten weeks.[3][4] At the 2010 ARIA Music Awards, "Black Box" was nominated for 'Most Popular Australian Single'.[5]
On the New Zealand Singles Chart, "Black Box" debuted at number five on 30 November 2009.[6] The following week, it peaked at number one, where it remained for ten consecutive weeks.[6] On 14 February 2010, "Black Box" was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), for selling 30,000 copies.[7] In Australia, the song debuted and peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart on 30 November 2009, selling 17,493 copies in its first week,[8] and becoming the fastest-selling Sony Bandit.fm download ever.[9] Eventually, "Black Box" was certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for selling 140,000 copies.[10]
The music video for the song was directed by Gemma Lee and filmed in Sydney on 24 November 2009.[11][12][13] In an interview with Nova FM, Walker explained, "There might be a little bit of group dancing ... we'll see what happens. At first I was really nervous but I've warmed up now and I'm getting into it. I'm working on my look ... It's pretty cool – it's my first ever film clip. It's basically a house party that explains the lyrics. It talks about a relationship that has gone down but everything is still recorded in the black box. I really like it."[12] The video premiered on YouTube on 29 November 2009.[11]
Walker performed "Black Box" on the New Zealand television show, Close Up, on 6 December 2009, the day before the release of his album, Introducing... Stan Walker.[14] He again performed the song at Barry Curtis ParkinManukau City as part of celebrations of Waitangi Day (6 February) in 2010.[15]
