"Play This Song" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey featuring the American singer-songwriter Anderson .Paak. It was released on September 26,2025,as the third single from Carey's sixteenth studio album Here for It All (2025),through her own imprint,Mariah,and the media company Gamma. Commercially,the track became the third top twenty entry from Here for It All on the US BillboardHot R&B Songs chart,reaching number 11.
Paak first revealed that he was working on new music with Carey during an interview with Track Star in May 2025,where he wore a Mariah Carey T-shirt from her merch collection,and revealed that he was working on new music with the singer for her upcoming album.[2] Upon Carey revealing the tracklist of Here for It All via social media on August 27,2025,it was confirmed that Paak would be featured on a track on the album titled "Play This Song".[3] Commenting on the collaboration in September 2025,Carey spoke to Gayle King on CBS Mornings,where she described Paak as "brilliant" and "a really a great artist".[4]
On September 23,three days prior to the release date of Here for It All,Carey announced via her social media that "Play This Song" would officially be released on September 26,the same day as the album,alongside its music video.[5] On September 25,Carey was interviewed by Vogue,where she described the song as being a "kind of a ha-ha to whatever person",and "an "I'm giving up on this situation" type thing".[6] On September 27,Billboard reported that the track is Carey's latest single from the album,[7] following "Type Dangerous" and "Sugar Sweet".
Composition
"Play This Song" is an R&B song,with influences of funk and soul,and has been described as one of the "groovier moments" on Here for It All.[8] Additionally,Alexa Camp of Slant Magazine described "Play This Song" as a "throwback to '70s soul".[9]
Music video
The song's music video premiered on September 26,2025,and was directed by Paak.[10] Hannah Dailey of Billboard described the video as a "black-and-white visual [showing] Carey and the Silk Sonic musician looking glamorous in chic blazers while singing to one another inside a luxurious mansion",where the two "[appear] absolutely enamored with one another".[11]
Live performances
On September 29,2025,Carey appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,where she performed "Play This Song" for the first time,alongside Paak and hip hop band The Roots. Commenting on the performance,Emily Zemler of Rolling Stone stated:"The singer,clad in a gold gown,took center stage to showcase the song with the help of Paak,who played the grand piano alongside her".[12]
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