Play This Song

"Play This Song" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey featuring fellow 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. Written in collaboration between Carey and Paak, the song also has Daniel Moore II, Jarius Mozee, Jason Pounds and Kenya Rae Johnson sharing writing credits. Production was handled by Carey, Moore II, Paak, Mozee and Pounds (billed as NWI). Sonically, the song is derived from 70's music and Motown sound, while also being an R&B song.

"Play This Song" has lyrics of a push-and-pull between two estranged lovers with a sour yet subtle message of giving up on someone, while also trying to reigniting the relationship. Most music critics compared the sound to that of musical superduo Silk Sonic, Paak's collaborative work with Bruno Mars, with their chemistry being the object of praise. Commercially, the track became the third top twenty entry from Here for It All on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, reaching number 11. A music video for the song premiered on September 26, 2025, while both performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon three days later.