Play (Jax Jones and Years & Years song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Play
| cover = Jax Jones and Years & Years – Play.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Jax Jones and Years & Years
| EP = Snacks
| released = {{start date|2018|11|28|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Deep house
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=6}}
| label = Polydor
| writer = {{hlist|Timucin Aluo|Olly Alexander|Mark Ralph|Uzoechi Emenike}}
| producer = {{hlist|Jax Jones|Mark Ralph}}
| chronology = Jax Jones
| prev_title = Ring Ring
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = All Day and Night
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Years & Years
| type = single
| prev_title = All for You
| prev_year = 2018
| title = Play
| year = 2018
| next_title = Valentino
| next_year = 2019
}}
}}
"Play" is a song by English DJ Jax Jones and English band Years & Years, released as a single on 28 November 2018. It was included on Jones' Snacks EP. Sung by Olly Alexander, it is Jones' first track to feature male lead vocals since 2016's "House Work".{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/jax-jones-announces-new-single-play-featuring-years-years__24812/|title=Jax Jones announces new single Play featuring Years & Years|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=28 November 2018}} The song is also included on the track listing of Years & Years' second studio album Palo Santo, rereleased the same day as the single.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Palo-Santo-Explicit-Years/dp/B07KRTGPFR/|title=Palo Santo [Explicit] by Years & Years on Amazon Music|publisher=Amazon Music|accessdate=4 December 2018}}
Music video
The music video for the song depicts Jax Jones and Olly Alexander at a superstore, wherein they dance around on a conveyor belt while dodging food items. There are also fairly brief scenes of Jax as a cashier in the same store at the beginning and end of the video.
Background
Jones stated that he wanted to work with Olly Alexander of Years & Years because of his "unique voice", later saying "it was great to collaborate with someone so down to earth and open to new ideas." On working together, Alexander said the pair "giggled the whole time and danced around. I wrote loads of ideas and then we picked the ones we liked and made the song out of it."{{cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/115927/years-years-team-up-with-jax-jones-for-infectious-new-single-play/|title=Years & Years team up with Jax Jones for infectious new single Play|website=gaytimes.co.uk|date=28 November 2018 |accessdate=28 November 2018}}
Critical reception
Cover art
Promotion
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018–19)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|13|artist=Jax Jones and Years & Years|song=Play|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia|46|artist=Jax Jones and Years & Years|song=Play|rowheader=true|accessdate=2 February 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|48|year=2019|week=1|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 January 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Hungary|18|year=2019|week=34|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 August 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Hungarysingle|35|year=2019|week=29|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 July 2019}} |
| scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ariana-grande-scores-her-fourth-irish-number-1-single-and-breaks-ed-sheeran-s-streaming-record-with-7-rings__25408/|title=Ariana Grande scores her fourth Irish Number 1 single and breaks Ed Sheeran's streaming record with 7 Rings|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=25 January 2019|accessdate=26 January 2019}}
| 19 |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2018-12-07|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=10 December 2018|access-date=7 December 2018}}
| 22 |
| {{single chart|Poland|26|chartid=2939|year=2019|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 January 2019}} |
| scope="row"| Romania (Airplay 100){{cite web|url=http://www.kissfm.ro/podcasturi/6114|title=Airplay 100 – 17 martie 2019|publisher=Kiss FM|language=Romanian|accessdate=19 March 2019|date=17 March 2019}}
| 48 |
| {{single chart|Scotland|9|date=20190125|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 January 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Slovakia2|50|year=2019|week=25|rowheader=true|accessdate=25 June 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UK|8|date=20190118|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 January 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UKdance|1|date=20190125|rowheader=true|accessdate=25 January 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceelectronic|34|artist=Jax Jones|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 December 2018}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40){{cite web|url=http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2019|title=Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2019|accessdate=24 April 2020|publisher=Mahasz}}
| 47 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Jax Jones|title=Play|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=28 June 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Jax Jones|title=Play|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|access-date=17 December 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Jax Jones/Years & Years|title=Play|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|id=5124-4889-1|access-date=19 July 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Jax Jones}}
{{Years & Years}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Play (Jax Jones and Years and Years song)}}
Category:Songs written by Jax Jones
Category:Songs written by MNEK
Category:Songs written by Olly Alexander
Category:Songs written by Mark Ralph (record producer)
Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Ralph (record producer)