Play (Jax Jones and Years & Years song)

"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".^[1] The song is also included on the track listing of Years & Years' second studio album Palo Santo, rereleased the same day as the single.^[2]

"Play"
Single by Jax Jones and Years & Years
from the EP Snacks
Released	28 November 2018 (2018-11-28)
Genre	Deep house
Length	3:06
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Timucin Aluo Olly Alexander Mark Ralph Uzoechi Emenike
Producer(s)	Jax Jones Mark Ralph
Jax Jones singles chronology
"Ring Ring" (2018) "Play" (2018) "All Day and Night" (2019)
Years & Years singles chronology
"All for You" (2018) "Play" (2018) "Valentino" (2019)

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."^[3]

Critical reception

Gay Times writer Daniel Megarry called the chorus "infectious" and labelled its sound UK garage, soul and house.^[3]

Cover art

The Vodafone Big Top 40 called the cover art a parody of Play-Doh.^[4]

Promotion

Jones announced the collaboration on 26 November 2018, revealing the song would be released two days later.^[1]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018–19) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[5] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] 46 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[7] 48 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[8] 18 Hungary (Single Top 40)[9] 35 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 19 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] 22 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[12] 26 Romania (Airplay 100)[13] 48 Scotland (OCC)[14] 9 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[15] 50 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 8 UK Dance (OCC)[17] 1 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[18] 34

Year-end charts Chart (2019) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[19] 47

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[20]	Gold	20,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[21]	Platinum	20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[22]	Platinum	600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Jax Jones announces new single Play featuring Years & Years". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
2. "Palo Santo [Explicit] by Years & Years on Amazon Music". Amazon Music. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
3. "Years & Years team up with Jax Jones for infectious new single Play". gaytimes.co.uk. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
4. "Jax Jones and Years & Years – 'Play'". BigTop40. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
5. "Jax Jones and Years & Years – Play" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
6. "Jax Jones and Years & Years – Play" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
7. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 1. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
8. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
9. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
10. "Ariana Grande scores her fourth Irish Number 1 single and breaks Ed Sheeran's streaming record with 7 Rings". Official Charts Company. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
11. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
12. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
13. "Airplay 100 – 17 martie 2019" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
15. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 25. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
17. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
18. "Jax Jones Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
19. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2019". Mahasz. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
20. "Brazilian single certifications – Jax Jones – Play" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
21. "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
22. "British single certifications – Jax Jones/Years & Years – Play". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 July 2022.