Mariah Carey teams up with Anderson .Paak for the official video of “Play This Song”—a soulful, emotional track that explores love, regret, and unresolved feelings. Directed by Anderson .Paak, the video pairs raw visuals with the vulnerability of the lyrics.
Shot by Director of Photography and Editor Connor McCollam, the video keeps the tone simple and intimate. Lighting is handled by Ethan Dwelley, with Jordan Kasedy managing production for Studio Fifty2. Every element of the visual works together to highlight the emotional weight of the song.
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“Play This Song” is written by Brandon Paak Anderson, Daniel Moore II, Jarius Mozee, Jason Pounds, Kenya Rae Johnson, and Mariah Carey. It’s featured as Track 2 on Carey’s new album, Here For It All.
Lyrically, the track cuts deep. “Play this song, by yourself / And your friends don’t talk about it / About your suffering in your silence / Boy I know you miss me,” Carey sings. The repeated line, “Listen by yourself, you can listen by your damn self,” delivers a bold and personal message, urging the listener to sit with their own emotions.
Carey tells a story through name-drops and everyday moments—mentioning Pookie, DeShawn, Ron, Keisha, Chante, and Tots—creating a vivid picture of past relationships and broken promises. “And I know you miss me babe / Ain’t it hard when things don’t go your way / I’m not the same, baby I promise / All I can say is that I’m sorry,” she sings with sincerity.
Anderson .Paak’s role goes beyond direction—his presence helps shape the soul of the track. The collaboration feels honest and stripped back, with no distractions from the song’s core emotion.
“Play This Song” is a reflection of heartbreak and memory. Mariah Carey’s message is clear: this is a song for quiet moments, for facing what’s been left unsaid. “Play this song, by yourself”—a line that lingers long after the music ends.
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