Format Digital download Genre Country Label Capitol Nashville | Recorded 2013 Length 3:47 | |
Released March 24, 2014 (2014-03-24) | ||
"Play It Again" is a song written by Dallas Davidson and Ashley Gorley, and recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan. It was released on March 24, 2014 as the fourth single from his fourth studio album, Crash My Party. On April 17, 2014, "Play It Again" became Bryan's eighth non-consecutive chart-topper on the Hot Country Songs chart, the most by any act in the time since his first number one "Rain Is a Good Thing" hit the top spot on July 24, 2010.
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Critical reception
Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song 4 stars out of 5, praising both the lyrics for "[getting] at the emotion that hits young people who are full of life" and Bryan's charming delivery, which "sells the song". Bjorke also commended the label's timing in releasing a feel-good song so close to summertime. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country also gave the song a positive review, saying that "This superstar is enjoying a time when everything that he sings sounds unique and feels deeply satisfying. He’s found a few familiar themes that don’t grow old quickly, and his performances have gotten better with each release. ‘Play It Again’ is another hit for Bryan. When it finishes its chart run, it will likely be amongst the top 5 of his career." Vickye Fisher of For The Country Record was less favorable, saying that "The choruses, full production guitars/drums and belted vocals, do nothing to make ‘Play It Again’ sound any different from any other songs on the album, or any other songs on the radio, for that matter. It’s not distinctive, it’s just boring."
Commercial reception
"Play It Again" debuted at number 46 on the Country Airplay chart for the week ending of March 15, 2014. Two weeks later, "Play It Again" entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 81 for the week ending of March 29, 2014. "Play It Again" reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart dated of April 17, 2014. "Play It Again" reached number one on the Country Airplay chart for the week ending of May 31, 2014; the same week, Florida Georgia Line's "This Is How We Roll", on which Bryan is a featured artist, held the number 2 position on the Country Airplay chart, making Bryan the first artist in the chart's 24-year history to hold the top two positions simultaneously.
"Play It Again" was certified Platinum by the RIAA on May 20, 2014, with sales of over a million in sales in the U.S. by May 2014. It reached its second million sales mark in January 2015, and as of January 2016, the song has sold 2,310,000 copies in the United States.
Music video
The music video was directed by Michael Monaco and premiered in April 2014.