Play Hard

"Play Hard" is a song by French DJ and record producer David Guetta featuring vocals from American singers Ne-Yo and Akon. It was released on 15 March 2013 as a single from the re-release of Guetta's fifth studio album, Nothing but the Beat (2011). This is the second collaboration between Guetta and Akon since "Sexy Bitch" in 2009. All three artists co-wrote the song along with Frédéric Riesterer and Giorgio Tuinfort, both of whom produced the song with Guetta. Akon's vocals were written and recorded at Sonic Vista Studios in Ibiza in July 2012. The song samples the 1998 Eurodance song "Better Off Alone" by Alice Deejay and "In My Dreams (XXL Remix)" by Noemi. "Play Hard" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, thus becoming his fourteenth top 10 hit in the UK as a lead artist. It also charted within the top 10 of the charts in several other countries including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland; as well as the top 20 in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and New Zealand.

"Play Hard"
Single by David Guetta featuring Ne-Yo and Akon
from the album Nothing but the Beat 2.0
Released	15 March 2013[1]
Recorded	2012
Genre	Electro house dance-pop
Length	3:21 3:28 (New Edit)
Label	Virgin EMI France Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Shaffer Smith Aliaune Thiam David Guetta Frédéric Riesterer Giorgio Tuinfort Sebastiaan Molijn Eelke Kalberg
Producer(s)	David Guetta Giorgio Tuinfort Frédéric Riesterer
David Guetta singles chronology
"Just One Last Time" (2012) "Play Hard" (2013) "Right Now" (2013)
Ne-Yo singles chronology
"Forever Now" (2012) "Play Hard" (2012) "Tonight" (2013)
Akon singles chronology
"Like Money" (2012) "Play Hard" (2012) "Interstellar" (2015)
Music video
"Play Hard" on YouTube
Audio sample
13 second sample from David Guetta's "Play Hard" file help

Music video

An official music video was uploaded to Guetta's official Vevo channel on April 22, 2013.[2] The video uses the New Edit version of the song. Directed by Swede Andreas Nilsson,[3] it generated controversy for its stereotypical portrayal of Mexico.[4][5][6] The video and an advertisement from Neon Mixr feature the popular dancers, Les Twins. The video has over 1.0 billion views as of August 2020.

Track listing

Digital download[7]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Play Hard"	3:21

Digital download[8]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Play Hard" (New Edit)	3:28

Digital download – EP[9]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Play Hard" (Albert Neve Remix)	6:52
2.	"Play Hard" (R3hab Remix)	4:06
3.	"Play Hard" (Maurizio Gubellini & Delayers in da House Remix)	5:00
4.	"Play Hard" (Maurizio Gubellini Remix)	5:11
5.	"Play Hard" (Spencer & Hill Remix)	6:19
6.	"Play Hard" (Extended)	5:12

German CD single[10]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Play Hard" (Albert Neve Remix)	6:52
2.	"Play Hard" (R3hab Remix)	4:06
3.	"Play Hard" (Maurizio Gubellini & Delayers in da House Remix)	5:00
4.	"Play Hard" (Maurizio Gubellini Remix)	5:11
5.	"Play Hard" (Spencer & Hill Remix)	6:19
6.	"Play Hard" (Extended Version)	5:12

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2012–14) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 16 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 5 Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)[15] 46 Brazil (Hot Pop Songs)[15] 15 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 34 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[17] 9 Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 12 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] 4 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 14 France (SNEP)[21] 7 Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 8 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[23] 4 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[24] 7 Hungary (Single Top 40)[25] 1 Iceland (Tónlist)[26] 14 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 8 Israel (Media Forest)[28] 8 Italy (FIMI)[29] 4 Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)[30] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 37 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 11 Poland (Dance Top 50)[33] 5 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[34] 59 Scotland (OCC)[35] 5 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[36] 5 South Korean International Singles (GAON)[37] 7 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[38] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 26 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[41] 6 UK Dance (OCC)[42] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[43] 64 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[44] 9 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[45] 2 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 31 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[47] 28 Venezuela Pop/Rock General (Record Report)[48] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[49] 39 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[50] 31 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[51] 23 France (SNEP)[52] 25 Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 64 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[54] 7 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[55] 40 Russia Airplay (Tophit)[56] 31 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[57] 36 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[58] 63 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[59] 25 Ukraine Airplay (Tophit)[60] 184 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[61] 36 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[62] 5 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[63] 21 Chart (2014) Position Hungary (Dance Top 40)[64] 30 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[65] Platinum 70,000^^ Austria (IFPI Austria)[66] Gold 15,000^* Belgium (BEA)[67] Gold 15,000^* Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[68] Gold 15,000^^ France (SNEP)[69] Gold 75,000^* Germany (BVMI)[70] Platinum 300,000 Italy (FIMI)[71] 3× Platinum 90,000^* New Zealand (RMNZ)[72] Gold 7,500^* Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[73] Gold 15,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Platinum 600,000^^ Venezuela (APFV)[75] Platinum 10,000^^ ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format
Germany	March 15, 2013	Digital remixes CD single
Italy	April 5, 2013[76]	Contemporary hit radio
United States	May 7, 2013[77]	Rhythmic radio
United Kingdom	May 20, 2013[78]	Digital remixes
United States	June 11, 2013[79]	Mainstream radio

References

1. "Play Hard (feat. Ne-Yo & Akon) [New Edit]: David Guetta". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
2. "David Guetta - Play Hard ft. Akon & Ne-Yo". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
3. Taylor, Ken (2013-04-24). "David Guetta's "Play Hard" video is a treasure trove of high-art influence – Beatport News". News.beatport.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-29. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
4. "El último video de David Guetta que se burla de los estereotipos mexicanos ha causado polémica". The Clinic Online. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
5. "Causa polémica el nuevo video del Dj David Guetta "Play hard"". Informe21.com. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
6. "David Guetta crea polémica con el video de 'Play Hard'". Terra Peú. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
7. "Play Hard (feat. Ne-Yo & Akon): David Guetta". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
8. "Play Hard (feat. Ne-Yo & Akon) [New Edit]: David Guetta". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
9. "Play Hard (feat. Ne-Yo & Akon) [Remixes]: David Guetta". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
10. "Play Hard (Remixes)". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
11. "Australian-charts.com – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
12. "Austriancharts.at – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
13. "Ultratop.be – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
14. "Ultratop.be – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard" (in French). Ultratop 50.
15. BPP, ed. (February–March 2014). "Billboard Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard Brasil (47).
16. "David Guetta Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
17. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201328 into search.
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31. "Dutchcharts.nl – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
32. "Charts.nz – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard". Top 40 Singles.
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48. "Pop Rock General". Record Report (in Spanish). R.R. Digital C.A. June 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
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67. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2013". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
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69. http://proxy.siteo.com.s3.amazonaws.com/www.snepmusique.com/file/disquesor2013site05112013.pdf
70. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon; 'Play Hard')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
71. "Italian single certifications – David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2013" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Play Hard" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
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73. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (David Guetta feat. Ne-Yo & Akon; 'Play Hard')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
74. "British single certifications – David Guetta Feat. Ne-Yo & Akon – Play Hard". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 November 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Play Hard in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
75. APFV (30 November 2013). "Certificaciones De Venezuela Del 2013" (PDF) (in Spanish). APFV. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
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External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics