The 'If You Play This Song On New Year's Eve' meme is a seasonal internet tradition involving specific instructions to start a song at a precise timestamp. The goal is to align a major musical event—like a beat drop, a high note, or a specific lyric—exactly with the stroke of midnight. While it began with genuine suggestions for tracks like Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight,' it quickly evolved into a parody format where users suggest increasingly absurd songs or chaotic outcomes. This meme captures the universal desire for a 'perfect' start to the new year, often blending sincerity with the internet's signature irony.