A Cold Play
| "A Cold Play" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by the Kid Laroi | ||||
| from the album Before I Forget | ||||
| Released | 5 September 2025 | |||
| Length | 2:59 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter | Charlton Howard | |||
| Producer | KBeazy | |||
| The Kid Laroi singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "A Cold Play" on YouTube | ||||
"A Cold Play" (stylized in all-caps) is a song by Australian rapper and singer the Kid Laroi, released on 5 September 2025 through Columbia Records.[1] His fifth single of 2025, it serves as the lead single from his second studio album, Before I Forget (2026), after an initial version of the record was scrapped.[2][3] The lyric reveal his "wishing he could fix someone" with fans speculating the song is about Tate McRae, with whom the artist split in July 2025.[4] Three weeks later, McRae issued her response track titled "Tit for Tat".[5]
Music video
The music video was directed by Akex Lill and premiered on 27 September 2025. It is a one-take video, slowly zooming out on a crying Kid Laroi.
Reception
Lauren McNamara from Rolling Stone Australia said the "single finds him at his most emotionally vulnerable yet, delivering heartfelt lyrics over another earworm hook".[2]
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | 53 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] | 81 |
| Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[8] | 41 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[9] | 5 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[10] | 2 |
References
- ^ "The Kid Laroi Drops Surprise Single "A Cold Play"". Sony Music Canada. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Song You Need to Know: The Kid LAROI "A Cold Play""". Rolling Stone Australia. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ Lochrie, Conor. "The Kid LAROI Announces New Album 'Before I Forget'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ Rubenstein, Megan (27 September 2025). "Tate McRae's "Tit for Tat": The Kid Laroi Breakup Fan Theories". E!. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ Zemler, Emily (26 September 2025). "Hear Tate McRae Take Control on Single 'Tit for Tat'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 October 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1857. Australian Recording Industry Association. 6 October 2025. p. 4.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of October 11, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 47. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of September 20, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 17 September 2025.