Tit for Tat (Tate McRae song)

"Tit for Tat"
Single by Tate McRae
Released	September 26, 2025 (2025-09-26)
Recorded	September 18, 2025
Studio	American Airlines Center (Dallas)
Genre	Pop
Length	2:55
Label	RCA
Songwriters	Tate McRae Ryan Tedder Julia Michaels Grant Boutin
Producers	Ryan Tedder Grant Boutin
Tate McRae singles chronology
"Just Keep Watching" (2025) "Tit for Tat" (2025) "Nobody's Girl" (2025)
Lyric video
"Tit for Tat" on YouTube

"Tit for Tat" is a song by the Canadian singer Tate McRae. Released as a standalone single on September 26, 2025 ^[1] through RCA Records, it was later included on the deluxe edition of her album, So Close to What (2025), after debuting across the top five of the US Billboard Hot 100. McRae co-wrote it with the American songwriter Julia Michaels and the producers Ryan Tedder and Grant Boutin. The song is reported to be a breakup response to former boyfriend the Kid Laroi's song, "A Cold Play", following their breakup in July 2025. ^{[2] [3]}

Background and promotion

In July 2025, McRae ended her one-year relationship with the Australian singer and rapper the Kid Laroi. On September 5, 2025, Laroi released the post-breakup single "A Cold Play", expressing his wish to repair his partner. ^[4] Just three weeks later, McRae issued her response track titled "Tit for Tat". ^[5] McRae wrote "Tit for Tat" during her Miss Possessive Tour stop in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 11, 2025, and recorded it seven days later on September 18 at her Dallas, Texas stop. ^[6] The song was subtly teased via a glitching tour screen that briefly displayed the title in its abbreviated form "T4T". ^[7] She announced the track on September 24. ^[8]

Music and production

"Tit for Tat" is 2 minutes and 55 seconds long. ^[9] The song was recorded at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Ryan Tedder produced the song, while Grant Boutin provided vocal production. He played keyboard, synthesizer, and programmed drums. Tom Norris mixed the song at Snackworld in Los Angeles, and Chris Gehringer mastered the song at Sterling Sound in Edgewater. ^{[10] [11]}

Composition

Described as a "simmering rhythmic pop track", it has been characterized as "an indignant kiss-off to an ex". ^[12] The title derives from the British expression "tit for tat", which refers to retaliation, framing the song as McRae's response to Laroi's "A Cold Play". In the lyrics, she warns Laroi that if he continues releasing songs about her, she will share her own perspective. The track also alludes to Laroi moving on with a new partner, while reflecting that he was not the person she believed he would be. ^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart performance Chart (2025–2026) Peak position Argentina Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) [13] 17 Australia (ARIA) [14] 6 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [15] 6 Canada Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [16] 3 Canada CHR/Top 40 ( Billboard ) [17] 8 Canada Hot AC ( Billboard ) [18] 33 CIS Airplay (TopHit) [19] 111 Croatia International Airplay (Top lista) [20] 47 Czech Republic Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI) [21] 34 Denmark (Tracklisten) [22] 32 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) [23] 10 France (SNEP) [24] 117 Germany (GfK) [25] 20 Global 200 ( Billboard ) [26] 6 Greece International (IFPI) [27] 3 Guatemala Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) [28] 8 Iceland (Tónlistinn) [29] 21 Ireland (IRMA) [30] 7 Latvia Streaming (LaIPA) [31] 19 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20) [32] 3 Lithuania (AGATA) [33] 45 Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) [34] 7 Luxembourg ( Billboard ) [35] 16 Malta Airplay (Radiomonitor) [36] 9 Mexico Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) [37] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [38] 26 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [39] 5 Norway (IFPI Norge) [40] 16 Panama Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) [41] 12 Peru Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) [42] 11 Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) [43] 53 Portugal (AFP) [44] 16 Romania Airplay (TopHit) [45] 48 Singapore (RIAS) [46] 11 Slovakia Airplay (ČNS IFPI) [47] 40 Slovakia Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI) [48] 38 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [49] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [50] 10 UK Singles (OCC) [51] 6 US Billboard Hot 100 [52] 3 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [53] 26 US Adult Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [54] 13 US Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [55] 9 Venezuela Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) [56] 3

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance Chart (2025) Peak position Estonia Airplay (TopHit) [57] 26 Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) [58] 9 Romania Airplay (TopHit) [59] 55 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Tit for Tat" Chart (2025) Position Estonia Airplay (TopHit) [60] 120

Certifications

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [61]	Gold	40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [62]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [63]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	September 26, 2025	Digital download streaming	RCA	[64]
Italy	October 10, 2025	Radio airplay	Sony Italy	[65]
United States	October 14, 2025	Contemporary hit radio	RCA	[66]

References

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65. Sisti, Sara (September 26, 2025). "TIT FOR TAT - Tate McRae". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved November 22, 2025.
66. U.S. Radio Updater [@USRadioUpdater] (October 13, 2025). ".@tatemcrae's "TIT FOR TAT" and @davidguetta, @teddyswims & @tonesandimusic's "Gone Gone Gone" will officially impact US Pop Radio tomorrow, October 14th (via @HITSDD)" (Tweet). Retrieved October 18, 2025– via Twitter.