{{For|the song by Big Country|Fragile Thing}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}{{Infobox song | name = A Fragile Thing | cover = File:The Cure - A Fragile Thing - Cover.jpg | alt = Cover art of "A Fragile Thing": a corrupted photograph of a stone sculpture of a head, with the letters of the title, "a fragile thing", scattered across the picture. The band's name, reading "the CURE", appears in the top-right corner. | type = single | artist = [[the Cure]] | album = [[Songs of a Lost World]] | released = {{start date|2024|10|9|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = | genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] | length = {{Duration|m=4|s=43}} | label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] | writer = [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]] | producer = * Robert Smith * [[Paul Corkett]] | prev_title = [[Alone (The Cure song)|Alone]] | prev_year = 2024 | next_title = All I Ever Am | next_year = 2025 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|V7sZlKuh8gA|"A Fragile Thing"}}|header=Lyric video}} }}
"'''A Fragile Thing'''" is a song by the English rock band [[the Cure]] from their fourteenth studio album, ''[[Songs of a Lost World]]'' (2024). [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]] noted that the track was originally titled "Kill the Sun", and that it changed greatly before its final version. "A Fragile Thing" is a [[Rock music|rock]] song that begins with a piano introduction before other instruments and Smith's vocals enter. Smith commented that "A Fragile Thing" was lyrically about the simultaneous strength and fragility of love; music critics observed that the lyrics came from the perspective of an ex-lover speaking towards the track's protagonist. The track was written by Smith, and was produced by him and [[Paul Corkett]].
The Cure debuted "A Fragile Thing" on 4 November 2022 during their [[Shows of a Lost World]] concert tour, and it became a staple of that tour. Later, the song received an official released as the second single off ''Songs of a Lost World'' on 9 October 2024. Music critics praised "A Fragile Thing" for its sound and mood. It peaked at number 5 on the [[UK Singles Sales Chart]] and at number 14 on the US [[Rock & Alternative Airplay]] chart.
== Background and release == After the release of ''[[4:13 Dream]]'' in 2008, the Cure prioritised touring in the 2010s instead of recording and releasing new music.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=The Cure Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-cure-mn0000137390 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251227190152/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-cure-mn0000137390 |archive-date=December 27, 2025 |access-date=December 27, 2025 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The band initially announced in early 2014 that their next studio album, a follow-up to ''4:13 Dream'' titled ''4:14 Scream'', would be released later that year. However, the album was never released.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=September 23, 2024 |title=The Cure to Release First New Song in 16 Years This Week |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-cure-to-release-first-new-song-in-16-years-this-week/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216110814/https://pitchfork.com/news/the-cure-to-release-first-new-song-in-16-years-this-week/ |archive-date=December 16, 2024 |access-date=December 27, 2025 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Similarly, the band considered creating a new album to commemorate their 40th anniversary in 2018, however it never materialised.<ref name=":1">{{Harvard citation no brackets|''Uncut''|2024|p=104}}.</ref> Later, in 2019, the band once again began recording new music, under the working title ''Live From the Moon''. The tracks created during these sessions eventually became ''Songs of a Lost World''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |last=Shipley |first=Al |date=1 November 2024 |title=The Cure's 'Songs of a Lost World': All 8 Tracks Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-review-songs-ranked/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212061924/https://www.billboard.com/lists/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-review-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=12 December 2024 |access-date=27 December 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
According to Smith, "A Fragile Thing" began as a song titled "Kill the Sun". He commented on the difficult of writing the track, saying that it transformed significantly before reaching its final version.<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=10 October 2024 |title=The Cure Release Chilling 'A Fragile Thing' Single and 'Songs of a Lost World' Track List |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/cure-a-fragile-thing-single-songs-of-a-lost-world-track-list-1235797607/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114140323/https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/cure-a-fragile-thing-single-songs-of-a-lost-world-track-list-1235797607/ |archive-date=14 January 2025 |access-date=14 January 2026 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The Cure debuted "A Fragile Thing" live on 4 November 2022 at the [[Forum di Milano]] as part of their 2022–2023 [[Shows of a Lost World]] concert tour, and it subsequently became a staple during the tour.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=Ellie |date=5 November 2022 |title=Watch The Cure debut heartfelt new song 'A Fragile Thing' in Italy |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-the-cure-debut-heartfelt-new-song-a-fragile-thing-in-italy-3343340 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250912172530/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-the-cure-debut-heartfelt-new-song-a-fragile-thing-in-italy-3343340 |archive-date=12 September 2025 |access-date=14 January 2026 |magazine=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=9 October 2024 |title=The Cure – "A Fragile Thing" |url=https://stereogum.com/2283540/the-cure-a-fragile-thing/music |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251206132114/https://stereogum.com/2283540/the-cure-a-fragile-thing/music |archive-date=6 December 2025 |access-date=17 January 2026 |website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> Later, the band released a snippet of "A Fragile Thing" on 6 October 2024 via social media,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dunworth |first=Liberty |date=7 October 2024 |title=The Cure announce next single 'A Fragile Thing' – and it’s coming very soon |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cure-announce-next-single-a-fragile-thing-and-its-coming-very-soon-3800307 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915065540/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cure-announce-next-single-a-fragile-thing-and-its-coming-very-soon-3800307 |archive-date=15 September 2025 |access-date=15 January 2026 |magazine=NME}}</ref> and released the full single on 9 October alongside the tracklist of ''Songs of a Lost World''.<ref name=":3" />
A radio edit of "A Fragile Thing", in addition to a "RS24" remix by Smith and a live performance of the song, was released as an EP later that year on 29 November.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=29 November 2024 |title=The Cure release new 'A Fragile Thing' EP with live version and Robert Smith remix |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cure-release-new-a-fragile-thing-ep-with-live-version-and-robert-smith-remix-3817208 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250413054528/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cure-release-new-a-fragile-thing-ep-with-live-version-and-robert-smith-remix-3817208 |archive-date=13 April 2025 |access-date=15 January 2026 |magazine=NME}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Fragile Thing - Single - Album by The Cure |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-fragile-thing-single/1781651909 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260115050213/https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-fragile-thing-single/1781651909 |archive-date=15 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |publisher=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> Additionally, on 13 June 2025, remixes of "A Fragile Thing" by [[Âme]], [[Sally C]], and [[The Twilight Sad]] were included on [[Mixes of a Lost World|''Mixes of a Lost World'']].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=21 April 2025 |title=The Cure Recruit Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Deftones' Chino Moreno, and More for New ''Songs of a Lost World'' Remix Album |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-cure-recruit-four-tet-paul-oakenfold-deftones-chino-moreno-for-new-songs-of-a-lost-world-remix-album/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251204201137/https://pitchfork.com/news/the-cure-recruit-four-tet-paul-oakenfold-deftones-chino-moreno-for-new-songs-of-a-lost-world-remix-album/ |archive-date=4 December 2025 |access-date=14 January 2026 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> A version by [[Mark Saunders (music producer)|Mark Saunders]], dubbed the "Heartbroken Remix", was released independent of the remix album a week later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Fragile Thing (Mark Saunders Heartbroken Remix) - Single - Album by The Cure |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-fragile-thing-mark-saunders-heartbroken-remix-single/1821707508 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260115050913/https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-fragile-thing-mark-saunders-heartbroken-remix-single/1821707508 |archive-date=15 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |publisher=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref>
== Composition and lyrics == "A Fragile Thing" is a midtempo<ref name=":3" /> rock song.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Vito |first=Jo |date=9 October 2024 |title=The Cure Release "A Fragile Thing" From New Album Songs of a Lost World: Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2024/10/the-cure-a-fragile-thing-single-stream/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009194957/https://consequence.net/2024/10/the-cure-a-fragile-thing-single-stream/ |archive-date=9 October 2024 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]}}</ref> The song begins with a piano introduction before bass and guitar enter,<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rockman |first=Sam |date=9 October 2024 |title=The Cure Share Second ''Songs of a Lost World'' Single, "A Fragile Thing" |url=https://floodmagazine.com/177825/listen-the-cure-a-fragile-thing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250809183353/https://floodmagazine.com/177825/listen-the-cure-a-fragile-thing/ |archive-date=9 August 2025 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=Flood Magazine}}</ref> followed by Smith's "conversational" vocals fifty seconds into the track.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Shipley |first=Al |date=1 November 2024 |title=The Cure's 'Songs of a Lost World': All 8 Tracks Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-review-songs-ranked/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260113003115/https://www.billboard.com/lists/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-review-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=13 January 2026 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=Billboard}}</ref> Instrumentally, both Jon Blistein of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' and Alison Ross of ''[[PopMatters]]'' found that the song's guitars sounded "yearning"; the former additionally applied this label to the song's synths, while the latter compared the piano line to those by [[John Carpenter]] and called its bass "abrasive".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=9 October 2024 |title=The Cure Know That Love Is 'A Fragile Thing' on New Song |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-cure-a-fragile-thing-songs-of-a-lost-world-1235130225/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505142411/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-cure-a-fragile-thing-songs-of-a-lost-world-1235130225/ |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Alison |date=5 November 2024 |title=The Cure Lament Aging and Death, Yet Find New Vitality |url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-cure-songs-lost-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815160526/https://www.popmatters.com/the-cure-songs-lost-world |archive-date=15 August 2025 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=[[PopMatters]]}}</ref> Ross also noted "A Fragile Thing{{Double+single}}s "slightly jazzy" beat,<ref name=":7" /> while Bill Pearis of ''[[BrooklynVegan]]'' observed of the heavy use of [[Tom drum|tom drums]] in the track's percussion.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=28 October 2024 |title=Review: The Cure's 'Songs of a Lost World' is a doomy, gloomy near-perfect return to form |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/review-the-cures-songs-of-a-lost-world-is-a-doomy-gloomy-near-perfect-return-to-form/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260123031205/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/review-the-cures-songs-of-a-lost-world-is-a-doomy-gloomy-near-perfect-return-to-form/ |archive-date=23 January 2026 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=[[BrooklynVegan]]}}</ref>
Music critics took note of the track's [[Pop music|pop]] sound; both Pearis and Sam Walker-Smart of ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' commented that it was the most pop-like song on ''Songs of a Lost World,''<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Walker-Smart |first=Sam |date=14 October 2024 |title=The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108220756/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world/ |archive-date=8 November 2024 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> while [[John Robb (musician)|John Robb]] of ''[[Louder Than War|Louder than War]]'' wrote that the song was "pop music on its own terms" due to its upbeat sound contrasting its emotional lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=John |author-link=John Robb (musician) |date=16 October 2024 |title=The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World – Review – ALBUM OF THE WEEK 2 |url=https://louderthanwar.com/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-album-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405061649/https://louderthanwar.com/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-album-review/ |archive-date=5 April 2025 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=[[Louder Than War]]}}</ref> Multiple critics also compared the track's sound to other works by the band: Pearis likened it to ''[[Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me|Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me]]'' (1987),<ref name=":9" /> Tom Breihan of ''[[Stereogum]]'' to ''[[Disintegration (The Cure album)|Disintegration]]'' (1989),<ref name=":4" /> and Martin O'Gorman of [[Radio X (United Kingdom)|Radio X]] to "Wendy Time" off ''[[Wish (The Cure album)|Wish]]'' (1992).<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Gorman |first=Martin |date=1 November 2024 |title=The Cure's Songs Of A Lost World: a striking return for one of Britain's greatest bands |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/the-cure/songs-of-a-lost-world-album-tracks-lyrics-meaning-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251118164529/https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/the-cure/songs-of-a-lost-world-album-tracks-lyrics-meaning-review/ |archive-date=18 November 2025 |access-date=22 January 2026 |publisher=[[Radio X (United Kingdom)|Radio X]]}}</ref> Joshua Mills of ''[[The Line of Best Fit]]'' additionally found the song's "driving" bass to be reminiscent of the band's previous [[post-punk]] sound,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Joshua |date=23 October 2024 |title=The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World Review - rewarding return |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-patience-pays-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215202826/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world-patience-pays-off |archive-date=15 December 2025 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=[[The Line of Best Fit]]}}</ref> and Jo Vito of ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]'' found the guitar line to be "quintessentially Cure-ish".<ref name=":5" />
Lyrically, Smith explained that "A Fragile Thing" explores the simultaneous strength and fragility of love.<ref name=":3" /> Smith further explained that the track was "driven by the difficulties we face in choosing between mutually exclusive needs", and the subsequent angst felt over whether one made the right decision.<ref>{{Cite web |last=England |first=Adam |date=9 October 2024 |title=The Cure share haunting new single 'A Fragile Thing' and reveal 'Songs Of A Lost World' album tracklist |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cure-share-haunting-new-single-a-fragile-thing-and-reveal-album-tracklist-3801283 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207185822/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cure-share-haunting-new-single-a-fragile-thing-and-reveal-album-tracklist-3801283 |archive-date=7 December 2025 |access-date=26 January 2026 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref> Ross called the track a "resigned musing about love's brittleness",<ref name=":7" /> while Walker-Smart characterised the song as Smith "dropping harsh truths about how love and commitment can be a blessing and a curse".<ref name=":10" /> Various critics touched on the song's use of perspective. Lauren Boisvert of ''American Songwriter'' observed that the lyric {{Double+single}}Every time you kiss me I could cry,' she said" revealed that the lines in the song were being spoken as though in a conversation,<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Boisvert |first=Lauren |date=6 November 2024 |title=3 of the Best Tracks From The Cure's New Album 'Songs of a Lost World' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/3-of-the-best-tracks-from-the-cures-new-album-songs-of-a-lost-world/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260127025036/https://americansongwriter.com/3-of-the-best-tracks-from-the-cures-new-album-songs-of-a-lost-world/ |archive-date=27 January 2026 |access-date=26 January 2026 |website=[[American Songwriter]]}}</ref> while Elise Soutar of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' described the "speaker" in the track as being "resolute in her denial of Smith's protagonist".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soutar |first=Elise |date=1 November 2024 |title=''Songs of a Lost World'' Recalls The Cure at Their Most Hopeless and Straightforward |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-cure/songs-of-a-lost-world-recalls-the-cure-at-their-most-hopeless-and-straightforward |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251107203731/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-cure/songs-of-a-lost-world-recalls-the-cure-at-their-most-hopeless-and-straightforward |archive-date=7 November 2025 |access-date=26 January 2026 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref> Similarly, Pearis described the song's lyrics as "read[ing] like a letter from an ex-lover".<ref name=":9" />
== Reception == "A Fragile Thing" received positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]]. Gil Kaufman of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]],'' John Murphy of ''[[MusicOMH]]'', and Pearis all called the track "classic Cure".<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=John |date=1 November 2024 |title=The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241104225336/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world |archive-date=4 November 2024 |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=[[MusicOMH]]}}</ref> Particular praise was directed towards Smith's vocal performance, with ''Clash''{{'s}} Robin Murray calling it "hugely impressive" and ''Billboard''{{'s}} Al Shipley deeming it the best on the album.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=10 October 2024 |title=The Cure Share New Song 'A Fragile Thing' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/the-cure-share-new-song-a-fragile-thing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112130249/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/the-cure-share-new-song-a-fragile-thing/ |archive-date=12 November 2024 |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=Clash}}</ref> [[John Kinsella (poet)|John Kinsella]], writing for ''[[The Saturday Paper]]'', noted how "A Fragile Thing", like the band's previous song "[[A Forest]]", managed to create a simultaneous bright and dark mood through its "bold if emotionally suppressed" opening.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kinsella |first=John |author-link=John Kinsella (poet) |date=30 July 2025 |title=The Cure laments for a broken time on Songs of a Lost World |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/music/2025/07/30/the-cure-laments-broken-time |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250926073113/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/music/2025/07/30/the-cure-laments-broken-time |archive-date=26 September 2025 |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=[[The Saturday Paper]]}}</ref> Similarly, Todd Dedman of ''[[Beats Per Minute (website)|Beats per Minute]]'' commented on the contrast between the track's "sprightly" arrangement and its darker lyrical themes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dedman |first=Todd |date=31 October 2024 |title=Album Review: The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218162545/https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-the-cure-songs-of-a-lost-world/ |archive-date=18 December 2025 |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=[[Beats per Minute (website)|Beats per Minute]]}}</ref> Pearis found the song's chorus to the best on ''[[Songs of a Lost World]]'';<ref name=":9" /> meanwhile, Boisvert named it one of the three best songs on the album,<ref name=":11" /> while Shipley declared it as its best in his ranking of the record.<ref name=":2" />
In the United Kingdom, "A Fragile Thing" peaked at {{Abbr|No.|Number}} 5 on the [[UK Singles Sales Chart]],<ref name="uksales" /> and reached No. 83 on the [[UK Singles Downloads Chart]].<ref name="ukdownloads" /> Elsewhere, the track charted at No. 14 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Rock & Alternative Airplay]] chart in the United States.<ref name="usrock" /> "A Fragile Thing" also charted at No. 14 on the ''Billboard'' [[Alternative Airplay]] chart, and was their first appearance on that chart since "[[The Only One (The Cure song)|The Only One]]" in 2008, and their highest charting single since "[[Mint Car]]" reached the same position in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Cure {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-cure/chart-history/hsi/ |website=Billboard |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
== Personnel == Credits adapted from [[Apple Music]].<ref name=":8">{{cite web |date= |title=A Fragile Thing — Song by The Cure |url=https://music.apple.com/us/song/a-fragile-thing/1768728137 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260115044516/https://music.apple.com/us/song/a-fragile-thing/1768728137 |archive-date=15 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |publisher=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref>
=== The Cure ===
* [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]]{{Spaced en dash}}guitar, vocals, keyboards, bass, songwriter, producer, [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] engineer, assistant [[Audio engineer|recording engineer]] * [[Simon Gallup]]{{Spaced en dash}}bass * [[Jason Cooper]]{{Spaced en dash}}drums, percussion * [[Roger O'Donnell]]{{Spaced en dash}}keyboards * [[Reeves Gabrels]]{{Spaced en dash}}guitar
=== Additional personnel ===
* [[Paul Corkett]]{{Spaced en dash}}producer, mixing engineer, recording engineer * [[Matt Colton]]{{Spaced en dash}}[[Mastering (audio)|mastering]] engineer * Bunny Lake{{Spaced en dash}}assistant recording engineer * Jack Boston{{Spaced en dash}}assistant recording engineer * Joe Jones{{Spaced en dash}}assistant recording engineer
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for "A Fragile Thing" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024–2025) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| [[UK Singles Downloads Chart|UK Singles Downloads]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref name="ukdownloads">{{Cite web |date=8 November 2024 |title=Official Singles Downloads Chart |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/20241108/7000/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260115052135/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/20241108/7000/ |archive-date=15 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> | 83 |- ! scope="row"| [[UK Singles Sales Chart|UK Singles Sales]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref name="uksales">{{Cite web |date=29 November 2024 |title=Official Singles Sales Chart |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20241129/7509/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260115052011/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20241129/7509/ |archive-date=15 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> | 5 |- ! scope="row" {{Single chart |chart=Billboardrockairplay |artist=The Cure |position=14 |refname=usrock}} |}
== References ==
=== Source === * {{Cite magazine |last= |first= |author-link= |last2= |display-authors= |date=December 2024 |title=Keeping the Faith |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/the-cures-robert-smith-our-songs-have-always-had-a-fear-of-mortality-151940/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2025-1228-0515-20/https://www.uncut.co.uk:443/features/the-cures-robert-smith-our-songs-have-always-had-a-fear-of-mortality-151940/ |archive-date=December 28, 2025 |access-date=December 27, 2025 |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |pages=102–113 |ref = {{harvid|Uncut|2024}}}}
=== Citations === {{Reflist}}
{{The Cure}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2024 songs]] [[Category:2024 singles]] [[Category:The Cure songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Robert Smith (musician)]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Paul Corkett]]