"Opalite" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl (2025). Swift helped write and produce the song with Swedish musicians Max Martin and Shellback. The title refers to artificial opals, and the song is about how Swift and her romantic partner find happiness together after difficult experiences in past relationships. The lyrics use gemstone metaphors, comparing painful memories to dark "onyx" nights and joyful feelings to a bright, opalescent sky. The track is an upbeat pop rock, soft rock, and synth-pop song, featuring a jangly guitar sound, a disco beat, and a lively arrangement with bass and vocal harmonies.
"Opalite" was released as the second single from The Life of a Showgirl on January 12, 2026. Music critics mostly liked its cheerful sound and positive message, with many calling it one of the album's best songs. The song reached number one in Germany, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and number two on the Billboard Global 200 chart as well as in Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, and Switzerland. It has been certified multi-platinum in Canada and platinum in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Swift wrote and directed the music video for "Opalite," which was released on Spotify and Apple Music on February 6, 2026. The video was filmed using traditional film techniques and includes styles from 1990s romantic comedies, with cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto. It features actors from an October 2025 episode of The Graham Norton Show during the promotion of The Life of a Showgirl. Swift and Domhnall Gleeson play two lonely people who fall in love after using an "Opalite" potion. Supporting roles include Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lewis Capaldi, and Graham Norton, with a cameo and voiceover by Cillian Murphy.
Background and release
On August 13, 2025, Taylor Swift announced her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, during an episode of New Heights, a sports podcast co-hosted by her then-boyfriend (now fiancé) Travis Kelce and his brother Jason. "Opalite" was also announced that day as the third track on the album. Swift’s childhood love of opals inspired the song’s title. Opal is also Kelce’s birthstone. An opalite is a man-made glass that looks like opal and moonstone. Swift used the idea of opalite as a metaphor to show that happiness can be created intentionally. She described the song as "a song about forgiving yourself for experiences that did not go as planned and giving yourself permission to not have everything figured out or to not marry the first person you dated." In his podcast New Heights, Kelce called it his favorite song on the album.
After the release of The Life of a Showgirl, "Opalite" performed well on music charts, received regular radio play, and became a fan favorite. "Opalite" became the second single from the album. Universal Music released the song to French radio stations on January 12, 2026, and to Italian radio on January 23. CD singles of "Opalite," sold through Swift’s online store, were available by February 16. Five versions of the song were released as CD singles: an acoustic version by Swift, titled "Life is A Song," and four electronic dance music remixes by English DJ Chris Lake, German DJ Bunt, English DJ Skream, and Austrian DJ Ely Oaks. Kelce, who is a fan of Lake, encouraged Lake to work with Swift on a remix of "Opalite." Rolling Stone described Lake’s remix as a house track.
Composition
"Opalite" is a pop rock, soft rock, and synth-pop song that includes elements of Europop, Eurodance, doo-wop, and disco. The song was written and produced by Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback. It begins with a repeating sound of an acoustic guitar, then transitions into a contrasting disco section with a lively bass, overlapping voices, and old-fashioned rhythm beats. The chorus uses a three-note musical pattern. Critics compared the song to the music of ABBA, the Ronettes, and Fleetwood Mac. Anna Gaca from Pitchfork described the track as a "stage adaptation" of Post Malone's "Circles" (2019) and Maroon 5's "Sugar" (2015). Molanphy referenced the Ronettes' song "Be My Baby" (1963). Nicole Fell from The Hollywood Reporter compared the song's "dreaminess" to Taylor Swift's tenth studio album, Midnights (2022), while Tess Patton from TheWrap found it similar to the "bubbly pop" style of her fifth album, 1989 (2014). Others noted similarities to Swift's songs "Paper Rings" (2019) and "Message in a Bottle" (2021).
Lyrically, "Opalite" is a love song about Taylor Swift's relationship with Travis Kelce. The lyrics focus on their relationship and mention both Swift's and Kelce's past relationships. In the first verse, Swift talks about her past dating experiences, her habit of thinking about former boyfriends, and advice from her brother. This is followed by a section that includes comforting words from her mother, Andrea. In the second verse, Swift reflects on Kelce's dating life. In the refrain, she continues a pattern she has used before, connecting emotions to colors. She describes sadness as "onyx night"—onyx being a type of gemstone that is black and white—and happiness as an "opalite" sky, a shiny light blue color. This contrast symbolizes moving from sadness to happiness, like dark clouds turning into sunny skies. The bridge encourages listeners, describing loss and failure as steps toward freedom. Samantha Stutsman from People called the song "a celebration of growth, self-forgiveness, and the messy, beautiful journey of love." According to Isabella Soares from Collider, the song "is a love song about overcoming romantic challenges with someone who brings joy and stability."
Critical reception
The song "Opalite" received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised its uplifting and hopeful message. Many highlighted its shiny and polished production quality. Bryan West of USA Today called the melody "very catchy and hard to forget," while Melissa Ruggeri of a music publication named it the best song of 2025. Chris Willman of Variety described the chorus as creating a strong, exciting feeling. Lauren Hague of Clash said the song is likely to become a popular summer hit, noting its catchy melody and a joyful section that shows Taylor Swift’s high-pitched singing. Kristen S. Hé of NME called it a clear choice for a radio hit, and Soares described it as a fun, upbeat track. Alan Light of Esquire said it is a "simple but fun song that makes you feel happy."
Mark Savage of BBC News praised the song’s easygoing, flowing sound, comparing it to the start of a romantic relationship. Maria Sherman of the Associated Press admired the unique and catchy elements of the song, saying only Taylor Swift could perform it well. She noted its bright, colorful sound, while Anna Gaca of Pitchfork thought the song had a dramatic, theatrical feel.
Many critics considered "Opalite" one of the best songs on the album The Life of a Showgirl. Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times called it beautiful and relaxed in style. Durva More of The Economic Times highlighted its themes of personal growth and forgiveness, and its display of Taylor Swift’s hopeful side. Caroline Darney of For the Win ranked it first among the album’s 12 songs, praising its joyful and sweet tone. Molanphy called it the most cheerful song on the album. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard ranked it 8th, describing it as a smooth, lively track with a singable chorus. Bushra Jung of Prestige Hong Kong also ranked it 8th, calling it a happy, energetic song with a strong, rhythmic chorus. Harper’s Bazaar editors ranked it 6th on the album. Chris Willman noted that "Opalite" was an unexpected but pleasant change in style on the album. Anna Gaca of Pitchfork listed it as one of the album’s best songs, calling it a song that inspires hope for better days.
A few critics gave mixed opinions. Carl Wilson of Slate called it a nearly perfect song in the style of Max Martin, but said the verses were less interesting than the chorus and bridge. Wren Graves of Consequence said the chorus was nice but not memorable. Soares of Collider ranked the song 9th on the album, saying the lyrics were not as strong as Taylor Swift’s usual work.
Commercial performance
When the album The Life of a Showgirl was released, the song "Opalite" reached the top of the charts in the Philippines. It became the second song from the album to reach number one, following the lead single "The Fate of Ophelia." The song entered the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Middle East, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, and Vietnam. It also reached the top 20 in Brazil, France, Mexico, Poland, Spain, and Taiwan. The single was certified double platinum in Canada and platinum in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, "Opalite" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when the album was released. It remained on the chart for 19 weeks and spent 14 weeks in the top 10 before reaching number one after its single release. This made it Taylor Swift's 14th number-one song in the country. The Life of a Showgirl was her first album since 1989 (2014) to produce multiple number-one songs. Swift set a record for the most number-one songs by an artist in the 2020s and tied Rihanna for the most number-one songs in the 21st century. Analysts noted that "Opalite" stayed on the charts longer than any of Swift's previous singles before reaching number one in the U.S. The song reached number one on the Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay charts, marking Swift's 15th number-one single on both. It also became her 31st number-one song on the Digital Song Sales chart.
In the United Kingdom, "Opalite" debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart and reached number one after the music video was released. This was Swift's sixth number-one song in the UK and made The Life of a Showgirl her first album to produce two number-one songs in the country. In Germany, "Opalite" debuted at number three on the singles chart when the album was released and reached number one after its single release. It became Swift's second number-one song in Germany and the second song from The Life of a Showgirl to top the chart, following "The Fate of Ophelia."
Music video
Taylor Swift wrote and directed the music video for "Opalite." She worked with Rodrigo Prieto, a cinematographer who filmed the video on film, and Mandy Moore, a choreographer who also choreographed Swift's Eras Tour and the music video for "The Fate of Ophelia." Swift had the idea for the video after appearing on The Graham Norton Show in October 2025, where she was a guest with Gleeson, Capaldi, Cillian Murphy, Greta Lee, and Jodie Turner-Smith. During the show, Gleeson joked about wanting to appear in one of Swift's music videos, which inspired her to create a video featuring all the guests, including host Graham Norton. Swift sent Gleeson the script for the video within a week, giving him the starring role. The video also includes appearances from Swift's backup dancers from her 2023–2024 Eras Tour and her brother, Austin.
The music video was released on Apple Music and Spotify Premium on February 6, 2026, and on YouTube two days later. UK politician Sarah Jones, the Member of Parliament for Croydon West, shared on social media that some scenes were filmed at the Whitgift Centre, a shopping mall in her constituency. People reported that Swift transformed the "run-down" mall for the video, using production design to make it look like it was from the 1990s. Two behind-the-scenes versions of the video were released on Apple Music and Spotify Premium on February 13.
The video stars Swift and Gleeson as two shy people who bond with inanimate objects before finding each other and forming a new connection with the help of a magical spray called "Opalite." The story is set in the 1990s. Swift watches an infomercial promoting the potion, which is advertised and voiced by Murphy. The spray is said to provide companionship and turn "crappiness into happiness." The video shows Swift as a "lonely woman" attached to her Pet Rock, making friendship bracelets, performing karaoke, and going to bars with the unresponsive rock. Lee appears as an indie rock singer on MTV, while Turner-Smith plays an aerobics instructor. Gleeson is shown as a "lonely man" in an abusive relationship with his pet cactus, which hurts him repeatedly. He orders "Opalite" and sprays it on the cactus, while Swift sprays herself at the same time, causing her to appear in his house. Gleeson helps Swift, who is drenched in the potion, clean up in his bathtub.
Swift and Gleeson begin a relationship and go on dates, including a visit to a shopping mall where Capaldi's character photographs them. The couple runs into the cactus, which gives them the finger, and the rock, which wears a "Fuck you, forever" bracelet. Norton plays a salesman for "Nope-alite," a spray that reverses the effects of "Opalite." Norton tries to give Swift a free sample, but Gleeson stops him. The couple performs a choreographed dance at a competition, where judges, including Kameron Saunders, score them a zero, which does not bother Swift and Gleeson.
In the ending, the cactus and the rock get married after meeting through "Opalite." The end credits show clips from the Graham Norton Show episode that inspired the video.
Maya Georgi of Rolling Stone described the video as funny and "silly but sweet." Mehera Bonner of Cosmopolitan called it the "cutest romcom ever," while Mark Savage of BBC News called it "hilarious." Ben Beaumont-Thomas of The Guardian described it as a "whimsical, fantastical video" with a 1990s aesthetic. Alyssa Bailey of Elle compared "Opalite" to "The Fate of Ophelia," noting that the former focuses on "the search for love and connection—through a '90s lens," while the latter explores fame and female performers. Bailey also said the video's dance competition and mall trip depict "quintessential" romantic dates from the 1990s. Callie Ahlgrim of Business Insider listed visual and lyrical Easter eggs in the video, referencing Swift's other songs. Alim Kheraj of The Independent criticized the video as "another vehicle for Swiftian world-building" that leans into commercial self-mythology more than artistic expression.
In popular culture
After the release of the tracklist for The Life of a Showgirl, searches for the word "opalite" on Google increased. Following the song's release, it sparked a viral dance trend on social media, especially in the Philippines, where the track became popular on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Videos featuring the trend often included the Filipino language. Opal sales also rose, with Gina Vaynshteyn and Katie Ann Lehman of StyleCaster calling the attention "much deserved." In Latin America, social media users claimed the song "Opalite" used a sample from "Dos Enamorados," a popular song recorded by artists such as Mexican singer Luis Miguel.
Some TikTok users criticized Taylor Swift for using the lyric "Sleepless in the onyx night, but now the sky is opalite," saying it targeted Kelce's former girlfriend, American influencer Kayla Nicole. The song's second verse, "you were in it for real, she was in her phone, and you were just a pose," was also speculated by some to reference Nicole. After the album's release, a video resurfaced online showing Kelce asking Nicole to "get off the phone." Later, Nicole's social media posts were interpreted by media as comments directed at Kelce and Swift, though Nicole said they were inspired by her childhood friend named Taylor. After facing criticism from fans of Swift and Kelce, Nicole posted messages like "Protect black women. Respect black women." Swift's fans accused Nicole of being inconsistent, sharing old tweets of hers that included language described as racist, sexist, ableist, and homophobic. Nicole later deleted the tweets and deactivated her Twitter account.
A necklace inspired by "Opalite" became controversial after a TikTok video claimed it had "Nazi" and "white supremacist" symbolism. Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt noted that some online discussions were based on "bad-faith misreadings" of lyrics. In December 2025, media reported that the backlash was part of a coordinated effort to damage Swift's reputation. Research by the behavioral intelligence platform GUDEA found that a group of fake accounts spread false claims that Swift supported far-right politics, Nazism, and white supremacism through her lyrics and merchandise.
The song "Opalite" was used in a promotional video for NBC, which aired on February 17, 2026, to support the Team USA women's figure skating team (Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito) at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Swift narrated the video, calling the athletes "showgirls on ice." The Whitgift Centre, a shopping mall in Croydon that had fallen into disrepair, gained new attention after appearing in the "Opalite" music video. Fans visited the mall to take photos and videos. Georgia Bell of The Standard noted that the escalator shown in the video, where Swift and Gleeson walk hand-in-hand, became a local landmark. While some praised Swift for bringing attention to Croydon, others criticized media for describing the mall as "abandoned."
Credits
The following information is adapted from the liner notes of The Life of a Showgirl:
- Produced at MXM Studios and Shellback Studios in Stockholm
- Recorded at Shellback Studios in Stockholm
- Mixed at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach
- Mastered at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, New Jersey
- Taylor Swift – lead vocals, songwriting, production, claps
- Max Martin – production, songwriting, programming, keyboards, claps, recording
- Shellback – production, songwriting, programming, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, Omnichord, percussion, claps, recording
- Lasse Mårtén – recording, engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Bryce Bordone – assistant mixing
- Randy Merrill – mastering