"Opalite" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl (2025). Written and produced by Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, "Opalite" is an upbeat pop rock, soft rock, and synth-pop song with a discogroove and a bouncy swing arrangement driven by bass and harmony. Titled after manmade opals, "Opalite" is a love song about Swift's content state of mind in a happy relationship. The lyrics use gemstone metaphors to visualize failed relationships as dark "onyx" nights, in contrast to happiness as a bright, opalescent sky.
Music critics generally praised the sound and uplifting message of "Opalite". Commercially, the track reached number one on the Philippines Hot 100 as well as number two on the Billboard Global 200 and the charts of Australia, Austria, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. It has been certified platinum in Australia and Canada. The song inspired a viral dance trend on social media and was subject of a controversy where some internet users alleged Swift of racial insensitivity.
Background and conception
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 Travis Kelce and his brother Jason.[1] "Opalite" was also announced that day as the third track on the album.[2]
Swift's childhood love of opals inspired the song's title. Opal is also Kelce's birthstone. An opalite, however, is an artificial opal—a synthetic opalescentglass, simulating various opal and moonstone gems. Swift took inspiration from these facts, employing opalite as a metaphor for the idea that happiness can be created voluntarily.[3][4] Opal is also believed to symbolically represent hope, healing, and positive energy.[5][4] Swift described the song as "a song about forgiving yourself for having gone through something that didn't pan out the way you wanted it to and giving yourself permission to not have it all figured out or not marry the first person you ever dated".[6] In his podcast New Heights, Kelce described it as his favorite song on the album.[7][8]
Lyrically, "Opalite" is a love song about Swift's romance with Kelce.[8][27] The lyrics are mainly focused on their relationship, and includes references to former relationships of both Swift and Kelce.[28] In the first verse, she describes her past dating life, her habit of reminiscing on her ex-lovers, and her brother's advice. It is followed by a refrain that are words of comfort from her mother, Andrea.[29] Swift reflects on Kelce's dating life in the second verse.[29] In the refrain, Swift carries on her lyrical tradition of associating colors with emotions.[30] She describes sadness and sorrow as "onyx night"—onyxes being a generally black and white group of gemstones, and equates happiness with an "opalite" sky—an iridiscent pastel blue shade; this contrast evokes a symbolic transition of healing, as in dark clouds giving way to sunny skies.[4][27] The bridge offers words of encouragement, describing loss and failure as steps towards freedom.[31]People's Samantha Stutsman described the song as "a celebration of growth, self-forgiveness and the messy, beautiful journey of love."[6] According to Collider's Isabella Soares, it "is a love song about surpassing romantic hardships alongside a person that brings you joy and stability."[30] Deborah Cruz of Parade considered the song to be a reference to the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite.[32]
Critical reception
Critical reception of "Opalite" was generally positive, with emphasis on its uplifting and optimistic message. Its shimmering and "glossy" production drew plaudits.[6][8]USA Today's Bryan West described the melody as being "as addictive as a narcotic".[8]Variety's Chris Willman called the refrain "a sheer pheromone rush".[33] According to Lauren Hague of Clash, "Opalite" is "destined to be a radio 'pop song of the summer' style hit", boasting an "infectious" hook and a "delightful" bridge that showcases Swift's upper register vocals.[17] Similarly, Kristen S. Hé of NME called the song a sweet, "obvious radio single".[26] Soares described it as a catchy, bubbly, danceable track.[30] According to Alan Light from Esquire, "Opalite" is a "straight-up bop, dizzy in love".[20]
BBC's Mark Savage praised the song's "breezy" composition, describing them as "unfurling like a blossoming romance".[19] Maria Sherman of the Associated Press admired the swooning, "addictive and idiosyncratic Swiftisms" the song offers, claiming "Opalite" would not work for any other artist. She noted that the song has an "almost iridiscent" sonic quality,[18] while Anna Gaca of Pitchfork thought the song is theatrical in sound.[22]
Many regarded the song an album highlight. The Los Angeles Times critic Mikael Wood liked its "gorgeous", laid-back sound.[12] Durva More of The Economic Times called "Opalite" a stand-out for its themes of emotional growth and self-forgiveness, and for a display of Swift's hopeful side.[29] Caroline Darney of For the Win placed it number-one on their ranking of the songs of The Life of a Showgirl, praising its joyous and "sweet" atmosphere.[34] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard ranked it 8th in his list, describing it as a "slick, shimmying" track with a lively, singable refrain.[9]Prestige Hong Kong critic Bushra Jung also ranked it 8th, calling it an "infectiously, contagiously happy" song with an explosive, thumping refrain.[35]Harper's Bazaar editors ranked it 6th best from the album.[36] Willman considered "Opalite" as a surprising change of pace within in the album.[33] Gaca picked "Opalite" as one of the album's best songs, describing it as "a better-days-ahead anthem".[22]
There were some lukewarm comments. Carl Wilson of Slate named the song a near perfect "classic Max Martin banger", but preferred its refrains and bridge over the "dull" verses.[37] Wren Graves of Consequence quipped "Opalite" has a "fine but forgettable" refrain.[38] Soares of Collider placed the song 9th in her ranking of the album's 12 songs, finding its lyricism sub-par for Swift's songwriting acumen.[30]
Commercial performance
"Opalite" topped the BillboardPhilippines Hot 100 chart as the second song from The Life of a Showgirl to reach number-one on the chart, followed by the lead single "The Fate of Ophelia".[39] "Opalite" reached the top-ten region in several countries across the globe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, Switzerland, Malaysia, Norway, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Singapore. It landed in the top-twenty in Belgium, the Middle East, Spain, Taiwan, France, and Brazil.[40] In the United States, the track debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[41] and has reached number 20 on the Pop Airplay chart.[42]
Impact and controversy
Upon release, Google searches for the word "opalite" increased,[43] and the song inspired a viral dance trend on social media, especially in the Philippines, where the track was viral on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram,[39][44] and those viral videos integrated the Filipino language.[44] A surge in opal sales was reported, with Gina Vaynshteyn and Katie Ann Lehman of StyleCaster describing it as a "much deserved hype".[45] In Latin America, social media users alleged that "Opalite" sampled "Dos Enamorados", a popular song recorded by several artists, including the Mexican singer Luis Miguel. Subsequently, Miguel's catalog experienced a resurgence on digital music platforms.[46]
Some TikTok users accused Swift of racial insensitivity with the lyric "Sleepless in the onyx night, but now the sky is opalite", dubbing it an attack on Kelce's former girlfriend, the American social media influencer Kayla Nicole. A merchandise necklace, inspired by "Opalite", was pulled from Swift's official webstore, likely because of a viral TikTok video accusing it of containing "Nazi" and "white supremacist" symbolism.[47][48] The song's second verse features the lyric "you were in it for real, she was in her phone, and you were just a pose", also speculated by some listeners and critics to be about Nicole.[49]Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt said that some of the online discourse was "downright ludicrous, rooted in bad-faith misreadings of lyrics by listeners".[50]
After facing backlash from fans of Swift and Kelce, Nicole made cryptic tweets such as "Protect black women. Respect black women." Swift's fans accused Nicole of hypocrisy, resurfacing her old tweets containing language widely described as racist, sexist, ableist, and homophobic.[51][52] Nicole deleted the controversial tweets before fully deactivating her Twitter account.[53]
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Life of a Showgirl[16]
Studios
Produced at MXM Studios and Shellback Studios, Stockholm
↑"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
↑"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.