Opalite (song)

Last updated

"Opalite"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Life of a Showgirl
ReleasedOctober 3, 2025
Genre Pop rock
Length3:55
Label Republic
Songwriters
Producers
  • Taylor Swift
  • Max Martin
  • Shellback
Lyric video
"Opalite" on YouTube

"Opalite" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl (2025). It was written and produced by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback. [1] The song is described as a love song about NFL player Travis Kelce, who Swift has been in a relationship with since 2023. [2]

Contents

Background

According to Swift, the inspiration for the song came from her childhood love of opals and the need for creating your own happiness. [3] Another possible inspiration is back in 2023, when Swift and Kelce had started a relationship before Kelce engaged to Swift. [4] The song's title references an opalite, which is synthetic opal believed to symbolize hope, healing, and positive energy. [5] The title also references Kelce's birthstone, which is also opal. [1] Notably, prior to Swift and Kelce's engagement, Swift has never publicly been engaged. [6] 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", referencing her failed relationships, and "giving yourself permission to not have it all figured out or not marry the first person you ever dated". [7]

Composition

"Opalite" is a pop rock song [8] [9] with influences of rock and Eurodance. [10] The lyrics are mainly focused on Swift's current relationship with Kelce. The line "I had a bad habit of missing lovers past" represents her past relationships. Lyrics like "You couldn't understand it, why you felt alone" reference Kelce's previous relationships. [11] The song references a "sky of opalite" multiple times, with Swift describing happiness as able to be "man-made like an opalite". [7]

Reception

Reception to the song was mostly positive, with many critics considering the track an album highlight. The song is described as having instrumentation that "shimmer[s] like the gem it is named after". [12] Swift is described as "unafraid to fail", referencing her failed relationships, [13] and her vocals are praised as "perfectly capturing the tension between past heartbreak and... cautious optimism". [12] The song is mostly described as cheerful and hooky, with a more positive approach, especially compared to the previous two tracks on the album. [14] It has also been described as a "messy but beautiful" journey of "overcoming old instincts". [15] [16] While Swift has written many songs that describe abstract relationships, "Opalite" is noted as one of the first to describe a real one. [17] The ranking of "Opalite" among other songs in the album is usually high. It is ranked number one in For the Win, described as "fun and sweet", and Swift's joyful tone "oozes out of this track". [18]

References

  1. 1 2 "Did Taylor Swift Shade Travis Kelce's Ex Kayla Nicole in "Opalite" Lyrics? Breaking Down the Theory". E! Online. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ West, Bryan (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift turns Travis Kelce's birthstone into a bop with shimmering love song 'Opalite'". USA Today. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ Ukiomogbe, Juliana (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift's 'Opalite' Lyrics Are About Travis Kelce and 'Creating Your Own Happiness'". ELLE . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  4. ↑ Machlin, Tzvi (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift Appears To Make Decision On Having Family With Travis Kelce". The Spun. Retrieved October 5, 2025– via Yahoo Entertainment.
  5. ↑ "Beliefs and Superstitions Surrounding The Opal Gemstone - Opal Cutters". Australian Opal Cutters and Pearl Divers. September 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  6. ↑ Korpan, Andrew (August 26, 2025). "Has Taylor Swift ever been engaged before Travis Kelce?". ClutchPoints. Retrieved October 4, 2025– via Yahoo Entertainment.
  7. 1 2 Stutsman, Samantha (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift Explains 'Opalite' Lyrics in-Depth, Revealing Travis Kelce's Birthstone Connection". People . Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl: All 12 Tracks Ranked". Billboard . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  9. ↑ O'Connor, Roisin (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift Review, The Life of a Showgirl: As Compelling as She's Ever Been – the Star, The Ringmaster and the Circus All in One". The Independent . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ Hodgkinson, Will (October 3, 2025). "The Story Behind Every Song on Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl" . The Times . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  11. ↑ Stutsman, Samantha (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift's 'Opalite' Lyrics Explained: Breaking Down the Travis Kelce-Inspired Track". People . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Records, Burner (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift Opalite Lyrics Meaning Explained". Stay Free. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  13. ↑ Dodson, P. Claire (October 3, 2025). "The Life of a Showgirl Album Review: A Taylor Swift Who Is Unafraid to Fail". Teen Vogue . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  14. ↑ Fell, Nicole (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl': A Track-by-Track Breakdown". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  15. ↑ More, Durva (October 4, 2025). "Taylor Swift's "Opalite" glows with love, healing, and Travis Kelce connection". The Economic Times . ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  16. ↑ Wood, Mikael (October 2, 2025). "Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' is an immaculate act of damage control". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  17. ↑ Banks, Emma (October 3, 2025). "Breaking Down the Meaning of Every Song on Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' Album". InStyle. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  18. ↑ Darney, Caroline. "Ranking every Taylor Swift 'Showgirl' song from her new album". For The Win. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
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