Taylor Swift Debuts Dark Brunette Hair Transformation in Music Video

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Taylor Swift certainly had a wig$ li$t.

The music video for Paloma Faith’s new single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” which is the first track from her twelfth studio album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, showcased eight different hairstyles on the 35-year-old singer.

She surprised fans with a dramatic hair change, ditching her usual blonde for a rich, dark brown shoulder-length style. In a behind-the-scenes photo, she’s wearing a unique dress constructed from ropes that appear to climb up into the ceiling.

While singing the bridge of her song—seemingly about her fiancé, Travis Kelce—Taylor is lifted into the air and out of view using ropes. The lyrics, “Only you possess the key / No longer drowning and deceived / All because you came for me,” play as she ascends.

Earlier in the video, the singer of “Opalite” wore a lighter brown hairstyle while dancing. She was wearing a dark, chainmail-like dress, and her backup dancers were dressed the same way.

The song, inspired by Ophelia from Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*—a character known for her tragic story—also features hairstyles like a platinum blonde pinup wig and curly red hair similar to the style of pop artist Chappell Roan.

Taylor Swift is known for hiding little surprises in her work, and her latest music video is no exception. About halfway through, a director’s clapperboard briefly appears with fun messages like “Sequins are forever,” a shout-out to “Kitty Finlay,” and “Take 100.”

One detail references the lyrics from the chorus of the album’s main song, “The Life of a Showgirl,” a duet featuring Sabrina Carpenter. In the music video, Taylor’s character, a showgirl, is named Kitty Finlay. This name seems to be a tribute to Taylor’s mother, Andrea Swift (whose maiden name was Finlay), and also honors Taylor’s grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who was a professional opera singer.

The mention of it being the ‘100th take’ might be a nod to a lyric from the song ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ which includes the phrase ‘Keep it 100.’ This also connects to Travis Kelce’s jersey number (87) and Taylor Swift’s lucky number (13), as 87 + 13 equals 100.

Read on for a full decoding of The Life of a Showgirl. 

The first song on Taylor Swift’s album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, alludes to Ophelia, a character from William Shakespeare’s play *Hamlet*, and her unfortunate story.

The song suggests Taylor could have been overwhelmed by sadness if her partner hadn’t helped her through it.

“I heard you calling / On the megaphone,” Taylor sings. “You wanna see me all alone.”

The song seems to reference Travis Kelce playfully teasing Taylor Swift on his podcast, *New Heights*, about not connecting with him after her Eras Tour concerts – a moment that sparked their relationship.

“I swore loyalty to me, myself and I,” the lyrics continue. “Right before you lit my sky up.”

Before she met Travis, Taylor had recently ended things with Matty Healy and had publicly described herself as independent in July 2023.

But after Travis went to her concert in Kansas City that same month, sparks began to fly.

Taylor’s fiancé is now part of her tradition of hiding clues, having hinted at lyrics from her song “The Fate of Ophelia” on Instagram last July. He shared photos with Taylor and joked about their summer activities, saying they “Kept it [100]” – meaning they were authentic and having fun.

So, how does this relate to Taylor Swift’s song? The lyrics say, “You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it one hundred,” which captures the feeling.

Oh my god, you guys, did you *hear* the second track? It’s like, a total tribute to the *original* Elizabeth Taylor! She mentions all of Liz’s favorite places – can you believe it? Paris’ Plaza Athénée, and Musso & Frank’s in LA! It’s like Taylor totally *gets* how iconic she was and is paying the perfect homage. I’m obsessed!

Taylor’s lyrics also compare her to Elizabeth Taylor. Just like Taylor herself, Elizabeth was frequently in the news for everything – from her romantic relationships to her glamorous style.

But, as Taylor notes in her song, “Oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me.”

In the cheerful song “Opalite,” which Travis Kelce has said is his favorite from Taylor Swift’s *Showgirl* era, Taylor sings about their relationship.

I’ve watched Taylor go through so much heartbreak, so many painful relationships. But honestly, things feel different now with Travis. It’s like after all the storms, her world has finally found a peaceful, shimmering calm – a beautiful, gentle opal glow.

She shared on Capital radio that she’d written down ‘opalite’ after discovering it’s a lab-created opal. Since Travis’s birthstone is opal, she’d always been drawn to the stone and remembered it fondly.

She explained the meaning of the fake gemstone, saying, “I saw it as a nice symbol – just like the opal is created by people, so can happiness be.”

But some fans believe Taylor subtly referenced Travis Kelce’s ex, Kayla Nicole, in her song. They think the lyrics suggest Kelce felt like he was just an accessory in photos on her social media.

She sings, as if addressing him, about a disconnect: “You didn’t get it, you couldn’t understand why I felt so lonely. You were truly present, while she was lost in her phone.”

The lyrics continue, describing someone who was merely pretending to be in love. It questions our efforts to truly love and give everything we have to it. Then, the song notes their departure, followed by a realization: people feel desperate until they no longer do.

Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback are officially listed as the songwriters for the song *Showgirl*. However, the late George Michael is also credited on the track “Father Figure” because it samples his 1987 song with the same title.

Taylor Swift’s team showed their support by posting on Instagram on October 2nd, thanking her for including George in a memorable experience.

Many fans believe the first part of the song is told from the point of view of Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records, who sold Taylor Swift’s original recordings to Scooter Braun. They think the song then shifts to Taylor’s perspective as she works to regain ownership of her music.

Taylor herself admitted that the song was “written in character.”

She mentioned on BBC Radio 1 that writing the piece was enjoyable. She explained it explores the concept of a father figure in a new way, using it to discuss power, how power is organized, and shifts in who holds it.

She’s particularly pleased with a risqué line in her work where she boasts about having a larger… endowment, framing it as a bargaining chip when ‘making deals with the devil’.

We’re now at track five on Taylor Swift’s *Showgirl*, and this is usually where she places her most emotionally devastating songs on an album.

In her song “Eldest Daughter,” Taylor Swift reflects on the ups and downs of life, emphasizing her unwavering loyalty to her family. Her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, welcomed her before later having her brother, Austin.

The song emphasizes loyalty and strength, stating, ‘I’m not someone who causes trouble, and this isn’t about being overly aggressive. I’ll always be there for you and won’t abandon you.’ It acknowledges the presence of disloyal people, but reaffirms a promise to remain steadfast and true.

The sixth track on the album *Showgirl* describes the wistful feeling of a missed romantic opportunity. The song evokes a sense of longing and regret, with lyrics like, “Have fun, it’s prom / Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist / Over his shoulder I catch a glimpse / And see…You looking at me / And it was not an invitation / But as the 50 Cent song played / Should’ve kissed you anyway.”

Taylor Swift references her close friend, Abigail Anderson – who inspired the song “Fifteen” – in a poignant lyric about loss. She sings about losing touch after school and receiving news from Abigail that marked a goodbye, leaving the reason unknown.

Many fans believe the heartbreaking song is about Taylor Swift’s late friend, Jeff Lang, who passed away in 2010. He’s also thought to be the inspiration behind her earlier song, “Forever Winter.”

In the 2021 released song, she sings about not realizing someone was struggling and how much it would affect her if they weren’t there. She reflects on being too young to understand things improve, promising to be a constant source of happiness (‘summer sun’) but fearing a perpetual sadness (‘forever winter’) if that person leaves.

Despite its title, ‘Actually Romantic’ isn’t really a love song. It’s more of a reaction to someone who, the lyrics suggest, talks about Taylor Swift quite a bit.

Taylor sings about a confusing situation: first, she casually greeted her ex with a high-five, and then you expressed relief that he had suddenly stopped contacting her. She also mentions a song you wrote about how seeing her bothers you, acknowledging it could be hurtful to some, but she finds it strangely endearing.

Taylor Swift usually keeps the inspiration behind her songs private, but many fans think this one was about Charli XCX. Charli opened for Taylor on the Reputation Tour and is also friends with Taylor’s former boyfriend, Matty, and his partner, Gabbriette Bechtel.

After Charli released her album *brat* in June 2024—Charli is married to George Daniel, a member of the band The 1975—some people thought her song “Sympathy is a Knife” was a diss track aimed at Taylor Swift. But two months later, Taylor publicly praised Charli’s work, seemingly ending the speculation.

Taylor shared that she’s been impressed with Charli’s musical talent ever since hearing ‘Stay Away’ back in 2011. In an interview with *New York* magazine on August 26th, Taylor praised Charli’s songwriting as unique and imaginative, noting that she consistently takes songs in unexpected directions. Taylor expressed admiration for Charli’s dedication and success after years of hard work.

Fans are speculating about another possible connection to Charli XCX. Taylor Swift’s Spotify cover art features an apple, which is the title of Charli’s hit song from 2024.

TopMob News has reached out to reps for comment on the speculation and has not heard back.

On the very top of Taylor’s wish list? A forever with Travis. That includes starting a family.

“I just want you,” she sings. “Have a couple kids / Got the whole block looking like you.”

The artist even admitted it’s one of her favorite tracks on the album. 

She explained to Magic radio that recording that particular song signaled the end of the album process. She described it as a deeply emotional track that honestly reflected her current life situation, leading her to feel the project was complete.

Taylor says wishing on stars didn’t help her find love in the past. But now that she’s with Travis, she feels so secure she doesn’t even need to rely on luck.

Honestly, as a huge fan, that line always gets me. She’s basically saying she doesn’t need a silly tradition like catching the bouquet to *know* tough times are coming – she just has a feeling, a sense of what’s ahead. It’s so relatable and powerful!

Oh my gosh, I *knew* it all along! She was totally right – Taylor and Travis finally announced they’re getting married in August 2025! Two whole years of them together, and it’s all leading up to this! I’m seriously screaming!

The song features suggestive lyrics and also references *New Heights*, the podcast Taylor says brought her and Travis together.

Okay, so track 10 really hits home for me. It feels like Taylor’s writing about someone who’s gone through a really tough time with public backlash – you know, been ‘canceled’ – and she’s offering them support because she’s *been* there herself. It’s like she understands exactly what they’re going through and wants to help them navigate it, which is so incredibly powerful and relatable.

“Let’s go,” she said, “people will scatter when they see us.” She added with a playful tone, “It’s probably a good thing my friends bailed – I prefer them mysterious, dressed in Gucci, and a little bit scandalous.”

People have guessed the song might be about Taylor Swift’s friendships with Brittany Mahomes or Blake Lively, which have sometimes been criticized.

The singer explained this stems from her ability to understand others, drawing from her own experience with public struggles – likely referencing the highly publicized conflict between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2016.

After going through public scrutiny and being involved in a lot of high-profile, controversial situations throughout my career – times when it felt like everyone was sharing their opinion – it’s changed how I navigate life now, she explained to Amazon Music.

Taylor added that seeing others face challenges often makes you realize they’ll likely grow from the experience. If they can persevere, they’ll become stronger and wiser as a result.

Ultimately, “Cancelled!” is about my belief in forming my own opinions about people. I don’t simply dismiss someone because others disapprove of them; I base my judgment on how they treat me and their behavior.

As pleasant as the name suggests, honey truly is sweet. In the eleventh song on the album, Taylor explains that Travis has given new meaning to words like ‘honey’ and ‘sweetheart.’ Previously, these terms might have brought up negative memories, but now she associates them with him.

Taylor sings about feeling uplifted and joyful whenever she’s addressed affectionately. She describes a perfect summer scene – sunshine, rosy skies – and playfully suggests she’s the person her lover desires, making the term of endearment, ‘honey,’ even sweeter.

In fact, Travis did call Taylor “sweetie” during her debut appearance on New Heights in August.

For her final act, Taylor teamed up with friend Sabrina Carpenter.

The song “Elizabeth Taylor” offers a peek into the life of a showgirl, revealing that even though the job appears glamorous, it comes with sacrifices. An experienced performer shares this reality with a rising star.

The song’s words tell a story of longing: a woman wishes she could trade anything, even her soul, for a truly fulfilling life of her own. But the lyrics point out that’s not the reality for showgirls – they’re often used and then discarded.

Finally, after experiencing what it’s like to be a showgirl, the performers come together for a closing bow, cheerfully saying, “That’s all folks! We love you and goodnight!”

The song is about encountering someone you really admire, but instead of offering encouragement, they actually advise you *not* to pursue the same path, simply because they want to be truthful about the difficulties of the entertainment industry. Despite the warning, the song’s narrator still decides to follow their dream anyway, she explained to Magic radio.

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2025-10-06 02:18