Taylor Swift Goes Makeup-Free in Behind-the-Scenes Video for “Opalite”

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Taylor Swift is revealing how she made her own sunshine. 

Ever since the “Opalite” music video came out on February 6th, the artist behind Life of a Showgirl has been sharing details about how the amazing collaboration—starring Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Graham Norton, Jodie Turner Smith, Cillian Murphy, and Lewis Capaldi—was made.

Taylor recently shared a behind-the-scenes look on Instagram, showing herself in the studio with producer Shellback (Karl Johan Schuster). They were adding final touches and sound effects to a song – the same magical elements featured in the Opalite product’s video.

In subsequent studio footage, Shellback demonstrates the song’s rhythm by clapping, Taylor records a line from the chorus, and they celebrate their progress with a toast, all while a cute dog watches.

In a behind-the-scenes moment, Taylor Swift shared her feelings about her outfit for the music video – a look inspired by the 1980s with mom jeans, a denim vest, and a striped shirt. She jokingly told the camera, “I’ve never felt more like myself – this is who I was always supposed to be!”

Taylor Swift is sharing new videos to celebrate her song “Opalite” reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another song from her album, Life of a Showgirl, called “Fate of Ophelia,” is also doing well, currently at number eight.

Taylor expressed her overwhelming excitement and gratitude for the support her song and video have received. She shared that this is the first time she’s had two songs reach number one on the Hot 100 chart from a single album since her 2014 album, 1989 – a gap of almost twelve years!

She shared her gratitude, saying she knows it’s a lot to take in, but she’s incredibly thankful to her fans for embracing the song. She’s really excited and wanted to express her thanks – she might even celebrate with a giant pretzel at the mall, for those who understand!

In the “Opalite” music video, she and Domhnall sweetly celebrate their new relationship with a simple treat: mall pretzels.

The Grammy-winning artist recently shared that she was struck with the idea to feature her fellow guests from The Graham Norton Show in the “Opalite” music video during a spontaneous moment on camera. However, it still took her a while to fully develop the concept for the video, especially because the song is a favorite of her fiancé, Travis Kelce.

Taylor shared that she spent about a year brainstorming ideas for the ‘Opalite’ music video. She realized the name ‘Opalite’ sounded like a product advertisement, especially since the video also features another product. This led her to consider making ‘Opalite’ a magical product within the video itself, as if it were a real item being advertised.

She explained that “Nope-Alite” is for those who actively prefer to remain unchanged, while “Opalite” is for people who want to choose a path that supports their well-being.

To discover more hidden references and Easter eggs Taylor Swift included throughout her Life of a Showgirl album, keep reading.

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 true love hadn’t rescued her.

“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 joining 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.”

Okay, so before Travis, things hadn’t quite worked out with Matty Healy. I remember back in July 2023, Taylor was really embracing her independence and calling herself one of the ‘independent girlies’ – she was clearly focused on herself after that split.

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

Taylor’s fiancé is now participating in her tradition of hiding clues, or “Easter eggs,” for fans. Back in July, he hinted at lyrics from her song “The Fate of Ophelia” on Instagram, captioning photos of them together with a playful message about their summer activities and staying true to themselves.

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 perfectly.

In the second song on the album, Taylor pays tribute to the iconic Elizabeth Taylor, referencing some of her beloved haunts like the Plaza Athénée in Paris and Musso & Frank’s in Los Angeles.

Taylor’s lyrics also connect her to Elizabeth Taylor, the famous actress. Similar to how Taylor experiences media attention now, Elizabeth was constantly in the news, whether it was about her relationships or 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 previously said was his favorite from the Showgirl soundtrack, Taylor Swift alludes to the story of their relationship.

Taylor Swift has experienced a lot of heartbreak in the past, but her relationship with Travis Kelce feels peaceful and serene, like a calm, shimmering sky.

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

You know, I’ve been asked about the gemstone a lot, and I love what inspired its creation. To me, it’s a beautiful idea that just like a lab-created opal, happiness isn’t something you find, it’s something you can create yourself. It’s a reminder that we have the power to build our own joy.

But some fans believe Taylor subtly referenced Travis Kelce’s former girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, in her song. They think the lyrics suggest Kelce once felt used as a social media accessory.

She sings, as if addressing him, about a disconnect: ‘You couldn’t grasp why you felt so isolated. You were truly invested, while she was lost in her phone.’

You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships lately, and this song really hits home. It’s about realizing someone wasn’t genuine – just a performance, a ‘pose,’ if you will. We pour everything into trying to make love work, giving it our absolute all. But then, eventually, they walk away. It’s a surprisingly simple realization, isn’t it? Like, you’re desperately seeking connection, ‘starving’ for it, and then suddenly, you’re not. It’s a really poignant observation about how quickly things can change and how we often chase something that wasn’t real to begin with.

Taylor, Max Martin, and Shellback are officially listed as the writers of “Showgirl.” However, the late George Michael is also credited on the song “Father Figure” because it samples a portion of 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 moment.

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 originally sold Taylor Swift’s master 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 structures work, and how those dynamics can be reversed.

She’s also particularly proud of a risqué line referencing a deal with the devil, which includes the boast, ‘my anatomy is larger.’

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

In her song “Eldest Daughter,” Taylor Swift reflects on the ups and downs of life while emphasizing her unwavering commitment to her family, who include her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, and her brother, Austin Swift.

The song emphasizes loyalty and strength, stating, ‘I’m not someone who causes trouble, and this isn’t about being ruthless. I’ll always be there for you, I’ll never abandon you.’ It acknowledges the presence of disloyal people, but reaffirms a commitment to keeping a promise and remaining steadfast.

The sixth track on the album Showgirl describes a bittersweet memory of a missed romantic opportunity. The song evokes a feeling of nostalgia, recalling a prom night scene: “Have fun, it’s prom / A faded corsage hangs from my wrist / I glanced over his shoulder / And saw… you looking at me / It wasn’t an obvious sign, / But as the 50 Cent song played, / I should have kissed you anyway.”

Taylor Swift references her close friend Abigail Anderson – who inspired the song “Fifteen” – in the poignant lyrics about loss: “When I left school, I lost track of you / Abigail called me with the bad news / Goodbye, and we’ll never know why.”

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the story behind this really moving song, and it seems many believe it’s a tribute to Taylor’s friend, Jeff Lang. He sadly passed away back in 2010, and fans have long speculated he was also the inspiration behind her earlier song, ‘Forever Winter.’ It’s a beautiful, albeit heartbreaking, connection to see her honoring his memory through her music.

In the song, released in 2021 as part of the Red album’s vault tracks, she sings about not realizing someone was struggling and how much their absence would affect her. She expresses feeling lost without them, saying she’d be devastated, and admits she was too young to understand things would improve. She promises to be a constant source of happiness, but fears an endless sadness if they leave.

The song “Actually Romantic” isn’t really a love song. Instead, it’s a reaction to someone who, the lyrics suggest, talks about Taylor Swift quite a bit.

Taylor sings about a confusing situation: she happily greeted her ex, and then you admitted you were relieved when he stopped contacting her. He even wrote a song about how much he dislikes her, which she finds strangely endearing, though she acknowledges some people might find it offensive.

Taylor Swift doesn’t usually say who her songs are about, but many fans think a recent one was inspired by Charli XCX. Charli opened for Taylor on the Reputation Tour and is also friends with Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Matty, and his partner, Gabbriette Bechtel.

After Charli released her album brat in June 2024—Charli is married to George Daniel, who plays in the band The 1975—some people thought her song “Sympathy is a Knife” was a dig at Taylor Swift. But two months later, Taylor seemed to dismiss those rumors by publicly complimenting Charli’s work.

Taylor shared with New York magazine on August 26th that she’s been impressed with Charli’s musical talent ever since hearing ‘Stay Away’ back in 2011. She praised Charli’s songwriting as both unique and imaginative, noting that she consistently takes songs in unexpected directions. Taylor expressed her admiration for Charli’s dedication and consistent hard work over the past decade, and how rewarding it is to see that effort recognized.

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

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 and honest reflection of her current life, and felt it confirmed they had finished everything they needed to do.

Taylor says hoping for love by wishing on stars never worked for her in the past. But now that she’s with Travis, she feels confident and doesn’t feel the need to rely on luck at all.

She sings that she doesn’t need to catch the wedding bouquet to realize a difficult time is coming.

She was correct: Taylor and Travis got engaged in August 2025, after dating for two years.

The song features suggestive lyrics and also references New Heights, the show Taylor Swift says brought her and Travis Kelce together.

In the tenth song, Taylor supports someone who’s facing public backlash, because she understands what it’s like to be in that situation herself.

She warned, “Let’s leave now, because people will panic when they see us.” She then added, almost to herself, “It’s actually good my friends bailed – I prefer them mysterious and a little bit rebellious.”

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

The singer explained her understanding comes from personal experience with public struggles, possibly referencing the highly publicized conflict between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2016.

After going through a lot of public scrutiny and being involved in several high-profile, controversial situations throughout my career—times when it felt like everyone had an 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 learn valuable lessons along the way.

Ultimately, ‘Cancelled!’ is about my refusal to simply abandon someone because others disapprove of them. I form my own opinions based on how people treat me and their behavior, not on what others think.

As delightful as the name suggests, honey is a central theme in the eleventh song. Taylor explains that Travis has completely changed the meaning of words like ‘honey’ and ‘sweetheart’ for her. Now, instead of those words bringing up painful memories, she associates them with him.

Taylor sings about feeling uplifted and joyful when someone calls her ‘honey.’ She describes a perfect summer scene – bright pink skies and a refreshing drink – and playfully suggests she’s the person her lover desires.

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 look into the life of a showgirl, revealing the less glamorous side of the profession. An experienced performer shares a hard truth with a newcomer: even in a world that seems dazzling, there’s always a cost.

The song’s words tell a story of longing – a woman wishes she could experience a truly amazing life, one that’s all her own. But the lyrics point out that’s not the reality for showgirls, who are 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 our show! We love you all, goodnight!”

The song is about meeting someone you really admire, but instead of being encouraging, 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, as she explained to Magic radio.

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2026-02-24 18:19