Taylor Swift has brought the conversation back to her music, and fans are clearly here for it.
The singer unveiled the highly anticipated music video for Opalite this week, and online reactions suggest it’s already becoming one of the most talked about visuals of The life of a showgirl era.
The video, written and directed by Swift herself, arrived just before Super Bowl weekend and leans heavily on playful nostalgia.
Fan Reactions to Taylor Swift’s “Opalite” Music Video
Filled with a ’90s aesthetic, celebrity cameos, and self-aware humor, Opalite sparked a wave of reactions from fans praising both its creativity and light-hearted tone.
On Reddit’s popheads forum, one fan summed up the mood by writing: “It was HILARIOUS! I actually laughed while watching. It brought me a little joy today.”
Another added: “Dare I say this is probably his best video yet? »
Others were quick to point out the casting, with one comment saying: “I didn’t expect to see a cameo from Lewis Capaldi and Cillian Murphy. Plus the music video is a lot of fun and Taylor looks like she’s having fun in the music video.”
Much of the excitement centers around the fact that almost everyone in the video appeared alongside Swift during her October 2025 guest spot on The Graham Norton Show.
Swift later explained that the idea came to her during that appearance, calling the setting “one of my favorite shows.”
In an Instagram post, she wrote: “The idea of the Opalite music video crash came to my imagination while I was promoting The life of a showgirl.”
She then described how Domhnall Gleeson, joking about appearing in one of her videos, had sparked the concept.
“I remember thinking that I had gotten ridiculously lucky with the group I was matched with…I immediately had an idea,” Swift explained.
“And so a week later [Gleeson] received a script by email that I had written for the Opalite video, where he played the main role.
Fans clearly loved discovering the connection.
One Reddit user wrote: “I was speechless once I realized halfway through the video that everyone she included was in her interview with Graham Norton. Very fun 80s style adventures.”
Another commented specifically on Norton’s appearance, referencing the presenter’s on-screen moment by saying: “Graham Norton’s ending bit! Where he jokes ‘yeah I’m trying to be in Taylor’s next MV’ and she says.”
In the video, Swift plays a lonely character who befriends a pet, while Gleeson’s character forms an equally strange bond with a cactus.
A fictional “Opalite spray” brings the characters together by magically transforming objects into people.
Graham Norton appears as a salesman promoting a reverse serum called “Nope-alite”, while Jodie Turner-Smith plays a fitness instructor, Greta Lee appears as a fictional MTV singer-songwriter and Lewis Capaldi appears as a shopping mall photographer. Cillian Murphy does not act on screen but appears as a billboard image and provides voiceover.
Norton later shared his own excitement, posting online: “The thrill of a lifetime and the hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep!! Thank you thank you.”
On the Reddit forum “TaylorSwift,” fans echoed the same enthusiasm. One wrote: “She really knocked it out of the park with this video, well done! »
Another added: “This is my favorite of his MVs so far.”
Several comments focused on Swift’s style, with one fan admitting, “I didn’t recognize her with her brown hair at first,” while another praised the look, saying they loved how she leaned into her “desperate romantic awkwardness.”
Others highlighted the technical choices, with one fan noting: “I love this video, so funny! I also love the choice of aspect ratio which perfectly matches the old 90s TV.”
Another reaction read: “Absolutely not what I expected but I loved it. So much fun and I love the way it was shot.”
Taylor Swift on the music video “Opalite”
Swift herself seemed to enjoy the experience. Reflecting on the process, she wrote: “I had more fun than I ever imagined: I made new friends, new metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute pleasure creating this story and these characters.”
Opalite, which is about love and makes a fitting nod to opals, the birthstone of Swift’s fiancé Travis Kelce, had already reached number two on the UK charts before the video’s release and is expected to climb further.
For now, the video is available exclusively on Apple Music and Spotify Premium, with a wider release on YouTube planned for Sunday.
Judging by fan reactions so far, Swift’s return to playful storytelling has landed exactly where she needed it to, and viewers are more than happy to go along with them.
Lyrics to the song “Opalite” by Taylor Swift
[Verse 1]
I had a bad habit
Lovers gone from the past
My brother called him
“Eating out of the trash”
It will never last
I thought my house was haunted
I lived with ghosts
And all the perfect couples
He said: “When you know, you know”
And “When you don’t do it, you don’t do it”
[Pre-Chorus]
And all the enemies and all the friends (Ha, ha)
I’ve seen it before, they’ll see it again (Ha, ha)
Life is a song, it ends when it ends
I was wrong
[Chorus]
But my mom told me: “It’s okay
You danced under the lightning
Insomnia in the onyx night
But now the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, my Lord
I’ve never done anyone like you before
You had to create your own sun
But now the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh”
[Verse 2]
You couldn’t understand it
Why did you feel alone
You were there for real
She was in her phone
And you were just a pose
And aren’t we trying to love love? (Love, love)
We give everything we got (Give everything we got)
You finally left the table (Uh, uh)
And what a simple thought
You starve until you’re not
[Pre-Chorus]
And all the enemies and all the friends (Ha, ha)
They already made a mistake, they’re going to make another mistake (Ha, ha)
Life is a song, it ends when it ends
You move forward
[Chorus]
And that’s when I told you: “It’s okay
You danced under the lightning
Insomnia in the onyx night
But now the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, my Lord
I’ve never met anyone like you before
You had to create your own sun
But now the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh”
[Bridge]
It’s just
A storm in a teacup
But shelter here with me, my love
Thunder like a drum
This life will beat you up, up, up, up
It’s just
A temporary speed bump
But failure brings you freedom
And I can bring you love, love, love, love (Love)
[Chorus]
Don’t worry, baby, it’s okay
You danced under the lightning
Oh, I’m such an insomniac in the onyx night
But now the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, my Lord
I’ve never met anyone like you before (No)
You had to create your own sun
But now the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
