‘Opalite’ – Taylor Swift’s New Music Video is Full of Humor and Nostalgia
The song “Opalite,” from Taylor Swift’s album “Life as a Showgirl,” is a song about loneliness and finding hope while pushing your way through the storm. Swift released the music video for the song last week, and it demonstrates the wild creativity and bedazzlement that her music videos are known for. With guest stars and humorous eighties flair, the music video is not to be missed, even if you aren’t a Swiftie.
The “Opalite” Music Video
The music video begins with what appears to be 1980’s “as seen on TV” commercial, narrated by Cillian Murphy. The commercial stars Karen Chuang, who appears to be a miserable person who literally hangs out with a garbage can, but then Murphy introduces her to a spray called “Opalite.” Poof, one spray and your life is fixed, thanks to a “state of the art chemical potion.” This magical spray apparently works on anything!
Well, Taylor Swift is watching the commercial, and she doesn’t seem too convinced. As the song begins, we see that she is sitting next to a pet rock, and she looks incredibly lonely. She takes the rock to the playground, tries to play paper fortune teller with it, and even gives it a friendship bracelet, but of course, it’s still a rock (as Elmo from “Sesame Street” was quick to point out on “Access Hollywood” after some comments on X). When Swift takes her beloved rock to a bar, the audience can both laugh at the ridiculousness and feel for Swift’s loneliness.
The first verse of the song features cameos by Jodie Turner Smith and Greta Lee, and then for the second verse, we meet the video’s main celebrity guest: Domhnall Gleeson of “Star Wars” and “The Paper” fame. Gleeson is as lonely as Swift, and his companion is a cactus. Of course, trying to be friends with a cactus means that he is constantly getting pricked and cut, making for some hilarity as he covers himself in more and more bandages.
But lo and behold, Swift and Gleeson receive mysterious packages that contain the Opalite spray! One squirt and Swift appears in Gleeson’s home. After some awkwardness, Swift and Gleeson start playing paper fortune teller, and they hit it off. They go to a photography studio where the photographer is Lewis Capaldi, and he wants to be their friend. Despite Graham Norton trying to sell them “Nope-Alite” at a mall, Swift and Gleeson have a happy ending. Even the rock and the cactus end up getting married.
The “Opalite” Video is So Much Fun!
The video is packed full of humor and nostalgic goodness. People who remember paper fortune telling games, friendship bracelets, and one-hour photo studios should have a lot of fun basking in the good old days. The celebrities also seem to be having a ton of fun making the video. Gleeson and Swift even do a dance together at a dance competition, wearing sparkly blue jumpsuits and masks. Despite getting a zero in the competition, they’re happy just to be together. The video fills you with feel-good vibes.
However . . .
As much fun as the “Opalite” video is, there’s also an air of bittersweetness about it. Of course, in real life, there is no magical spray to fix loneliness. We have to go out ourselves and make an effort to meet people, which can be overwhelming at times. Still, the video lets you know how much fun it can be when you do click with someone and enjoy their company. It’s worth watching over and over for the little easter eggs and catchy beat. Taylor Swift has done it again.
