October 26, 2025

Taylor Swift's Opalite - break down

1 hour 22 minutes

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Track32 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Opalite

I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett

In this episode we look at:

The chord progression
Chord tensions
Harmonic rhythm
Borrowed chord
Rhetorical device
Production
Direct modulation

To sign up with the virtual live master class "The Songwriting of Taylor Swift" with Scarlet Keys:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator

Joe Bennett:

To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

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Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community or become a supporter:

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Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "What if it All Goes Right: Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times" featured on NPR and the Wall Street Journal:

https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1