Taylor Swift has penned and recorded an original song, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” for the upcoming Pixar film, Toy Story 5, set for release on June 5th. This track draws inspiration from the character Jessie, the spirited cowgirl voiced by Joan Cusack throughout the beloved franchise. “I Knew It, I Knew You” marks Swift’s first original song written and released within the country genre since her official transition to pop in 2014, a decade ago.
Taylor Swift Discusses Her New Song
Swift revealed the news across her social media channels, playfully referencing her 2008 hit “Love Story” with a dad joke: “It’s a Toy Story.” She announced, “You knew it! My new original song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ for Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 will be yours on June 5th.”
She added, “I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a 5-year-old kid watching the first Toy Story movie. I fell instantly in love with Toy Story 5 when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages, and I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?”
Director Andrew Stanton shared his thoughts on the track in a public statement: “Her connection to Jessie and the immediate way she understood what the character was going through was undeniable. The song is so deeply connected to Toy Story. So much so that on first listen, it instantly felt like it had always belonged there, like a long-lost family member. It was kismet.”
The Significance of a Country Return
According to Disney’s official press release, the song is inspired by Jessie’s narrative as a “rootin’ tootin’ cowgirl.” The track also signifies a reunion between Swift and her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, who did not contribute to her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Released in 2025, “The Life of a Showgirl” became her 15th number one album on the Billboard 200 and set a record as the fastest-selling album in US history, with over four million units sold in its debut week.
Swift’s last substantial engagement with country music occurred prior to her pop crossover; she formally moved away from the genre around the release of “1989” in 2014. Consequently, “I Knew It, I Knew You” represents her most direct return to the musical style that launched her career in over a decade.
Confirmation of Taylor Swift’s Involvement
The path to the official announcement included a 48-hour countdown on Swift’s website starting April 30th, featuring imagery of blue skies and animated clouds reminiscent of Toy Story. Initially, Director Andrew Stanton and several producers denied Swift’s involvement in interviews, with Stanton stating that the end-credit song in their latest cut was not hers.
On May 29th, a billboard with a Toy Story theme appeared, displaying only the initials “TS” and featuring exactly 13 clouds, a number significant to Swift. Over the subsequent weekend, Disney and Swift strategically released a series of “Easter eggs,” including the addition of clouds to her “1989” album cover on streaming platforms and the capitalization of the letters ‘T’ and ‘S’ in the lyrics of all of Swift’s “Track 5” songs. The official confirmation was made on June 1st.
Accessing the New Song
Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” will be available on June 5th. Collector’s edition CDs, featuring piano and acoustic renditions with new vocals, are currently available for pre-order through Swift’s official online store. Toy Story 5 is scheduled to premiere in cinemas on June 19th.
Business Style Takeaway: Taylor Swift’s return to her country roots for a major Disney franchise demonstrates a strategic diversification of her artistic output, potentially broadening her appeal across demographic segments. This collaboration highlights the symbiotic relationship between established entertainment brands and A-list artists, leveraging nostalgia and star power to drive engagement for both music and film releases.
Source: : www.forbes.com