TL;DR
- Taylor Swift releases a new song for ‘Toy Story 5’.
- She expresses gratitude for Randy Newman.
- The song reflects Jessie’s character arc.
- Swift shares her emotional connection to the story.
- The film hits theaters on June 19.
Hold onto your hats, folks! Music superstar Taylor Swift is back in the spotlight, and this time she’s diving into the enchanting world of Pixar’s Toy Story 5. Swift recently opened up about her heartfelt experience writing for the iconic franchise and her admiration for the legendary Randy Newman. If you thought she was just a pop princess, think again—she’s got the songwriting chops to prove it!
At the Los Angeles premiere of Toy Story 5 on June 9, Swift treated fans to a surprise duet of “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” with none other than Newman himself. In an exclusive interview with ABC, she gushed about her lifelong fandom for the Oscar-winning composer. “There’s country, pop, folk, rock, Randy Newman,” she said, praising his unique style. “He has his own signature syncopations… the chords that he would reach for are so different than what anybody else would think to go for.” Talk about a musical crush!
Swift’s new song, “I Knew It, I Knew You“, released on June 5, is a heartfelt tribute to the beloved character Jessie, the free-spirited cowgirl doll who’s been a fan favorite since her debut in 1999’s Toy Story 2. Swift revealed that Jessie’s journey resonated deeply with her, especially as she watched the character evolve over the years. “She goes through such an amazing story arc and such character development in this story,” Swift reflected, highlighting how Jessie’s experiences mirror her own.
But it’s not just about the music; it’s about the emotional connection. Swift shared a particularly poignant lyric from her song: “I watched you drive around the bend / for what I thought would be the last time I saw my friend.” She admitted that discussing this part of Jessie’s story brings tears to her eyes, but she’s thrilled to give the character a happy moment in the film.
As if that wasn’t enough, Swift revealed that her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff is also a massive fan of Newman’s work. The duo often reminisces about how Toy Story shaped their childhoods. With such a strong connection to the material, it’s no wonder Swift poured her heart into this project.
As the excitement builds for the film’s release on June 19, fans can catch the new special, “Toy Story: 30 Years and Beyond“, airing on June 12 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The previous Toy Story films are already available for streaming on Disney+. So grab your popcorn and get ready for a nostalgic trip down memory lane!
With her heartfelt tribute to Jessie and her collaboration with Newman, Taylor Swift is proving once again that she’s not just a pop star—she’s a storyteller at heart. And we can’t wait to see what magic she brings to the Toy Story universe!