Taylor Swift Announces New Toy Story 5 Song I Knew It I Knew You

Taylor Swift has officially announced that she has written and performed an original song titled "I Knew It, I Knew You" for the upcoming Pixar film Toy Story 5 [1]. The track, which is set for release on June 5, was confirmed by the singer on Instagram following weeks of intense fan speculation and a series of coordinated promotional teases [1, 2].

Key takeaways

• The new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" is co-written and co-produced by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff [2].
• Disney describes the track as a return to country music for Swift, specifically inspired by the Toy Story character Jessie [2].
• Toy Story 5 is scheduled to premiere in theaters on June 19 [1].
• Bad Bunny is also confirmed to appear in the film, voicing a character named Pizza with Sunglasses [1].

From viral fan theories to official confirmation

The announcement followed a period of elaborate digital breadcrumbs that led fans to believe Swift was involved with the project. In late May, billboards featuring the letters "TS" and cartoon clouds appeared in multiple cities, while Swift’s website hosted a countdown clock that featured imagery of a ranch house and the character Jessie [1, 2]. These clues were bolstered by social media activity from Disney, which used lyrics from Swift’s catalog to caption images of the film's characters [2].

Despite the buildup, the film's production team initially offered conflicting information. In an interview published prior to the official announcement, director Andrew Stanton stated that the song playing during the film's final mix was not by Swift [1, 2]. However, following the reveal, Stanton clarified his stance, noting that Swift’s song is deeply connected to the film and that her understanding of Jessie’s emotional journey was "undeniable" [2]. The song is now available for pre-order as a collector's edition CD, with additional acoustic and piano versions included [1, 2].

Why it matters

The inclusion of "I Knew It, I Knew You" marks a significant musical moment for the Toy Story franchise, which has a history of featuring impactful songs, such as Sarah McLachlan’s "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2 [2]. For Swift, the project represents a return to her country roots, aligning with the narrative of Jessie, who faces themes of abandonment and memory in the new film [2]. While the song release on June 5 will allow for two weeks of streaming before the movie premieres, the physical CD singles will not ship until June 19, the same day the film hits theaters [2]. As the gala premiere approaches, it remains unclear if Swift has contributed any additional music to the film beyond this single track [2].