Taylor Swift confirms original song for Toy Story 5: ‘You knew it!’
By Lauren Del Fabbro, Press Association Entertainment Reporter
Taylor Swift has confirmed she wrote an original song for the upcoming film Toy Story 5.
The American popstar, 36, said she always “dreamed” of writing for the beloved Disney and Pixar film animation which she has “adored” since she was five when the first film came out.
She revealed on Monday that her new original song, I Knew It, I Knew You, will be out on June 5th and feature on the official Toy Story 5 soundtrack when the film releases on June 19th.
Swift told her 273 million followers that they were right after fans began speculating that she would feature on the soundtrack following a number of teasers from Pixar and Swift’s team.
Among the evidence that sparked the rumours was a series of “TS” billboards — a play on Toy Story and Swift’s shared initials – appearing in various cities including London, Mexico City and Los Angeles, along with social media posts and mysterious countdowns hinting at the collab.
Referencing her hit song Love Story, Swift shared a post on Instagram on Monday and said: “It’s a *Toy* Story. You knew it!
“I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a five-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?”
Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, the new song was inspired by the beloved cowgirl Jessie and marks a return to Swift’s country roots, blending styles that have defined her record-breaking career as a songwriter and artist.
Toy Story 5 director and screenwriter Andrew Stanton said having Swift write and perform the song has been really “meaningful” and that the track “instantly” felt like it belonged with the film as if it was a “long-lost family member”.
Stanton added: “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 track will be the first release by the singer since her chart-topping 12th studio album The Life Of A Showgirl came out in autumn of last year.
Earlier this year she released the music video for her single Opalite, which is reportedly about her fiance, NFL star Travis Kelce, and reached number one on the UK singles chart.
The latest instalment of the hit film franchise sees Woody, a pull-string cowboy doll, reunite with superhero action figure Buzz Lightyear, Cowgirl Jessie and the rest of the gang as they prepare to face off with technology.
The film animation features a star-studded cast which includes Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack.
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny also lent his voice for the film and plays the forgotten toy known as Pizza With Sunglasses along with US Traitors host Alan Cumming who will voice the evil alter ego to horse Bullseye.
Swift’s new track will be available to stream from June 5, with Toy Story 5 hitting UK cinemas on June 19th.