Taylor Swift surprised fans with a wholesome performance of her new song ‘I Knew It, You Knew It’ at the Los Angeles premiere of Toy Story 5 on Tuesday.
After the end credits of the film rolled, Swift sneaked backstage to perform her song, the pop singer’s first new music since her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, last October. Following this performance, Swift introduced the Toy Story franchise composer, Randy Newman, and together they traded verses of ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’, the main theme song for the 1995 Disney/Pixar animated film Toy Story.
While Newman, whose Toy Story’s main theme song was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, has remained the franchise’s composer since 1995, Taylor Swift’s ‘I Knew It, You Knew It’ in Toy Story 5 breaks a major franchise streak.
Taylor Swift’s ‘I Knew It, You Knew It’ is the first original song to be included in an installment of Toy Story other than Newman’s. While this marks a major milestone in the pop singer’s career, Swift might also land her first Oscar nomination with ‘I Knew It, You Knew It’.
More on this in our story.
‘I Knew It, You Knew It’: All about Taylor Swift’s new song in Toy Story 5
Toy Story 5 is Disney/Pixar’s upcoming animated adventure comedy-drama film and the fifth installment in the studio’s beloved 31-year-old franchise, which marks the return of stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, Annie Potts, Bonnie Hunt, Keanu Reeves and many more in their respective voice roles. The film, scheduled to be released in theatres on June 19, follows Buzz Lightyear as he turns to Woody for help in taking on Lilypad, a frog-shaped tablet that has become the prized possession of an eight-year-old Bonnie, threatening the toys’ place in her world.
While Randy Newman returned to score Toy Story 5 (which marks his tenth collaboration with Pixar), the film breaks a franchise streak by featuring an original song by Taylor Swift. Written and produced by Swift and her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, ‘I Knew It, You Knew It’ was inspired by the story of Jessie and written after Swift saw an early screening of the upcoming movie.
Praised for its catchy, narrative-driven songwriting and Swift’s vocal delivery, the Toy Story 5 song is set to continue the franchise’s tradition of landing the best original song Oscar nomination (for the past four films). Although ‘I Knew It, You Knew It’ marks the first Toy Story song not penned by Randy Newman, it could continue the franchise’s Oscar legacy and potentially earn Taylor Swift her first Academy Award.
Taylor Swift performed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” with Randy Newman at the Toy Story 5 premiere
At the LA premiere, after promptly thanking Toy Story 5 creators Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris for allowing her to live out her dream, Swift called the architect of the Toy Story universe, Randy Newman, and together, they performed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”.
Swift introduced Newman as:
”I’m also lucky enough to be here because of someone else who is the architect of the Toy Story musical universe. He is the king of making us feel the absolute most and pulling at our heartstrings and making us laugh and making us feel like he’s one of our friends. I’m talking about Randy Newman.”
Randy Newman then made his shining debut, seated at a piano, before taking the stage with Swift to sing the main theme song from the franchise.
In addition to the returning cast, the upcoming Toy Story features new additions Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Matty Matheson, Jeff Bergman, Anna Vocino, Bad Bunny, Ernie Hudson, Alan Cumming and many more.
Toy Story 5 will be released in the United States on June 19.
For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.
Edited by Aashna