Taylor Swift Returns to Country Roots with New Song I Knew It, I Knew You for Toy Story 5 Soundtrack

Taylor Swift (Instagram @taylorswift)

JAKARTA - Taylor Swift has officially confirmed her involvement in the animated film project Toy Story 5. The 36-year-old pop diva announced that she would release the latest original song titled "I Knew It, I Knew You" which was appointed as one of the soundtracks in the film directed by Disney and Pixar.

Swift's latest song is scheduled to be released on Friday, June 5, two weeks before the global release of her film in theaters on June 19.

Through an official announcement on his social media, Swift expressed his happiness and called this project the realization of his childhood dream.

"I've always dreamed of being able to write a song for the characters I've worshiped since I was a five-year-old watching the first Toy Story," Swift wrote in her post.

He added that the inspiration for the song was born spontaneously shortly after he attended the initial screening of the fifth sequel to the adventures of these living toys.

"I fell in love with Toy Story 5 immediately when I was lucky enough to watch it in the early stages of its work, and I immediately wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know right away, right?" he added.

In working on "I Knew It, I Knew You", the singer of "Cruel Summer" again collaborated with his loyal collaborator, Jack Antonoff.

On the other hand, Disney and Pixar confirmed that this soundtrack will bring a sentimental feel and be the momentum of Taylor Swift's return to the roots of country music, a genre that made her famous at the beginning of her career before she transitioned fully into the realm of pop music.

Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton gave Swift's contribution a deep compliment. According to him, this song specifically captures the emotional turmoil of the female cowboy character, Jessie, who now holds the leadership after Woody chooses to stay with Bo Peep at the end of the fourth film.

"It's incredible how much Taylor's presence means to writing and singing this song. Her connection with Jessie and her instant way of understanding what the character is going through is undeniable," said Stanton.

"This song is very deeply connected to Toy Story. So deeply, that on the first hearing, the song immediately feels like it has always been a part of it, like a long lost family member. It's destiny," he added.

This official confirmation also answered a long rumor that had made fans - who are familiarly called Swifties - speculate wildly over the past few weeks.

The rumors started when Swift's official website had a mysterious countdown timer with a blue-white cloud motif typical of Andy's room, before it was suddenly deleted.

The issue has been strengthened after billboards with the initials "TS" with 13 clouds graphics - which refer to Swift's lucky number - appeared in several corners of cities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

"I Knew It, I Knew You" is Taylor Swift's first musical work since releasing the album "The Life of a Showgirl" in 2025. The song will be marketed by Walt Disney Records in several exclusive physical formats, including standard editions, acoustic versions, and piano instrument versions.