Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Taylor Swift Made Sure She Didn’t ‘Kick Somebody Off’ of ‘Toy Story 5’ by Agreeing to Write the End Credits Song
Taylor Swift wrote the end credits song for *Toy Story 5* after director Andrew Stanton decided she was the only artist he wanted for the job. Stanton said he chose to change the franchise’s musical approach, and waited for Swift rather than ask another songwriter, so she would not be displacing anyone.
Swift said she repeatedly checked that no other artist had been approached while she was unavailable during her Eras Tour. After seeing an early screening, she and Jack Antonoff completed “I Knew It, I Knew You” in a few hours; the song later debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has attracted Oscar nomination buzz. Stanton compared hearing it to the first time Randy Newman played “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”.
In short
- Stanton waited for Swift rather than approach another songwriter.
- Swift and Jack Antonoff wrote the song in a few hours.
- “I Knew It, I Knew You” debuted at No. 1.
Explained simply
The Toy Story films are made by Pixar and follow toys whose lives change as their owners grow up. Their songs have helped give the series its identity: Randy Newman wrote the familiar theme “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” for the first film.
Andrew Stanton is a Pixar director and a long-time contributor to the series. Taylor Swift is a singer and songwriter who often works with Jack Antonoff; their involvement brings a new songwriting team to the films’ end credits. The choice matters because it marks a change in the franchise’s musical approach and connects a long-running film series with one of today’s best-known pop artists.