For films about toys and their human counterparts, the franchise «Toy Story» has done an impressive job of becoming a cornerstone of American nostalgia. Beyond their multi-billion dollar worldwide box office, the films hold a special place in pop culture, with Woody and Buzz Lightyear returning with each new installment to touch our hearts.
However, in the upcoming film «Toy Story 5» , which premieres June 19, centers on cowgirl Jessie. This week, the film received its own Taylor Swift-inspired treatment, with the star delighting film and music fans with the sentimental country number "I Knew It, I Knew You." The Jessie-inspired track was followed on Friday by a music video featuring footage from the film and featuring the beloved Pixar character, who and her team face off against the ultimate rival in gaming history: a tablet called Lilypad.
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The selected clips—which feature Jessie riding a horse in the blazing sun, getting into mischief with Woody and Bullseye, hinting at a budding romance with Buzz, experiencing near-death experiences with a garbage truck, and showing glimpses of serene possibility—will evoke tearful, touching emotions in kids of the '90s and up.
«"Writing this song was both a musical departure and a homecoming for me. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge, but at the same time, it felt completely natural," Swift wrote in an Instagram post, accompanied by a video of herself as a little girl wearing a cowboy hat and boots.
Swift, who co-wrote and produced "I Knew It, I Knew You" with her longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, added, "We wrote it out of such adoration for these characters who made us laugh and helped us learn lessons and think outside the box throughout our childhoods.".
Less than two weeks before release «Toy Story 5» Swift's song and accompanying music video (watch it on Spotify and Apple Music) are a reminder that this story has always been about friendship, love, and the importance of hugging those closest to you even tighter.
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