Randy Newman Taylor Swift

As far as one person and one person only being associated with a soundtrack, there are few other musicians apart from Randy Newman who are so intertwined with a particular film. Oh sure, there’s Elton John with The Lion King and Celine Dion with Titanic (both of these also being quintessential 90s fare—perhaps a testament to how much better movies and their soundtracks were during that decade). But, by and large, it’s Randy Newman who has most significantly made himself synonymous with a film. That film (or films), of course, is Toy Story (not to mention Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4). And, although Newman has crafted quite a few songs over the course of the four offerings (and now, a fifth) that have been released thus far, it’s always been “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” the well-known theme song of Toy Story, that’s remained synonymous with the movie.

Thus, for writer-directors Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris to personally reach out to Taylor Swift and ask her to contribute a song (“I Knew It, I Knew You”) was more than something of a big deal. For it meant acknowledging, in some sense, that Newman is no longer the big kahuna/star of the show. That, in a certain regard, Swift has been passed a baton. Even if this turns out to actually be the last installment in the Toy Story franchise (but somehow, that doesn’t seem entirely likely). And perhaps, in their way, Stanton and Harris were seeking to echo the fact that Toy Story 5 is being billed as Jessie’s (Joan Cusack) movie. Focusing more on her own trials and tribulations than Woody’s (Tom Hanks), who, like Newman, has long been the proverbial “star” of the Toy Story universe.

But, likely seeking to “breathe new life” into the storyline, the writers opted to pivot toward Jessie as the head honcho in Bonnie’s (Scarlett Spears) room, overseeing the other toys as Woody used to do, with Buzz (Tim Allen) still acting as “second-in-command.” A timely maneuver when taking into account that the U.S. still has yet to see any man willing to play “second-in-command” to a woman (least of all in politics). As such, it’s also no wonder that Swift would immediately gravitate to the nature of the storyline (beyond just being a millennial who grew up watching the movies). For she’s often made it a point to call out the lack of acceptance when it comes to a woman being in a position of power (hear: “The Man”).

Over the course of the twenty years since her self-titled album was released, Swift, like Jessie, has found her voice and been able to take charge, as it were. Even when it might have seemed that someone else had gained the upper hand (*cough cough* Kimye circa 2016 and Scooter Braun circa 2020). So it was that, while giving a red-carpet interview at the Toy Story 5 premiere at the El Capitan Theatre, Swift remarked on Jessie’s “journey,” “We’ve seen her go through such heartbreak and, you know, such triumphs and loss… But in Toy Story 5, we see such a character development and really lessons I could relate to, as she’s grown up and as she’s learned more about her experiences and her memories…”

Of course, Swift hasn’t changed that much over the years, still determined to be a victim of the very heteronormativity she reinforces, in addition to refusing to believe in anything except fairy-tale romance (or bust). And while the Toy Story films in general have their romantic elements (see: Woody and Bo Peep [Annie Potts]), Toy Story 5 is sure to be all about the dangers of allowing children to succumb to too much screen time in lieu of genuine, tactile play. Which is why it’s somewhat unexpected for Swift to have declared while onstage on the El Capitan (after performing “I Knew It, I Knew You”), “Toy Story 5 is my favorite of all the Toy Storys.” Mainly because Swift is the type to favor Toy Story 4, which really homes in on the long-standing love story between Woody and Bo Peep (though Toy Story 5 is rumored to have a Jessie and Buzz romance brewing).

But whatever installment in the franchise Swift might have gotten to be a part of, she would have still said the same thing she did onstage at El Capitan: “I’m so lucky that I get to be a part of this.” Not just because Toy Story is a staple of millennial childhood, but because it means Swift has been deemed “worthy” of, if not quite “overtaking” Newman’s place, then certainly being given the opportunity to outshine it. For “I Knew It, I Knew You” (despite how vexingly “yeehaw” it is) has already broken streaming records, including being the most streamed soundtrack single in a first day on Apple Music and the most streamed country song by a female artist in a first day on Spotify. It also landed at number one on multiple global charts, further adding to Swift’s cachet as a “record-breaker.” And one that will become increasingly difficult for pop stars of the future to surpass (mainly since music in general might be reduced to ten seconds a song thanks to TikTok—and what need would there be of “charts” then, really?).

Newman, who joined Swift onstage after she hailed him as “the architect of the Toy Story musical universe,” was keen to recognize her “game” as a “music industry titan” by taking the opportunity to respond to his own lyric (which she sang during their duet version of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), “Some [other] folks might be a little smarter than I am.” In reply, he assured her, “No one’s smarter than you.” So there you have it—a certified ass-licking from none other than “the architect” himself. Anointing her into the Toy Story realm with true gusto. Almost as much as Jessie once had for Emily (and still apparently does when she sees her again).