Taylor Swift Returns to Country Music with ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’

Taylor Swift has released a new song titled ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming ‘Toy Story 5’ film. The track marks a return to country music for Swift, who originally rose to fame in Nashville before becoming a global star.

Taylor Swift Embraces Country Sound Again

‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ doesn’t feature Swift’s signature twang, but it includes essential elements of the country genre such as live instrumentation, a plucky banjo, and harmonica that opens the track. Swift’s last noteworthy venture into country music occurred with her 2012 album ‘Red,’ largely seen as a crossover, while ‘Speak Now’ is considered her last full-length country album over 15 years ago.

‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ also represents Swift’s first original work since releasing ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ in October. The song is co-produced with Jack Antonoff, a longtime collaborator starting with the 2014 album ‘1989’ and continuing through ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ in 2024. Although their collaboration began after Swift’s initial country phase, exceptions include ‘Betty’ from her 2020 ‘Folklore’ album.

“Writing this song felt like a musical departure and coming home at the same time. Creating something for Jessie was a new challenge and also felt like second nature all at once,” Swift shared on social media, referencing the beloved cowgirl character Jessie.

Swift expressed excitement about writing for ‘Toy Story’ characters she has adored since childhood, stating, “Being a ‘Toy Story’ kid from the age of 5 til now… is an adventure I plan to be on, to infinity and beyond.”

Promotion and Release of ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’

Promotional billboards featuring the initials “TS,” designed like the ‘Toy Story’ logo, appeared in several major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and London. Swift confirmed the song’s release on Instagram and shared her affection for the franchise, mentioning, “I fell instantly in love with Toy Story 5 when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages, and I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?”

Preorders for three CD single versions—film version, acoustic, and piano—were offered on her website and quickly sold out. Andrew Stanton, director and writer of ‘Toy Story 5,’ praised Swift’s understanding of the character Jessie, and stated, “The song is so deeply connected to ‘Toy Story.’ On first listen, it instantly felt like it had always belonged there, like a long-lost family member.”

Potential Oscar Buzz for Swift

Fans are speculating about the song’s potential for an Oscar nomination in the original song category. For eligibility at the 2027 Academy Awards, ‘Toy Story 5’ and its song must have a theatrical release between January 1 and December 31 of this year. Scheduled for release on June 19, the film qualifies.

If ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ is submitted and successfully wins an Oscar, Swift would be closer to achieving an EGOT. Currently, she holds 14 Grammys and an Emmy; an Oscar would leave her with only a Tony to achieve this status. Could Broadway be Swift’s next venture?