Critics Call Taylor Swift's New 'Toy Story 5' Single 'I Knew It, I Knew You' Her 'Best Song in Years'

It's always worth celebrating whenever Taylor Swift debuts a brand-new single, most especially when said song is released in conjunction with Pixar's highly anticipated Toy Story 5.

An epic collaboration between the record-breaking musician and the hit Disney animation studio, Swift's work on "I Knew It, I Knew You" has already earned significant acclaim among fans and critics alike, with The Guardian even calling it the singer's "best song in years."

"Full of handcrafted care and the rootsy soul of her country origins, this gently elated song is a reminder of what fans love about Swift … and the film series," the outlet wrote of Swift's new song.

Swift's contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, "I Knew It, I Knew You" was written by Swift after the singer saw a rough screening of the film. The song is specifically inspired by the character of Jessie, who is set to headline Toy Story 5 as the sequel's de facto main character.

The latest expansion of the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 5 follows Joan Cusack's Jessie and her fellow toy friends as they encounter an intelligent children's tablet threatening to take over their owner's traditional playtime.

With Cusack, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Tony Hale, Keanu Reeves and many more set to return for the upcoming film, Toy Story 5 is scheduled for release on June 19, roughly seven years after the release of 2019's Toy Story 4.

As if the release of another Toy Story weren't already exciting enough, Swift's new single has further hyped up fans eager to see the latest movie. No matter the plot to Toy Story 5, however, "I Knew It, I Knew You" has earned an overwhelmingly positive reception, with many favorably comparing it to Randy Newman's now iconic "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2.

"Pixar movies – and Newman's songs – have always been designed to emotionally annihilate adults while their kids laugh at the spork with a funny face," The Guardian continued. "Any Swiftie parent listening to 'I Knew It, I Knew You' at the cinema later this month can use their own tears to salt their popcorn."

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 10:49 AM.