I Knew It, I Knew You

Nearly 31 years after the original Toy Story, composer Randy Newman opens up his playroom again for Toy Story 5. New themes and memorable motifs from the previous four movies abound for a rousing and emotional score that soundtracks the film, in which the characters assemble to combat a toy’s worst nightmare: children’s technology. The Oscar winner (nominated for Best Original Song for each of Toy Story 5’s predecessors and winning for the third’s “We Belong Together,” among his myriad of other nominations) cedes the closing credits to one Taylor Swift, whose “I Knew It, I Knew You” reunites the pop icon with her longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff. The nostalgic country-pop track that opens the album here makes a sweet addition—or dare we say friend—to Disney’s pantheon of heartwarming tunes. And as Swift sings: “Life has ways of leaving those days behind/But seeing you tonight/I remembered I loved you,” which will certainly be the case for those who grew up with the franchise and Newman’s work in it.