Beyond the List: Taylor Swift and Randy Newman Share the Stage for Toy Story 5

The glitzy premiere of Toy Story 5 in Los Angeles offered a moment of musical serendipity that few could have predicted. Pop titan Taylor Swift, fresh off her record-breaking Eras Tour, shared the stage with the iconic, often acerbic, songwriter Randy Newman. Their joint rendition of the beloved classic "You've Got A Friend In Me" was a poignant, cross-generational highlight, especially given a recent, puzzling omission by The New York Times.

Earlier this spring, The New York Times published a comprehensive feature on the 30 greatest living American songwriters. Taylor Swift was, predictably, a centerpiece, even sitting for an interview that solidified her as the package's headliner. Conspicuously absent from that esteemed list, however, was Randy Newman, a glaring oversight for many critics and fans of his singular, often darkly humorous, body of work.

This past Friday, Taylor Swift unveiled "I Knew It, I Knew You," her original song for the highly anticipated Toy Story 5. While not a direct return to her country roots as some early whispers suggested, it's unmistakably a Taylor Swift creation. The track is already poised for a #1 debut on the Billboard Hot 100, a testament to her undeniable chart dominance.

At Tuesday night's premiere held at the Dolby Theatre, Swift graced the red carpet, mingling with cast members and Disney executives. Following the screening, attendees were treated to a surprise performance. It marked Swift's first live vocal appearance since her final Eras Tour date in December 2024. She delivered a solo-piano rendition of "I Knew It, I Knew You," then spoke warmly of the creative minds behind the Toy Story saga, singling out Randy Newman.

Newman has been the musical bedrock of the Toy Story universe, scoring all five films and contributing original songs that have become synonymous with the franchise's most emotional montages. His dual career as a critically revered, sardonic singer-songwriter and a beloved composer for children's films is one of his most fascinating paradoxes. While Newman often performs his own Toy Story tracks, sometimes guest vocalists like Sarah McLachlan or Chris Stapleton step in. "I Knew It, I Knew You" notably marks the first original Toy Story song not penned by Newman.

Following Swift's heartfelt tribute, Randy Newman joined her onstage. The duo then launched into a memorable performance of "You've Got A Friend In Me," the timeless theme from 1995's original Toy Story. At 82, and having faced recent health challenges, Newman's public performances are increasingly rare; this marked his first live appearance since a segment on John Mulaney's Everybody's Live last year. Swift even playfully channeled Newman's distinctive vocal style, an almost unavoidable inclination when tackling the iconic tune. The interaction was filled with charming banter, captured in a fan video circulating online.

Meanwhile, Tom Hanks, the legendary voice of Woody, offered a rather enthusiastic take on "I Knew It, I Knew You," comparing his first listen to "hearing Judy Garland sing 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' for the first time." While appreciative of the sentiment, perhaps a touch of restraint is in order, Mr. Hanks.

> ?| Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, who voices Woody in the Toy Story franchise, says hearing “I Knew It, I Knew You” was “like hearing Judy Garland sing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ for the first time.” pic.twitter.com/J0mkQToXy3
> — Taylor Swift Updates ? (@swifferupdates)

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