Toy Story Movies Theme Songs

Disney/Pixar are making movie and music history. Spanning over 30 years, Toy Story 5 will be released in theaters June 19th, and Taylor Swift composed the new movie theme! Reliving this childhood franchise, recap the movies and themes songs in this episode.

Films: Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), Toy Story 4 (2019)

Toy Story 30 Years & Beyond - 20/20 Special

Toy Story 5's L.A. premiere performances (6/9/26):
"You've Got a Friend In Me - Duet" - Randy Newman & Taylor Swift
"I Knew It, I Knew You - Piano" - Taylor Swift

Playlist: "You've Got a Friend In Me" - Randy Newman (1995)
"You've Got a Friend In Me - Duet" - Randy Newman & Lyle Lovett (1995)
"When She Loved Me" - Sarah McLachlan (1999)
"You've Got a Friend In Me (Wheezy's Version)" - Robert Goulet (1999)
"We Belong Together" - Randy Newman (2010)
"You've Got a Friend In Me (para el Buzz Espanol)" - Gipsy Kings (2010)
"I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" - Randy Newman (2010)
"The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" - Chris Stapleton (2019)
"The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" - Randy Newman (2019)
"I Knew It, I Knew You" - Taylor Swift (2026)

Other Toy Story songs: "Strange Things" (1995), "Sailing No More" (1995), "Woody's Roundup"

Vote which film your fav Toy Story song is in.

List of Disney Academy Awards
List of Taylor Swift past soundtrack songs

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Theme Song: "Gym Track (2026 Remix)", composed by Jessica Ann Catena

Transcript

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Welcome to Music Media Review, the weekly podcast critiquing modern music and media headlines. I'm Jess. When deciding topics on these episodes, I broadly select what interests me and devoted enthusiasts that target multi-age groups. Colliding two mega fan bases on this latest one upped my challenge even more. Disney Pixar is releasing a fifth Toy Story film and just announced Taylor Swift composed the movie theme song. Consumers predicted the TS ads popping up on the internet, revealing the cryptic clue June 1st. My family and I are huge Disney fans. My first music purchases were Disney 90s soundtracks, and like many Swifties, I can't believe Taylor Swifts added in the mix. Singing I Knew It, I Knew You. The highest welcome respectfully came from singer-songwriter Randy Newman, who self-composed Toy Stories franchise over 30 years. In this episode, we'll recap the four previous films, their represented songs, peek into I Knew It, I Knew You's concept, then annotate Disney music and Taylor Swift history. To Infinity and Beyond. Let's play around on Music Media Review. Toy Story Theatrically came out Thanksgiving weekend, November 22nd, 1995. Innovating filmmaking, it's the first 100% computer generated animation. This phenomenon licensed Pixar Animation Studios as a separate Disney entity creating digital art and various projects. Seeing how lifelike the human characters looked and the toys' movements' actions exhilarated adults just as much as kids. I remember seeing in the theater with my parents. They were taking turns walking back my fussy baby brother out to calm him down. The idea of toys outside of make believe, I wish so hard it was real playing with my own figurines through grade school. For those of you who may not be familiar, Toy Story's premise revolves around a young boy named Andy. His mom throws him a birthday party at their house while the toys move when nobody's around and spy who else could join the bedroom collections. When a new toy steals Andy's attention from a pull string cowboy doll named Woody, he jealously attempts gaining favoritism. Adding the fun, Disney Pixar marketably casted star-studded celebrities. Tom Hanks portrays Woody, Don Rickles, a snarky Mr. Potato Head, Annie Potts croons a Bo Peep doll loving Woody, John Ratzenberger, a sarcastic piggy bank named Ham, and Tim Allen voiced the popular Space Ranger action figure Buzz Lightyear. Back then, Tim Allen starred on ABC sitcom Home Improvement and acted the Santa Claus original film a year before. Lori Metcalf dubbed Andy's mom and was on another ABC sitcom at the time. She was Jackie, Roseanne's older sister on Roseanne. I loved both those shows and they're still rerunning on cable. As Woody and Buzz face off in Andy's room, their fighting literally gets carried away on an unexpected off-course adventure. The plot nail bites coming back in time for Andy and his mom moving away and getting caught by their antagonist next door neighbor, Sid. Sid's a complete opposite to Andy, joyfully mutilating toys as a psychotic juvenile delinquent. Writing a child villain was a genius risk Pixar took, disciplining kids through the troubles they'd face realistically. And it was a nice change teaching consequences Sid faced rather than killing off an antagonist adult. By the way, my cousin informed me that Josh Bryant in The Princess Diaries is the same actor as Sid. Eric Vondten went from being evil to swooning Mandy Moore and Anne Hathaway in 2001's flick. I never knew that until she read the credits, working sketchy personalities. Wrapping all this up, Randy Newman sang an arranged country anthem, You've Got a Friend in Me. His solo version opens the credits showing Andy grasping Woody around, country artist Lyle Lovett duets the end credits, splitting up the lines and harmonies. I don't mind either version and reinterpret different perspectives. I think of Andy and Woody's bond for the solo, amended partnership between Woody and Buzz hearing Lyle's parts. Andy's final off-screen line defines the moral, adapting change in life and kids' discoveries. It's a clever twist relieving the whole thing with a laugh. Breaking up the philosophical and love pop Disney did for its prior themes, You've Got a Friend and Me dimensions jazz swing folk. Randy also wrote Strange Things and Sailing No More. I like that one too. He probably saw Woody's Country Sheriff Design and wanted to suit the era his type of toys were sold. Sounding so homey, didn't even realize it wasn't ever a single. Toy Story's full package was enough setting the message clear, revived in a few sequels. Nominated Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards, Vanessa Williams won vocalizing a second Disney tune, Colors in the Wind from Pocahontas, one of my favorite soundtracks overall. Saddling Up Further was a greater continuation to the Country Western story arc. Four years later, Toy Story Tube reprise Thanksgiving weekend, November 24th, 1999. Buzz Lightyear space missions begin, battling Emperor Zerg, tricking viewers to be a video game when his upper half body gets zapped. Pixar's experience was getting greater as time passed. Comedian Wallace Sean frantically reacts the game over as Rex the Dinosaur, who you may recognize saying inconceivable from the Princess Bride's 1987 fairy tale movie. When Woody's arm tears from Andy playing him before a cowboy summer camp, he gets left behind. Unable to get past the garage sale Andy's mom hosts, a toy store owner named Al steals him after she declines his offer. Seinfeld actor Wayne Knight, also known as Newman, voiceovers Al, and Estelle Harris, who was George Costanza's mother, is introduced as Mrs. Potato Head. Rest of the toys witnessed from Andy's window, leading to Buzz rallying a rescue. Encountering other toys at Al's toy store and apartment, the reasoning Woody was stolen was to complete a Japanese collector's sale from a 50s fictional TV cartoon, Woody's Roundup. That catchy theme song is performed by bluegrass band Riders in the Sky, spoofing animated outtakes at the end. The standout song Toy Story 2 Dwells pertains to a newer character, Woody Sympathizes. Joan Cusack emotionally shares his story how she wound up with Al as Jessie the Cowgirl. Randy Newman's piano orchestrates When She Loved Me, narrating a young owner, Emily suddenly drifting apart and donating Jessie when she got older. Beautifully solemn, singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan perfectly personifies for Batom. Her voice rides octaves reminiscing the happy moments, softly expressing long neglect. If you thought the pet ad Sarah McLachlan sings Angel are tearjerking, beware sitting through when she loved me. One of my classmates' mom was so scarred loving it and heartbroken whenever she heard it. I think I cried the first time hearing it in the theater. I've braved hitting the notes of its gorgeous melody since. Woody's left at a crossroads, escaping back to Andy and his younger sister Molly, or staying by Jesse's side. A horse named Bullseye and an old prospector toy complete the Woody's Roundup set. Frasier's Kelsey Grand Star, another show I love, turncodes Japan's museum being the only possibility for them as the Prospector. He doesn't trust Andy would adopt them all and tries stopping up to the luggage racks in the airport. You could guess how this ends. My favorite parts are the airport sequences and Woody's makeover Al pays to fix his right arm seam. Veteran actor Robert Goulet bridges the extended toys family, concluding a Jazzy Shorten, You've Got a Friend and Me as Wheezy the Penguin. The recording academy gave Grammy's best song written for a motion picture television and visual media to When She Loved Me, and international press named it Best Original Song at the Satellite Awards. Losing Best Original Song Again at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards, Phil Collins's You'll Be In My Heart beat him from Disney's 1999 Tarzan Reboot. Retiring Thanksgiving weekend dates, the last few Toy Stories moved to late June, marketing summer blockbusters and ending school years. Toy Story 3 was released June 18, 2010. Involving the audience to feel like they watched Andy grow up, home videos are shown with him playing with his favorite toys scored by You've Got a Friend and Me Solo preparing for college. Some of the original gang were thrown away, donated, and planned to set aside in the attic. Andy's sister Molly did the same, and their mom accidentally thought it was trash putting it out on the curb. Fortunately, Rex Dinosaur Tail poked a hole, free themselves before the garbage truck arrives, driven by Sid. That's a funny twist. Remaining toys Woody, Buzz, Jesse, Bullseye, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Rex, Ham, Slinky, the Magic Eight Ball, Three Aliens, Sarge, and two army men make their way to Molly's donation box to the daycare. At first they didn't mind the idea being played by new children, however, the manipulated place with rough toddlers while toys there longer are handled a little more gently with the pre-K kids. Bonnie is a young daughter to Sunnyside daycare's owner who also goes there for school, growing attached naturally to Woody. Touched as he is, Woody can't abandon his friends and thanks an escape plan. Bypassing most, except a big pink bear, Ned Beatty, does as Lotso, a garbage truck haunts the toys again as Lotso pushes Woody in the truck. Andy's toys follow them, committing to wind up together whatever fate presents. That part when they're all holding hands near the incinerator, the claw interruption by the three aliens is the best relief. The audience in my theater applauded that moment more than the ending. Back at home safe, Woody writes a note to Andy to donate the toys to Bonnie instead of placing them in the attic. He abides dropping off the toys to her house and plays with them a final time. Emphasizing the toys tight unit, Randy Newman wrote, We Belong Together for Toy Story 3's credits. This time it'd be Tangled's Disney duet I See the Light by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. Before then, Randy and Pixar won 2002's award for Monster Zinc's duet If I Didn't Have You, sung by Billy Crystal and John Goodman. Melodically Rissed off You Got a Friendin' Me still fits with their characters Mike and Sully. A funny part in Toy Story 3 is when a button clicks on Buzz, switching to Spanish mode. Jesse gets attracted to him and sets up a mariachi recording of You Got a Friend and Me to dance with him in Bonnie's Room. Flamenco band Gypsy Kings did a brief cover in Spanish subtitled Pada El Buzz Espanol. I added it to a playlist I made for this episode you can hear in the description. Toy Story 4 spanned over June 21st, 2019, focusing on changes. Bonnie going to kindergarten, Woody flashing back to Bo Peep accepting Andy's mom giving away the lamp lamp she's on, and when RC Racecar fell down a drain when Andy accidentally left him in a rainstorm. Woody sneaks into Bonnie's backpack for support and scraps items for her to do arts and crafts. Creating Forky, comedian Tony Hale voices a new character who believes he's trash but a fresh companion cheering up Bonnie. On an RV trip with her parents, she packs Forky with her toys and Woody discovers Bo Peep in an antique storefront window. He manages reuniting but gets trapped by a Gabby Gabby doll who wants his voice box to attract customers to buy her. Open hearted, Woody agrees, giving up his drink pull voice box and realize he missed Bo Peep more. Traveling through a carnival to get back with Bonnie's toys, a lost girl is crying to find her family and the sight of Gabby Gabby calms her down, running it back to her parents. I wanted to go through the screen seeing that cartoon girl so scared. My babysitting tactics caught up to me. I personally feel Toy Story 4 across too much going on that the chapter ends in unexpected goodbye. Buzz encourages Woody to stay with Bo Peep, taking the reins looking out for Bonnie's era. Musically two themed songs depict worthiness regarding Forky and Woody. Randy Newman sings I can't let you throw yourself away. Jazzing dialogue Woody pulls Forky from constantly calling himself trash to any basket he sees. The ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy describes codependency Woody always gravitated, reaching a point to his needs running into Bo Peep and tagging along the adventures she sees through the carnival tours. Chris Stapleton soulfully twings Randy Newman's songwriting, marking the Western tale. His delivery was a great current choice reviving traditional country's comeback and acclaimed vocal nominations in country award shows. I didn't know that Randy also put his own version on Toy Story 4's soundtrack, singing an octave lower. Chris Stapleton senko painted the lines, Randy breathed all he wrote to fit each stanza. I can't let you throw yourself away is a little over two minutes. Both the ballad of the lonesome cowboy runs a minute forty-five. I preferred the ballad of the lonesome cowboy, but selected both for their accolades. I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away was nominated Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, Elton John's I'm Gonna Love Me Again from his biopic Rocket Man, duetted with Taryn Egerton, who starred. Lady Gaga stole the Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboys Grammy, best song written for visual media for a Star is Born's closing track, I'll Never Love Again. So what should we expect for TS5? Toy Story 5's backstory will confront a challenge affecting this generation's children screen time. Kids dread time constraints on devices with family, at school, and peer pressured. Teased from the trailer, Bonnie's given a talking frog screen language computer. As Lilypad, actress Greta Lee taunts the toys winning over Bonnie's attention. Jesse contacts Woody via walkie talkie sharing how toys get tossed aside often because of technology. Internally battling Lilypad's spotlight, Taylor Swift's new song splits a past occurrence from Toy Story 2 Emily's closeness with Jessie. I knew it, I knew you. I wonder if somehow Emily will be found by Lilypad's help or something sparking a reunion. Whatever the answer is, grown up critics couldn't hold back their tears at LA's preview showing. Must be pretty effective to create a fifth one. Editing Toy Story two through four clips montages Jessie as I knew it I knew you's music video. Maybe Jessie will become a keepsake leaving with Emily for good and Taylor will release a commercial video june nineteenth. The rhythm reminds me of her songs All Too Well, I Bet You Think About Me and Betty. Uttering the words quickly and staying on beat, Taylor says she's adored Toy Story and shared a home video of herself spinning around like Jessie did on the meadow tire swing Emily held her. The chorus says I remember I loved you, came back when it mattered, I saw you, standing there in the light of the window wearing that same smile. Man, it's been a while, but I knew it. I knew you. Meyers still haven't crasted to Toy Story without knowing the purpose yet. The entire Toy Story 5 crew found out about it publicly like we did. So far it's number one in the UK, Australia, got added to country and pop radio stations. I'll report its debut charting on music media reviews social media. Videos taken at Toy Story 5's June 9th premiere display Taylor Duetting You've Got a Friend and Me with 82 year old Randy Newman on stage, and she played I Knew It, I Knew You on Piano. Closing out a final section, here's some statistics to tally. Toy Story 5 is Pixar's 31st film. Original cast in all five are Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzeberger, and Wallace Sean. If I knew it I knew you debuts number one on the Hop 100, it'd be Taylor Swift's eighth time and 15th cumulative. Ten other soundtrack songs Taylor Swift wrote are You Can't Find Your Way Back Home and Crazier from Hannah Montana Movie 2009. Today was a fairy tale from Valentine's Day 2010 Eyes Open and Safe and Sound featuring the Civil Wars The Hunger Games 2012 Sweeter Than Fiction One Chance 2013 I Don't Wanna Live Forever featuring Zane Malik Fifty Shades Darker 2017 Beautiful Ghosts by Cats 2019 Only the Young from her 2020 documentary Miss Americana and Carolina Where The Crowd Dads Sing 2022. I never saw any of those movies. Do recognize Today was a fairy tale, safe and sound, and I don't want to live forever. If I knew it I knew you wins Academy Awards Best Original Song, it'll be the fifteenth and most awarded franchise in Oscars category history. The fourteen that have won are When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio 1940, Zippity Doodah Songs of the South 1947 Chim Chim Cherie Mary Poppins 1964 Under the Sea The Little Mermaid 1989 Beauty and the Beast 1991 A Whole New World Aladdin 1992 Can You Feel the Love Tonight The Lion King 1994 Colors of the Wind Pocahontas 1995 You'll Be In My Heart Tarzan 1999 If I Didn't Have You Monsters Inc. 201 We Belong Together Toy Story 3 2010 Man or Muppet The Muppets 2011 Let It Go Frozen 2013 And Remember Me Coco 2017 Rest in Peace to RB singer P. Will Bryson who passed away June 2nd sung Beauty and the Beast and a Whole New World end title pop versions. What if my girlfriend's wedding song is a whole new world and my mom's cousin chose Beauty and the Beast? For a fifth consecutive time, I intend seeing Toy Story 5 at the theaters in a few weeks. Looking forward to it. You could start seeing Toy Story 5 Friday, June 19th in theaters, the first PG rated in the franchise. Playback 1 through 4's films and ABC's Toy Story 30 Years and Beyond special on Disney Plus. When finishing the Spotify playlist I link, vote which movie your favorite Toy Story song is in, and comment which one you like below in the episode content. My pick is Randy Newman's and Lyle Lovett's You Got a Friend and Me. Thanks for riding Memory Lane with me. Feel free to share any on Music Media Review social media links Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and email Music Media Review Podcast at gmail.com. Please rate and review wherever you're listening. Welcome new YouTube subscribers. I'm Jess. Next episode we'll celebrate first day of summer and Father's Day weekend. I'll be reviewing Keith Urban's new yacht rock cover album, Flow State. Perfect timing. Talk to you next week.