Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song “I Knew It, I Knew You” has made history, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It is Swift’s 15th number one on the chart, placing her third all-time behind only the Beatles (20) and Mariah Carey (19), according to Variety. The song is also only the third Disney animated song to ever reach number one, following “A Whole New World” from Aladdin in 1993 and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto in 2022.
A Historic Disney Achievement
The fact that only three Disney animated songs have ever topped the Hot 100 puts “I Knew It, I Knew You” in extraordinary company. “A Whole New World” was a cultural phenomenon in 1993, and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” became one of the most viral songs of the streaming era. Swift’s song joining that exclusive list reflects both the power of the Toy Story brand and the unique cultural reach that comes with a Taylor Swift collaboration.
Cosmic Marvel also notes this is Disney’s first song ever to debut at number one — meaning unlike its predecessors, “I Knew It, I Knew You” didn’t climb the chart gradually but arrived at the top in its very first week, a reflection of how much the streaming landscape has changed since 1993 and even 2022.
Swift’s 15th Number One
For Swift personally, the milestone is equally significant. Her 15th Hot 100 number one puts her in a tier occupied by only two other acts in the chart’s history. The song was written and produced by Swift and her longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, inspired by Jessie’s emotional journey across the Toy Story franchise. Swift performed the song live at the Toy Story 5 world premiere alongside Randy Newman, one of the most talked-about moments of Hollywood’s premiere season this year.
Toy Story 5 In Theaters Now
Toy Story 5 is now playing in theaters nationwide. Multiple critics have already flagged the song as a likely Academy Award contender for Best Original Song. For more on Toy Story 5, read our coverage of the glowing early reactions and the streaming records the song broke at release.
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