Crowe Boys Transform Classic Toy Story Song with Folksy Twist

Randy Newman’s hit song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is already a beloved classic, but this folk rendition might just be the best cover to date.

The Toy Story movies were a huge part of my early childhood. Growing up in the early 2000s, I vividly remember my parents renting VHS copies of Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) at the local video store. I also had a copy of Classic Disney, Vol. 3: 60 Years of Musical Magic (1996) on CD, which featured the song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the films. This song has always been one of my favorites, and it’s been covered by several top artists over the years.

According to Song Facts, Randy Newman wrote and recorded “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” for Pixar‘s first Toy Story movie in 1995. The song was later nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to “Colors Of The Wind” from Pocahontas (1995). In 2013, Michael Bublé covered Newman’s hit, which peaked at #10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song has also been covered by George Jones with Kathy Mattea, Kenny Loggins, Brian Wilson, and Steve Tyrell with Dr. John.

The Crowe Boys are an alternate/folk group comprised of three brothers: Ocie, Jacob, and Wes Crowe. About a year ago, I discovered them on TikTok and have enjoyed their music ever since. Recently, while scrolling on my “For You” page (FYP), I stumbled upon another video by the band that I couldn’t ignore. It was a folksy cover of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” which I really enjoyed. You can listen below.

@croweboys Just wanted to let you know that you’re amazing and you’ve got this! #toystory #youvegotafriendinme #croweboys #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Crowe Boys

This is the cover I didn’t know I needed. Raised in a family that loved and played a lot of bluegrass music, this version took me right back to my childhood. I also appreciate that it’s not just a direct replication of the original with different vocals; it definitely stands out on its own. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Source: Townsquare News, Song Facts