Beloved 1990s pop rockers, The New Radicals, are scheduled to meet for the first time in 22 years as part of the Biden-Harris team’s “Parade Across America” virtual event, where they will present their 1998 hit “You Get What You Give “.
The single appeared memorably in the election campaign as the song by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff.
“If there is anything on Earth that would possibly make us join the band, even if only for a day, it is the hope that our music could be the smallest beacon of light in such a dark time,” said vocalist Gregg Alexander in a statement. .
“America knows in its heart that things will be bright again with a new administration and a real vaccine plan on the way. That’s the message of the song … this world will survive. “
Like Rolling Stone points out, the song has a deeper meaning for the Biden family as well. In President-elect Biden’s 2017 autobiography, Promise me dad, he said “You Get What You Give” became the family’s “theme song” when his son Beau was battling cancer.
“During breakfast, Beau always made me hear what I thought was his theme song, ‘You Get What You Give’ by New Radicals,” wrote Biden. “Although Beau never stopped fighting and his will to live was stronger than most – I think he knew that day could come. The lyrics of the song are: This damn world can fall apart. You’ll be fine, follow your heart. “
The virtual inauguration parade will take place after the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday (January 20). This will be the first performance of the New Radicals since 1999; they broke up shortly after releasing “You Get What You Give”.
“Playing music again after so long is a great honor, because we all have deep respect for Beau’s military service and high hopes for the unity and normalcy that Joe and Kamala will bring our country back to in this time of crisis,” said Alexander.