New Radicals split in 1999, a few months after the release of their 1998 single “You Get What You Give”. On Wednesday, January 20, the band will meet for the first time in 22 years to present their hit single as part of the virtual opening event “Parade Across America” by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Rolling Stone reports. The New Radicals will close the parade that takes place after the inauguration ceremony.
“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 can be the tiniest beacon of light in such a dark time,” New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander said in a statement.
During the campaign, music became the favorite song of Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff. Joe Biden talked about how music became important to the family during the last days of his son, Beau Biden.
“During breakfast, Beau always made me hear what I thought was his theme song, ‘You Get What You Give’ by New Radicals,” wrote Biden in his memoirs. Promise me dad. “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 to our country again in this time of crisis,” added Alexander.
Inauguration Day celebrations will also include performances by Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, John Legend and others.
“You Get What You Give” was named one of Pitchfork’s “200 most popular tracks of the 1990s”.