New radicals unite for Biden-Harris inauguration

A lot of Democrats would probably like to go back to the late 1990s to change a few things (namely spending a little more time in Florida to make sure people know how to pass their 2000 presidential poll). But there seems to be another reason Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff wants to party like in 1998: The New Radicals. Our nation’s First First Gentleman hand-selected New Radical’s “You Get What You Give” as their lead singer in the rallies ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Now group meets for the first time in more than 20 years to close the virtual event “Parade Across America” ​​of the Biden-Harris administration Wednesday, Rolling stone reports.

“If there is one thing on Earth that could get us to reunite the band, if only for a day, it’s the hope that our song can be even the smallest beacon of light in a period as well. dark ”, Gregg Alexander, leader of New Radicals, who disbanded his band in 1999 when the pressures of fame got too stressful, said in a statement. “America knows in its heart that things are going to be bright again with a new administration and a real vaccine plan underway. This is the message of the song… this world will come out of it. “

The performance – which will take place after the swearing-in ceremony – is the first time the group has reunited onstage since breaking up just months after finding success with their single hit “You Get What You Give” (although their second single either Maybe you’ve been brainwashed too, “Someday we will know”, is also worth a visit).

In 2015, Annie Zaleski wrote an ode to “You Get What You Give” for The AV club, examining how the deeper meaning of the seemingly foamy pop song gave power to the astonishing one-hit.

On some level, “You get what you give” almost sounds like [frontman Gregg] Alexander talks to himself to continue on his creative path. The lyrics of the song remind dreamers who feel unlucky that they are special and capable, even if they are broke and desperate (“Don’t let go / You have the music in you”) and encourages them to hold on despite the dark times. Yet another throwaway phrase even seems to portend its demise: “Don’t give up / Don’t be afraid to leave.” In fact, “You get what you give” has many subtle layers. The opening alludes to stifling religious forces and youthful abandonment; later, there is a call to seek substance, as well as an oblique reference to romantic solidarity. Even the recurring phrase “We only get what we give” is deceptively simple: it hints at deeper philosophical and spiritual conversations about the impact a person’s life has on the world.

But that optimism was tempered by the song’s ending, which turned into a very specific and deliberate critique of oppressive forces. “As an experiment on the song ‘You Get What You Give’, I had what at the time was one of the most political lyrics for a long, long, long time, so much so that some of the people I worked with were horrified, ”Alexander Told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, during his first interview in 15 years. “In a pop song I was attacking health insurance companies and corruption – ‘The Medicare Scam’; the FDA, the Food And Drug Administration and the hypocrisy of the War on Drugs, which was not real; “Big bankers” and Wall Street. To allude to all of this in a pop song was, in retrospect, a naively crazy proposition. But not only did this hidden political statement give the song weight, it remained relevant 15 years later, as the issues Alexander spoke of are still pressing concerns.

The song also has a deeper meaning for President-elect Joe Biden. In his 2017 autobiography, Promise me, daddy, Biden wrote that “You Get What You Give” became an important anthem for his son Beau Biden during his battle with cancer: “During breakfast, Beau would often play to me what I thought was his theme song,” You Get What You Give ‘by the new radicals,’ reads an excerpt noted by Rolling stone. “Even though Beau never stopped fighting and his will to live was stronger than most, I think he knew that day might come. The words of the song are: This fucking world can fall apart. Everything will be fine, follow your heart. “

Alexander’s statement also recognizes the impact of his group’s success on the heads of the new administration: “Listening to the song again after such a long time is a tremendous honor as we all have a deep respect for Beau’s military service and so high hopes for unity and normalcy Joe and Kamala will bring our country back to this time of crisis.

So do we, Gregg. U.S. too.