A hopeful anthem from the ’90s is making a patriotic return.
The New Radicals will perform their 1998 hit “You Get What You Give” as part of a virtual “Parade Across America” celebrating the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday.
The name-dropping, vaguely political one-hit-wonder was Doug Emhoff’s walk-on song during campaign rallies for his wife, VP-elect Kamala Harris, and Biden.
As of Monday afternoon, it was also a trending topic on Twitter.
Now, the band, which wrote the song in the midst of Y2K fever but broke up shortly after its release, says it’ll be honored to come back together for the first time in more than 20 years to perform the song.
“If there’s one thing on Earth that would possibly make us get the band together, if only for a day, it is the hope that our song could be even the tiniest beacon of light in such a dark time,” frontman Gregg Alexander said in a statement to Rolling Stone.
But it turns out “You Get What You Give” is much more than the second gentleman’s official hype track.
The Gen X classic also has a special emotional connection for Biden, who once revealed that it was the “theme song” for his late son Beau during his battle with terminal brain cancer.
“During breakfast, Beau would often make me listen to what I thought was his theme song, ‘You Get What You Give’ by the New Radicals,” Biden wrote in “Promises to Keep,” his 2008 autobiography. “Even though Beau never stopped fighting and his will to live was stronger than most – I think he knew that this day might come. The words to the song are: ‘This whole damn world can fall apart. You’ll be OK, follow your heart.’ ”
“America knows in its heart that things will get bright again with a new administration and a real plan for vaccines on the way,” Alexander said. “That’s the message of the song… this world is gonna pull through.”
Deep NYC trivia: The New Radical’s video for the track — a big hit on MTV back in the day — was filmed on location at the Staten Island Mall in the New Springville neighborhood of the borough.
The song’s lyrics cover everything from the phony world of celebrities to the ominous implications of scientific advancements in animal cloning.
Health insurance, rip-off flying
“You Get What You Give”
FDA, big bankers buying
Fake computer crashes dining
Cloning while they’re multiplying
Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson
Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson
You’re all fakes, run to your mansions
Come around, we’ll kick your asses!
In response to the song, name-dropped shock-rocker Manson told MTV’s Kurt Loder that he would “crack his skull open” if he saw Alexander. The metal icon took issue with Alexander using Manson’s name in the same sentence as Hole front woman Courtney Love, with whom he was feuding at the time.
But most grunge-era music lovers will remember the song’s more hopeful message, especially in light of a tumultuous 2020: “Don’t give up, you’ve got a reason to live / Can’t forget, we only get what we give.”
The New Radicals’ reunion will be the final act at the inauguration virtual parade on Jan. 20, following the swearing-in ceremony at 11 a.m. EST. The virtual event will replace the traditional walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. The parade will begin around 3:15 p.m. EST and will be streamed online.
In addition, a star-studded inauguration special will be hosted by Tom Hanks and will include performances from Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Bon Jovi, Ant Clemons and others. Lady Gaga will perform “The Star Spangled Banner” right after Biden and Harris are sworn in.
“Celebrating America” will air live from 8:30 to 10 p.m. EST on Jan. 20 on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC. It will also stream live on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNow from Fox and AT&T’s DirectV and U-verse.