New Radicals release first song in 25 years to open for Kamala Harris

The New Radicals are back with their first musical release in 25 years: their versions of “Murder on the Dancefloor” and Start over song, “Lost Stars.”

The new music was announced this week by New Radicals member Gregg Alexander in an open letter to Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, who has used the band’s song “You Get What You Give” as his backing track at campaign events (including this week’s DNC). In the letter, Alexander explains that the two singles are “a musical gift to you, Doug, and our other fans,” with the goal of “rallying the cause of democracy and encouraging all artists to get out and vote.”

To that end, Alexander clarified that “this is not a step backwards, this is our small contribution to supporting the fight for freedom!” Elsewhere in the letter, he praised Emhoff as a “conscientious family man who cares about his country and his people” and expressed enthusiasm for Harris’ campaign against Republican nominee Donald Trump.

“I am writing this letter to (Emhoff) to send an SOS to all artists and musicians in America that time is truly running out for us to save our democracy,” Alexander wrote. “The time is clearly NOW for everyone to step up and use all their influence for the greater good and support the candidate who is not “weirdly” (I love that Coach Walz!) advocating for the suppression of women’s rights and everyone’s freedoms. Or bragging about overturning the 2028 US presidential election!?”

Discussing ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ – which he co-wrote with Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Alexander noted: ‘A lot of people may not know that ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ was almost the first single (from New Radicals), but then went on to debut as Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s obscene hit that went into the Top 10 worldwide twice (this year thanks to that ending scene where he dances naked in the often infamous ‘true to life’) Saline).”

As for “Lost Stars,” the song was written by Alexander and New Radicals collaborator Danielle Brisebois for the 2013 film. Start overIt was performed by Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine in the film, and was later nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Alexander noted that the Start over will soon be adapted into a Broadway musical. In the postscript to the letter, he even wrote: “Doug, since Broadway is next door to our favorite grocery store, if you’re in New York when Begin Again opens, let’s grab this bagel and go with Adam (Levine) and Train, Keira (Knightley) and John (Carney), Kamala and Danielle (Brisebois) and sing ‘Lost Stars’ together!”

Listen to New Radicals’ “Murder on the Dancefloor” and “Lost Stars” — and read Alexander’s full letter to Emhoff — below.

In 2021, the New Radicals reunited to perform “You Get What You Give” at Joe Biden’s inauguration parade.

Dear Doug,

When I got the call in June to join you at my local New York City deli, Russ & Daughters, for an hour of conversation about big oil, music, and copyright in a small kitchen full of Secret Service members, I wanted a bagel! Who would have thought that in a matter of weeks Kamala’s trajectory would change and that you would soon become, I hope, the first First Gentleman of the United States. Congratulations Doug!

Learning that you had played “You Get What You Give” hundreds of times since 2020 as your “campaign song” touched me deeply, especially when you told me that you selected the song simply as a music fan, without even being aware of the Biden family’s emotional connection to the song through Beau.

Needless to say, we were thrilled to receive your personal invitation to perform our song live again (as we did in January 2021 for Biden’s inauguration), this time at the DNC just before Kamala’s presentation accepting the vice presidential nomination. Of course, Kamala suddenly had bigger fish to fry by becoming a presidential candidate, but thanks for blowing up the record as your “walk-on” song at the DNC instead.

I am writing this letter to send an SOS to all artists and musicians in America: time is truly running out for us to save our democracy.

It is clearly time for everyone to step up and use all their influence for the common good and support the candidate who does not “strangely” (I love this Coach Walz!) advocate the suppression of women’s rights and everyone’s freedoms. Or who does not brag about canceling the 2028 American presidential election!?

In that spirit, if we can talk about music for a moment, we are releasing the first New Radicals music in 25 years to rally behind the cause of democracy and encourage all artists to get out and vote. This is not a “comeback”; this is our small contribution to the fight for freedom!

As a musical gift to you, Doug, and our other fans, we are releasing our version of “Murder On The Dancefloor,” as well as our version of the Oscar-nominated hit “Lost Stars,” from John Carney’s greatest musical film, Begin Again. It is co-written by the neo-radical Danielle Brisebois who gave the world of “Unwritten” and our film and Keira Knightley’s character’s songs their powerful female perspective.

Interestingly, we even learned through mutual friends that Begin Again is coming to Broadway. We are honored that our Train co-star Adam Levine’s friends are adapting what Adam said was the “perfect song,” and we hope Train adds more for Carney’s Broadway sequel to Once!

Many people may not know that ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ was almost our first single, but then debuted as a smutty Sophie Ellis-Bextor hit that reached the Top 10 worldwide twice (this year thanks to that naked dancing scene at the often infamously ‘true to life’ Saltburn).

When we spoke in New York, it was clear that you are a conscientious family man who cares about his country and his people. That’s what makes you and Kamala true “new radicals” of the best kind. And anyone who knows Hall & Oates who covered our album “Someday We’ll Know” or the king of critics, Robert Christgau, who gave our album an “A” is pretty cool in my opinion!

At a time when a third of “Pizzagate” Republicans believe Taylor Swift is a Democrat on a psyop (who knew!?), it will be a breath of fresh air when the Harris administration enacts critical middle-class measures. Like funding mental health care for the families and “friends-enemies” of Village Trolls in states where it’s needed most, or limiting overpriced prescriptions that often “cost” more than a teacher’s salary.

For the record, New Radicals rejects all requests from pharmaceutical companies or anyone else to change our words (ever!) and our editors back that up with a “no problem.” We will never morally support any type of industry that could contribute to an opioid epidemic that has already killed a million Americans.

Doug, I wonder what song those Silicon Valley masseuses are going to try to sing next, “Celebrex Sadness”? Well, just one month after our 25th anniversary on July 12th, to all you big pharma bankers at the FDA… come see us, we’ll still kick your ass!

We are grateful that our music continues to inspire some young “new radical” athletes and musicians who are also getting into sports. Like BRAT Charli XCX who loves Kamala’s politics (and we love Charli’s “1999” New Radicals tribute video!), or Travis Kelce who tweeted “I have dreamer disease!” which made me choke up because it simply means fighting for what you believe!!

In closing, Doug, unfortunately, the violence of toxic politics, the “abuse of power” of borderline personality disorder “hustlers,” and the isolation of Covid have catalyzed much of today’s mental health crises, leading to conspiratorial family crime. But if anyone can cure or “continue” this, it’s President Kamala Harris – starting with RFK and Donald J Trump! Sorry, I had to slip in a joke.

Democracy is at stake, not just in the United States, but in much of the world that is watching closely. With artwork in mourning for my beloved Korean War veteran father who tragically and wrongfully passed away in mid-May, and my immobile and frail mother in memory care in Florida, don’t let the darkness dim the light of the mothers and grandsons we will lose in this fight. Save democracy for the next generation and vote with your soul!

And to all the DJs or TikTokers out there, feel free to play and use these songs to support and celebrate women’s, minority and LGBTQ+ rights and the spirit of freedom that thrives and survives around the world!

Doug, Kamala, you have the music in you. Go Lions!!

Gregg

PS Doug, since Broadway is next door to our favorite deli, if you’re in NYC when Begin Again opens, let’s grab that bagel and head out with Adam and Train, Keira and John, Kamala and Danielle to sing “Lost Stars” together!

VOTE FOR THE PPS!!!