DETROIT — New Radicals are back.

Grosse Pointe native Gregg Alexander's alt-pop group, known for its enduring, spring-loaded 1998 hit "You Get What You Give," has returned with a pair of new songs, its first releases in more than 25 years.

New Radicals' Gregg Alexander and Doug Emhoff.

The songs are new, but they have history: one is a cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 2001 hit "Murder on the Dancefloor," which was co-written by Alexander (and was resurrected in 2023 thanks to its use in "Saltburn"), and the other is "Lost Stars," a cover of Adam Levine's Oscar-nominated 2011 song from the musical drama "Begin Again," which was co-written and co-produced by Alexander.

The songs were released Friday, and were presented along with a lengthy note from Alexander, which was addressed to Doug Emhoff, the husband of Kamala Harris, who used "You Get What You Give" as his walkout music during his appearance at this week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. ("You Get What You Give" was also a part of Joe Biden's 2020 Presidential campaign: It was a favorite of Biden's late son Beau, and New Radicals reformed to perform it as part of Biden's inauguration in January 2021.)

"Learning you had been playing 'You Get What You Give' hundreds of times since 2020 as your campaign 'walk on song' touched me deeply — particularly when you told me you had selected the song merely as a music fan, not even being aware of the Biden family’s emotional connection to the song via Beau," Alexander wrote in his public letter to Emhoff. "When we spoke in NY, it was clear that you're a family man of conscience who cares about his country and its people. It's what makes Kamala and you true 'new radicals' of the best kind."

Alexander's note also touched on his refusal to license "You Get What You Give" — the lead single from New Radicals' one and only album, 1998's "Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too" — for use in commercials for drug companies ("we'd never morally support any type of industry that might contribute to an opioid epidemic that has already killed a million Americans," he writes), and he encourages DJs and TikTok users to "play and use these songs to support and celebrate women's, minority and LGBTQ+ rights and the spirit of freedom thriving and surviving around the globe!"

Alexander, 54, closes his note with a "You Get What You Give" reference to Emhoff and Harris ("Doug, Kamala—You got the Music in you") and a double exclamation pointed shoutout to his hometown football team ("Go Lions!!").

The New Radicals' versions of "Murder on the Dance Floor" and "Lost Stars" are now available on streaming services.

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