Full Breakdown
New Radicals Release First Original Song in 28 Years
8/3/2026, 11:37:15 AM
Core Event
The song debuted on Friday, July 31, as part of the soundtrack for the upcoming romantic-comedy One Night Only.
Background and Recent Activity
After disbanding the group in 1999, Alexander pursued a successful songwriting career, co-writing hits such as Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder On The Dancefloor,” Santana and Michelle Branch’s “The Game Of Love,” and Adam Levine’s Oscar-nominated “Lost Stars.” The duo of Alexander and longtime collaborator Danielle Brisebois briefly reunited in 2021 to perform “You Get What You Give” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration parade, and they contributed a song to a Kamala Harris campaign video in 2024. Earlier in 2024, the band rerecorded “Lost Stars” and “Murder On The Dancefloor” under the New Radicals name and covered “The Game Of Love” for a Santana-led project.
Song Details and Film Tie-In
NME describes the piano-driven pop-rock track as reminiscent of the group’s classic sound and confirms its role as the theme song for One Night Only, directed by Will Gluck. The film stars Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, with Maya Hawke, Julia Fox, Molly Ringwald and Nicholas Braun co-starring. While the U.S. release of the movie is set for August 7, NME adds that the United Kingdom release is scheduled for August 28.
Why It Matters
The release marks the first original New Radicals composition under the band’s name in nearly three decades, signaling a rare comeback for a group whose sole 1998 album, *Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too*, produced the enduring anthem “You Get What You Give.” By aligning the new track with a high-profile film and leveraging Alexander’s continued songwriting prominence, the band re-enters contemporary pop culture while offering longtime fans fresh material that bridges their 1990s legacy with today’s media landscape.
