Back in 2002, Carlos Santana sought to replicate the massive success of his 1999 blockbuster Supernatural with Shaman, an album defined by high-profile collaborations curated by industry legend Clive Davis. Among the standout tracks was “The Game Of Love,” a song with a complex and fascinating origin story. Gregg Alexander, the mastermind behind New Radicals, co-wrote and co-produced the track under his Alex Ander alias. While Alexander initially recorded a vocal for the song, Clive Davis ultimately pivoted toward a female vocalist, leading to sessions with various artists including Tina Turner and Macy Gray before settling on a young Michelle Branch. Her version became a #5 hit and a Grammy winner.
Nearly a quarter-century later, Michelle Branch has officially teamed up with Gregg Alexander for a fresh take on the classic. The track serves as the lead single for Branch’s newly announced EP, Everywhere And Back Again, which features the singer revisiting key songs from her storied career. This updated version strips away the original guitar-heavy production, focusing instead on a collaborative vocal performance between Branch and Alexander.
Reflecting on the project, Michelle Branch shared her enthusiasm in a press release: “‘The Game Of Love’ has been such a special song in my life, made possible by one of my personal musical heroes, Gregg Alexander from New Radicals. Many people don’t realize that Gregg wrote ‘The Game Of Love,’ and being able to sing this together with him is really a full circle moment and captures the original spirit of the demo.”
“The Game Of Love” has been such a special song in my life, made possible by one of my personal musical heroes, Gregg Alexander from New Radicals. Many people don’t realize that Gregg wrote “The Game Of Love,” and being able to sing this together with him is really a full circle moment and captures the original spirit of the demo.
Gregg Alexander also offered his perspective on the reunion, noting the historical context of their collaboration and the emotional weight of revisiting the track in 2026. “Michelle has been acknowledged as inspiring so many artists, and Michelle is one of the kindest artists I’ve ever worked with,” Alexander stated. “Our sometime mentor Clive Davis brought icons Tina Turner and Macy Gray to the studio to ‘try out’ ‘The Game Of Love’ in 2001. Yet Clive envisioned a brand new voice delivering my idealistically innocent lyric and melody. So when 19-year-old Michelle waltzed in delivering a jaw-dropping one-take vocal, we won a Grammy a year later.”
Michelle has been acknowledged as inspiring so many artists, and Michelle is one of the kindest artists I’ve ever worked with. Our sometime mentor Clive Davis brought icons Tina Turner and Macy Gray to the studio to “try out” “The Game Of Love” in 2001. Yet Clive envisioned a brand new voice delivering my idealistically innocent lyric and melody. So when 19-year-old Michelle waltzed in delivering a jaw-dropping one-take vocal, we won a Grammy a year later. New Radicals and Michelle recently raised the “mix faders” at NYC’s Hit Factory with both our 2001 and 2026 vocals side by side, us both realizing singing our hearts out is perhaps just what the doctor ordered amidst today’s anxiety and global crises! And Clive, the music world misses you already… this record is dedicated to you. So let’s turn this motherfucker up and dance like no one’s watching!
Below, check out the new version of “The Game Of Love,” as well as the 2002 video.
The Everywhere And Back Again EP is scheduled for release on November 6 via BMG.
