Daniel Radcliffe joins Kyle Gordon’s third album as narrator
Variety reports Radcliffe will provide nature-doc-style interludes on Gordon’s Oct. 2 comedy album, led by the single “Mr. Jambo.”
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Daniel Radcliffe is popping up in an unexpected place: the connective tissue of Kyle Gordon’s next comedy record.
Variety reported Friday that the actor will narrate Gordon’s third album, “Kyle Gordon Is Everywhere,” which is scheduled for release on Oct. 2. According to the report, Radcliffe’s voice will appear during the album’s interludes in a style inspired by nature documentarian David Attenborough.
The first taste of the project is already here. Variety reported that Gordon has released the single “Mr. Jambo,” along with a music video that was shot in South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The song comes through one of Gordon’s characters, Barry Bergen, described by Variety as a familiar kind of awkward American tourist. The track takes aim at Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” which reaches its 40th anniversary this summer, according to the report.
Gordon has built his act around musical impersonation, comic personas and genre-hopping parody. Variety noted that his debut album, “Kyle Gordon Is Great,” included sendups of 2000s country and pop-punk emo. His second album, “Kyle Gordon Is Wonderful,” turned its attention to folk-pop and British rap.
The new record widens the target list. According to Variety, “Kyle Gordon Is Everywhere” spoofs close to a dozen styles, including indie sleazepop, Disney Channel-era tween bops and late-1990s minivan rock.
Gordon said in a statement reported by Variety that the new album is meant to work both as a full comedy album and as a set of catchy pop tracks. He said he feels he has found a balance where the jokes do not come at the expense of the songwriting.
Radcliffe’s involvement also has a recent connection point. Variety reported that Gordon and Radcliffe first met through “The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins,” where Gordon recently had a recurring cameo.
Gordon’s audience has grown well beyond the album format. Variety reported that the comedian and singer has more than 6 million followers across social platforms for his musical comedy work. He has also appeared on “The Simpsons,” according to the report.
For Radcliffe, the album marks a voice role in a comic musical universe built on genre masks, oddball characters and pop hooks. For Gordon, it adds a famous narrator to a project already designed to bounce from one spoofed sound to the next.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.