by Daniel Radcliffe has captivated audiences for over a decade in his iconic role as the boy wizard Harry Potter. However, in recent years, Radcliffe has also shown off his vocal talents on Broadway and West End stages. His journey into singing reportedly began with Tom Lehrer’s clever song “The Elements,” which Radcliffe memorized and recited on a 2010 episode of The Graham Norton Show. This magical melody was the catalyst that made Radcliffe realize his love of singing and set him on a path toward musical theater stardom.
The Origin Story of Tom Lehrer’s “The Elements”
Long before it inspired Radcliffe’s singing, “The Elements” had an intriguing origin story of its own. The song was written and performed by mathematician and musician Tom Lehrer in 1959 on his album An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer. With his catchy rhythms and witty wordplay, Lehrer managed to turn the periodic table of elements into an oddly whimsical tune.
The premise of the song is simple but brilliant – Lehrer runs through all the known elements at the time, singing their names to the melody of Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous patter song “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” from The Pirates of Penzance. What’s remarkable is how effortlessly Lehrer fits all 118 elements into the structure of the melody, from Actinium to Zirconium.
Despite being over 60 years old, the educational song has incredible staying power and is still beloved today for its cheeky cleverness and infectious melody.
Daniel Radcliffe’s Show-Stopping Performance on Graham Norton
By 2010, Daniel Radcliffe was a decade into his career-defining role as Harry Potter and looking to show the world he had more talent to offer beyond the boy wizard franchise.
When Radcliffe appeared on The Graham Norton Show and performed Tom Lehrer’s periodic table song from memory in its entirety, he captivated the audience and changed public perception of him in an instant.
Mid-interview, host Graham Norton unexpectedly asked Radcliffe if the rumors were true that he knew all the elements by heart. Radcliffe then seamlessly launched into the rapid-fire melody, effortlessly rattling off each element without missing a beat, as the delighted audience burst into thrilled applause.
For almost two straight minutes, Radcliffe dazzled viewers with his verbal volleys of “There’s antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium, and hydrogen and oxygen and nitrogen and rhenium…” Finishing the feat to an exuberant standing ovation from the crowd, Radcliffe cemented his place as more than just Harry Potter.
The Magical Moment that Made Radcliffe Realize His Love of Singing
While Radcliffe had dabbled in singing before his famous appearance on Norton – crooning a few bars here and there and musical numbers in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – performing “The Elements” was a watershed moment for him.
Radcliffe said singing the clever patter song made him recognize his talent and joy for performing musical numbers. The experience “reinvigorated my love of singing,” Radcliffe said, and made him seriously pursue singing on stage.
In various interviews over the years, he has credited the periodic table tune as the magical melody that motivated his theatrical singing career. If he hadn’t discovered how much fun Tom Lehrer’s song was to perform, Radcliffe admits he may never have starred in Broadway musicals and pursued roles that highlighted his pipes.
So while audiences may always associate Radcliffe with his wizarding past, we also have catchy chemistry mnemonics to thank for his performances in shows like How to Succeed in Business and Little Shop of Horrors.
The Legacy of “The Elements” In Daniel Radcliffe’s Singing Career
Since his fateful performance of Tom Lehrer’s clever ditty over a decade ago, Daniel Radcliffe continues to showcase his versatile talents on stage in singing roles.
In 2011, on the heels of his Graham Norton number, Radcliffe took on Broadway in a revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. As ambitious young window washer J. Pierrepont Finch, Radcliffe held his own vocally among Broadway veterans.
He even earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for the role. Featuring show-stopping musical performances like “Brotherhood of Man” and “I Believe in You,” Radcliffe proved his singing skills were more than just magical chemistry memorization.
After How to Succeed, Radcliffe continued expanding his repertoire in musicals, even debuting his own original songs. In 2016, Radcliffe appeared in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, trying his hand at rock vocals.
That same year, he released his own album of parody songs called The Guestbook, showing off his talents as both a singer and comedy writer. From his performances of songs like “I Love Wizards” and “Fuck the Pain Away,” it was clear Radcliffe was having fun blending music and comedy.
Most recently, Radcliffe leaned into more somber and dramatic vocals playing the lead role in Endgame at The Old Vic in London (2021), set in an apocalyptic world. As Clov, Radcliffe sang melancholy songs like “Tous les Jours” and darkly whimsical ditties like “The Grain.”
Critics hailed his haunting voice as perfectly matched to the bleak material, showing a whole new side to his singing abilities.
Over a decade since he first crooned Tom Lehrer’s catchy chemistry lesson, Radcliffe continues to showcase impressive range and dedication to singing. And it all traces back to the magical melody of “The Elements” catapulting his desire to perform show tunes for the world.
The Song That Radcliffe Still Loves to Sing
Even years later, Daniel Radcliffe has not forgotten the pivotal song that catalyzed his singing career. In a 2016 Tonight Show interview with Jimmy Fallon, he shared “The Elements” remains one of his favorite songs to perform.
When Fallon pulled out a periodic table, Radcliffe instantly lit up and the two joyfully sang sections of the educational melody together. Showing off the tune is still second nature, Radcliffe effortlessly fired off element names before excitedly geeking out about Tom Lehrer with Fallon.
Radcliffe says he even finds himself absent-mindedly singing the clever song under his breath sometimes when he spots elements around him. Proving his performance of the rapid-patter tune is now forever imprinted in his memory.
The actor maintains singing “The Elements” will always have a special place in his heart for making him recognize his musical talent and passion. The novelty song motivated him to explore singing further rather than playing it safe – allowing him to find a gratifying creative outlet he loves.
As Radcliffe told Fallon with a smile, “I have a lot to thank that song for…it’s always going to be one of my favorites.”
The Element of Inspiration: Tom Lehrer, Daniel Radcliffe, and the Power of Music
Tom Lehrer first dreamed up his coded melody to entertain friends and engage students about the periodic table. Over half a century later, his enduring song not only continues teaching chemistry in catchy fashion but helped inspire an actor’s singing career.
Daniel Radcliffe recognizing his joy and skill for theatrical singing from memorizing “The Elements” demonstrates music’s magical power. A simple, clever song served as the impetus for Radcliffe exploring a new avenue of creative expression through musical theater.
This whimsical story of how an offbeat periodic table tune motivated a world-famous actor shows how inspiration can come from unexpected places. The compelling intersection of chemistry and show business reveals the profound impact works of art and entertainment can have across disciplines and generations.
Both Tom Lehrer and Daniel Radcliffe exemplify using their artistic talents – whether music, acting, comedy or even chemistry – to bring more joy and connection into the world. Like Daniel Radcliffe falling in love with show tunes through performing “The Elements,” we all have the power to inspire others when we create from a place of passion.
