What does “more cowbell” mean?
More cowbell is a pop-culture catchphrase that stems from a comedy sketch about 1970s rock music. The sketch centers around a character who seems to believe that the cowbell, a simple percussion instrument, is the secret ingredient to make a song work. More cowbell can stand in for anything that a person is longing for or feels is lacking.
Where did more cowbells come from?
More cowbell originated with a Saturday Night Live sketch that aired in 2000. In a parody of VH1’s series Behind the Music, Will Ferrell plays Gene Frenkle, the fictional cowbell player for Blue Öyster Cult, as the band records its song “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” The other band members ask Frenkle...
Is Cowbell a countable noun?
2) The cowbell, in addition to being a countable noun, is also an instrument. Now, let's take a break and watch an excerpt from the skit in question. The skit is a reenactment and parody of the studio recording of the song " (Don't Fear) The Reaper " by the band Blue Öyster Cult. The guy screaming "I gotta have more cowbell" is the producer.
What is the meaning of the cowbell sketch?
The sketch centers around a character who seems to believe that the cowbell, a simple percussion instrument, is the secret ingredient to make a song work. More cowbell can stand in for anything that a person is longing for or feels is lacking. The phrase may also be used as a simple shout-out to other fans of the sketch.
What is the meaning of a cow bell?
/ˈkau.bel/ a bell that is hung from a cow's neck so that the cow can be found, or a metal musical instrument in the shape of such a bell that is hit with a stick.
Who coined the phrase more cowbell?
Ferrell, dressed in '70s rocker garb, emphatically played along to the tune of Blue Oyster Cult's “Don't Fear the Reaper,” as Walken – in the role of music producer Bruce Dickinson – uttered the legendary phrase: “I've got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell.”
Who asked for more cowbell?
Christopher Walken first asked for “more cowbell” 21 years ago tonight on Saturday Night Live, generating a viral moment and many memes long before most of us typed the words “viral” and “meme” as commonplace slang. Wait.
Where did we need more cowbell come from?
Performed in April of 2000, “More Cowbell” starred Christopher Walken as producer “The Bruce Dickinson” and Will Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, along with other SNL cast members as the band Blue Öyster Cult in a parody of their recording session for “(Don't Fear) The Reaper.”
Is there really a cowbell in don't fear the reaper?
While the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult does indeed include a cowbell playing throughout the song, its sound is largely drowned out by the rest of the instruments.
How do you play cowbell?
0:001:18How to Play the Cowbell - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust tap gently on the top of the cowbell to play on the mouth use the shoulder or the edge of theMoreJust tap gently on the top of the cowbell to play on the mouth use the shoulder or the edge of the stick to play on the mouth of the bell.
What strain is more cowbell?
More Cowbell is an Indica-dominant hybrid strain of cannabis first grown by world-renowned Bodhi Seeds.
What movie is more cowbell from?
In it, the guest host played Blue Oyster Cult producer Bruce Dickinson, who instructs fictional band member Gene Frenkle — portrayed by then-cast member Will Ferrell — to use “more cowbell” on the group's landmark hit “Don't Fear the Reaper.”
Why do Swiss cows wear cowbells?
The system of cows wearing bells is dating centuries back. The bell is attached with a belt to the neck of the cow. The main function was for a shepherd to keep track of where their cattle is located. Most of the time the cows are grazing in a group, in this way they produce a significant volume of sound.
What movie is more cowbell from?
In it, the guest host played Blue Oyster Cult producer Bruce Dickinson, who instructs fictional band member Gene Frenkle — portrayed by then-cast member Will Ferrell — to use “more cowbell” on the group's landmark hit “Don't Fear the Reaper.”
Who is Bruce Dickinson SNL?
Christopher WalkenIn one of the most popular SNL sketches of all time, Christopher Walken played fictional producer “THE Bruce Dickinson” manically inciting the band's percussionist (played by a spatially challenged Will Ferrell) to pile on “More cowbell!
Did Will Ferrell play the cowbell?
Ferrell stars in the sketch as the band's fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, alongside Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon. The Step Brothers star told Fallon in 2019 that the sketch's enduring popularity actually had some drawbacks.
Why is there more cowbell in Don't Fear the Reaper?
More Cowbell. More cowbell is the reason that Blue Oyster Cult's mega-hit " Don't Fear the Reaper " reached such height s. While recording the song, the cowbell track was barely audible. It was the sharp ear of the producer who stepped in and demanded " more cowbell .". (After all, he did know how to make hit records.)
Who played the cowbell in Saturday Night Live?
A phrase that came into popular culture through a Saturday Night Live skit with Will Farrell. In the skit, Farrell portrayed a member of the 80s rock band Blue Oyster Cult as they recorded their classic hit " Don't Fear the Reaper " in the studio. Farrell played the cowbell quite forcefully on that track, much to the dismay of the rest of the band.
Did Farrell play cowbells on Rihanna?
Yet surprisingly, the studio producer loved Farrell's cowbell playing, and demanded "more cowbell" on the track. That was brilliant, man, the track needs more cowbell! Get a more cowbell mug for your fish Rihanna.
What is the song "More Cowbell"?
More Cowbell. " More Cowbell " is a comedy sketch that aired on Saturday Night Live on April 8, 2000. The sketch is presented as an episode of VH1 's documentary series Behind the Music that fictionalizes the recording of the song " (Don't Fear) The Reaper " by Blue Öyster Cult.
Why does the band stop playing cowbells?
The first take seems to go well but the band stops playing because the cowbell part is rather loud and distracting. Dickinson, to the surprise of most of the band, asks for "a little more cowbell" and suggests that the cowbell player, Gene Frenkle ( Will Ferrell ), "really explore the studio space this time".
Why did Ferrell claim that the More Cowbell sketch ruined Walken's life?
Ferrell claimed in 2019 that this "More Cowbell" sketch "ruined" Walken's life because Walken is best known by the general public for his role in this sketch. In The Lord of the Rings Online MMORPG, there is an item that can be used for music generation called the "Moor Cowbell".
When was the Cowbell sketch on Saturday Night Live?
Original air date. April 8, 2000. Guests. Christopher Walken. " More Cowbell " is a comedy sketch that aired on Saturday Night Live on April 8, 2000. The sketch is presented as an episode of VH1 's documentary series Behind the Music that fictionalizes the recording of the song " (Don't Fear) The Reaper " by Blue Öyster Cult.
Who played the cowbell in Agents of Fortune?
Producer David Lucas, on his website and in interviews when he was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, says that he was the one who played the cowbell.
Who plays the cowbell in the band?
The rest of the band expresses frustration with Frenkle, but Dickinson remains focused only on getting more cowbell onto the track.
Does the song "Don't Fear the Reaper" have a cowbell?
While the song " (Don't Fear) The Reaper " by Blue Öyster Cult does indeed feature a cowbell playing throughout the song, its sound is largely drowned out by the rest of the instruments. According to Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, the lead singer and author-composer of the song, the sketch accurately portrays the band's look during the 1970s, but it inaccurately portrays some of the details of the actual recording:
What does "more cowbell" mean on Facebook?
Thus, when one sees members of the congregation posting "More cowbell!" to Facebook, the meaning is "we would like to have another cowbell service!" To the uninitiated, however, it looks as if it is a chic cultural reference to the SNL skit.
Why is it called "more cowbells" and not "more cowbells"?
The phrase is "more cowbell" and not "more cowbells" because Walken is asking that the one cowbell that's there be played more loudly.
What is a cowbell service?
Some independent Baptist churches (at least in West Virginia, USA) have cowbell services that features several preachers presenting brief sermons in quick succession. Each preacher has a time limit (five minutes to ten minutes time limits are common.) If the preacher goes over the proscribed time limit, the moderator rings a cowbell, which is the preacher's signal to wrap it up. This bell gives the service its name.
Is "more cowbell" a joke?
The "more cowbell" joke can now be seen all over US pop culture, though at this point, I have to say it feels rather stale. While it's not an idiom, you could call it a "pop culture reference" or "meme".
Overview
"More Cowbell" is a comedy sketch that aired on Saturday Night Live on April 8, 2000. The sketch, which fictionalizes the recording of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult, features guest host Christopher Walken as music producer "The Bruce Dickinson", and regular cast member Will Ferrell, who wrote the sketch with playwright Donnell Campbell, as fictional cowbell player Gene F…
Synopsis
An episode of VH1's Behind the Music documenting the band Blue Öyster Cult showcases footage of the group from a 1976 recording session that produced the band's biggest hit, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". The producer (played by Christopher Walken) introduces himself as "The Bruce Dickinson" and tells the band they have "what appears to be a dynamite sound". The first take seems to go well but the band stops playing because the cowbell part is rather loud and distracti…
Cast
• Jimmy Fallon as Albert Bouchard (incorrectly referred to as Bobby) on drums
• Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle on cowbell
• Chris Kattan as Buck Dharma on guitar
• Chris Parnell as Eric Bloom on lead vocals and guitar
Production
Will Ferrell's idea for the sketch came from hearing "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" over the years: "Every time I heard [the song], I would hear the faint cowbell in the background and wonder, 'What is that guy's life like?'" He co-wrote the sketch with friend and playwright Donnell Campbell. Ferrell first submitted it for the episode with Norm Macdonald as host, which aired on October 23, 1999. SNL c…
Comedy versus reality
While the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult does indeed include a cowbell playing throughout the song, its sound is largely drowned out by the rest of the instruments. According to Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, the lead singer and author-composer of the song, the sketch accurately portrays the band's look during the 1970s, but it inaccurately portrays some of the details of the actual recording:
Reception
The sketch's offbeat nature, as well as the actors breaking character, made the sketch an immediate fan favorite. Marc Spitz called it "one of the first super-memes of the new century" in the New York Times. Walken continued to hear from fans about the sketch in years afterward: "I hear about it everywhere I go. It's been YEARS, and all anybody brings up is 'COW-bell.' I guess you never know what's gonna click." Ferrell even speculates that it "ruined" Walken's life.
In popular culture
Will Ferrell has since played the cowbell along other artists, either in character as Gene Frenkle or as himself.
On May 14, 2005, on an episode that Will Ferrell hosted, the Gene Frenkle character made a reappearance on the set of Saturday Night Live as musical guest Queens of the Stone Age played their first song of the night, "Little Sister" – which features a jam block, an instrument similar to …
External links
• More Cowbell on YouTube
• "Even More Cowbell!". Wired. August 2005. A timeline of the catchphrase