More Cowbell

Sometimes Elder Davis shares favorite things from his past with the young single adults in Riga, Latvia and they, in eagerness share his delight and enjoyment....like when he showed the Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life".  The YSA's liked it and embraced the great message of the movie.

Another example  of his sharing "old things" was when he shared the song, "Hey Paula" (1962) by that well known group Paul and Paula with Dimitrijs and Marina.

That is the type of song that once you have heard it, gets into your head, sticks to your brain and when you least expect it, you will burst out in song to the amusement of those around you.  Well, that is what happened to the engaged couple as they were walking around the streets of Riga trying to find a suit for their wedding.  The song just kept coming to their minds and they sang it together:

Hey, hey, Paula, I want to marry you...

Hey, hey, Paula, no one else will ever do.

I've waited so long...for school to be through

Paula, I can't wait no more for you...

                                                 My love....my love.

Now just think about that. These are two "kids" who weren't even born when that song was written. Not only that but they are Russian speaking....English isn't even their second language, it's their third. And yet when they were back at our apartment, Marina wanted to listen to the words again so she could sing it on the very long bus ride back to Moscow.

Then we had spunky little Agneta over for a few nights when she was going through a rough time and Elder Davis shared the "laughing Elvis" version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis Presley. If you haven't heard THAT classic, look it up on YouTube.  It is a recording of Elvis singing in Las Vegas and he sees a bald man in the audience and changes the words to the song...and then CAN'T control his laughter.  It is infectious and Elder Davis uses it to cheer up the YSA's when they get down.

So last night, Marta B. texted us with this message:  

"I've got a fever". 

 For you die-hard, classic Saturday Night Live fans, you may know where this very unmissionary post is going.
Sister Davis's first thought was, "Oh no!  We are planning a temple trip to Sweden and now one of our YSA's is sick!"   So she slowly texts this message back to Marta:
 "Take an aspirin and get some sleep. If you aren't better tomorrow we will get you a priesthood blessing." 


Just after she sent the text...she receives this text message back from darling Marta:

"And the only prescription is MORE COWBELL!"

A moment of shock... and then a burst of laughter from Sister Davis.

Yes, Elder Davis had shared this classic Saturday Night Live sketch starring Will Farrell and Christopher Walken with Marta several weeks ago. In the sketch, Walken portrays a fictional music producer and Will Farrell a member of a rock band who happens to play the cowbell. At the climax of the skit, Walken exclaims: "Guess what?  I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!"

Sister Davis realizes most of you do not need to be told what this sketch is about but her mother reads this blog and probably has no clue what "more cowbell" means. And since said mother doesn't know what YouTube is either, she needs to explain the sketch.  If you don't know what Sister Davis is talking about either...just go online and type in "more cowbell" and watch the video.

More Cowbell has become a pop-culture phrase ever since this skit came out in the year 2000...but the Latvian YSA's didn't know that until Elder Davis introduced it to them. And now they are playing practical jokes on us using our own comedy sketches!

How very funny!

Thanks Marta for making our evening more fun...

and we are glad you aren't really sick.