Little Sister (Queens of the Stone Age song)

Last updated
"Little Sister"
Queens of the Stone Age - Little Sister.jpg
Single by Queens of the Stone Age
from the album Lullabies to Paralyze
ReleasedDecember 2004 (promotional)
March 7, 2005 (commercial)
Genre
Length2:54
Label Interscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Queens of the Stone Age singles chronology
"First It Giveth"
(2003)
"Little Sister"
(2004)
"In My Head"
(2005)

"Little Sister" is the first single released by the rock group Queens of the Stone Age from their fourth album Lullabies to Paralyze . It was first issued as a promotional single in December 2004, but was later released as a commercial single on March 7, 2005. The song was recorded live in the studio in one take.

Contents

Background

The song had been in the works for quite a while. An early version was recorded with Dave Grohl in 2002 for the album Songs for the Deaf , but was scrapped. The unfinished recording was later distributed on a bootleg recording compilation. According to Josh Homme, the song was inspired by the "sort of sexual twist" of Doc Pomus's song of the same name, which is probably best known as recorded by Elvis Presley: "I like the amalgam of imagery that it puts forward, that throwing a little pebble at the girl's windows late at night, you know, trying to creep in the back door, you know. And I also love the Elvis song 'Little Sister' because I like the sort of sexual twist that's put on by 'little sister don't you do what your big sister done." [1]

Live performances

When this song was performed on Saturday Night Live on May 14, 2005, actor/comedian Will Ferrell, who hosted the show, came onstage and played the cowbell as fictional Blue Öyster Cult member Gene Frenkle. This was a reprise of a role that Ferrell played in a famous 2000 sketch in which actor Christopher Walken demands, "More cowbell!" during the studio recording of that band's famous song, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", much to the chagrin of the rest of the band. The cowbell sound is in fact made by a jam block, as seen on the music video for the song; however, since his arrival in 2013, the band's subsequent drummer Jon Theodore has used a cowbell during live performances of the song. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has performed the song twice with the band, in 2011 at his own PJ20 festival playing the jam block and in 2013 at Lollapalooza Chile playing the cowbell, also providing backing vocals on both occasions.

Other uses

The song has been featured in the show Entourage . It has also been featured in the video games Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition , Colin McRae: Dirt 2 , and Project Gotham Racing 3 . Additionally, it appears in the music video game series Rock Band as downloadable content individually or in a 3-song pack along with two other Queens of the Stone Age songs, "3's and 7's" and "Sick, Sick, Sick". It also appears as downloadable content for Rocksmith 2014 and can be bought individually or as a 5-song pack also including the songs, "No One Knows", "3's & 7's" , "Make It wit Chu", and "I Appear Missing".

Music video

The music video features the band playing in a dark room, with Josh Homme sporting a longer hair style, and girls dancing in the back behind a silhouette screen.

Track listings

CD:

  1. "Little Sister" (Album Version) - 2:57
  2. "The Blood Is Love" (Contradictator Remix) - 5:24
  3. "Little Sister" (CD-ROM video)

CD Maxi Single:

  1. "Little Sister" (Album Version) - 2:57
  2. "The Blood Is Love" (Contradictator Remix) - 5:24
  3. "Little Sister" (Contradictator Remix) - 3:29

7" (Picture Disc):

  1. "Little Sister" (Album Version) - 2:57
  2. "Little Sister" (Contradictator Remix) - 3:29

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2004–2005)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [2] 40
Canada Rock Top 30 ( Radio & Records ) [3] 5
Germany (GfK Entertainment Charts) [4] 65
Ireland (IRMA) [5] 34
Italy (FIMI) [6] 40
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [7] 55
UK Singles (OCC) [8] 18
US Billboard Hot 100 [9] 88
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [10] 2
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [11] 13

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [12] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens of the Stone Age</span> American rock band

Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band formed in 1996 in Seattle, Washington. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme, who has been the only constant member throughout multiple lineup changes. Since 2013, the lineup has consisted of Homme alongside Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita, and Jon Theodore. The band also has a large pool of contributors and collaborators. Queens of the Stone Age are known for their blues, Krautrock and electronica-influenced style of riff-oriented and rhythmic hard rock music, coupled with Homme's distinct falsetto vocals and unorthodox guitar scales.

<i>Queens of the Stone Age</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age is the debut studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released by Loosegroove Records on September 22, 1998. It was primarily written and recorded in April 1998 by founding member Josh Homme and his former Kyuss bandmate Alfredo Hernández, with Hernández playing drums and Homme singing and playing the rest of the instruments. Homme also produced the album alongside Joe Barresi. Bassist Nick Oliveri, also a former member of Kyuss, would join the band by the time of the album's release. Queens of the Stone Age received generally positive reviews from critics, who placed it in the stoner rock genre and drew comparisons to krautrock bands such as Neu! and Can, as well as to Kyuss and other metal bands.

<i>Rated R</i> (Queens of the Stone Age album) 2000 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

Rated R is the second studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It was released on June 6, 2000, by Interscope Records. Rated R was the band's first album for the label, as well as their first to feature bassist Nick Oliveri and vocalist Mark Lanegan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Homme</span> American musician

Joshua Michael Homme is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the founder and only continuous member of the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, which he formed in 1996. Homme is the band's primary songwriter and mainly sings lead vocals and plays guitar. He also plays drums in the rock band Eagles of Death Metal, which he co-founded in 1998.

<i>Lullabies to Paralyze</i> 2005 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

Lullabies to Paralyze is the fourth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on March 22, 2005. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, and sold 97,000 copies in America during its first week of release, eventually topping over 342,000 copies as of March, 2007 according to Nielsen Soundscan. The album has been certified gold in the UK, where it has sold over 100,000 units. It is also the band's first album to be released after bassist Nick Oliveri was fired from the band. Singer/guitarist Josh Homme and singer Mark Lanegan are the only members from the previous album, Songs for the Deaf, to play on this album and it is the first album to feature drummer Joey Castillo and guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No One Knows</span> 2002 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"No One Knows" is a song by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age written by band members Josh Homme and Mark Lanegan. It was the first single and second track from their third album, Songs for the Deaf, and was released on November 26, 2002. "No One Knows" was a chart success, becoming the band's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and their only single to top the US Alternative charts. The song was also critically acclaimed, receiving a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 2003 Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Van Leeuwen</span> American rock musician and producer

Troy Van Leeuwen is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist in the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, with whom he has recorded five studio albums. Joining the band in 2002, he is the second-longest-serving member of the band, after founding member Josh Homme. Van Leeuwen is also a member of the supergroup Gone Is Gone and has fronted his own projects, Enemy and Sweethead. As of 2021, Van Leeuwen is a co-producer and musical contributor to the anonymous American hardcore punk musical collective the Armed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Cowbell</span> Saturday Night Live sketch

"More Cowbell" is a comedy sketch that aired on Saturday Night Live on April 8, 2000. The sketch was written by regular cast member Will Ferrell and playwright Donnell Campbell and depicts the recording of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult. The sketch stars guest host Christopher Walken as music producer Bruce Dickinson, and Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, whose overzealous playing annoys his bandmates but pleases producer Dickinson. The sketch also features Chris Parnell as Eric Bloom, Jimmy Fallon as Bobby Rondinelli, Chris Kattan as Buck Dharma and Horatio Sanz as Joe Bouchard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In My Head (Queens of the Stone Age song)</span> 2005 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"In My Head" is a single released by the rock group Queens of the Stone Age on June 27, 2005, from their fourth album Lullabies to Paralyze. The song originally featured as a track from The Desert Sessions, appearing on Volume 10: I Heart Disco in 2003 where it was named "In My Head...Or Something".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First It Giveth</span> 2003 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"First It Giveth" is a song by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age from their album Songs for the Deaf. It was released as a single on August 18, 2003, peaking at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is about the role drugs play in the process of making music. When asked in an interview if it is easier to make music on drugs, Josh Homme said "Well I think we have a song that about this subject called First they Giveth, then They Taketh away, and I think at first you can draw inspiration and then eventually, it negates any inspiration."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burn the Witch (Queens of the Stone Age song)</span> 2006 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"Burn the Witch" is the third single released from Queens of the Stone Age's fourth album, Lullabies to Paralyze. Many of its lyrics run parallel with the dark, folkloristic theme for this album.

<i>Era Vulgaris</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

Era Vulgaris is the fifth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. Recorded from July 2006 to April 2007, it was released on July 20, 2007 in the United Kingdom and July 21 in the United States, being released on July 29 in other countries. The single "Sick, Sick, Sick" was released in May, followed by second single "3's & 7's" in early June, and third single "Make It wit Chu" in October. The album debuted at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 charts, selling 52,000 copies in its first week. It reached top ten positions in other countries, such as No. 7 in the UK, No. 5 in Canada, and No. 4 in Australia. It was the band's last album on Interscope Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens of the Stone Age discography</span>

The discography of Queens of the Stone Age, an American rock band, consists of eight studio albums, one live album, three extended plays, fourteen singles, three promotional singles and twenty music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sick, Sick, Sick</span> 2007 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"Sick, Sick, Sick" is a song by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age from their 2007 album Era Vulgaris. It was released as a digital download from the U.S. iTunes Store on May 8, 2007. The song features Julian Casablancas of The Strokes on backing vocals and synth guitar. An EP also called Sick, Sick, Sick was given a limited release, containing the title track and three B-sides: a remix of "I'm Designer" and covers of Tom Waits' "Goin' Out West" and Elliott Smith's "Christian Brothers".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3's & 7's</span> 2007 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"3's & 7's" is the second single by Queens of the Stone Age from their 2007 album Era Vulgaris. It was released on June 4, 2007 and followed the digital download-only "Sick, Sick, Sick". The single debuted at number one on the UK Rock & Metal Chart and number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make It wit Chu</span>

"Make It wit Chu" is the third single by Queens of the Stone Age from their 2007 album Era Vulgaris.

<i>...Like Clockwork</i> 2013 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

...Like Clockwork is the sixth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on June 3, 2013, on Matador Records in the UK, and on June 4 in the United States. Self-produced by the band, it is the first Queens of the Stone Age album to feature full contributions from bassist Michael Shuman and keyboardist and guitarist Dean Fertita, who both joined the band in 2007 to tour in support of the band's fifth studio album, Era Vulgaris, and record its bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My God Is the Sun</span> 2013 single by Queens of the Stone Age

"My God Is the Sun" is the first single by Queens of the Stone Age from their sixth studio album, ...Like Clockwork (2013). The band debuted the song at Lollapalooza Brazil on March 30, 2013. The studio version of the single debuted on BBC Radio 1 on April 8, 2013, and became available for download with preorders of the album.

<i>Villains</i> (Queens of the Stone Age album) 2017 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

Villains is the seventh studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on August 25, 2017 through Matador. The album was announced on June 14, with a teaser trailer taking the form of a comedy skit featuring the band performing a polygraph test with Liam Lynch. The first single, "The Way You Used to Do", was released the following day along with the announcement of a world tour. Villains is the first Queens of the Stone Age album to not feature any special guest musicians, the second to not feature Mark Lanegan, and the first to feature Jon Theodore as full time member of the band.

References

  1. "Queens of the Stone Age - Artikel - Queens of the Stone Age Interview". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  2. "Queens of the Stone Age – Little Sister". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  3. "RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). p. 59. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (The user has to search "Queens of the Stone Age")". offiziellecharts.de (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  5. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Queens of the Stone Age". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  6. "Queens of the Stone Age – Little Sister". Top Digital Download. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  7. "Queens of the Stone Age – Little Sister" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  8. "Queens of the Stone Age: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  9. "Queens of the Stone Age Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  10. "Queens of the Stone Age Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  11. "Queens of the Stone Age Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  12. "British single certifications – Queens of the Stone Age – Little Sister". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved November 10, 2023.