The "Keyboard Cat" meme features footage of a cat named Fatso playing a small keyboard, originally titled "Charlie Schmidt's Cool Cat." IN 2009, Brad O'Farrell combined Schmidt's cat footage (without asking permission) with footage of a man in a wheelchair falling down an escalator. Eventually, a meme formed around the concept and several thousand similar videos have already been created.
In the meme, footage of people hurting themselves or "failing" is followed by the footage of keyboard cat "playing [them] off." The overall effect is reminiscent of TV's The Gong Show or unpopular vaudeville acts receiving "the hook" mid-performance. Popular examples include a man falling off a treadmill and clips from a 1980's made-for-TV film starring Helen Hunt followed by shots of keyboard cat.
Charlie Schmidt's "Cool Cat"
The original footage of Fatso the Cat (now deceased) playing a keyboard. This clip is combined with other videos - usually involving people having accidents or failing at some activity - to create a Keyboard Cat Meme entry.
Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat
Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat
Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat
Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat
Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat
Keyboard Cat: True Internet Story
A parody of E!'s True Hollywood Story, purporting to relate the true story behind the Keyboard Cat phenomenon.
Keyboard Cat History Explained in Detail by RocketBoom
The team at RocketBook explain the history of the keyboard cat meme in great detail. They discuss the origination of the cat clip from the 1980's and how it made it's way to internet fame in 2009.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Original keyboard cat YouTube video is called Charlie Schmidt's "Cool Cat"YouTube: Charlie Schmidt's "Cool Cat" (Time: 0:54)
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According the information listed next to the video Charlie Schmidt's cat's name is FatsoYouTube: Charlie Schmidt's "Cool Cat" (Time: 0:54)
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Fatso, the keyboard cat, plays two songs on the videoYouTube: Charlie Schmidt's "Cool Cat" (Time: 0:54)
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Charlie Schmidt, the keyboard cat's owner, describes himself as a professional graphic designer, actor, inventor, movie maker, sculptor, among many other professionalsCharlie Schmidt: About
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Information provided with the video jokes that $1,850 was spent on cat piano lessonsYouTube: Charlie Schmidt's "Cool Cat" (Time: 0:54)
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A collection of various video versions can be seen on PlayHimOffKeyboardCat.comUrlesque: Keyboard Cat is Our New Obsession (April 10, 2009)
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Other YouTube users have been uploading their own versions of Play Him/Her Off, Keyboard Cat
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The Daily Dish on May 5, 2009 listed the Keyboard Cat, along with Susan Boyle singing at age 22 as among the most popular videos of the dayDaily Dish: The Daily Wrap (May 5, 2009)
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A meme is a sliver of cultural information or idea that is shared in a repetitious manner
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The origins of most Internet memes are unknownGuardian: Know Your Meme (April 11, 2009)
