History Music / RickAstley

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums ''Whenever You Need Somebody'' (1987) and ''Hold Me in Your Arms'' (1988) helmed by [[Music/StockAitkenWaterman Stock, Aitken, and Waterman]], Astley changed his sound with his third album ''Free'' (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as JustForFun/{{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade. Astley's astonishingly adroit handling of the Rickroll phenomenon was, years later, explained by him [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1FWJJAKz30 on the Graham Norton show]] as having been given a crash course in meme culture by his then-teenage daughter, who bluntly informed him that "it's got ''nothing'' to do with you". His positive attitude did much to endear him to Millennials and he's found himself a new generation of (mostly) non-ironic fans. (No fool, he always sings "Never Gonna Give You Up" last at concerts. To be fair, it's lyrically quite fitting as a farewell song.) In 2016 he turned fifty, released the album ''50'' and saw it go straight to number one on the UK album charts.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The effect of the Macy's Parade JustForFun/{{Rickroll}} was weakened somewhat due to the intro stating Rick Astley would be making a guest appearance. Subverted since he did not appear anywhere in the promotional materials, such as the New York Daily News' annual guide to the parade.

* HeAlsoDid: Composed the music for the 2004 short film ''Film/{{Cashback}}''.

Richard Paul "Rick" Astley (born 6 February 1966, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Astley is married to producer Lene Bausager and has one daughter. Astley has released or appeared on recordings that have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. He is best known for his 1987 hit single in 16 countries, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ "Never Gonna Give You Up"]].

!!This singer provides examples of:

->''"Duh doom, duh doom, duh doom, pada da da."''

Richard Paul "Rick" Astley (born 6 February 1966, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Astley is married to producer Lene Bausager and has one daughter. Astley has released or appeared on recordings that have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. He is best known for his 1987 hit single in 16 countries, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ Never Gonna Give You Up]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPYZpwSpKmA Together Forever]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeyEGebJ1l4 Whenever You Need Somebody]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEcXEk3zWXA She Wants To Dance With Me (Extended Version)]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRfPon9vmU Cry for Help]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9LH6lvrzAU Sleeping]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgUrqGFxV3Q Lights Out]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQRN5OWgBw Take Me To Your Heart]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC3Ejf7vPEY Keep Singing]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc91EfoBh8A Angels On My Side]]

->''"[[{{Rickroll}} Duh doom, duh doom, duh doom, pada da da]]."''

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums ''Whenever You Need Somebody'' (1987) and ''Hold Me in Your Arms'' (1988) helmed by [[Music/StockAitkenWaterman Stock, Aitken, and Waterman]], Astley changed his sound with his third album ''Free'' (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as {{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade. Astley's astonishingly adroit handling of the Rickroll phenomenon was, years later, explained by him [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1FWJJAKz30 on the Graham Norton show]] as having been given a crash course in meme culture by his then-teenage daughter, who bluntly informed him that "it's got ''nothing'' to do with you". His positive attitude did much to endear him to Millennials and he's found himself a new generation of (mostly) non-ironic fans. (No fool, he always sings "Never Gonna Give You Up" last at concerts. To be fair, it's lyrically quite fitting as a farewell song.) In 2016 he turned fifty, released the album ''50'' and saw it go straight to number one on the UK album charts.

* AscendedMeme: Pretty much cemented when he personally Rickrolled the UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade in 2008.

* {{Rickroll}}: He is the trope himself.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The effect of the Macy's Parade Rickroll was weakened somewhat due to the intro stating Rick Astley would be making a guest appearance. Subverted since he did not appear anywhere in the promotional materials, such as the New York Daily News' annual guide to the parade.

[[caption-width-right:291:He's never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you.]]

!!Rick Astley's videos:

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums ''Whenever You Need Somebody'' (1987) and ''Hold Me in Your Arms'' (1988) helmed by [[Music/StockAitkenWaterman Stock, Aitken, and Waterman]], Astley changed his sound with his third album ''Free'' (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as {{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade. Astley's astonishingly adroit handling of the Rickroll phenomenon was, years later, explained by him [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1FWJJAKz30 on the Graham Norton show]] as having been given a crash course in meme culture by his then-teenage daughter, who bluntly informed him that "it's got ''nothing'' to do with you". His positive attitude did much to endear him to Millennials and he's found himself a new generation of (mostly) non-ironic fans. In 2016 he turned fifty, released the album ''50'' and saw it go straight to number one on the UK album charts.

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums ''Whenever You Need Somebody'' (1987) and ''Hold Me in Your Arms'' (1988) helmed by [[Music/StockAitkenWaterman Stock, Aitken, and Waterman]], Astley changed his sound with his third album ''Free'' (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as {{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade. In 2016 he turned fifty, released the album ''50'' and saw it go straight to number one on the UK album charts.

* OrbitalShot: His Lights Out music video.

* OverlyPrepreparedGag: That ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' "lead-up" went on for so long that it would have been perfectly reasonable to turn to another show ''and miss the payoff completely.''

'''Richard Paul "Rick" Astley''' (born 6 February 1966, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Astley is married to producer Lene Bausager and has one daughter. Astley has released or appeared on recordings that have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. He is best known for his 1987 hit single in 16 countries, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]].

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums Whenever You Need Somebody (1987) and Hold Me in Your Arms (1988) helmed by [[Music/StockAitkenWaterman Stock, Aitken, and Waterman]], Astley changed his sound with his third album Free (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as {{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade. In 2016 he turned fifty, released the album ''50'' and saw it go straight to number one on the UK album charts.

* StepUpToTheMicrophone: Played with - Rick's first instrument was the drums and he often takes over drumming for a cover song during his sets while still singing - notably he bashes out a rocking version of "Highway to Hell" by Music/ACDC in some concerts.

* SillyLoveSongs: In all fairness, "Never Gonna Give You Up" it's a great love song.

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums Whenever You Need Somebody (1987) and Hold Me in Your Arms (1988) helmed by [[Music/StockAitkenWaterman Stock, Aitken, and Waterman]], Astley changed his sound with his third album Free (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as {{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade.

* TheEighties

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums Whenever You Need Somebody (1987) and Hold Me in Your Arms (1988) helmed by [[Music/StockAitkenandWaterman]] Astley changed his sound with his third album Free (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as {{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade.

After 2 successful dance-pop studio albums Whenever You Need Somebody (1987) and Hold Me in Your Arms (1988) helmed by Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, Astley changed his sound with his third album Free (1991), preferring to focus on ballads. However, fading into obscurity in the 1990s, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when he became a MemeticMutation, as his video for [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]] became part of a popular meme known as {{Rickroll}}ing. Astley was voted by Internet users "Best Act Ever" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. He even performed a Rickroll ''live in person'' on the Creator/CartoonNetwork float at the 2008 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade.

->''"[[{{Rickroll}} Duh doom, duh doom]], [[EpicRiff duh doom, pada da da]]."''

* VocalEvolution: As seen in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyMHZVT91Dw this]] video, his voice has gotten lower and more soulful over the years. You can tell because the backing track is in a lower key, and he doesn't hit any of the hight notes (e.g. "You know the rules, and ''so do'' I").

Richard Paul "Rick" Astley (born 6 February 1966, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Astley is married to producer Lene Bausager and has one daughter. Astley has released or appeared on recordings that have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. He is best known for his 1987 hit single in 16 countries, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvJ3fSlXww "Never Gonna Give You Up"]].