Rick Astley's 1987 song "Never Gonna Give You Up" became a massive hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. However, it gained a new wave of popularity around 2005-2008 with the creation of the "Rickrolling" meme, where people would share a link or video that appeared to be something else, but would actually be the music video for Astley's song. The meme spread rapidly, with millions of people being "Rickrolled" and the song becoming a cultural phenomenon. Despite the joke being at his expense, Astley took it in stride and even found it amusing, never trying to capitalize on the meme or release new versions of the song. He accepted the newfound fame quietly and with grace, and has since spoken positively about the experience.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Rick Astley's song "Never Gonna Give You Up" was released in 1987.
2. The song was a number one single in the UK by the end of 1987.
3. In March 1988, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
4. Rick Astley was a teenager when he started a band called FBI in the early 1980s.
5. Pete Waterman of the songwriting production trio Stock Aitken Waterman discovered Rick Astley performing at a local club.
6. Rick Astley got a record deal with Stock Aitken Waterman after meeting Pete Waterman.
7. Rick Astley's first single, "When I Gonna," was a duet with Lisa Carter, but it did not do well.
8. Rick Astley's song "Never Gonna Give You Up" was created using a Fairlight CMI, a Yamaha DX7, and a Linn 9000.
9. The music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" was shot in an old church in London.
10. In 2005, an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" featured the song, which led to its increased popularity on the internet.
11. In 2006, a Michigan native named Erik Halwa got on a local radio sports talk show and played "Never Gonna Give You Up" instead of discussing sports.
12. The creator of the internet forum 4chan implemented a word filter that would replace the word "egg" with the word "duck," leading to the creation of the "duck roll" meme.
13. In March 2007, someone on 4chan used the "duck roll" method to link to the music video for Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," creating the "Rickroll" meme.
14. By 2008, 18 million American adults had been "Rickrolled," according to a survey USA poll.
15. Rick Astley has been "Rickrolled" himself and has taken it in stride, even participating in Rickrolling events.
16. In 2018, the creators of HBO's Westworld released a video that was supposed to include spoilers for the next season, but it was just the lead actress singing "Never Gonna Give You Up."
17. Rick Astley has been Rickrolled at college basketball games, on YouTube, and even by the San Diego Padres.
18. Rick Astley did not capitalize on the meme by releasing a new version of the song or a remix.
19. Rick Astley has said that he has no problem with Rickrolling and that it has done him a lot of good.