The unfurling of our lives can be such a strange, unpredictable thing. And as Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard so sagely put it, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Sometimes things go according to plan, and sometimes the random hand of fate causes a detour. Sometimes you’re living in comfortable early retirement after a string of hits in the 80s, and sometimes the fickle creature that is the internet decides to pluck your #1 song from the archives and turn it into a silly, cheery, global phenomenon that lasts for years. Such is the mysterious workings that British pop star Rick Astley has set himself to considering in his autobiography, Never, which was released in hardcover this week. Reflecting on the surprise career resurgence he found 20 years after “Never Gonna Give You Up” first hit the charts, Astley muses on how god only knows what he’d be without Rickrolling:
Rick Astley is as surprised as anyone that his career is still rolling.
The humble British singer-songwriter linked together forever with his No. 1 decade-defying pop-culture-ingrained hit from 1987, “Never Gonna Give You Up,” has experienced the glory of fan-swarming fame, the inevitable resulting exhaustion, the retreat into civilian family life and an unlikely comeback that renders him much more than a footnote of pop music.
In his autobiography “Never” (out Tuesday, Pan Macmillan, 292 pages, $30), Astley, who turns 59 on Feb. 6, is an even-keeled voice. From his challenging upbringing with his father and siblings living in a Portakabin in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, to becoming a jewel in the crown of Stock Aitken Waterman, the hit factory/British production team behind a parade of ‘80s songs, Astley’s story embodies the tenet of head down, plow forward.
…After essentially retiring at the age of 27 following a string of hits in the U.K. and U.S. including “Together Forever.” “It Would Take a Strong Strong Man” and “Cry for Help,” Astley, whose soulful voice always belied his choirboy visage, got married, had a daughter and enjoyed the money generated by his success.
But in 2007, while vacationing in Italy, Astley received an email from a friend with a seemingly random link, but after clicking on it was greeted with his video for “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Confused, Astley called his friend who laughed that he “Rickrolled Rick Astley!” and explained to the singer about the viral prank circulating online where you trick someone into watching Astley’s music video.
“I guess I could have been hugely offended by it,” Astley recalls in the book, “but I didn’t think it was really mean-spirited.”
He shrugged it off as an internet joke and took some satisfaction in younger generations hearing the song.
But then came the tens of millions of YouTube figures for the video, the sudden appearances during American sporting events and even a Twitter reference form the Obama-helmed White House and an unintended resurgence unfolded.
“I don’t know how my career would have turned out without Rickrolling, but it would be stupid to say it hasn’t ultimately done me a lot of good,” Astley writes.
Once again, I must apologize to my mother for not heeding the advice she devotedly peppered throughout my childhood: write a hit song and you’ll be rich for life! He was able to retire at 27?!?! I’m rethinking all my life choices now. My personal frustrations aside, I think Astley has the best possible attitude here. I mean, Rickrolling was something he genuinely couldn’t have seen coming, especially not in 2007! And we all know there are plenty of serious Artistes out there who would have made a show of being offended or misunderstood… until the royalties started pouring in. Not only did Rick Astley welcome Rickrolling with the fun spirit with which it was intended and executed (even if he “didn’t really get it,” at first), but he also grabbed the opportunity for a comeback. The only negative thing I have to say, actually, is that the title of his autobiography — Never — is, well, a bit negative! I get that it’s taken from the song title. But if I had to put one word to my life story, I wouldn’t want it to be “never.” I also wouldn’t want it to be “groak,” but that’s a story for another day.
photos credit: Adam Hampton-Matthews/Avalon, Justin Ng/Avalon, Getty and via Instagram
“Never gonna give you up” really got on my nerves, and I didn’t think much of Rick Astley.
So imagine my surprise upon finding out that he’s an excellent musician with a solid foundation in several instruments — and that he would have loved to be a successful drummer.
Love him! His covers of The Smiths songs are phenomenal!
I appreciate his great sense of humor about Rickrolling and am glad it has given him a resurgence.
The video is definitely “of its time” as they say, but now has over 1.6 billion views on YouTube, so I presume he has enough money that his children can by now also retire.
My now 14 year old son, loves a Rickroll. He and his friends did it all through middles school. I got them at the 8th grade graduation party and had that played as the last song 🙂
We would all have loved to retire at 27 haha. I think it’s not possible for most musicians now though, because it is no longer hard copies of singles or albums that people typically buy their music on so the revenue is much lower.
Love his voice. He’s the (ordinary looking) white guy with a big black person’s voice. His hit songs are catchy & his cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is wonderful.
I am glad he’s not a “problematic” person like some if his 80s & 90s mates, so that I can still listen his songs.
I will still Rickroll people if the opportunity presents itself.
Never gonna give it up!