Music News

Blog Chatter

What are tags?

List

rilaza2005 on Lopez-Anthony Baby on Italian Vacation
Arrowpump on Anheuser-Busch Sues Unwanted Suitor
krrysknr on NY psychiatrist: Brinkley, Cook need therapy
Sheptim on Oil down more than $8 in 2 days
mchfoun on Martin Joins Hendrick Racing

Feed

Top stories submitted and voted on from Propeller.

Rick Astley Rolls Back Up the Charts

By Katie Hasty,

Reuters

Posted: 2008-04-05 10:02:51

Filed Under: Music News, Viral Video

NEW YORK (April 5) - It's been more than 20 years since Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" topped the Billboard Hot 100, but it is once again infiltrating the public consciousness thanks to the phenomenon known as "RickRolling."

Around March 2007, bloggers and online social networkers started casually linking to the song's nostalgically '80s music video via YouTube. RickRolling was a psych-out for readers who would click on tantalizing hyperlinks, only to fall prey to a young Astley's blonde bouffant and idiosyncratic dance moves.

Anyone clicking on any of YouTube's 'Featured Videos' on April 1 received quite the April Fools shock when they were 'RickRolled' and sent straight to Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' video.

RickRolling has since taken on a life of its own, with YouTube users creating their own lip-synced routines and real-life RickRoll interruptions at, say, a Scientology protest or board meeting, often with the refrain "You've been RickRolled."

The movement has spurred digital sales for the track, which has sold at least 1,000 downloads per week since late December and peaked with 2,500 sales the week of March 9.

On April Fools' Day, YouTube RickRolled users by linking to the video on all of its home-page features. Other online outlets like Sports Illustrated and Live Journal followed suit. Altogether, the video was viewed 6.6 million times in one day, generating 43,000 user comments and boosting the track to No. 77 at Amazon's download store.

"YouTube brought (RickRolling) to our attention late last year and were able to track the sources of the hits," says Sam Gomez, VP of digital marketing for Sony BMG's commercial music group of Sony BMG, Astley's label.

"Then about a month ago we were approached with the idea of the April Fools' prank. Rick and his manager loved it. So we wanted to have fun with this."

This Week in Pop Culture July 7 - July 13

July 7, 2007: Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden is escorted out of a Beverly Hill Hotel after nearly attacking reality TV star Spencer Pratt for talking trash about Madden's girlfriend, Nicole Richie.

Jamie McCarthy, Wire Image

July 7, 1967: Davey Jones The Monkees launch their national tour with Jimi Hendrix as the opening act. The guitar god will quickly beg off after a few dates, when it becomes clear that he and the Faux Four's fan base share little common ground.

Wire Image / Retna

July 9, 2006: Paula Ann Meronek of MTV's 'The Real World: Key West' is arrested after she allegedly bites her boyfriend several times when he refuses to let her into their Connecticut home. "I think it was an argument that led to one thing then another," say Cromwell Police Chief Anthony Salvatore.

Cromwell Police Dept / AP

July 9, 1956: With the dismissal of Bob Horn following a DUI arrest, Dick Clark takes over as host of 'Bandstand' on WFIL-TV in Philadelphia. ABC will begin broadcasting the show in 1958 under its new name, 'American Bandstand.'

July 9, 1995: The long strange trip finally comes to an end as the Grateful Dead play the final show of their 30-year career at Soldier Field in Chicago. Millions of the band's acolytes are forced to reconsider their lives.

Jose Osorio, Chicago Tribune / AP

July 10, 1975: After ten days of unqualified matrimonial bliss, Cher files for divorce from rocker Greg Allman.

Ron Galella, Wire Image

July 10, 1976: Starland Vocal Band's ode to the "nooner," 'Afternoon Delight,' supplants 'Love Hangover' by Diana Ross as the No. 1 song in the country.

Glenn A. Baker Archives, Retna

July 11, 2000: Metallica drummer and founding member Lars Ulrich alienates a generation of music fans by testifying before the Senate about the dangers posed by Napster and MP3 files to his staggering wealth.

Stephen J. Boitano, Getty Images

July 12, 1960: The Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale. It is every parents dream as it makes no noise, needs no batteries, has no small parts to lose and requires no assembly. More than 50 million will be sold over the next 25 years.

July 12, 2007: Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown as yet another beauty queen, Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo, is rocked by the release of "unladylike" photos.

Donald B. Kravitz, The Press at Atlantic City / AP

Gomez adds that it was all made possible through the alliance that Sony BMG made with Google and YouTube in 2006 for access to its back catalog of videos.

Sony BMG has issued "Never Gonna Give You Up" as a ringtone, and is mulling another greatest-hits release for 2008 in the United Kingdom. Three of Astley's albums -- his debut, "Whenever You Need Somebody"; "Greatest Hits"; and "Platinum & Gold Collection" -- remain in print in the United States via Sony BMG's RCA/Legacy label.

Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-04-05 09:48:47

Read Related Blogs and Articles

Must Read?

84 %

16 %

26 VOTES

Recent Comments

Post Your Own

1 - 10 of 39

39 comments

poohluvshoney03 09:38:59 PM Apr 08 2008

Report This!

i never understand why ppl go, "so and so who?" why don't you use the internet to educate yourself before leaving such senseless and uneducated comments? and if you truly don't care/didn't/don't like the person in question, why comment at all?!

TarynP95 08:13:19 PM Apr 08 2008

Report This!

I always get Rickrolled.

xanpeter 12:06:38 PM Apr 08 2008

Report This!

Loved the song then, am crazy about it now!! Takes you back to a time when things were simpler, and half-naked women weren't waving their chest and butts in your face to songs that make no sense at all. The guy's voice is velvet!!

cnpp168 02:10:04 PM Apr 07 2008

Report This!

JORDAN , NIKE , ADIDAS , PUAM , AF1 , BAPE shoes , $20 per pair !!!!! Welcome to http://www.netsowntown.com

STASMACK 01:22:49 PM Apr 07 2008

Report This!

SUCKED THEN....SUCKS NOW

THE WORLD COULD USE A HELL OF A LOT MORE FRANK ZAPPA'S THAN THIS BOZO.................

JStfs1606 12:38:54 PM Apr 07 2008

Report This!

I'm 19 and a huge fan of Rick.

mbaker4441 10:34:02 AM Apr 07 2008

Report This!

have always been a big fan..his music makes you wanna dance
glad to see him back..now he can influence a whole new generation

RaeLynnHarvey 10:03:45 AM Apr 07 2008

Report This!

this 25 year old moron knows who he is... i always loved his songs and recently added them to my music collection.
i'm one of those old souls who likes music from a time in which i didn't even exist yet, not that he and his music are THAT old...
my husband thinks it's weird, but that's ok, i still love him.....

ASanti1275 09:04:27 AM Apr 07 2008

Report This!

Did he go blonde? Bummer. I saw him on youtube.com in an interview he did back in 2005, he looked great! (Still had his beautiful red hair though) He has put some weight on over all these years, looks way much better. Pretty hot. Looks much better older. Rather yummy looking I may say. I've always been a fan. Glad to know he's back. The blonde hair has got to go.

Pop1023 08:48:35 AM Apr 07 2008

Report This!

Jprguad............

I think all the morons of which you speak are REALLY asking "Rick WHO"?......... because they're too young to even know who he is .

Rick Astley was pretty damn good in the 80's ......but like I said ....modern day teens and even kids in their 20's I'm sure don't even know who he is.

1 - 10 of 39

39 comments