About
Rickrolling is a bait and switch: a person provides a web link that he or she claims is relevant to the topic at hand (like this one), but the link actually takes the user to the 1987 Rick Astley video Never Gonna Give You Up. The URL can be masked or obfuscated so a future victim cannot determine the true source of the link without clicking (like this). If a dumb cluck does click and is led to a web page with the song, he or she is said to have been Rickrolled (also spelled Rickroll’d).
Unexpectedly Deep Voice
Many people have expressed the opinion that the most attention-getting aspect of the video, is Rick’s unexpectedly deep voice. According to VH1’s PopUp Video, record executives who heard his recordings didn’t believe it was his voice either at first.
- VH1 Popup video (Embedding disabled. Relevent bubble at 0:45)
Other young-looking singers with unexpectedly deep voices include:
- Tay Zonday – Chocolate Rain
- Eric Bourdan of The Animals – House of the Rising Sun
Rickrolling I.R.L.
Project Chanology
At most of the February 2008 Project Chanology protests on the Church of Scientology, Never Gonna Give You Up was played from boomboxes, performed, and shouted. UK Publication The Guardian called it “a live rick-rolling of the Church of Scientology.”
New York Mets
In April of 2008, the New York Mets posted a web poll to select the song for the 8th inning sing-along.
On April 4th, 2008, Farkers bombarded the poll voting for Never Gonna Give You Up. On April 7th, the Mets announced that the song had won, with over five million votes. Rather than using the song for the 8th inning, it was used during the home opener, much to the displeasure of Mets fans.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Rickroll meme came full circle when Rick Astley himself appeared on a float during the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, lip synching to his classic hit. (via Entertainment Weekly)
Youtube: April Fool’s!
On April 1st, 2008 every featured video on Youtube’s front page redirected to the Rickroll. (story via TechCrunch)
See the Wikipedia page for more info
Best Act Ever
Rick Astley was nominated for the Best Act Ever award for the MTV Europe Music Awards in November of 2008 when the voting form was flooded by fans of the Rickrolling phenomenon. (via BBC) Asley has voiced his approval of the off-beat joke, stating “MTV was thoroughly Rickrolled.” (via bestactever.com)
Derivatives
Rickrolling has experienced such popularity that it is one of the most widely-used sources when it comes to mashups and meme-hybrids.
Barackroll
Nirvana vs. Rick Astley
8-Bit Rickroll
Rickroll (Fursuit Edition)
Hilarious Muppet Bloopers!
Family Guy did it.
Google Insights
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Meme Details
Origin
4chan
Year
2007
Tags
bait, rick roll, rickrolling, rick astley, music video, 80s, pop icon, pop culture obscura























































