Singer Rick Astley finally commented on the stupidest prank on the Internet, Rickrolling. In an L.A. Times interview he says the song is lightweight, the trend is cute, and he's old and uncool. The man is determined to avoid any backlash whatsoever, as if he might be blamed for a million instances of minor annoyance. He even looks pretty cute lately. Rick Astley, pretty cool guy or just making up for an undeserved career?

1:06 AM on Wed Mar 26 2008
By Nick Douglas
2,441 views
24 comments

Comments

TimeWarnerRhymeAnaheim at 02:28 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Glommed this from Defamer? Excellent --
raincoaster at 05:39 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 337

Glommed it from Defamer? I had it before they did! But the Guardian had it before any of us.
donmiguel at 06:52 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Rick Astley was and is cool. He took the incongruous combination of his voice and visage and crafted a lighthearted act from which he seems not to have sustained any ill effects. Would that they (short term pop stars) could all be so lucky.
Hez at 07:35 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 674

I was around for this the first time, and I will admit to knowing all the words... and the cheezy dancing in the video is just BEST. Hearing he finds the use of his song by Anonymous against $cientology to be "hilarious" is totally kickass.

I smell a comeback!! WANT!!!1!11
In Other News... at 07:52 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 923

Five words: Rick Astley / Michael McDonald Sing-Off. This must happen. Now.
NeverEnough at 09:24 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

I love him unironically.
McCheeburger at 09:33 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

For you kids too young to know, Rick was the cat's meow back when MTV served up a diet of nothing but music videos and such.

Money's too tight (to mention) could be Bear Stearns theme song.

+ Watch video
Clare at 09:54 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 380

I used to have a circa-1987 Rick Astley glossy promo photo hanging in my cube. I miss his smiling visage. Dude still looks cute, too!

@In Other News...: The very idea of that is enough to send me outside for a cigarette, and I don't even smoke.
SuperBien at 09:55 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

Rick Astley, with his booming voice and Bob's Big Boy pompadour, was the best of late '80's yuppie, UK-bubblegum dance pop. I, too, am glad he is not strung-out or wacked screwy weird like so many of his contemporaries . . .
SuperBien at 10:02 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@McCheeburger: That tune would make a lovely Bear Stearn's theme song, but it's by Simply Red -- not Rick. Also, Rick had cooler hair than Mick Hucknall . . . way cooler . . .
roodles at 10:06 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@In Other News...: and then the Richard Marx / Kenny Loggins sing off is sure to follow.

and then...the end of the world
MartyPants at 10:15 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@SuperBien: Phew! I was dismayed that the amazingly still-hottie Rick might have had a secret and heartbreaking unkempt-hair-and-male-muumuu phase.

What in heaven's name is that singer wearing? Lounge-lizard salwar kameez?
mitchel_stevens at 10:32 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 87

i think rick astley is a pretty cool guy. eh kills top ten chrts and doesn't afraid of anything.
UnstableMabel at 10:39 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@MartyPants: Perhaps an inspiration for Marian's repertoire.
mmh at 10:48 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

OK, I had that on, what were the brief-lived cassette alternatives to 45s? Cassingles? I'm pretty sure I should be embarrassed, but now I'm confused. Maybe I was very, very cool. That is a damn catchy song.
SuperBien at 11:02 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@MartyPants: Heh! Yeah, Mick Hucknall's not really known for his personal style. His music's fairly good, but his clothing choices and hair? Not so much . . .
UnstableMabel at 11:10 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@SuperBien: He pulls the birds though. Could never figure that. Mick is like David Beckham, the moment he opens his mouth to talk, all sexual cred right out the window.
rina at 11:27 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@mmh: Yup - cassingles. When I moved last year I found a cassingle for "Behind the Wheel/Route 66" and I was totally stoked. Then I remembered that I no longer have a tape player.
McCheeburger at 11:33 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@SuperBien:

Appreciate the correction!

Man, I have got to stop these three martini breakfasts.
AndIAmTellingYou at 11:34 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

OT: I came out to my work friends by singing "Never Gonna Give You Up" at a drunken afterwork karaoke in 1999. Rick Astley was, and still is, my big gay crush. Love those gingers...
MartyPants at 11:36 AM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@UnstableMabel: That's a good one! But again...the
enunciation challenge.

Never gonna glibboo uh
Nepper goppa let you dowww...
louisev at 12:26 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

the hand rolling just makes that entire video.
SuperBien at 01:57 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@UnstableMabel: Historically speaking, supermodels and pretties in general lurves them some fugly pop stars, yo! Jerry Hall loves Mick Jagger, Kate Moss loves Pete Doherty, Nicole Ritchie's Mom loves Lionel Ritchie, Bebe Buell loves Steven Tyler, Denise Richards loves Richie Sambora, "The Spy Who Loved Me" Bond Girl Hottie married Ringo Starr, David Furnish married Elton John . . . this distinguished list can go on forever and then some . . .
SuperBien at 01:58 PM on 03/26/08
Reply by Email
*

@SuperBien: Rats. Should've included "Becks loves Posh" to that list . . .