Posted on 01/09/2026 3:14:15 PM PST by nickcarraway
Rick Astley will always be grateful for his smash hit single Never Gonna Give You Up — and he has come to terms with the fact it'll be the track he'll always be remembered for.
The 59-year-old singer topped the charts all over the world with the 1987 song, which was written and produced by legendary pop trio Stock Aitken Waterman and included on his 15 million copies selling debut LP Whenever You Need Somebody.
Almost 40 years later, Never Gonna Give You Up remains a constant on the radio and online thanks to the Rickrolling internet meme, but Rick is fine with it and thankful to have had a hit that has endured for so long.
In an interview with the new issue of Classic Pop magazine, he said: "I mean, God bless that song. From the first time that Mike Stock sang it to me, I knew it was a banger. I've always felt that song's got stardust on it. I've always felt that song's got fairydust on it. I've never been embarrassed by it. But it was also strange, that record being so big [straight] off the bat. I never had the opportunity to go, 'What's going on?' I went from never having been on TV to being on TV every day, travelling all over the world."
Although he has accepted that Never Gonna Give You Up is the song that will define his career, Rick does wish that some of his other hits got a little bit of love.
He added: "I'm painfully aware that this song, that I did decades ago, is the thing that people are always going to remember me for, and I came to terms with that years ago. I just wish they'd always remember me for four or five other songs. Together Forever was also number one in the United States, but people never bring that one up."
The Rickrolling phenomenon began in 2007 and peaked in 2008 with the surprise appearance of Rick's music video pushing Never Gonna Give You Up to over a billion views on YouTube.
Rick was happy to embrace the Rickrolling phenomenon as he could see it was already huge and not going away.
He said: "It was happening anyway, you couldn't stop it. So I thought, 'Whatever, I'll run with this.'"
A few years later, Rick released his first album, titled 50, for over 10 years.
The LP — which was released to mark his 50th birthday, hence the title — topped the Official UK Albums Chart and was the start of Rick's career resurgence, something that felt like a "fairy tale" to him.
Rick — who wrote every song and played every instrument on the record — said: "I didn't make it for a record label, or even to be heard, really. I was making it for me. So the fact it was so successful... it was kind of like a fairy tale."
I love Rick’s voice, and actually LOVE that song. He had a couple of fun tunes back then.
I miss the 80s. I think a lot of us do. And while some people revile the pop music of the 80s, comepared to the absolute crap that’s being put out now (unless you know where to look on You Tube...) it was musical gold.
“Painfully aware”? He’s crying all the way to the bank.
I’d be happy to be known for only one thing, if I made $15 million from that one thing.
Is it possible to determine how much royalties he made from rickrolling? He was also introduced to new generations.
Never heard of it or him. I’ll have to look it up on YT.
He had another hit, Together Forever. Not played like the other, but I’d say it makes him at least a 2 hit wonder.
Many good vocalists have one tune more than any other they are often most remembered for. It’s not any detriment that one tune more than others just sticks in folks memory.
A-ha is another example. They did a lot of other songs, but the only song most people care about is “Take On Me”.
How did she come to be co-owner of those works? Must be an interesting story there.
Never Gonna Give You Up on a mechanical organ
Rīċa Ēastlēah - Never gonna give you up Cover In Old English. Bardcore/Medieval style
"Never Gonna Give You Up" (Sung by 169 Movies!)
"Astley. Rick Astley."
That was impressive. Thanks.
And the world is better for it (that he never had another song like that)
Not only a one hit wonder, but a long afterlife as a cultural meme. That’s like winning the lottery odds.
Astley actually had two number one hits in this country and four top 10 hits.
You raise an interesting point. I’d think allowing part of the song for Rickrolling would only raise awareness of the song. And that would lead to more sales.
I dunno. Maybe copyright holders take an all-or-nothing approach. Either pay the royalty in full, or don’t use the song at all.
The last US tour for MSP, they played Creep as the closer at MSG.
Before they gave it the decade-long pause you know about, it had devolved into a demented bolero. Their disdain for Pablo Honey is twisted. No Pablo Honey no OK Computer, but fast-forward to In Rainbow$ and Moon $haped Pool, and movie $oundtracks and two drummer$ and now it's Radio $kynyrd.
Anyway, the MSG Creep was messy but proud, better than the smashing they gave "Burn The Witch" that entire tour -- a superior Baroque pop piece, and they have just savaged it live especially when it was the opener.
And just like that, Creep is gone again in the late 2025 Euro blitz. And Jonny fucking up ... a lot.
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