Never Gonna Give You Up
"Never Gonna Give You Up" | |
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Song |
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a song by Rick Astley, released as a single on 27 July 1987. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. The song was released as the first single from his debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody (1987). The song was a worldwide number-one hit, initially in the singer's native United Kingdom in 1987, where it stayed at the top of the chart for five weeks and was the best-selling single of that year. It eventually topped the charts in 25 countries, including the United States and West Germany.[5]
The song won Best British Single at the 1988 Brit Awards. In 1990, Nick Lowe quoted from the song and called it "ghastly" in the lyrics to "All Men Are Liars," a song on his album Party of One. In 2004, "Never Gonna Give You Up" was voted number 28 in 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs... Ever by VH1.
The music video for the song has become the basis for the "Rickrolling" Internet meme, leading the song to have an alternate name "The Rickroll Song". In 2008, Astley won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Act Ever with the song, as a result of collective voting from thousands of people on the internet, due to the popular phenomenon of Rickrolling. It was also featured as a downloadable track for the Rock Band series.
The song is considered Astley's signature song and it is often played at the end of Astley's live concerts. During a live performance, usually on the last verse, Rick sometimes shouts out to the audience that he is feeling "bloody marvellous" or in other countries that he is feeling "fantastic" after the line "And if you ask me how I'm feeling" to have some banter with the audience.
Production
"Never Gonna Give You Up" was recorded at the PWL Studios in South London, England. The song's basslines were produced using a Yamaha DX7 digital synthesizer, while the drums and sequencing were handled by a Linn 9000. Other equipment used include a Roland Juno 106 analog synthesizer, and Yamaha Rev5 and Rev7 reverberators.[6]
Original success
On 12 March 1988, "Never Gonna Give You Up" reached number one in the American Billboard Hot 100[7] after having been played by resident DJ, Larry Levan, at the Paradise Garage in 1987.[8] The single topped the charts in 25 countries worldwide.[5]
Rickrolling
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is the subject of a popular Internet prank known as "rickrolling" involving misleading links (commonly shortened URLs) redirecting to the song's music video.[9] Originally started by users on 4chan, by May 2007, the practice had achieved notoriety on the Internet, and it increased in popularity after its use as a 2008 April Fools' Day joke by various media companies and websites, including YouTube rickrolling all of its featured videos on that day and a website allowing people to rickroll their friends' phones.[10]
In "a couple of weeks," about 13 million people had been tricked into watching Astley's video, the BBC reported on 1 April 2008. "I think it's just one of those odd things where something gets picked up and people run with it," Astley told the Los Angeles Times in late March 2008, adding: "That's what's brilliant about the Internet."[11][12]
Astley also appeared in the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade interrupting a song performed by those on a float promoting the Cartoon Network program Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends with a lipsynched performance of "Never Gonna Give You Up."
There were reports that despite the video garnering millions of hits on YouTube, Astley earned almost no money from the online phenomenon, receiving only $12 USD in royalties from YouTube for his performance share, as of August 2010,[13] but Astley denied those reports in 2016.[14]
Cover versions
- In 1997, French band 2Be3 covered the song under the name "Toujours là pour toi", which had success in France (No. 4) and Belgium (Wallonia) (No. 12).[15]
- In 1999, an Italian cover entitled "Non ti lascerò" was made by Fiorello.[16]
- Eurobeat artist Kevin Johnson covered the song in 2004 for the album Super Eurobeat 149.[17]
- A group of London dance producers called The Rickrollerz made a house music cover version of "Never Gonna Give You Up"[18] In May 2008, the track entered the UK Club Charts at no. 22.
- In August 2007, internet celebrity and singer Tay Zonday covered the song.[19]
- On 25 November 2008, Barry Manilow released a version of the song on his The Greatest Songs of the Eighties album.[20]
- In 2008, Ashley Tisdale released a cover of the song, along with three other songs of the 80s.[21]
Music video
On 24 October 2009, the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" was uploaded to YouTube. It has more than 390 million views as of January 2018.[22]
Track listings
- 7" single
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (7" Vocal Mix) – 3:32
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Instrumental) – 3:30
- 12" maxi
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Cake mix) – 5:46
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Instrumental) – 6:19
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" – 3:32
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Escape to New York mix) – 7:01
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Escape from Newton mix) – 6:23
- 12" maxi
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Cake mix) – 5:48
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Instrumental) – 3:30
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" – 3:32
- 12" single
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Escape from Newton mix) – 6:30
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Escape to New York mix) – 7:00
Personnel
- Written and produced by: Stock, Aitken & Waterman
- Engineer: Mark McGuire, Bill Gee, Mike Duffy, Jon Herroon
- Tape Operator: Burni Adams
- Mixed by:
- Escape from Newton mix: Mixmaster Pete Hammond
- Escape to New York mix: The Extra Beat Boys
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
|
Order of precedence | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Australian Kent Music Report number-one single 30 November 1987 – 11 January 1988 (7 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Faith" by George Michael
|
Preceded by "Bad" by Michael Jackson
|
Single Top 100 number-one single 10 October 1987 – 7 November 1987 (5 weeks) | |
Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single 24 October 1987 – 14 November 1988 (4 weeks) | ||
Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number-one single 31 October 1987 – 14 November 1988 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by | |
Dutch Top 40 number-one single 10 October 1987 – 31 October 1987 (4 weeks) | ||
Preceded by | New Zealand number-one single 7 February 1988 (1 week) | |
Preceded by | UK Singles Chart number-one single 23 August 1987 – 26 September 1987 (5 weeks) | |
Preceded by "Seasons Change" by Exposé
|
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary number-one single 2 April 1988 – 9 April 1988 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Canadian RPM number-one single 19 March 1988 – 2 April 1988 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by "Voyage, voyage" by Desireless
|
German number-one single 5 October 1987 – 19 October 1987 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "You Win Again" by the Bee Gees
|
Preceded by | Norwegian number-one single 43/1987 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Voyage, voyage" by Desireless
|
Preceded by | South African number-one single 26 December 1987 – 23 January 1988 (5 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by "It's a Sin" by Pet Shop Boys
|
Swedish number-one single 30 September 1987 – 11 November 1987 (4 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Oh Mama" by Lili & Sussie
|
Preceded by | Spanish number-one single 3 December 1987 – 10 December 1987 (2 weeks) 24 December 1987 – 7 January 1988 (3 weeks) 4 February 1988 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Soul Survivor" by C. C. Catch
"Never Can Say Goodbye" by The Communards "Always on My Mind by Pet Shop Boys |
Preceded by | US Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single 12 March 1988 – 26 March 1988 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single 12 March 1988 – 19 March 1988 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by |
US Cash Box number-one single 19 March 1988 (1 week) | ||
Preceded by | US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single 16 January 1988 (1 week) |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | UK Singles Chart best-selling single of the year 1987 |
Succeeded by |
References
- ^ "Rick Astley". Twitter. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ Pemberton, Pat (24 July 2013). "15 Songs You Can't Believe Are 25 Years Old". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Wheeler, Brad (30 July 2013). "Spirit of radio in Toronto getting an indie twist". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "The 10 Best Internet Memes of the Decade (2000-2009)". Paste. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Biography". Mike Stock Music. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ Buskin, Richard (February 2009). "Rick Astley 'Never Gonna Give You Up'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "The Hot 100 – The Week of March 12, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ Beta, Andy (26 August 2015). "The Larry Levan Bump: How the Legendary Paradise Garage DJ Ignited Some of the '80s Biggest Hits". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (27 March 2008). "Astley speaks on 'Rickrolling' web fad". Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "Send funny stuff to your friends' phones!". ComedyCalls.com. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ Savage, Mark (1 April 2008). "Rickrolling and the league of web fame". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Web Scout: Spinning through online entertainment and connected culture". Archived from the original on 26 September 2011.. Los Angeles Times. 25 March 2008.
- ^ Orlowski, Andrew (31 August 2010). "German judge chides Google over YouTube freeloading". The Register. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ "[AMA] I'm really Rick Astley. I swear. And to celebrate my first album since 1993, I'm here to let you Ask Me Anything!". Reddit. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "lescharts.com – 2 Be 3 – Toujours là pour toi". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Discography Fiorello" (in Italian). Estatica.it. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ "Various – Super Eurobeat Vol. 149". Discogs. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ McAlpine, Fraser (14 April 2008). "Please, Give Me Up, GIVE ME UP!". BBC Online. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
- ^ Golden, Geoffery (7 September 2012). "10 Funny Versions of "Never Gonna Give You Up"". CraveOnline. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties: Barry Manilow: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ High, Kamau (5 June 2008). "Ashley Tisdale Teams With Degree Girl For '80s Covers". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". 24 October 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ a b "This Week In... 1987". Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ [Lwin, Nanda (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8884." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0950." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ a b Blackwell, Earl (1990). Earl Blackwell's Celebrity Register, 1990. Gale Research Inc. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-8103-6875-0.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Rick Astley Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Never Gonna Give You Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ a b "I singoli più venduti del 1987" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Rick Astley" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (A)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Rick Astley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 19, 1988". Archived from the original on 7 October 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
- ^ "Rick Astley Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "TOP – 1987" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987" (in German). hitparade.ch . Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Lane, Dan (18 November 2012). "The biggest selling singles of every year revealed! (1952-2011)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1988". ARIA Charts. ARIA. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1988". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Top Adult Contemporary Singles of 1988". Archived from the original on 8 October 2012.. Billboard. 31 December 1988.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1988". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1988". Archived from the original on 7 October 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". Music Canada.
- ^ "Les Singles en Argent" (in French). InfoDisc. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "French single certifications – Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Rick Astley; 'Never Gonna Give You Up')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Dutch single certifications – Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Never Gonna Give You Up in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1987 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
- ^ Copsey, Rob (19 September 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ "British single certifications – Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Never Gonna Give You Up in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American single certifications – Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
- Single chart usages for Germany2
- Single chart usages for UKchartarchive
- 1987 singles
- 1987 songs
- Ashley Tisdale songs
- Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
- Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one singles
- Billboard Dance Club Songs number-one singles
- Brit Award for British Single
- Dance-pop songs
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- Single Top 100 number-one singles
- Internet memes
- Viral videos
- Music memes
- Debut singles
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- Number-one singles in Norway
- Number-one singles in South Africa
- Number-one singles in Spain
- Number-one singles in Sweden
- Pete Waterman Entertainment singles
- RCA Records singles
- Rick Astley songs
- RPM Adult Contemporary number-one singles
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Song recordings produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
- Songs written by Matt Aitken
- Songs written by Mike Stock (musician)
- Songs written by Pete Waterman
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles