Happy Birthday to Rick Astleywho turns 43 today (February 6, 2009). Yes, that Rick Astley, the one who sang "Never Gonna Give You Up" and the one who is now at the heart of the prank known as "Rickrolling." There is a popular issue of Kickin' it Old School which covered this phenomenon, so if you have not read that yet, I suggest you click on that link to read that one now.
I wanted to update you with some new "Rickrolling" angles that I found particularly humorous. I have been holding this first one all the way since Thanksgiving. I was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade as we do every year. I was unsuspecting like I imagine most viewers were, but laughed out loud when it turned out I became another victim. Watch here to see for yourself:
This one took some serious effort to create. Someone spliced up Barack Obama speeches to make him perform his own version of "Never Gonna Give You Up." This video shows the Barack version side by side with the real Rick Astley version. Very entertaining in my opinion:
I have posted a couple "literal" versions of music videos in past issues. I have posted these "literal" videos for the a-Ha song "Take On Me" and the Tears for Fears song "Head Over Heels." The video is dubbed over with lyrics that literally explain what is happening in the video. I think these are very creative and funny. Guess what? There is a literal version for "Never Gonna Give You Up" and I thought I would share that here as well:
Rick Astley writing movie musical The Rick-rolling legend and Best Act Ever is writing a rags-to-riches musical for the screen - so not autobiographical then Sean Michaels guardian.uk.com, Monday 2 February 2009
Rick Astley's career revival may be based on people being tricked into seeing him, but the 80s pop star is now counting on fans buying actual tickets. Not only is Astley again headlining the Here and Now nostalgia tour, but the man who promised to never give you up, let you down, run around and desert you ... is writing a movie musical.
New York Cowboy will tell the story of a small-town boy who moves to New York City in the 80s. It is not, in other words, an autobiography.
"My wife's now a movie producer so I read a lot of scripts and I'm really passionate about films," Astley said in a recent interview. "One day I thought, 'Well, why don't I write one?' And it turned into a musical - but not for the stage."
Astley "hooked up with a guy in California", he told the Times, and after writing a script the two are now seeking an agent. "I'm not fooling myself - nothing may come of it and I totally understand that, but as a process I have loved it. When you're writing frothy pop songs the lyrics can be a bit 'whatever', they are hooky and you just sing them because they work. But writing these songs ... Do they call that a libretto?"
Astley's appearance on the Here and Now tour is unexpected. Despite headlining the show last year, he hadn't intended to participate in 2009 - until Boy George was sent to jail. "Poor George," Astley said now. "I don't know him but it seems such a waste, somebody as sharp and intelligent as that being sent to prison."
Though Astley's a fitting billing along with Kim Wilde, Howard Jones and Brother Beyond, these days he's most keen on the Luddites - a covers band he plays in with his mates. "I play drums and sing with my two friends Graham and Simon and we play East Molesey Cricket Club every now and again," he said. "We were going to call ourselves Mid-Life Crisis because that's what it is."
I am glad to see that Astley takes all of this in stride and does not take himself too seriously. He remains humble and relatively normal. I look forward to more funny "Rickrolling" pranks. If anything, it fosters creativity and also brings a little piece of the 80s to present times.
That will do it for another issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the new Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.
Check this out: I came across some funny graffiti mostly thanks to my friends over at the List of the Day blog. These are some of my favorites. Enjoy...
Quote of the day: "Happiness is a direction, not a place." -Sydney J. Harris
posted by: Marissa (reply)
post date: 02.07.09 (7:40 am)
When I hear that song, I imagine that Al Cowlings was playing the CD in the Bronco for O.J., during the infamous police chase on the 405 freeway.
posted by: bawdy (reply)
post date: 02.07.09 (1:50 pm)
Funny stuff!
posted by: scubadiva (reply)
post date: 02.09.09 (3:52 pm)
One of my friends was at the Grammy's and all the parties. Morris Day & The Time played at one party. And there was Cyndi Lauper, the guys from ZZ Top, Whitney Houston and on and on... He had breakfast with Robert Plant Sunday morning (before he got all the awards)
Rick Astley & More Rick Rolling Fun - Kickin' it Old School
who turns 43 today (February 6, 2009). Yes, that Rick Astley, the one who sang "Never Gonna Give You Up" and the one who is now at the heart of the prank known as "Rickrolling." There is 
I suggest you click on that link to read that one now. 
