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Some might wonder why the BBC is ringing in 2024 with “Mr 1987.” This may imply that they were unaware of the impressive comeback of Rick Astley. On Sunday evening, the 1980s music icon Astley will be hosting BBC One’s New Year’s Eve program from the Roundhouse in Camden, located in north-west London. He follows the previous hosts Sam Ryder and Years & Years, led by Olly Alexander.
Celestial objects return to their previous state. This is their natural tendency. However, only a few are able to do so in a manner that enhances their coolness infinitely. At 57 years old, Astley has smoothly navigated the continued success of the Rickrolling trend (more on that later) and has had an outstanding 2023.
His most recent album, Are We There Yet?, achieved a ranking of number 2. In addition to performing at various festivals, he also took the stage at Glastonbury in the year 2023. He performed twice, first on the Pyramid stage where he included songs by Harry Styles, Chic, and AC/DC, along with his own surprisingly varied selection of hits.
At the Woodsies stage, Blossoms, a Stockport indie band, performed a 16-song set of Smiths covers, which they had only played twice before. The songs were played with genuine love and admiration, and their talent and enthusiasm captivated the audience at Worthy Farm.
What led to the rise of this “cool” phenomenon involving Astley? During the 1980s, Astley collaborated with hitmakers Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) and was labeled the devil of manufactured pop. He was often criticized for being a tool of the industry and a lowly teaboy for SAW, a misconception stemming from Astley’s background as a drummer and briefly working as a studio technician, where he would kindly make tea for others in the studio.
Despite his immense success, Rick Astley’s song “Never Gonna Give You Up” was awarded the best single at the 1988 Brit Awards. It was a chart-topper in 25 countries, including the US, and his debut album “Whenever You Need Somebody” sold over 15 million copies. The music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” also added to his fame, with Astley’s energetic dance moves in a trenchcoat reminiscent of Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr, making it the epitome of 80s nostalgia.
Most artists experience periods of struggle in their careers, facing criticism and a lack of commercial success. Astley was no different. He tried to reinvent himself after his success with SAW, starting with his 1991 album Free. He sported long hair on the cover (reminiscent of Michael Hutchence after a bad haircut) and a serious, brooding expression in an attempt to be taken more seriously as an artist.
Despite his ongoing songwriting and possession of a home recording studio, he eventually took a long hiatus to focus on raising his daughter with his wife, Lene Bausager, who is a Danish film producer and now his manager. He resumed touring in 2004.
It is impossible to have a meaningful conversation about Astley’s comeback without acknowledging Rickrolling: the viral internet trend of the 2000s where individuals are tricked into clicking a link and viewing the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
The official music video on YouTube has gained almost 1.5 billion views (Astley is the fourth artist from the 1980s to reach this milestone, following Michael Jackson, a-ha, and Guns N’ Roses). A survey in 2008 revealed that 18 million Americans had been tricked into watching Rick Astley’s music video.
Astley found humor in Rickrolling and praised it as clever and amusing. In 2008, he surprised the audience at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City with a Rickroll performance. He has expressed that his preferred Rickroll is a mashup of Barack Obama’s speeches to make it seem like he’s singing the song.
In 2017, Astley made a surprise appearance with the Foo Fighters (performing their song “Everlong”) as they played a prank on their own audience by “Rickrolling” them. In 2022, he stated, “The video and song have taken on a life of their own and evolved into something else.”
It is worth mentioning that, despite being a child of the 80s, Astley is quite adept at using social media. He recently debuted his own TikTok account, “RickTok,” where he can be seen dancing in a trenchcoat. He also posted a video of himself in a lilac suit and wellies, dancing to a Dua Lipa song while jet-washing his trash cans.
He seems to have a natural understanding of how to playfully incorporate new forms of media while maintaining a mature, “dad-rock” feel. Could it be that his secret is exuding an uncool essence that somehow transforms into coolness?
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One possible reason for Astley’s popularity could be his transparent public image, characterized by his enthusiastic and humble attitude (he admiringly describes former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr’s skill and style as “unparalleled”), and his portrayal as one of the few areas in modern pop music free from cunning or deceit.
Rick Astley’s covers of The Smiths have been praised as the ultimate karaoke, and it’s worth noting that he does not include any Morrissey songs in his performances. It has been observed that Astley only covers songs that he truly admires. Unlike William Shatner’s unique rendition of Pulp’s Common People, which featured a duet with Joe Jackson and left audiences in awe, Astley’s tributes are straightforward and lack any surprise factor. Whether he is singing The Smiths’ Panic or drumming along to AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, Astley performs with sincerity, utilizing his musical skills and deep baritone to deliver a heartfelt performance similar to his own original material.
Is Astley smarter than expected with millions of units sold? It appears he understands the power of the positive public reception he receives. In January 2023, he filed a lawsuit against US rapper Yung Gravy (musician Matthew Hauri) for using a singer to imitate his voice on the song Betty (Get Money). The case was resolved in September.
Definitely, Astley is currently experiencing success in his career with lucrative opportunities in the heritage market. He offers a unique package of original content and impressive covers that sets him apart from others.
Here he is, welcoming the new year for the BBC. It appears that Astley has achieved “national treasure” status (a title highly regarded by the British, especially for performers and survivors). Perhaps this can be traced back to his time at SAW recording studios, where the quiet technician and aspiring singer would offer to make tea.
Astley’s success may serve as evidence that kindhearted individuals can also achieve success.
Source: theguardian.com
