Flashback Video: 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley

Ever since the dawn of MTV and Friday Night Videos, the music video has significantly impacted musical tastes and pop culture. It might not be as extreme as when the Buggles declared that "Video Killed the Radio Star", but there is no arguing that the music video certainly could make or break a song's popularity. So this regular Flashback Video feature will serve to remember some of the music videos from the great '80s decade that made an impact on me in one way or another.

This issue we will cover "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley. This was the first single from Astley's debut studio album, Whenever You Need Somebody, released in July of 1987. It first became a massive hit in the UK where it topped that chart for five weeks and was the best-selling song of that year as well as winning Best British Single at the 1988 Brit Awards. It hit the U.S. chart in December of 1987 and reached #1 in March of 1988 holding the top spot for 2 weeks. "Never Gonna Give You Up" became a worldwide smash topping the pop chart in 25 different countries.

The music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" was directed by Simon West. Prior to that, West had directed a couple unnoteworthy music videos, but he went on to direct some blockbuster films including 1997's Con Air, 1999's The General's Daughter, 2001's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and 2012's The Expendables 2 among others. The music video was filmed in London, in the Harrow Club and on Freston Road in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Nothing overly special, just some cheesy swaying/dancing while singing the song alternating back and forth from those two locations. I think the biggest surprise to many not familiar with Rick Astley is that the singer of this song was Caucasian and many did not imagine that voice coming from that body. But the music video surely cleared up any confusion on that front. 

Here is the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley...

In June of 2021, the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" passed 1 billion views on YouTube and has since reached over 1.6 billion views! At least some of those views are thanks to "rickrolling". If you are not familar with the internet meme known as "rickrolling", it began in 2007 when folks started sending misleading links redirecting people to the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up". It increased in popularity after its use as an April Fools' Day joke in 2008 by various media companies and websites including YouTube, which rickrolled all of its featured videos on that particular day. Surprisingly, many people remember this and has become closely associated with Rick Astley as well as introducing the talented singer to a new generation. He even had fun and rickrolled the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2008 which you can watch here...

Hope you enjoyed another trip back to the '80s thanks to Flashback Video!