Rick Astley Just ‘Rickrolled’ Everyone and Proved He’s ‘Still Got It’ originally appeared on Parade.
It’s happened to all of us. One moment you’re shuffling through the radio or standing in line at the grocery store and then, it strikes. That familiar trumpet, that iconic synthesizer… it can only mean one thing: You’re about to get Rickrolled.
And truly? What an honor. The iconic song “Never Gonna’ Give You Up,” by none other than 1988’s very own Rick Astley, 59, is a song that has achieved an urban-legend-like status. Before the song transformed into an unexpected internet meme in 2007, it was dazzling airwaves in the 1980’s. Astley’s baritone, buttery-smooth vocals won so many fans over when he was just 21-years-old and hit is still delighting fans 36 years later.
Recently Astley performed the memorable song at Sweden’s annual summer concert Allsång på Skansen.
Language barrier be darned, the whole crowd had a great time dancing and singing along to the jam. Fans online who caught a glimpse of the social media performance all over the world were delighted to be Rickrolled via the internet as well.
“Without any doubt, one of the greatest 80’s icons that still delivers. Fantastic Rick,” complimented one impressed fan.
“Rick-Rolled by the legend? Can’t even be mad,” joked another.
“High energy and up tempo performance is what we’ve grown accustomed to from Rick Astley and he didn’t disappoint,” added another.
In addition to all of the compliments on his sound, fans were also impressed with how great he looks too.
Related: ’80s Pop Icon Joins Elite Club With ‘Monumental Achievement’ of Classic Hit
Astley’s hit has broken several records since it graced the airwaves. In June 2025, the song earned 1 billion Spotify streams, while the bait-and-switch meme music video has over 1.6 billion views on YouTube. As of publication this social media clip of the performance has already earned 59K likes in less than 24 hours.
“I never could have imagined back in 1987 that ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ would still be going strong decades later,” Astley, said in a statement, according to USA Today. “Thanks to streaming platforms, a whole new generation has been able to discover music like mine. Reaching 1 billion streams is something I never dreamed of and to everyone who’s ever listened, thank you.”
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Rick Astley Just ‘Rickrolled’ Everyone and Proved He’s ‘Still Got It’ first appeared on Parade on Aug 9, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
