Ordinary Beauty

Music Commentary Blog

Never Gonna Give You UP

1987-11-01 Music

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What is remarkable about this song is not the orchestration or performance of this composition, but rather what it has come to symbolize. The success of a piece depends both on the brilliance of the creator but also on the desires of the audience.

In the words of wiki, “The first known instance of a rickroll occurred in May 2007 on /v/, 4chan’s video game board, where a link to the Rick Astley video was claimed to be a mirror of the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV (which was unavailable due to heavy traffic). The joke was confined to 4chan for a very brief period.”

I think it captures internet culture quite well. In an age where information travels quickly, what stands out is no longer the content but rather the context. And, the beauty of a well placed rickroll is to insert the recording of Rick Astley in places least expecting. There’s simply nothing that’s so uniquely unfitting than a 80’s suited up frat boy insisting over and over that he won’t give you up. And, in its repetition, you really can’t get it out of your head after you hear it.

One of the most recent rickrolls disguised as a westworld preview

Lyrics

We’re no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of
You wouldn’t get this from any other guy

I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it
Inside we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna play it

And if you ask me how I’m feeling
Don’t tell me you’re too blind to see

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
(Ooh) Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it
Inside we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna play it

I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry