How an Internet Gag Could Have Rick Astley Headed for Surprising Award
Sunday October 5, 2008
I don't know exactly how oblivious I must have been over the past few months to have remained blissfully unaware of the recent online prank "Rickrolling", but I must say I'm both fascinated and repelled by my sudden discovery of the phenomenon this weekend. In case you're even close to as clueless as I, the practice of "Rickrolling" emerged last spring as a sort of flash online hoax in which users are repeatedly tricked to click on a link that leads them to a video of notorious '80s redheaded crooner Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up."There have been more than a few developments and evolutions of this practice since initial reports of it surfaced, but the one that legitimizes this post is the thoroughly amusing nomination of Astley for MTV Europe's Best Act Ever award through the stacking of online votes. Normally, I would decry such efforts to mock '80s music in such a stinging way, but Astley simply remains one of those indefensible artists who serves as a perfect flashpoint for pop culture parody. Watch the hell out; we might just find Astley or Tiffany or Hammer on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot next year. We can't say we haven't been warned.
Album Cover Photo Courtesy of RCA Records
Comments
I dont understand where you guys get your info . This is no prank , this is a real nomination by Rick Astleys fans worldwide .
The joke in all this is the other nominees .
The award is for best act Ever , not this year , last year , but Ever . Rick Astley has out sold and had more #1 hits then most the nominees in all the categories. He’s still performing to sell out crowds after 21 years ! How many nominees can say that ?
Rick Astley fans around the world have united to make this happens because Rick is THE BEST ACT EVER !
I’ve known for a long time that Rick is the best act ever. I don’t need MTV to tell me. The joke of this category is the people Rick’s in there with. Britney Spears? Green Day? Come on, Rick has more talent in his little finger than they have in their entire bodies. You all know that. He’s the only class nomination in there. And Tiffany would have been a much better nomination than Britney.
Sir, like it or not, you only have 5 nominees from which ti choose. So, given that, if you keep in mind the title of the category, Rick is the ONLY choice that fills the bill.
Ironic that an ’80’s blog would somehow miss out on the rickrolling