Meme Promotes 80s Popstar As Contender Of Best Act Ever

He was never going to give you up and never going to let you down and so in return his fans (and just a lot of people who remember the hit from their youth) spread an internet meme that has brought back the pop star Rick Astley into popular consciousness. Over the summer, folks in the UK were busy sending each other video clips that ‘tricked’ their friends into watching the video of his biggest hit. The fun didn’t stop there – somehow the fad has led mischievous Brits to vote Astley as a nominee for the best act ever at the MTV Europe Music Awards alongside Santogold, Weezer and Snoop Dogg. The BBC says:

A craze called “Rickrolling” saw web users unwittingly follow links to Astley’s videos. It led to millions of plays of Astley’s song Never Gonna Give You Up, which reached number one in the UK in 1987. It went on to become a number one hit in 15 other countries… The 50-year-old pop star will battle it out with 30 Seconds to Mars, Santogold, Weezer and Snoop Dogg, who hosted the ceremony last year.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Astley shortlisted for MTV award
Rick Astley