MTV gets Rickrolled
MTV Europe, you've been Rickrolled.
Rick Astley, who most of us probably know solely because of some prankster friend who duped us into viewing the music video for Astley's 1987 smash, "Never Gonna Give You Up," has been nominated by viewers for Best Act Ever at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards.
While it's been more than 20 years since "Never Gonna Give You Up" reached the top of the British charts (and inexplicably stayed there for five weeks), Astley was thrust back into the limelight when Rickrolling hit the Internet.
In case you've been living under a rock—or obsessively check your Web browser's status bar before clicking a link—Rickrolling is an Internet phenomenon where a seemingly innocent link, say, to a LOLcat you just have to see or a Maneater report about getting kicked in the nuts, actually directs to a YouTube video for Astley's magnum opus.
Now, Astley is in the running for the honor along with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Green Day, Tokio Hotel and U2. Fans can vote for their favorite probably-entirely-undeserving act on the MTV Europe Web site before the winner is announced on Nov. 6.
While Astley getting the nod might be considered musical sacrilege, it would still go down in history as the most epic Rickrolling in history.
Oh, and just kidding. You can vote here.
Comments (3)
8:34 a.m., Oct. 27, 2008
Alan said:
I like that song; it perfectly describes my feelings for a particular girl. And for that reason, I hope he wins.
5:17 p.m., Oct. 27, 2008
Uncle_Ian said:
I enjoyed "Never Gonna Give You Up," along with Rick Astley's other hits the first time around, and I'm enjoying them all over again now, twenty years later. Astley fans, myself included, have been rocking the vote for the "Best Act Ever" for a while now at http://ema.mtv.co.uk/vote/ Several of his songs have been stuck in my head for over a month now- a testament to their enduring value as quality pop songs, well sung. Rick Astley is now a phenomenon twice over and still performs to sold-out crowds, making him deserving of the MTV "Best Act Ever" award as far as I'm concerned.
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8:19 a.m., Oct. 24, 2008
Erin said:
Your best yet, Kristin. Absolutely.