Rick Astley ‘grateful’ for career-making song
But there’s more to singer than ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’
How does Rick Astley handle one of his songs being part of the biggest internet meme of all time? He rolls with it, obviously.
“Listen, let’s face it, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ has sort of become something else,” he says. “The video and the song have drifted off into the ether and become something else, and I’m ever so grateful for it.”
That song turns 35 this year and is still very much alive, buoyed by a second chapter as a gentle joke wherein someone baits you with an enticing online link, which points instead to the video for this 1987 dancepop smash. It’s called Rickrolling.
Astley is singing it this summer on tour with New Kids on the Block, SaltN-Pepa and En Vogue for the 57-date “Mixtape Tour 2022.” A remastered version of his 1987 debut album also has been released, featuring, of course, “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
“I’m never going to have a song as big as that ever, and I kind of knew that while it was happening. I kind of thought, ‘We’re never going to beat this.’ But I also kind of thought, ‘Well, how bad is that?’ ”
There has always been much more to Astley than just that song. After blowing up in the late 1980s, he left show business frustrated and has only recently reemerged with the strong albums “50” in 2016 and “Beautiful Life” in 2018.
“Often the second act can be more enjoyable because you’re more in control and you savor every minute,” said Alistair Norbury, president of repertoire and marketing at BMG UK, which signed Astley.
The passage of time — and the fact that Astley is such a sweet guy — has softened any sharpness. He says he understands how the past can look different with rose-colored glasses. Rock stars have lately told him they love his voice.
“And I’m like, ‘Really? I thought you would have strung me up in the village square,’ ” he says, laughing. “They probably would have done (that) at the time, but I think over time, I think it just changes your perspective.”
Astley, 56, the youngest of four siblings, grew up near Manchester, England. His sister played a lot of progressive rock and adored David Bowie. A brother was a huge Queen fan, and he remembers the “Night at the Opera” album played on a loop. Astley soaked it all in, from Stevie Wonder to the Smiths.
He was in a band in school — they once performed “So Lonely” by the Police with Astley on drums and singing — that wiped the floor at a battle of the bands. He would go to gigs and dream of being a music star.
Astley was only in his early 20s while recording his debut album, “Whenever You Need Somebody,” with the songwriting and record production trio known as Stock Aitken Waterman, who had crafted songs for Bananarama and Dead or Alive.
“I sold a lot of records. I was having a lot of hits, and then it was getting to a point where it’s like touch and go — how is this going to go now because you have to make another record?”
Burned out and frustrated, he walked away at
27. “I think I just didn’t have it in me. I just didn’t. I didn’t want to do it,” he says.
He admires pop stars like Madonna or Kylie Minogue for their longevity. “I actually don’t know how they’ve done it,” he says.
Being a pop star messes with your head, and Astley says that happened to him, too. “I think my days were numbered anyway, but I think I just managed to get out before they threw me out, you know?” He didn’t perform for 15 years.
Unlike other pop stars, he hadn’t invested his ego in his looks or others’ perceptions. “I was never cool. I wasn’t cool when I had my hit records,” he says. Astley has nothing but compassion for those chewed up by the fame monster. “It must be unbelievably painful.”
Astley reemerged from self-exile in 2016 with
“50,” named, with a hat-tip to Adele, for his age at the time, a strong album that veers from gospel to electro-funky. Norbury recalls hearing the first few demos on the album and being impressed. He asked Astley’s manager who wrote them. The answer was “Rick Astley.” He asked who was the co-writer?” The answer was, “Nobody.” Who produced? “Rick.” Then who played all the instruments? “He played all the instruments.”
Norbury calls Astley “probably one of the hardest working people in this business and always does it with good humor and with a spirit of collaboration and partnership.”
Rickrolling started in 2007 — at the infancy of YouTube — and it confused Astley at the beginning. His song and video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” were being used as part of an internet bait-and-switch, but what did it mean?
“I was overthinking it and worrying about it and wondering what it was. And our daughter said to me — she was about 15 at the time — she just kind of said, ‘You do realize it’s got nothing to do with you?’ ” She also predicted: “There’ll be something else next week or tomorrow.”
“She was slightly wrong because it’s still kind of kicking around here and there,” says Astley. “But the sentiment of what she was saying was, I think, really, really valuable. I embrace my past, but I don’t have to embrace the Rickrolling thing in the same way because I accept the fact that it’s got nothing to do with me to some degree.”
The song has racked up 1.2 billion streams on YouTube and 559 million Spotify listens. Time Out magazine was always a little puzzled by Rickrolling, asking why anyone wouldn’t want to hear the buoyant megajam, saying it is “three and a half of the most effervescent minutes in the ’80s canon.”
Astley, of course, sees “Never Gonna Give You
Up” differently than the people who use it to try to mess with friends. He acknowledges the video is “unbelievably late-’80s cheesy” but “it’s a good memory. It’s like a fond memory.”
For Astley, it is the song that led him to Copenhagen, where he met his wife, Lene Bausager. Without that song, he wouldn’t have his daughter or have traveled the world. “I’ve been to some of the most amazing places in the world that most people have on a bucket list.”
He thinks back to the days when he was a new artist looking up to established acts. Now he’s a seasoned pro with an arsenal of songs, including an instant crowd-pleaser.
“At the time, I was like green with envy and felt totally insecure and all the rest of it. Now, when I walk out on a stage and sing those songs, I just kind of think, ‘Yeah, how lucky am I? Ain’t that great?’ ”
ONGOING
ARTHAUS AT THE MEZZ, MARRIOTT RENAISSANCE, 12 N. Seventh St., Allentown. 610-841-4866. People, Places & Plants: Paintings by Gerald Simcoe. Through Aug. 31.
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. 215-2991000. Extreme Deep:
Mission to the Abyss: Explore newly discovered life forms, thermal vents, deep-sea research submersibles, and shipwrecks including the Titanic. Through July 24. ansp.org.
ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM, 31 N. Fifth St., Allentown. 610-432-4333. Eclectic Collecting: Curiosities from the Vault: From gemstones and seventeenth-century German tankards to ancient Pompeian oil jars, exhibit celebrates artworks that do not often make it on display. Through Sept. 18. allentownartmuseum.org.
AMERICA ON WHEELS, 5 N. Front St., Allentown. 610-432-4200. Making Life an Adventure: Outdoors is Always More Fun!: Exhibit showcases having fun outdoors featuring 1959
H&H Fiberglass Boat & Gator Trailer. Also, 1964 Studebaker, 1969 Buick Wagon, 1970 VW Westfalia Van, 1953 Mercury, 1972 Scotty camper, 1963 Greenbrier Van, 1055 Hudson, 1961 Corvette, Fin Boat, more. Through Oct. 31. americaonwheels.org.
ART SCHNECK OPTICAL COMPANY, 720 Harrison St., Emmaus. 610-9654066. Judy Leichssenring: Through July 31.
ARTSQUEST CENTER, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Purple Series: Bart Cooper’s limited-edition portrait prints of David Bowie, Beyonce, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and more along with the original Musikfest poster painting. Through
Dec. 11. artsquest.org.
BANANA FACTORY, 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem. 610-332-1300. Harmony:
A showcase of conformity and/or compatibility of colors, moods, textures, styles, emotions and creativity presented by the National Association of Women Artists. Through
July 10. Queering Care: The exhibition is guest curated and juried by artist and arts educator Rei Ukon and invites artists to explore how Queer communities have and continue to expand, reframe and redefine what it means to care for one another, as a form of affection, strategy for survival and beyond. Through Aug. 14. bananafactory.org.
BAUM SCHOOL OF ART, 501 W. Linden St., Allentown. Contemporary Abstraction:
Lehigh Art Alliance artists collection of interpretations of abstraction. Through July 7.
BERKS HISTORY CENTER, 940 Centre Ave., Reading. 610-375-4375. A Snapshot in Time: The Photography
Collection of Dr. William A. Haman: Showcase of Haman’s unique glass plate negatives and glass lantern slides, each developed into a crystal-clear image that offers a glimpse into the daily lives of diverse people in Berks County and beyond during the late 1800s. berkshistory.org.
BETHLEHEM TOWN HALL ROTUNDA GALLERY, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. Highlights of the City Art Collection: Exhibition highlights the artistic treasures of the City Art Collection to share with the community. From over 125 works of art by 80 artists, this eclectic show comprises nearly a third of this valuable art collection and highlights international and regional artists. Reception, 2-4 p.m. July 24. Through Aug. 12. bfac-lv.org.
CLAY ON MAIN, 313 Main St., Oley. 610-987-1273. Nine or Ten Works I Like, In No Order:
Berks-based ceramic artist, Madeline Consugar creates ceramic sculptures focusing on color and repetition to create a unique visual experience for the viewer. Through July 24. clayonmain.org.
DA VINCI SCIENCE CENTER, 3145 Hamilton Boulevard Bypass, Allentown. 484-664-1002. Playing with Light:
Engage in an array of light, laser and lensbased experiences, including freezing your shadows, mixing colored lights, discovering how to shake your own hand and make a laser beam bounce down a stream of water. Also, table-top style exhibits involving light islands, fiber-optics and lenses, paint with light using special virtual paint brushes, and design unique drawings on iPads and project them on the wall. Through Sept. 18. davincisciencecenter.org.
JAMES A. MICHENER ART MUSEUM, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown. 215-3409800. (re)Frame: Community Perspectives on the Michener Art Collection: A three-step, year-long project designed to re-interpret the Michener’s permanent collection with input from the wider regional community, including activists, Native American storytellers, external historians, social workers, environmentalists, as well as general visitors to museum, with a view to a major re-installation of the permanent collection galleries in 2023. Through March 5. michenerartmuseum.org.
JEFFREY GROVE, 184 Main St., Emmaus. 610-9674600. Betty Allender:
Through July 31.
KALMBACH MEMORIAL PARK COMMUNITY CENTER, 200 Cotton St., Macungie. 610-965-1140. Sylvia Roth: Through July 31.
KEMERER MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS, 427 N. New St., Bethlehem. 1800360. A Glimpse Through Glass: Explores the forms, functions, and social history of different types of glass by looking at glass through the lens of art, culture, and community. Through Aug. 28. historicbethlehem.org.
LAURA’S CUSTOM FRAMING AND FINE ART, 1328 Chestnut St., Emmaus. Mitch Mandel and Philip Kresge: Mandel, commercial, editorial, and food photographer and Kresge a photography enthusiast. Through Aug. 27.
LIBERTY BELL MUSEUM, 622 Hamilton St., Allentown. 610-435-4232. Liberty Bell Museum’s 60th Anniversary:
A Silver Jubilee: Exhibit tells the story of the Liberty Bell coming to Zion’s church during the Revolutionary War and how residents played a significant part in the American Revolution. The stories drove several community members to take the initiative and found the Liberty Bell Shrine. Through Sept. 24. LibertyBellMuseum.org.
LOWER MACUNGIE LIBRARY, 3450 Brookside Road, Macungie. 610-9666864. Liz Kenny: Through Aug. 31.
LUTHER CREST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, 800 Hausman Road, Whitehall Township. 610-391-8202. Glenn Kratzer and Glenn Steiner: Through Aug. 31.
MERCER MUSEUM, 84 S. Pine St., Doylestown. 215-345-0210. Everyday Rhythms: Music at the Mercer: Explores some common uses of music and musical instruments, shared across many regions, people and cultures. Through Dec. 31. mercermuseum.org.
MICHENER ART MUSEUM, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown. 215-340-9800. Keith Harding: A Radiant Legacy: A private collection of more than 100 works, the show contains unique and notable pieces, including two rare Subway drawings, complete suites of many of the artist’s icon print series and Medusa Head (the largest print in the artist’s oeuvre). Through July 31. michenerartmuseum.org.
MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 214 E. Center St., Nazareth. 610-759-5070. Charting the Unknown:
Early Moravian Maps: Exhibition explores surveying techniques, the conflicts between indigenous communities and Europeans, and the Moravian contributions to surveying, early cartography, and town planning through archival documents, historic maps, and objects from the collection of the Moravian Historical Society. Through Dec. 29. moravianhistory.org.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY, 602 E. Second St., Bethlehem. 610-694-6644. The Works of a Mechanical Genius:
The Legacy of John Fritz: Explore the early decades of the Bethlehem Iron Company and examine Fritz’s impact on work, technology, defense, and the rapid cultural changes experienced during the 20th Century. Through Oct. 15. nmih.org.
NAZARETH CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 30 Belvidere St., Nazareth. 484-554-5867. Lehigh Art Alliance Plein
Air Nazareth Art Exhibit:
A selection of art by artists depicting outdoor scenes in Nazareth. Through July 10. nazaretharts.org.
PENN STATE LEHIGH VALLEY RONALD K. DE LONG GALLERY, 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley. 610-285-5261. Parkland Art League Members Exhibition:
Work from 21 regional member artists of the Parkland Art League. Closing reception, 1-3 p.m.
July 8. lehighvalley.psu.edu.
PENNYPACKER MILLS, 5 Haldeman Road, Schwenksville. 610-2879349. Stereographing America:
A 3D History of Stereocards: Discover the evolution of 3-D devices from the original Wheatstone stereoscope, the Brewster stereoscopic design, and popular Holmes hand-held model. Through Jan. 31. montcopa.org.
READING PUBLIC MUSEUM, 500 Museum Road, Reading. 610-371-5850. Real Bodies:
Explores life by displaying real, perfectly preserved human bodies and more anatomical specimens. Also, new content designed to help understand the complex and cascading effect the COVID-19 virus has on the systems of the body. Through Sept. 18. readingpublicmuseum.org.
SIGAL MUSEUM, 342 Northampton St., Easton. 610-253-1222. Another American’s Autobiography:
Selections from the Petrucci Family Foundation’s Collection of African American Art.: Selected works explore American patriotism and identity as it relates to the Black American experience and addresses the challenges of Black patriotism and the circumstances that complicate the relationship between Black Americans and this country. Through July 10. sigalmuseum.org.
SOUTH BETHLEHEM GREENWAY, Bethlehem. Thinking Through Drawing:
South Bethlehem Greenway: Think through the many forms and functions of drawing, exploring examples from the Lehigh University museum collection and the community with works by Natalie Alper, Keith Haring, Jose Clemente Orozco, Yingyi Cao, Maurice Prendergast, George Segal, Anita Weschler, more. Self-guided tour begins at either South New Street, or Trone Street, walking the length of the Greenway. Through Aug. 31. luag.lehigh.edu.
STONY RUN WINERY, 150 Independent Road, Breinigsville. Art Exhibit:
Deborah Garlicki, Marianne Knipe, Gina DeNave and Betty Allender. Through Aug. 3.
STUDIO B, 39A E. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown. WORDS:
The exhibit is accompanied by the release of the studio’s ninth book of poetry, prose, and art entitled “Transforming Moments: Finding Our Voice.” Through Aug. 21. studiobbb.org.
GALLERY840, 840 W. Hamilton St., Allentown. Something Blue:
Variety of blue hues by 25 local artists. Through Aug. 6. facebook. com.