So you’re sitting at a basketball game, and all of a sudden music starts playing on the loudspeakers. The tune is hauntingly familiar, like something from a past long forgotten. Then some dude in a manilla trench coat and sun glasses starts dancing and lip syncing in the bleachers. You’ve just been Rickroll’d BIATCH.

*note* Rick Rolling is when you imitate Rick Astley’s song “never gonna give you up” in front of a large audience at random

Okay, so what I want to know is how this phenomenon even started. Apparently it’s now “hip” to Rick-roll public events. Apparently even a scientology protest was rickrolled. Now Rick Astley was recently a point of ridicule in a family guy episode (I looked for a clip… couldn’t find it), and I can only imagine that this was the spark that ignited the Rick Astley flame. I feel like it’s similar to the Chuck Norris phenomenon. Although it started making fun of said person, it eventually makes them infamous. Remember that commercial that had Chuck Norris in it where he basically made fun of himself?

I wonder if Rick Astely can take advantage of this notoriety in the same way. After all, I bet the number of iTunes downloads for his song “Never Gonna Give You Up” has gone up 1000%. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a freakin’ catchy song. I mean, who knows what Rick Astley’s been up to for the last 20 years, but I’m sure the sudden surge in funds hasn’t gone unappreciated. The LA Times wrote a blog about Rick Astely and his impressions of the Rick Roll phenomenon.
Check it out.