Remember Rick Astley? No, we didn’t either until Mollygood’s Cord Jefferson started singing “Never Gonna Give You Up”. Then we remembered the red-headed British soul singer. He’s kind of like a British, 80’s version of Clay Aiken. Only better. Obviously.
Above you’ll find the video for 1987’s “Whenever You Need Somebody”. After the jump you can feel guilty enjoying “Never Gonna Give You Up”, also from 1987. Sadly, Astley hasn’t released a single since.
24play
“Sadly, Astley hasn’t released a single since.”
Well, there was the #1 “Together Forever” in 1988. 1991’s “Cry for Help,” which was Top 10 in both the US and UK. The 1993 album “Body and Soul,” from which two singles made the Top 20 Adult Contemporary chart. And the 2005 covers album “Portrait.”
But don’t let facts stand in the way of your brilliant copy, Belonsky. Taking 30 seconds to check crappy Wikipedia is not your style.
Carry on.
John
I thought he’d released something fairly recently.
Xarro
OMFG! The jeans in the second video. My eyes have melted.
Ted Anderson
yeah, those jeans look very ummmm….”comfortable” in a SNL Mom Jeans kind of way…
I was a huge fan of Rick Astley. I still have a 12″ record of Never Gonna Give You Up stashed somewhere…sadly I haven’t had a turntable since 92.
Thanks for the Flashback. I hadn’t thought of him in like 10 years….now I just blew 25 bucks on Itunes for this momentary lapse in reason. Yikes.
tlk
Oh when I was a small, little fagling I had lots of unexplained tingling sensations when I watched these videos. Rick Astley taught me what it was like to think nerdy boys were hot. And that little head bopping dance move when he’s wearing a trenchcoat? Oh, lordy.
Too bad he’s straight.
And 24play is right about the Wikipedia check. Come on, guys!
alexa
Supposedly Aiken didn’t like the comparisons to Astley when he was on Idol and nixed the idea of a new song written by him on his first CD. He must have gotten over it, though, as he covered one of his songs on his summer tour two years ago. I imagine when people started comparing him to Barry Manilow instead, Rick Astley didn’t seem quite so bad.
phil
It’s intersting how we laugh at fashions past. Just remember, 15 years from now people will be laughing at US.
Brian
Thanks for the flashback! Actually he has released something more recently as above comments show. When I bought a copy of his “greatest hits” there was a new single “Sleeping” on it. Turns out he released a new album, Keep It Turned On – same rich voice but on a few songs he uses that voice machine thing that kept Cher in business. I still like my long-haired Astley from the “Cry for Help” video.
FizziekruntNT
Awesome! How funny, I didn’t know Rick had done anything recently, but thanks to the other commenters for the updates. Rick was great then, reminded me of the whole kind of Brit-Pop thing that was going on then and included these guys, Blue Mercedes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4kUU2QkXos
How fun. Happy Friday!
ACTIIPDX
I HATED his long hair. I fell for him and pop dance music again when this came out. Disco was dead and thought there wouldn’t be any more pop dance music I could actually sing along with any more. Ok, I’m old!
stephen dixon
actually astley released another album of his trademark disco-pop in the late 80’s(yes, i know i’m dating myself!) i have the vinyl single of “she wants to dance with me” where rick looks very cute on the sleeve. maybe clay should cover that song instead to please the “ladies”…