Despite being probably the biggest meme on the internet, Rick Astley never got the joke of his own song when he first got "rickrolled." The online phenomenon made him a viral star and the music video amassed over one billion views on YouTube.
According to Fox News, the singer, who was vastly popular in the 1980s, found fame again when the internet craze called '"rickrolling" became viral over the past 12 years.
Speaking to the outlet to promote Frito-Lay's "New Year New You" campaign, Astley recalled the time he first got "rickrolled" by his own music.
He said a friend of his did it to him the first time, and he had to do it several times because he didn't know what he was doing.
The famed singer said he kept asking himself, "what is he doing?" while he was on holiday with his family in Italy.
"I was totally chilled out and I just kept saying to myself, "I don't need this in my life right now." I know the video, I've seen it a few times. So in the end, we had an actual telephone conversation," he said.
While talking on the phone, his friend, who also works in the music industry, explained everything to him, and he felt weirded out by the situation.
He joked, "I look like I'm 11 years old and wearing my dad's overcoat. I just didn't get it at first."
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Have Rick Astley 'Rickrolled' Anyone Before?
After finding out what the joke is all about, Rick Astley said he "professionally" rickrolled people countless times.
Over the past years, he rickrolled the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York.
"it has been in so many movies and TV shows at this point. People all around the world know it. It's not just an American thing anymore, even though it's very American-based," he added."
The Origin of 'Rickrolling'
According to Know Your Meme, the internet phenomenon began on video games in May 2007 after a user posted a link to the singer's music video disguised as a teaser for the newly released game Grand Theft Auto.
Since the game was highly anticipated at the time, many fans clicked the link and immediately fell for the bait-and-switch prank.
Ever since, the popular meme has been used millions of times by fans, celebrities, and many more.
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