Rick Astley has branded his ’80s hit Never Gonna Give You, which catapulted him to overnight stardom, a “shitty song.”
The 1987 release reached number one in 25 countries before again finding notoriety as one of the first Rickrolling pranks on YouTube.
But while Rick, 58, isn’t the song’s biggest fan, he said performing it on stage at last year’s Glastonbury Festival helped make it finally something special.
Narration theUnited Nationsahead of the release of her new album, Are We There Yet?: “Festivals, and Glastonbury in particular, have an almost magical ability to elevate s* songs.”
Rick also revealed the most unlikely place he was seen by fans during his pop heyday, which included huge stadium concerts.
Rick Astley, 58, called his ’80s hit Never Gonna Give You, which catapulted him to overnight stardom, a ‘shit song’ (pictured on stage in 2021).
The 1987 hit reached number one in 25 countries before again finding notoriety as one of the first YouTube pranks for Rickrolling (pictured in the song’s music video).
He told the publication: “My most ridiculous celebrity moment came when I was high up on a mountain in the Italian Alps and two nuns asked me to sign their Bibles.”
Last year, Rick filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Yung Gravy, saying the rap artist was not authorized to use an imitation of his voice from the 1987 song for the 2022 single Betty (Get Money).
He filed legal documents in Los Angeles that were reviewed by TMZsaying that Yung Gravy and his team had only licensed the instrumental pieces of the pop classic.
Rick’s legal team told the court that the 27-year-old Rochester, Minnesota-born musical artist and his production team, including Dillon Francis and impersonator Nick ‘Popnick’ Seeley, were not authorized to reproduce his vocals. success.
The group “conspired to include a deliberate and nearly indistinguishable imitation of Mr. Astley’s voice throughout the song,” Rick’s legal team told the court.
The British star said Yung Gravy cost him potentially lucrative future collaboration opportunities by using Never Gonna Give You Up as the basis of his 2022 track.
Rick was in fine form last year when he took to the Pyramid stage for an energetic performance at the Glastonbury festival.
The singer dressed to impress in a salmon pink suit as he worked the stage and put on a show for thousands of fans gathered at Worthy Farm.
But while Rick isn’t the song’s biggest fan, he said performing it on stage at last year’s Glastonbury Festival (pictured) helped make it finally something special.
Said: ‘Festivals, and Glastonbury in particular, have an almost magical ability to elevate sex songs’
Rick also revealed the most unlikely place he was seen by fans during his pop heyday and harassed by nuns on a mountaintop.
And it wasn’t just his outfit that didn’t disappoint people, as his performance was received positively by music fans, with several claiming that the singer should have headlined the festival.
At the time, viewers and festival-goers alike hailed the ’80s star’s set as “amazing” and a highlight of the festival, while calling it a “legend.”
‘There’s something incredibly adorable about Rick Astley. This is a truly wonderful performance. In fact, this could be the highlight of Glastonbury 2023.” said one.
While another shared: ‘Rick Astley…. Where have you been hiding all these years! Killed it with a hot set from @glastonbury today!! Come back, we love you.’
‘Rick Astley – What a performance!!!!!’ was the response of a third fan.
A fourth music lover said: “There’s an alternate universe where Rick Astley is the main headliner at the Pyramid Stage, and there he would be completely and utterly happy.”
Last year, Rick (left) filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Yung Gravy (right), saying the rap artist was not allowed to use an imitation of his voice from the 1987 song for the 2022 single Betty (Get Money) .
“Don’t say it, don’t say it…’ Rick Astley should have topped that pyramid last night, not those last ones,” tweeted a fifth.
‘What an incredible set by Rick Astley! ‘That man is a legend!’ commented a sixth viewer.
With another declaring: ‘I’m telling you! Rick Astley could be a headliner on a Friday! There’s no debate… That’s it!’
The Together Forever singer not only captivated the audience with his own songs, but also took the opportunity to perform some covers.
Rick certainly surprised the crowd when he took up the drums to perform a hard-hitting version of AC/DC’s Highway To Hell.
While pop fans may have been delighted as she also sang a rendition of Harry Styles’ As It Was.