In 1985, Astley was playing the club circuit as a singer with a soul band named FBI, when he was seen by the record producer Pete Waterman and persuaded to come to London to work at the PWL recording studio. Under the tutelage of production trio Stock Aitken Waterman, Astley was taught about the recording process and groomed for his future career, supposedly starting off as the recording studio 'tea boy'. During much of his career prior to the proliferation of music videos, many listeners assumed he was black. In one instance, the comedic entertainer, Sinbad, discussed him with a talk-show host, expressing his surprise that Astley was not "one of the brothers." Even after his visual appearance, it was still popular belief that he was miming for a black American singer. His brother Mark Astley helped to refute this assertion.
His first single was the little-known "When You Gonna" credited to Rick & Lisa, but his first solo outing was "Never Gonna Give You Up," released in 1987. It became an immediate success, spending five weeks at the top of the British charts and becoming the year's highest-selling single. It was the first of no fewer than 13 (world-wide) Top 30 hit singles for him.
The album Whenever You Need Somebody also reached Number One in the UK, and the hit singles continued, including the title track and a cover of Nat King Cole's "When I Fall In Love."
On 12 March 1988, "Never Gonna Give You Up" had also topped the U.S. singles chart and was followed by a second U.S. #1 on 18 June with his second U.S. single release "Together Forever."
By the end of the decade, Astley had parted company with Stock Aitken Waterman. He achieved one more major success with the 1991 ballad "Cry For Help," which reached the Top 10 in both the UK and the U.S. It featured a gospel choir arranged by Andraé Crouch, who'd also been involved with Madonna's 1989 hit "Like A Prayer."
His next album Body & Soul was released in 1993. The album did not chart in the U.K. and managed to make The Billboard 200 peaking at a lowly #182. The two singles, The Ones You Love and Hopelessly performed very well on the adult contemporary chart, peaking at #19 and #4 respectively. Hopelessly also crossed over and peaked at #31 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart. For much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Astley remained largely out of the spotlight.
In 1991 the RIAA certified that two million copies of Whenever You Need Somebody had been sold. Total world sales of Astley's records (inclusive of singles, albums and compilation inclusions) have reached 40 million.
Almost 10 years after "Body & Soul", Rick finally returned to the music world and released "Keep It Turned On" in 2002. The album featured the single "Sleeping", which became a minor club hit, thanks to a set of remixes from U.S. house producer Todd Terry.
In 2005 Astley released the album Portrait in which he covered many classic soul standards such as "Vincent", "Nature Boy" and "Close To You".
In early 2006, Astley withdrew unexpectedly at the eleventh hour from appearing on the BBC TV celebrity/pro duets show Just the Two of Us after committing to the series. This led to criticism from those in the entertainment industry and media. His place was filled by opera singer Russell Watson, who eventually won the competition. The BBC failed to explain that Astley's withdrawal was due to his partner Lene Bausager being nominated for the 2006 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for her produced/directed film "Cashback". Astley would have missed a crucial part of the show by attending the awards ceremony and so withdrew before the show started its run.
Based on various music charts in the UK, U.S. and Canada, Astley has charted a grand total of 14 (different) hit singles and 6 (different) hit albums as of March 2006.
During the later part of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, the song "Never Gonna Give You Up" became part of an internet meme similar to the "Duckrolling" of the 4chan game forums. A link would be submitted to the forum, in the first instances to a supposed trailer of a new game, and would redirect the user to the video. This process fondly became known as a "Rickroll", and the usage of which has developed exponentially since. As a result of the increased publicity Rick Astley's former record company (RCA) released a greatest hits album.
In 2008, he won the Best Act Ever prize at MTV EMA's. In the same year he Rick rolled America on National TV in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade..thanks to Cartoon Network
The Ones You Love
Rick Astley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The people ask me how,
How I've lived till now.
I tell them I don't know.
I guess they understand
How lonely life has been.
But life began again
And, yes, I know how lonely life can be.
The shadows follow me, and the night won't set me free.
But I don't let the evening get me down
Now that you're around me.
And you love me, too.
Your thoughts are just for me
You set my spirit free.
I'm happy that you do.
The book of life is brief
And once a page is read,
All but love is dead.
That is my belief.
And, yes, I know how loveless life can be.
The shadows follow me, and the night won't set me free.
But I don't let the evening bring me down
Now that you're around me.
And I love you so.
The people ask me how,
How I've lived till now.
I tell them, "I don't know"
In these lyrics, Rick Astley highlights the dire situations that many people, especially children, find themselves in around the world. He references children crying on the street and mothers waiting for days to end, indicating a sense of hopelessness and desperation in their lives. The line "A hopeless situation they can't mend" suggests that these people are stuck in their circumstances and unable to improve their situations.
Astley poses the question "Is it good for you? Is it good for me?" which points to the idea that these issues affect everyone, not just those directly impacted. He questions how the world can sleep when there is so much suffering and injustice.
The chorus repeats the idea that "they'd better be the ones you love" referring to the importance of showing love and care to those who are struggling. Astley emphasizes the need for children to receive this love and attention, even if no one else does.
Overall, the song is a call to action for those who are in positions of privilege and power to recognize the suffering of others and take steps to help them. It highlights the importance of love and compassion towards those who are struggling, especially children.
Line by Line Meaning
Children cry on the street
There are children who are crying on the street due to their need, hunger or suffering.
They don't have enough to eat
These children are deprived of adequate food to eat.
Mothers wait for days to end
The mothers of these children pass their days in despair, hoping for a better future.
A hopeless situation they can't mend
Despite their persistent efforts, they can't find a way out of their miserable situation.
Is it good for you?
Can you find peace or happiness by ignoring the plight of these people who are suffering?
Is it good for me?
Will your indifference or apathy towards others bring true happiness to yourself as an individual?
I don't know how the world can sleep
Rick Astley is bewildered and saddened by the fact that people can ignore the suffering of others and sleep peacefully.
It's just not right to close the door turn out the light
Turning a blind eye to the suffering of those in need is morally unacceptable and unjust.
They'd better be the ones you love
Those who are deserving of our attention, care and support should be the ones we love.
The children ought to get some love
The children who are facing hunger, poverty, and deprivation in their lives ought to be given love and attention.
If no-one else should get enough
If no one else can have enough of sustenance or care, these children should be a priority.
Daddy waits there in line
The fathers, like mothers, also face difficulties trying to secure basic sustenance for their families by waiting in long queues.
A little work he hopes to find
Their hope is that they might earn a living wage through some kind of work to support their children.
Something wrong with times like these
Rick Astley sees a fundamental flaw in how we organize our society where people are left behind and suffer needlessly.
It's enough to bring a man down to his knees
The suffering and struggles that people face can be so intense that it can break anyone and make them feel helpless.
Thinking of the children
Rick Astley urges us to think about the needs and vulnerabilities of children who are suffering the most in such situations.
You better be think about the children
It's essential for us to prioritize the needs of children when we think about the ways to help people in dire and difficult circumstances.
Better be the ones you love
Those people who are good deserving, and in need of our attention, care and support should be the ones we love the most, and care about the most.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Mclean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alflaylawalayla
Rick Astley would never give up the ones you love
@playeff479
Exactly when i readed this he said: the ones u lovee
@perfectdota2264
yeah xd
@melvyn981
Never gonna give you up
@agentEE233
He will never gonna give anyone up
@Midgetbetta
He would rick roll them
@timerunner9164
Hey Rick, so happy I came across your video. I remember when you hit the scene and your videos were on TV. I certainly loved your music. My mother, who was 50 at the time thought you were so handsome and good-looking and adored your songs. She would dance and sing right along with your videos. She passed away in 1990 two years later and Everytime since then when I hear your song, "Never gonna give you up." I remember my mother and how happy your music made her!" Thank you for sharing your talent then and over years.
@lempereurfelin5760
Wow... you deserve so many more likes
@andreaboys
A mi padre que partió hace casi 6 meses le encantaba Rick
Su cancion favorita era "never gonna give you up" al igual que ti madre.. /mi madre por su parte que tambien partió le encanta Rick..lo encontraba lindo y talentoso.
Nuestros padres sabian lo que era bueno.!!
Me encanta esta cancion..
@diperhands4908
You’re*