This is a happy pop song. 

This is a famous pop song. 
The song was made in 1987. It reached number one in 25 countries. People liked the cheerful sound. It was the best song of that year in the UK.

There is a funny game called "rickrolling." People use a link to trick friends. The link plays this song instead. It is a silly joke on the internet.
Rick Astley still sings this song today. It is a part of his life. Many people think it is a great song.
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a famous pop song. 
Many people love the song's sound. It has a cheerful and carefree feel. The music uses electronic tools. These include a digital synthesizer for the bass. It also uses a machine for the drums. The music video was filmed in London. 
The song is also part of a funny internet joke. This joke is called "rickrolling." People send a link that tricks friends. The link plays the music video instead. This joke became very popular in 2007. The video has over 1.7 billion views on YouTube. Rick Astley still sings the song today. He even made a new piano version in 2019. Billboard named it one of the best pop songs ever.
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a famous pop song. 
Making the song involved many talented people and special tools. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. They used a Yamaha DX7 digital synthesizer to create the basslines. A Linn 9000 machine was used for the drums and sequencing. They also used a Roland Juno 106 analogue synthesizer. Ian Curnow added synthetic string and brass lines to the track. Pete Hammond helped by making the vocals stand out in the final mix. 
The song has a very long and successful history. It was released on 27 July 1987 by RCA Records. It was the first single from the album Whenever You Need Somebody. The song was a massive hit in the United Kingdom in 1987. It stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks. It also won Best British Single at the 1988 Brit Awards. The song has since been ranked among the 500 best pop songs of all time.
Many impressive numbers show how much people love this music. The song reached number one in 25 different countries. This includes the United States and West Germany. In the UK, it sold over one million copies. The music video was uploaded to YouTube on 25 October 2009. Since then, it has received over 1.7 billion views. It also has more than 18 million likes on that platform. The video passed the one billion views mark on 28 July 2021.
This song is linked to many parts of modern life. It is famous for an internet joke called "rickrolling." This happens when people send a link that tricks others into watching the video. In 2008, YouTube even used this joke for April Fools' Day. The song also appears in popular culture, like the show Ted Lasso. It was even used in a psychological warfare campaign in Panama in 1989. Today, it continues to inspire new versions, like Astley's 2019 piano arrangement.
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a landmark pop song by English singer Rick Astley. Released on 27 July 1987, it serves as his signature track. The song is celebrated for its upbeat and carefree energy. It is a defining example of late 1980s pop music. Many listeners find it cheerful and easy to enjoy. Astley frequently performs the song to close his live concerts. It remains a vital part of his musical identity.

The production of the song involved a specific technical process at PWL Studios in South London. The songwriting team consisted of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman. Waterman suggested the title and concept after Astley discussed his devotion to a girlfriend. Stock and Aitken then composed the melody, chords, and lyrics. To create the sound, producers used several electronic instruments. A Yamaha DX7 digital synthesizer produced the basslines. A Linn 9000 machine handled the drums and sequencing. They also utilized a Roland Juno 106 analogue synthesizer.

Specific layers were added to finish the track's unique sound. Ian Curnow, a Fairlight operator, added synthetic string and brass lines. Phil Harding performed the initial mixing of the track. Later, Pete Hammond provided the final mix. Hammond focused on making the vocals more prominent in the sound. The production team also used Yamaha Rev5 and Rev7 reverberators to manage the acoustics. Mike Stock noted that the syncopated bassline was inspired by Colonel Abrams' 1985 hit "Trapped." This helped the song avoid sounding like other artists of the era.
The song's commercial success was massive and widespread. It was the first single from Astley's debut album, *Whenever You Need Somebody*. In the United Kingdom, it was the best-selling single of 1987. It stayed at the top of the UK charts for five consecutive weeks. The song reached number one in 25 different countries. This included major markets like the United States and West Germany. In the US, it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1988. The song also won Best British Single at the 1988 Brit Awards.

Statistical data highlights the song's enduring popularity. In the UK, the single has sold over one million copies. The Official Charts Company ranked it at number 164 on its list of best-selling singles of all time. On YouTube, the music video has achieved incredible milestones. Since its upload on 25 October 2009, it has surpassed 1.7 billion views. It also has over 18 million likes. The video officially crossed the one billion views mark on 28 July 2021. In 2023, *Billboard* magazine ranked it among the 500 best pop songs ever recorded.
The song is famous for its connection to the "Rickrolling" internet meme. This phenomenon involves a bait-and-switch tactic. Users provide a misleading link that redirects to the music video. This practice became very popular on the internet in 2007. In 2008, YouTube participated by rickrolling its featured videos for April Fools' Day. This meme helped the video see a massive resurgence in popularity. Astley has noted that the internet's ability to pick up such trends is brilliant. Despite the billions of views, Astley received only $12 in YouTube royalties as of 2010.

Beyond memes, the song has appeared in many diverse cultural contexts. In 1989, it was reportedly used during Operation Nifty Package. This was a psychological warfare campaign during the United States invasion of Panama. The song also appeared in the second season of the sitcom *Ted Lasso*. In the show, a character sings it during a funeral scene. Additionally, the song has been covered by various artists. In 2019, Astley released a new "Pianoforte" arrangement for his album *The Best of Me*. He even re-recorded it with misheard lyrics to raise awareness for hearing loss.
🖼️ Images & Media (2)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.