Rick Astley: ‘Never Gonna Give You Up, Never Gonna Let You Down’

“I just want to tell you how I’m feeling”

LONDON—It’s evening and Rick Astley stands along a section of waterfront in a nameless side street in West London. He sports a pale tan trenchcoat and a black turtleneck. Blue light from the Thames reflects against the brick archways, swaying to the disco beat in time with Astley’s arm movements. The shadow of a single lamppost is visible in the background.

“We’re no strangers to love. You know the rules and so do I. A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of. You wouldn’t get this from any other guy.”

“I just want to tell you how I’m feeling… gotta make you understand.”

Now in an empty converted church, Astley stands on a short, makeshift stage between two blonde dancers. He belts into a microphone, his hips continuing to sway, his feet shuffling. A bartender glances at Astley, at first with suspicion, then flips the cup he was washing with a flourish and smiles with approval.

“Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you,” says Astley, “Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.”

Astley continues.

“We’ve known each other for so long. Your heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it… Inside we both know what’s been going on. We know the game and we’re gonna play it.”

Upon these words, the bartender becomes so overcome with emotion that he cannot help but dance. He does so naturally, as if he has performed this dance many times before. He spins several times, jumps and does the splits, touching his toes.

“And if you ask me how I’m feeling, don’t tell me you’re too blind to see.”

“Ooh, give you up,” say the backup singers, “ooh give you up.”

Astley stutters for a moment, unable to get past the word “give”:

“Never gonna give, never gonna give…”

Unperturbed however, he continues on to the next portion of the song.

“We’ve known each other for so long. Your heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it. Inside we both know what’s been going on. We know the game and we’re gonna play it. I just want to tell you how I’m feeling—gotta make you understand.”

Now back at the waterfront, two unidentified men dance and perform acrobatic feats behind Astley. One, standing in an archway, does a backflip. Another does a sort of urban-inspired modern dance replete with spins and pointing gestures. A blond woman looks on—Astley seems pleased.

“Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you. Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you,” concludes Astley.

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Dank, fam