The Magical Hanukkahtime Section Variety Hour is an eight-day cruise through every section at BC Magazine except the one where the author has any knowledge whatsoever. On the third evening: BC Music!
Earlier this year, I was on a date with a girl and she had never heard of a rickroll before. I remember trying to explain the concept behind it, then I explained why it was funny. Needless to say, there was no second date. (Had I had a second chance to eloquently and succinctly describe it, the art of rickrolling was like the existence of Larry "Bud" Melman, but not as strange or as ugly.)
It's been fun to see the interaction between an Internet inside joke and a real-life fleshy human being who actually sang that song back in the day, not realizing then that his relevance today somehow superseded his relevance back when he was, well, actually relevant. And it was refreshing to see Rick Astley embrace the cyberspace's reaction to his 1987 tune "Never Gonna Give You Up," because it's easy for a performer to get cranky and crotchety seeing their art transformed by someone else's creative control. (Heck, I would.) Natalie Imbruglia also showed a good sense of humor when she sang on stage alongside comedian David Armand during his interpretative dance of "Torn."
It's a little more exciting when, for example, comedian Frank Caliendo does a great impression of NFL commentator John Madden and the Hall of Fame coach isn't a fan of the parody at all. To name another example, choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. wasn't at all amused when Saturday Night Live parodies Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)", despite the fact that, y'know, Beyoncé herself was halfway okay with it — but only once she saw Justin Timberlake in a leotard.
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Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
LMAO!! It was a brilliant way to take back his song. He had an opportunity to show up all these freaks on the internet & he capitalized on it. Rick "Rickrolled" all those Futhamuckers:) Granted, I can't stand his craptastic music but...Way to go Rick!
Personally, as a struggling musician, I always dreamed of being parodied by Weird Al Yankovic. That's the ultimate compliment...