"Never Gonna Give You Up" has been used at everything from New York Mets games to Scientology protests

“Never Gonna Give You Up” singer fools onlookers at annual event

By Matthew B. Zeidman

NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 11/28/08 – Revelers in Manhattan’s Herald Square, as well as millions of television viewers, spent part of their Thanksgiving being Rickrolled. Instead of a performance by the characters of “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” onlookers were treated to a rendition of “Never Gonna Give You Up” by singer Rick Astley.

The switch happened on Thursday morning, during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The puppets on the float featuring the Cartoon Network show began to sing 1970s hit and TV theme song “Best Friend,” but stopped abruptly, revealing Astley, himself, dancing and singing to his signature tune.

The pop music piece launched Astley’s music career in 1987, making it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. Both the song and Astley have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity since the music video started to be used to prank unsuspecting Internet users in March 2007.