RICKROLLED'S MEANING HAS SHOCKING TIES TO THE U.S AIR FORCE
At this point, for many of us, we’re no strangers to love or to the meaning of getting Rickrolled. Even as the technique evolves, the Rickrolled meaning remains the same: you just got GOT with one of the most infamous memes of all time. Crazier than the rebirth of Rick Astley’s career because of the trend is that the U.S. Air Force would end up having a part in not only sparking one of the most widely accepted ways to troll someone but also help bring back 80’s vibes to the airwaves. Read next:Ukraine Memes Are the Modern Day War Bond
What Does Rickrolled Mean?
Getting Rickrolled is when you click on a link expecting it to be a piece of content completely unrelated to the 1987 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley, only to be presented with the U.K. smash anyway. While the Rickroll meme has taken many forms, the most popular way is to either have a video interrupted or to be transported to YouTube, where you open up the song, immediately knowing that you’ve been pranked. The Rickrolled meaning has created many fun, joyous moments among friends, and it's even inspired political statements, as seen with "Anonymous" proving a point about censorship early in the meme’s life in 2008. There've been advertisements and marketing campaigns that have used Rickrolling in official and unofficial capacities. But the viral movement came from another trend, not before getting a twist from the military.
The Air Force Birthed a Legendary Meme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ As fun as using the Rickrolling song may be, there's a bit of context as to why two decades after an ‘80s anthem skyrocketed the charts, it found itself once again on the lips and minds of people everywhere. To understand this phenomenon, we have to take a trip back in meme history, where a trend without as much popularity would eventually get wings to fly thanks to Air Force Master Sgt. Shawn Cotter. Long before the word “influencer” was a common term, monetizing content was fully realized, or before many of us realized that we were dealing with one of the largest search engines in the world, Cotter wanted to be a YouTuber. Around this time, there was another trend known as the duckroll, which was a meme in which you’d click a link, and instead of going to the desired website, you’d see a picture of a duck on wheels. Looking to add a twist, Cotter learned of Astley’s song while looking up songs that were popular when he was born. He made the switch, and thus, a meme was born. It all sounds a bit silly, and to get Rickrolled is exactly that, but the trend was a hit and has been going strong ever since. Now, you have an ‘80s pop star with a revitalized career, people getting Rickroll QR code tattoos, and over 1.3 billion views of a track that doesn’t look like it’ll be running around and deserting us any time soon.
Has Anyone Rickrolled Rick Astley?
Yes, Rick Astley has been Rickrolled many times, as should be the case. While the man himself was at first unsure what to think of the madness, it’s been well documented that he’s since embraced the trend. No, really, well documented, as in Vice Media has an actual documentary on the legendary song that became the Rick Roll. And believe me, as badly as I can feel the temptation to link that to a very on-the-nose bait and switch, it’s the real deal. Or not, click it to find out. But regardless of how any of this came to change the tides of a career, inspire generations largely unrelated to when the song was released, or even bring about much tradition purely to the American Armed Forces, it’s still a pretty interesting tidbit. The Rickrolled meaning continues to be the best that trolling has to offer with a playful opportunity that's still popular after all these years. Suggested read:Kilroy Was Here: The Infamous WWII Meme That Lives On