YouTube Removes Original RickRoll Video
Rickrolling isn't exactly an art form; you just send some poor, unsuspecting Web surfer a link to Rick Astley's hit song, "Never Gonna Give You Up" with the promise that it's something else. It's simple and it can be hilarious.
Today the Internet is mourning the loss of the "original" Rickrolling video. YouTube has removed the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" citing a terms of use violation. The clip had amassed 30 million views and, though the fad for linking to Rickroll videos has died down over the last year or so, it's disappointing to see the video that started it all has been removed.
Started by 4Chan members in 2007, Rick Astley has said before that he doesn't mind the meme. In an interview with the LA Times, Astley said he found it "bizarre and funny." Astley added that his main consideration was that his daughter doesn’t get embarrassed about it.
YouTube has yet to comment on the removal of the video but it'll be interesting to see what they do say. On April Fool's Day, YouTube arranged for all the featured videos on the homepage to link through to the video, Rickrolling thousands of people.
- Guild Wars Novel Coming Q1/Q2 2010
- Developer: Current FPS Games Are "Boring"
- Sony Silently Squeezed Out 70MB More PS3 RAM
- Best Buy, Other Retailers Will Sell iPad
- ''Explicit'' Section Hidden in Apple's App Store
- PCWorld: AT&T 3G 67% Faster Than Competitors
- Google Executives Convicted for Bullying Video
- Capcom COO Mark Beaumont Dies Suddenly
- Doritos to Give You a Chance to be a Pro Gamer
- Yahoo Integrating Twitter into Global Network
- Nintendo DSi XL Priced, Dated for North America
- ''Super Mario Galaxy 2,'' ''Metroid: Other M'' Dated
- Google: RickRoll Video Removal Was a Mistake
- Advertisers Pulling Out of PlayStation Home
- VIDEO: Nintendo Demos the DSi XL
- Internet Addiction May Become Official "Disorder"
- Lionhead May Sell Fable III Condoms
- Hollywood Says Court Ruling Bad, ISPs Are Evil
- O'Brien Beats Leno on Twitter in Mere Hours
So I guess, " Never gonna give you up", finally gave up.. hehehehe
You turned around and hurt me, YouTube. ;_;
Hmm... It was good while it lasted, but I guess they need this for rolling out of the "Nickel Rick Roll" service, brought to you by your favorite record company!
The Italian goverment threatened to sue youtube.com execs for breaking the "we're stupid" policy.
Rick Astley has a great sense of humor about it; he doesn't just "not mind" it, he helped Cartoon Network Rickroll the entire nation, live, at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I'm not a fan of 4chan memes, but that was a truly epic moment.
It seems odd that they used it themselves if they claim copy right violation. There must be something else at work here.
They probably got Cease and Desist letters from some fricken RIAA Lawyer...
I had some good times @ work rick rolling people. The first time they get hit they just have no idea why you are laughing at them. The second time you rickroll someone there like ...ya ya ha ha...the third time it starts getting goofy and much more difficult and this is where the fun begins. We got so bad in our IS department that no one would open a link without checking it first, but of course there are ways to spoof that too, which really added to the fun!
Good times, RickRoll will be missed, Rick Astley won't be. lol
The whole thing sounds kind of weird.
The next craze will be, "Walk the Dinosaur"... lol
Wow, I consider myself a major internet geek, but I have never heard of this "Rickrolling" prank. Am I outdated? What ever happened to 2g1c?
grieve said "RickRoll will be missed, Rick Astley won't be. lol"
I am sure Mr. Astley won't be shedding any tears when you meet your demise either.
Also, the song was written and produced not by Mr. Astley but by the songwriting conglomeration known as SAW (Stock, Aitken & Waterman). I have a feeling they are the ones behind the takedown notices.
its back up guys!
4chan sucks.
yeah its up again ....
Wow, I consider myself a major internet geek, but I have never heard of this "Rickrolling" prank. Am I outdated? What ever happened to 2g1c?
It says here that your shits all retarded and you talk like a fag.
4chan sucks.
Take that back. 4chan is awesome.
I am glad I got my laughs out of this video while It was still up. I had a GF over at the time, we got drunk and placed this video on repeat again and again and danced for like an hour. Was freaking hilarious.
Has anyone else seen the movie and Nick and Noras Infinite Playlist? Is the band Are You Randy supposed to be a "live" Rickroll? I saw it a few months ago but I havent been able to confirm this.
Wow, Youtube's gonna get everyone on April Fools day. Thats gonna be hilarious.
Lol yes it will. I'm already lolling by just the thought.
It says here that your shits all retarded and you talk like a fag.
lol I almost fell out of m chair!!!!
I love that MOVIE!
Wow, I consider myself a major internet geek, but I have never heard of this "Rickrolling" prank. Am I outdated? What ever happened to 2g1c?
LOL @ the Idiocracy reference! As for you, if you know what 2g1c is and you don't know what RickRolling is, it is safe to say you have somehow subjugated yourself to the *absolute worst* parts of the internet. Both of these memes are 'old as the hills' in internet age, but only one of them is completely perverted beyond belief. Give yourself a pat on the back for managing to stick with the worst of the worst!
LOL
What is this I don't even.... D:
Looks like Rick Astley... *puts on glasses* Got rolled.
YEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!
Don't worry, rats-r-us..it's only a freakin' video of Rick Astley.
I remember one guy, he was one of the best musician's on YT, and all he did was use instruments to accompany some tracks playing in the background; the video's were there mainly to show his love for the artists and his skills..the focus was mostly on himself. What happened? Yeah..video's removed.
It's absurd. You Tube seems to be getting too corporate - and political. One guy used to film the news and give commentary (FFS!), even his stuff got wiped.
Is YT finally reaching critical mass..is it finally resembling the kind of corporate CRAP that existed before it??
To the editors: Seems the vid is back up. Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
Looks like Rick Astley... *puts on glasses* Got rolled.YEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!
OMG. Golf clap.
Rick never dies!
Take that back. 4chan is awesome.
remember the guy who declared war on 4chan. he claimed it was gods will that he do it. Well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBuhE9ojBw8 he never won because when you say something as "god wanted me to do it" your gonna get raped by /b/.