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By Paul John Caña, Contributor
Almost two decades after he hung up that
infamous overcoat and retired those patented dance moves, Rick
Astley—that 1980s pop sensation with the big voice and even bigger
hair—is back. But before diehard addicts (especially fellow 1980s
local icon Roderick Paulate) start hyperventilating in excitement,
Rick was in town for a one night only show at the Araneta Coliseum
sponsored by clothing brand Mossimo. For a few days last week those
who were fortunate enough to have experienced Astley-mania toward
the tail-end of the 1980s and the start of the 1990s relived the
days of the unmistakable fashion, the aerodynamic hair and of
course, the unforgettable music. Still youthful-looking at 42, the
artist behind the massive hits “Never Gonna Give You Up,”
“Together Forever” and “Hold Me In Your Arms” had his tongue
firmly in cheek as he answered questions from a select group of
reporters a day before his Big Dome show.
The Manila Times: Do you know about the Rick
Astley of the Philippines, Roderick Paulate?
Rick Astley: I know of him. Yes. I’ll tell you
one thing. If he comes tomorrow, he’s coming onstage with me. [See
concert review.-Ed]
TMT: You became really, really big back in the
1980s. At the time, did you actually feel the magnitude of your
popularity?
RA: I usually feel the magnitude in the morning.
I feel the magnitude when I wake up. Well, obviously my first single
was probably my biggest hit as well. So yeah every time I go to a
new country, “Never Gonna Give You Up” would be a hit there.
Like in the Philippines, everybody knows you in the Philippines and
you can’t even spell the Philippines. It was a bit strange.
TMT: Did you enjoy being a sex symbol back in
the day? When you had people throwing their underwear at you?
RA: To be honest, I’ve had more underwear
thrown at me over the last year during concerts than I ever did
during the 80s. (Laughter) But being a sex symbol, I never really
got that. I don’t really see it. I used to sing, I did what I did.
TMT: What do you think about having a huge
number of male fans?
RA: You know what I think I was one of those
artists that guys didn’t want to admit they kind of liked.
They’d put my records at the back of their collection. They had it
in their car and it was in their glove compartment.
TMT: Did you ever watch your videos on
YouTube.com and thought, “What on Earth was I thinking?’
RA: Yeah, obviously looking back at those videos
can be quite painful. But I mean I think it’s the same for all of
us. If you look at photographs from 15, 20 years ago, we all kind of
shudder and think that. It’s just worse for me because it’s on
YouTube.
TMT: Tell us about the fashion, that outfit you
wore in the music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
RA: Well, when the song was put out, they
decided they wanted to make a video. But nobody ever told me what to
wear. Nobody said, ‘we have to style it’ and everything. I
brought a raincoat with me that day because it was raining and that
was what I ended up wearing.
TMT: What about the Rick Astley dance moves?
Where did that come from?
RA: There were strings attached to my arms and
my legs and a guy would make me move. (Laughter). No, I think that
was pure fear. All the cameras were thrown pointing at me. So I
thought I’d just shuffle around.
TMT: It says in Wikipedia that you changed your
name to Ricardo Bocanegra early in your career as a tribute to your
Mexican heritage.
RA: No. I can categorically say that that is a
myth.
TMT: So you’re not Mexican?
RA: Nope. I don’t think so. If anything I
think I’m more Viking.
TMT: What do you think about the film “Music
and Lyrics?”
RA: That was a fantastic film. I thought that
was genius. The songs are brilliant because it copied and kind of
twisted 1980s pop. And Hugh Grant was fantastic.
How do you feel about having fans of a certain
age and the younger kids not knowing who you are?
Are you asking me if I like the mature women?
Yes. Obviously, the younger kids don’t know who I am. Why would
they? There’ve been a thousand one artists since I stopped making
records. But [the show] isn’t about that. It’s about a walk down
memory lane. And just having a good time. It’s not about me trying
to reinvent myself. It’s about having fun.
TMT: You sort of went away in the early 1990s
after hitting it big. What really happened?
RA: To be honest, I just got sick of it. And you
know, my partner and I, we have a daughter so that happened as well.
And traveling all over the world, which I really appreciate having
had a chance to do so. But I’m really a simple guy. I just wanted
to live a simple life. With lots and lots of money. Which is what I
did.
TMT: So you loved the anonymity?
RA: I really, really value that. Because I’ve
lived through being famous, famous to the point where it didn’t
matter where I was on holiday. I would be in, I don’t know, South
Africa and people would end up singing “Never Gonna Give You Up”
at the back of the hotel. I went to Tasmania and I ended up doing a
concert there as well. So eventually you start thinking of going
away for a while. And I did. And I enjoyed that peace and quiet. I
enjoy [performing and being famous] because it’s something that I
can just switch on. I can probably go to the Philippines next week
and do a show and then afterwards just forget about it and walk out
and be anonymous again. I can enjoy the best of both worlds.
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