Never Gonna Give You Up was released by British singer Rick Astley in 1987 and became a number one hit. Rickrolling emerged around 2007 on forums like 4chan as a bait and switch prank, replacing expected links with the song's video. The joke spread to YouTube, social media, and even live events, turning an earnest pop song into a shared internet punchline. It remains popular because almost everyone recognises it instantly.