Last year on this U.S. Thanksgiving day, a certain redhead performed the ultimate Rick Roll.

 

Yes, the terrific 80's performer and redhead, Rick Astley, brought us the hits "Never Going to Give You Up" (which became #1 in 1988) and "Together Forever."  As I'm sure all of you know by now, his big hit was turned into a somewhat strange internet meme courtesy of the crazy people at 4chan - the "Rick Roll."  And if you've been under a rock for years, a "Rick Roll" is where someone posts a link to something tantalizing in description only to find the music video, or some derivative of, "Never Going to Give You Up."

 

It spread across the internet, in places such as Fark.com threads.  As it's popularity grew, you found new forms and humor regarding it:

 

xkcd comics:

But Rick Astley can always get you back:

 

 

On April 1st, 2008, April Fools Day, Youtube did the best to date, posting this video on the front page:

 

BUT, the ultimate was yet to come.  In the greatest meetup of internet meme and pop culture, that 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade topped the whole event - the greatest Rick Roll in history, performed live by none-other than the redhead 80's icon himself. 

 

I'll back up for a moment though.  I'm sure most of you already know the story of Thanksgiving in the U.S. (celebrated a month earlier in Canada), giving thanks for survival of the pilgrims, coming together of different peoples in peace, etc.  Well, the U.S. Thanksgiving is marked 1st by togetherness and family, 2nd by turkey, and 3rd by the Macy's parade in New York, featuring floats, performers, and lots of gigantic helium balloons.  So when the following happened:

 It was truly Rick Rolling the whole United States, and through the power of the internet, the whole world!

 

Thank you Rick Astley, a redhead who created a #1 hit, that through very weird circumstances, will never be forgotten.

 

Happy U.S. Thanksgiving, Redhead World!

Tags: rick_astley rickroll thanksgiving 2008 redhead