I don’t know about you, but I think this was a pretty memorable year. Some of it bad (economic meltdown, anyone?)
Some of it amazing and groundbreaking.
Case in point: even though I didn’t vote for him, I find myself fascinated by the symbolism of Barack Obama’s election. And he’s inspiring every time he speaks. Today I saw an amazing video of one of his speeches.
Check it out:
Aw yeah. Uh huh.
That’s right.
You’ve been Barack Roll’d.
If you have no idea what just happened, then you must be over 35.
Don’t worry; I won’t leave you perplexed.
In the interest of public service, I present…
Pop Culture for Old People!
“Barack Roll” (noun): an election-year variation on a Rickroll.
Oh, my dear fellow old person, what’s that you say? You don’t know what Rickrolling is?
Okay, neither did I. I experienced my first Rickroll (Does that make me a Rickroll virgin?) while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and it sent my fingers clattering to Wikipedia. They may not always be the most reliable source of info, but I think this definition will serve our purpose:
Rickrolling is an Internet meme typically involving the music video for the 1987 Rick Astley song “Never Gonna Give You Up“. The meme is a bait and switch: a person provides a Web link that he or she claims is relevant to the topic at hand, but the link actually takes the user to the Astley video. The URL can be masked or obfuscated in some manner so that the user cannot determine the true source of the link without clicking. When a person clicks on the link and is led to the web page, he or she is said to have been “Rickrolled” (also spelled Rickroll’d)….
Hugh Atkin created a popular YouTube parody video of the Rickrolling meme involving United States President-elect Barack Obama, then the 2008 presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, entitled “Barack Roll” that has been watched about 5 million times since its release. The video consists of clips of Obama speaking the words of Astley’s song.
Now I have to admit — my reaction to my maiden Rickrolling made it clear that I am too old for this bit of pop culture.
You see, the Cartoon Network had a float in the Macy’s parade featuring the cast of “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.” Maybe you saw it? Right in front of the cameras, the puppets dressed like cartoon characters started a song. But only a couple measures in, the tune changed to “Never Gonna Give You Up,” and who appeared but the REAL Rick Astley?! (Swoon!)
(Okay, Past-Tense Swoon. He’s aged pretty well, but his cute “Howdy Doody” years are behind him.)
At any rate, I was all,
“Cool! Rick Astley! I loved that song!”
Then I proceeded to sing (every word) and dance along around the sofa until my children left the room in disgust.
I’m kidding. They totally joined in the dancing.
So. What does this mean to you?
If you danced and sang/chanted along with Barack above,then…
WELCOME TO THE AARP!
And Happy New Year’s Eve!!!!!
PS I just realized after writing this that I probably should’ve done some kind of profound “look back” at 2008. D’oh.
Oh, alright… Here’s something “memorable”:
If you want, you can remember December 31, 2008, as the day you got your “old person” card.
See you at next week’s meeting.
(4 pm, Golden Corral. I’ll save you some sirloin.)
21 responses so far ↓
1 @ngie // Dec 31, 2008 at 1:57 am
I've been called alot of things – but cool is not one of them. This is a first! I think I will just hang on to every little drop of coolness allotted to me, thankyouverymuch. You'll have to find someone else to mooch off of. And, frankly, at age thirty-two I don't think I'm too far behind you in that buffet line for some nice mushy macaroni and cheese; no sirloin for me thanks, too hard on my dentures.
Why is your comment service "castigandonos" for using contractions? It makes it look like you've (and now I've) got the mouth of a sailor. Especially in the phrase "God's work". Please pass that bar of soap Ralphie!
2 @ngie // Dec 31, 2008 at 2:00 am
The contraction thing seems to have been "arreglada".
3 katdish // Dec 31, 2008 at 2:22 am
Never heard of the "rickroll", but I loved the video. Also, I loved that song "back in the day". When I first saw the Rick Astley video on MTV, my first thought was, "Dude! That guy is WHITE? And not only white, but Ritchie Cunningham, Happy Days white!" Good song though!
4 FringeGirl // Dec 31, 2008 at 3:29 am
Great video! Your Golden Corral comment cracked me up.
5 sherri // Dec 31, 2008 at 3:46 am
As probably the OLDEST commenter on your site, I must confess, I've never heard the term "Rickrolled"!
Of course, I've heard of the Golden Corral, but am proud to say I'm not a fan!
6 Annie K // Dec 31, 2008 at 10:22 am
I don't know that I would admit to 'loving' that song…
Did I just witness PEBO bustin' a move?
7 @ngie // Dec 31, 2008 at 11:44 am
Rickrolled is a new term to me, but my husband knew what it was. No fair!
8 redclaydiaries // Dec 31, 2008 at 12:56 pm
And aren't you one of my cool YOUNG friends? I'm surprised and disappointed in you…
I guess I'll let you off the hook being that you're doing God's work in a foreign country and all. But just this once.
If you stop being cool, then who will I absorb MY coolness from?
9 Steph // Jan 1, 2009 at 1:30 am
Glad you liked the Golden Corral comment. But as another commenter pointed out, I'd forgotten about how we old folks need mushy food. Sirloin can be a little tough. So I'll save you some cottage cheese instead.
10 Steph // Jan 1, 2009 at 1:33 am
Yeah, I was surprised to find that he was white. When my (non ADD with a perfect memory for music) hub heard the song on Thanksgiving, he said, “Isn't that the guy who looked like Howdy Doody?” I'd totally forgotten what he looked like. He had black hair in the recent parade.
11 Steph // Jan 1, 2009 at 1:36 am
Oldest? Do you have that honor? But you sound so -um – youthful…?
My folks are totally into Golden Corral, or really any place that has sneeze guards. And cheap cuts of meat.
Since chef hubby prefers to cook ribeye steaks, I'm a little spoiled.
12 Steph // Jan 1, 2009 at 1:37 am
Yes. Yes you did.
And I can't believe you don't love that song!!!! Right now I'm groovin to it in my head!
13 sherri // Jan 1, 2009 at 4:48 am
I think Katdish and I are the same age…I do know who has their birthday first, but I think it's safe to say that I'm probably THE OLDEST blogger on the site. (sigh).
14 Randommusings // Jan 1, 2009 at 10:50 am
Hi. I have heard of being "Rickrolled" but it never actually happened to me before. Yes, I was moving and grooving to the song. Here in IL, seniors ride the bus for free. Do you think they will give me a senior card based on the fact that I have never been "Rickrolled"? Nevermind. If the person I speak with is my age, he might think I am talking dirty…..yech
15 Steph // Jan 2, 2009 at 2:37 am
LOL.
And if the person is older than us… they might just slap you. 
If you do it, make sure to blog about it!!!!!!
16 steffj89 // Jan 4, 2009 at 3:07 am
ok still like the song…just learned over thanksgiving what rickroll thing was…i am alas totally uncool but my kids seem to not think so at this point and love that i play loud music and dance with them for most any occasion
and just ask them what its like when Bon Jovi or Kenny Chesney come on the tv…LOLOL
apparently i reached a new level of coolness with the five year old when he got his own Kenny Chesney CD for christmas…
steff
17 Steph // Jan 4, 2009 at 8:37 am
Mulled Vine,
I hate to be the one to tell you, but at least here in the States (not to imply that you Brits are unhip or anything…), most of the phrases you used make it CRYSTAL CLEAR that you are in fact uncool.
Sorry about that. If it's any consolation, you're joining a rather large club.
18 Mulled Vine // Jan 4, 2009 at 8:43 am
And I thought I was fairly hip, with it, down on the plan my man, with the program… never heard of this before. Rickrolling.
19 Mulled Vine // Jan 4, 2009 at 9:30 am
Nothing to do with being Brit (or South African actually). I was born square and uncool. My cover is blown. :/
20 elizabeth channel // Jun 4, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Early Miner Dinner, baby!
(I used to work at Baby Does Restaurant in Atlanta and they had these before-5 dinner specials called the Early Miner Dinner Special!)
Those miners never left a decent tip…big lovers of the sirloin though…
elizabeth channel’s last blog post..The Joy of Rain
21 Wendy // Jun 30, 2009 at 10:05 am
Okay, maybe it’s because I haven’t had my coffee yet, but I’m totally lost here. I didn’t really catch on to anything until you said Golden Corral. Yeah, I’ll have to read this again later. But by then I’ll be even older.
Wendy’s last blog post..Life is Funny – Especially in Walmart
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