It all started one night about four months ago at Magnet café, which remains my favorite nocturnal haunt with or without the Taguig curfew.  My two friends, Magnet co-owners Gabe Mercado and JC Medina, were passionately telling me about their recent, cathartic experience at the Flock of Seagulls/When in Rome concert at the Araneta Coliseum.  (Now if you were hit by any pang of recognition at the mention of those two bands, you are most likely part of the discerning age group that remembers shoulder pads and Top Siders as iconic fashion statements.)

See, Manila is the only part of the world that embraces bands that have long been relegated to has-beendom by the rest of the human race.  Filipinos may suffer from short memory when it comes to dictators and corrupt government officials, but we are blessed with long-term recollection and sentimentality for one-hit wonder bands and singers that got people once upon a time to “ledge dance” at Faces. 

Anyway, Gabe and JC mentioned that during the Flock of Seagulls concert, there was  a glorious announcement that the whole country had been waiting for two decades to hear: Rick Astley is coming to Manila!  Be still your Heartbeat megadisco!  There and then, we made a pact that we would watch the concert in August.  And for the heck of it, we’d start an “elite” group in Facebook (with an open invitation) entitled, “Screw what you think, I’m watching Rick Astley in August.”  LOLZ all around. 

Of course, one cannot reminisce about Rick Astley’s astronomical fame in the 80s without remembering his local counterpart – comedian Roderick Paulate, who sang most of Rick Astley’s hits back then because it was within his vocal range.  And so, JC decided just for the heck of it to add our petition to the group name which eventually became “I’m Watching Rick Astley and I Want Roderick Paulate to be the Opening Act.”  Gabe was appointed “Jason Donovan,” JC was “Cliff Richard,” and I was proud to be “Cathy Dennis.” It was pure brilliance.  I wagered we’d have at least 7 members.

Lo and behold, a few weeks later, I was informed that our humble little group had swelled to about 70 people.  Closet fans of Rick (and Kuya Dick) were coming out online!  A few more weeks later, we had surpassed the 100 person mark.  I couldn’t believe it!  Soon, we even had more members than one of the Michel Gondry fans club in Facebook.  (JC mentioned this wonderful factoid at Magnet one night while hosting Rockeoke, and then realized when the crickets started chirping that no one knew who the hell Michel Gondry was.)

RICKROLLING

The long-awaited night had finally arrived.  Along with Wanggo, Audrey, JC, Gabe and Quark+his dad Atom, we trooped to Araneta early so as not to miss the opening act.  Rumors were flying that Roderick was going to perform the opening number, but at that point, it was still unfounded gossip.  Apparently, we heard, the producers of the concert had gotten wind of an "online petition" and they had contacted Roderick to ask him if he wanted to perform. This was confirmed by a text that Gabe received earlier, from Kuya Dick himself, that went:

“Gabe!  Ü Nerbyos ako.  Ü D naman ako singer. Ü Wala nga ako ticket pero invited ako ng produ. Ü Kausap ko nga ngayn!” 

We were waiting with bated breath, while Gabe kept texting Kuya Dick every thirty minutes. 

Our hopes were dashed as it turned out that the opening act was some band with a lead singer in a white suit (and what I believed to be shoulder pads), whose repertoire included Wang Chung and Van Halen’s “Jump.”  He had a co-singer, too, a girl dressed in a leopard print body suit, who gyrated more than she sang. 

No Roderick Paulate in sight.  Sigh.  We were losing hope.  We almost let out a cry (For Help.)  Oh well, on with the concert then.

Finally, Rick Astley came up on stage to the deafening welcome of screaming fans of all ages.  Dressed in a suit, skinny tie and sneakers, this hip-dated Rick Astley looked like he hadn’t aged a bit!  In his adorable English drawl, he told the crowd: “I am so sorry you had to wait for this for 15 to 20…years.”  Crowd went ecstatic.  (I thought he was going to say “20 minutes” since it took a while for the stage to set up.)

Turned out that Rick would win as The Artist With Most Audience Interaction in History as he really talked to the crowd, like, A LOT, that night.  I mean, he even told us about his 16-year-old daughter and wife, and what hotel he was staying in, including the room number.  I wouldn’t have been surprised if he told us about his childhood, or what his favorite liqueur was.  Among the other things he said:

“It’s been a long trip here, I had to canoe all the way.  But it’s worth it.  You are so beautiful.  So many beautiful ladies in the audience.”

“Manila, you are all so beautiful.  What do you do all the time to be all so beautiful? Reproduce?”  (or something like that, he basically said that we must be reproducing all the time.  Very astute of you, pareng Rick!)

“I want all of you to come with me to my concert in Jakarta tomorrow!”

(and what has got to be my favorite line everrr---)

“Oh my, I forgot my own lyrics!  I’m sorry, I haven’t sung that song in 20 years!”

Honestly, I felt like I was watching a live version of the movie, “Music and Lyrics.”  His voice was still as chocolate-smooth as I remembered it.  He even had a songbook – yes, a songbook with him by the drum set.  He even got a girl to get up on stage to help him sing because he kept forgetting the lyrics.  He turned the whole Araneta Coliseum into the “world’s biggest Karaoke.”

It was all so endearing.  I felt like I went back to my grade school self, when “Strong” was first released and I had finally understood what it meant to be kilig.  My reverie was affirmed when I received a text at that moment from longtime pal Cybs, who was also in the concert that night.  Her text: “Shit, I’m back to being hopelessly in love.  I love you Rick, pota.”  I mean, this guy was so genuinely nice he even THANKED the sponsors of the concert (Mossimo, Taco Bell, etc) by reading them aloud from a piece of paper.  Of course, he had to put his reading glasses on to do that. 

And then, something happened.

Rick Astley said the words, “I have been told…”

OMGAHD!  He mentioned that he had heard about Roderick, and that he invited him to come up on stage and perform with him at the end of the show.  He even said it had to be towards the end of the show because he was sure people would leave after they saw Roderick perform. 

Oh, and Rick even said that he wasn’t dancing because “at (his) age, I can’t dance that much anymore, so I’m saving it for the last song with Roderick.” 

I couldn’t believe it.  I nearly jumped off the balcony at Upper B. 

Finally, it happened.  Chants of “Ku-ya Dick!  Ku-ya Dick!” thundered the Big Dome.  Rick Astley grabbed a guitar and motioned to his stage left.  And up the stage came Roderick Paulate.  They did an acoustic duet of “Never Gonna Give you Up.” Kuya Dick even did his signature side-to-side right (repeat left) dance moves! The crowd went absolutely freaking nuts.  To quote Kung Fu Panda, it was pure awesomeness.  (You can check out the video in our Facebook group page).

We did it!  We did it!  We shaped obscure Pinoy pop culture history!  Facebook IS more powerful than prayer! And it IS true that Rick Astley is never gonna let you down! 

Later that night, still dazed by what happened, we milled around at the foot of the stage and got to meet Kuya Dick!  He was so happy (albeit really in a quandary about what the hell just happened).  Later on, Quark’s dad Atom managed to get us backstage, where we needled through a crowd flanking Rick Astley for his autograph.  He looked genuinely happy!

What an epic night.  We later decided to start another group called the Make A Wish, Start a Facebook Group…Group.  The cosmic possibilities are endless.  Now, to end with the last text of the night to Gabe from Kuya Dick:

“Thank you so much din!  Pinalakas mo loob ko!  Hehe…labyu Gabe!”