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Original poster

Rick Astley

332 replies

idontlikealdi · 31/12/2023 23:37

Personally I think he's great and he's clearly living his best life but the demographic of the crowd. Middle aged white men and women. The lack of diversity is quite shocking.

OP posts:
Eleganz · 01/01/2024 12:52

I am presuming this tickets were on general sale?

The only thing that bothered me about the small amount of it that I watched around the fireworks was being ambushed by Rylan and that bloody awful duet. Although the kids that managed to stay up were all besides themselves that the first thing to happen to them in 2024 was being rick rolled.

Tiredalwaystired · 01/01/2024 12:49

I went to a Take That concert nearly twenty years ago. In a stadium. A handful of that of non white faces.

Likewise we went to a comedy night of black comedians a few years ago. We were the only white faces.

All artists have a demographic. Why is this a surprise?

Manopadmanaban · 01/01/2024 12:47

OvaHere · 01/01/2024 00:20

Laughing my head off at this thread and the idea that black and brown people should be made to listen to Rick Astley against their will.

Happy New Year MN. Never change! 😂

I'm an Indian lady and I bloody love Rick Astley's beautiful voice. Had a crush on him in my younger days, nothing to do with being brown or white!!

iklboo · 01/01/2024 12:43

Back under their bridge I think.

newnamethanks · 01/01/2024 12:41

Well done OP. Bank Holiday fun for all.

bellac11 · 01/01/2024 12:33

Im thinking of other buddy ups

Dolly Parton and Snoop Dogg
Neil Diamond and Beyonce

I could go on

itsmylife7 · 01/01/2024 12:30

12 pages and the OP hasn't come back ?

clever posting OP and we've all fallen for it.

bruffin · 01/01/2024 12:28

CliveinRyde · 01/01/2024 10:05

Why shocked; there's plenty of black acts that attract mainly black audience and vice versa. You could say why aren't there more council estate residents supporting Opera. It's assuming some sort of racist overtone. If you want a deeper dive, Rick Astley is not considered "cool" to black people young or old. Probably not that much appreciated by young white either, it's a white Mums and Dad's thing, hence lack of diversity. Sure Rick or anyone else would love an across the board fanbase. It's not a thing with alot of artists, so so what. There's plenty of examples of racism without looking for it where it ain't there!! False alerts don't do any favours (in fact they do alot of harm because they go some way to justifying the term "woke" even to non DM readers); to those wishing to highlight ACTUAL racism.

Edited

I dont quite agree with that,The Rick Rolling thing opened him up to many generations, my 28 yr old DS would love to see him live!

Maireas · 01/01/2024 12:26

bellac11 · 01/01/2024 12:22

To be honest, its clear what needs to happen.

There needs to be a government scheme whereby each artist has to do a swap/buddy scheme for tickets with another artist.

So for Rick, perhaps he can buddy up with Stormzy and when tickets go on sale, half of Rick's tickets need to be assigned to someone who last attended a Stormzy gig. The people need to be forced to go, warrants for arrest in place if they dont turn up.

Show quote history

I think that's a good solution. Failure to attend would mean designated listening to recordings at a place of supervision.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/01/2024 12:24

bellac11 · 01/01/2024 12:22

To be honest, its clear what needs to happen.

There needs to be a government scheme whereby each artist has to do a swap/buddy scheme for tickets with another artist.

So for Rick, perhaps he can buddy up with Stormzy and when tickets go on sale, half of Rick's tickets need to be assigned to someone who last attended a Stormzy gig. The people need to be forced to go, warrants for arrest in place if they dont turn up.

Show quote history

I needed that chuckle with my hangover lol

bellac11 · 01/01/2024 12:22

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/01/2024 12:17

How do you know there was no diversity? Diversity is more than the colour of someone's skin.

Shock horror that people are allowed a preference. What do you suggest forcing people who don't like his music to listen to him?

To be honest, its clear what needs to happen.

There needs to be a government scheme whereby each artist has to do a swap/buddy scheme for tickets with another artist.

So for Rick, perhaps he can buddy up with Stormzy and when tickets go on sale, half of Rick's tickets need to be assigned to someone who last attended a Stormzy gig. The people need to be forced to go, warrants for arrest in place if they dont turn up.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/01/2024 12:17

How do you know there was no diversity? Diversity is more than the colour of someone's skin.

Shock horror that people are allowed a preference. What do you suggest forcing people who don't like his music to listen to him?

Sd1960 · 01/01/2024 12:14

If you want to see a lack of diversity, look at a Just Stop Oil protest - whiter than a Hitler Youth rally.

bellac11 · 01/01/2024 12:09

LlynTegid · 01/01/2024 11:52

I think it is valid to note the nature of the audience. How tickets go on sale, for example the timing, perhaps also the location, may have an impact. One of the things we learnt from the pandemic was who had the option to work from home and whose job requires them to be in an office or other place of work that is not their house.

Tickets going on sale at 10am on a given day does reduce the chances for some people.

Why is it valid to note the 'nature' of the audience?

Of what relevance is this for a pop concert?

Do you note the nature of the audience for black performers, Bollywood performances or films, do you raise issue with how those tickets are put on sale?

What is the 'nature' of an audience, given that each and every single person attending something is their own diverse person with their own differences and needs compared to the next person.

spanishviola · 01/01/2024 12:00

I don’t get Rick Astley. I never heard of his stuff in the 80s and thought he was dire last night. If he was always that bad I’m surprised he’s got anyone in the audience.

Maireas · 01/01/2024 11:57

LlynTegid · 01/01/2024 11:52

I think it is valid to note the nature of the audience. How tickets go on sale, for example the timing, perhaps also the location, may have an impact. One of the things we learnt from the pandemic was who had the option to work from home and whose job requires them to be in an office or other place of work that is not their house.

Tickets going on sale at 10am on a given day does reduce the chances for some people.

Right. So only white people over 50 can purchase tickets at that time?

doggiedude · 01/01/2024 11:54

Justkoko · 01/01/2024 01:04

Oh give over op.
Were you looking for the 2024 Guinness World Record for first offended person of 2024?
Honestly.
Happy new year all, good on you Rick, always great to watch.

This has really made me laugh 😆 Great comment!

LlynTegid · 01/01/2024 11:52

I think it is valid to note the nature of the audience. How tickets go on sale, for example the timing, perhaps also the location, may have an impact. One of the things we learnt from the pandemic was who had the option to work from home and whose job requires them to be in an office or other place of work that is not their house.

Tickets going on sale at 10am on a given day does reduce the chances for some people.

inamarina · 01/01/2024 11:49

Firstmincepie · 01/01/2024 00:17

What a strange post. Tickets were on sale to anyone who wanted to go. Like others have said, you can’t round up people just to tick some diversity boxes. Yes many looked middle aged and white and maybe they do read the Daily Mail. Who cares? I really dislike this kind of attitude complaining about lack of diversity when it’s simply a question of personal choice.

I agree, and I also find it somewhat ironic when people complain about lack of diversity and at the same time judge others for reading the Daily Mail.
So diversity of opinion doesn’t seem to count all that much (and no, I‘m not DM reader myself).

incognito90 · 01/01/2024 11:13

People need to stop trying to tick a box. People are there to enjoy music, who cares about diversity. Music is personal preference, regardless of what they look like.

electriclight · 01/01/2024 11:06

This gave me a good laugh. People are bonkers aren't they, looking for outrage or offence or victimhood or conspiracy (not sure which op was getting at) in the most unusual of places. New year, same old mn.

Snowflakecookie1989 · 01/01/2024 10:57

igivein · 01/01/2024 00:39

At one point weren’t the backing singers (standing behind him) the gospel singers from the coronation?

I don't think so. I do recognise one of George Michael's old backing singers though.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 01/01/2024 10:42

Well, guess whose DH got a bit merry and booked Rick tickets for later this year?! 🤣

Oblomov23 · 01/01/2024 10:28

I watched both Jools and Rick. Thought the diversity in both was fine. Rick has had the same 2 black backing singers for years. Can't see the issue at all.

Waitingfordoggo · 01/01/2024 10:15

Rick seems like a nice man and he has a great voice but I found the performance terribly boring so switched over to Jools Holland. I failed to notice the demographic of the audience of both shows but the Sugababes, while surly, were good on Jools. As was Raye who I’d never heard of but who put on an INCREDIBLE performance and also made me wonder if I’m definitely straight 😂