20 Music Videos Directed By Hollywood's Finest Filmmakers

By Chris Haydon /

16. Simon West: Rick Astley - "Never Gonna Give You Up"

Nope, we are not 'Rickrolling' you; we promise. Whilst Rick Astley's 1987 cheese-induced pop track "Never Gonna Give You Up" has provided some of the internet's funniest and most frustrating meme gags, it also served as the singular music video shot by Simon West. Yes, the man behind Con Air (1997) and The Expendables 2 (2012) directed this video... Using a series of commercials and shorts to propel his career, the action filmmaker offered to shoot the accompanying footage for Astley's most famed and universally recognised track, and in truth it was probably a smart move. Thanks to the power of modern technology, "Never Gonna Give You Up" has remained culturally relevant for nearly 30 additional years, meaning it earns a ton of money in royalties consistently. Even Family Guy recorded a parody.