Thoughts and Random Things

Rick Astley has dreadlocks

(I mean no racism at all)

My mom and I were in the car, talking about something-- I don't remember what. But it was something like how people look different than the way their voice sounds or something? Anyway, it was relevant to the conversation at the time, so I said something like, "Oh like Rick Astley! He's a puny ginger but he sings with a voice that's usually something you'd expect from a big burly black guy." To which my mom responded: "Wait, Rick Astley IS black!"

Me: What? No he's not, he's a ginger!
Mom: No, I would know because I was alive in the eighties. He's this black guy with dreadlocks.
Me: I would know because it was a meme, mom! For like the longest time! I've seen Rick Astley so many times, he's ginger!
Mom: Nope. Nope. I refuse to believe that.
Me: *my mom had her phone with her but I didn't have mine, so I used hers* Here, I'll look up some pictures. *I show her a screenshot of Never Gonna Give You Up that was on Google*
Mom: That's not him.
Me: Yeah it is! It so is! Have you never seen Rick Astley before?
Mom: I HAVE seen him! He's a black guy with dreadlocks!
*we're stopped at a long red light, so I use the opportunity and show my mom the Never Gonna Give You Up video*
Mom: That's not him. That's not him in that video.
Me: Yeah it is!
Mom: Okay, but now I'm reevaluating my whole life.
Me: For real, Mom? How did you not know of Rick's ginger-ness in the first place?
Mom: Get back on Google images! Where are all the pictures of the black Rick Astley with dreadlocks?
Me: Rick Astley is white and has red hair tho!
Mom: Then what about the OTHER Rick Astley who's black?
Me: There is no other Rick Astley!
Mom: But--what-- no. We're done talking about this. We are not talking about this anymore.

I tried to bring it back up throughout the night, to tease her about not knowing what Rick Astley looks like; and her only response, every single time, was that she'd look away and shake her head and tell me we're not talking about that anymore. It was clear she was very ashamed I knew 80s better than she did.