Specsavers: Misheard Never Gonna Give You Up

Specsavers has unveils a new, integrated marketing campaign fronted by music legend, Rick Astley, to get the nation talking and thinking differently about their hearing. To kick-start that national conversation, Rick has re-recorded his iconic '80s hit single 'Never Gonna Give You Up' using the amusing lyrics people have misheard for years. The track hilariously intersperses the most common misheard lyrics such as 'never gonna run around with dessert spoons' instead of 'never gonna run around and desert you'. As well as, "you wouldn't catch nits from any other guy" and "your aunt's been naked...".
Agency: Golin

Created in the typical tongue-in-cheek style that Specsavers is known for, the campaign has a serious message behind it, highlighting how common mishearing can be and how to look after your hearing. The campaign will launch across Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, earned print and broadcast media, and through a radio partnership with Bauer Media. Rick, who recently discovered he has some hearing loss, has teased the misheard version of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ on his own social media channels, posting a behind-the-scenes style video of him singing the new song but without any context or reference to Specsavers. The track was also teased out on radio to create talkability and intrigue. This is followed by a big reveal directing people to the a ‘making of’ video and a simultaneous launch across Specsavers’ social media platforms. The campaign creative was developed by Golin, with social from Tangerine, and Media from Manning Gottlieb and Bauer Media. The campaign will continue over the coming weeks with a variety of content delivered through social media, radio and the wider media. This includes a mini-series featuring Rick and one of Specsavers audiologists entitled ‘Rick’s Guide to Never Giving Up On Your Hearing’ and expert commentary from TV's Dr Michael Mosley.