# Best Bass Line in a Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099 "2016-04-25T16:32:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/1 "2016-04-25T16:32:01Z")
This is purely an opinion thread, obviously. The one criteria I’m setting is that the bass line is easily heard in the song. No songs that require you to turn down the other instruments in order to hear a cool bass line. In going with that criteria alone, my pick is easily … _Close (to the edit)_ by The Art of Noise. The opening bass and its prominence in the remainder of the song is just funky and fun to listen too. It’s my favorite part of the whole song. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/2 "2016-04-25T16:37:51Z")
“The Chain.” Fleetwood Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/3 "2016-04-25T16:38:49Z")
Oh, c’mon, everybody knows that the best bass is Fontella’s. [“Rescue Me” - Fontella Bass](https://youtu.be/S9mp3s2gpy8) It’s true and it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/4 "2016-04-25T16:39:34Z")
Sorry, any answer other than **Chic’s Good Times** which became the bassline for **Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang** is incorrect!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/5 "2016-04-25T16:57:02Z")
Probably not the BEST bass line out there, but I nominate The Who’s “(Can You See) The Real Me” for definite honorable mention. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/6 "2016-04-25T17:04:09Z")
This is so hard! I can’t stand Pink Floyd but **Money** is one _everyone_ knows. Then there’s **Lowrider** by War, **Brick House** by The Commodore’s, **Another One Bites The Dust** by Queen… **Billie Jean** , **N.I.B.** , **Just Like Heaven** , \*\*\*\* man! I really want to get Les Claypool in here somewhere too…ok, **Tommy the Cat**. Ugh. Okay, okay…just one, final answer. It’s the first one that popped into my head so I’m running with it, and I doubt anyone has even heard it: **We Don’t Walk** , by The Paper Scissors. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sz0m5pWUTfU/hqdefault.jpg "We Don't Walk The Paper Scissors") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz0m5pWUTfU) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/7 "2016-04-25T17:12:21Z")
I’m gonna go with [“Motorhead” by Hawkwind.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4vQ-eYgIy0) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/8 "2016-04-25T17:16:43Z")
Excellent choice, Smapti! I’m nominating Hot Tuna’s Funky #7. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0UdDEBydKxc/hqdefault.jpg "Electric Hot Tuna - Funky #7 - Live at Fur Peace Ranch") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UdDEBydKxc) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/9 "2016-04-25T17:17:44Z")
[Rock Lobster](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szhJzX0UgDM). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/10 "2016-04-25T17:19:01Z")
I discovered the great bass line to “Along Comes Mary” by the Association purely by accident, but it is pretty good for a pop hit. Otherwise **Leaffan** got it with the first reply. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/11 "2016-04-25T17:25:29Z")
_Gimme Some Lovin’_, Spencer Davis Group ---
**Author:** ![bobo\_blesinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@bobo\_blesinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobo_blesinger)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/12 "2016-04-25T17:25:46Z")
[Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOa5UOHdwnc) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/13 "2016-04-25T17:27:58Z")
Jump Into The Fire ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/14 "2016-04-25T17:33:50Z")
CAKE - Short Skirt Long Jacket ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/15 "2016-04-25T17:34:42Z")
[This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhB6ifx1B4A) features the best bass line ever. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/16 "2016-04-25T17:39:05Z")
So, we’re talking here about praising the Engineer and/or Producer of the song? ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/17 "2016-04-25T17:46:06Z")
“My City was Gone” by the Pretenders ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/18 "2016-04-25T17:52:27Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Probably not the BEST bass line out there, but I nominate The Who’s “(Can You See) The Real Me” for definite honorable mention. Substitute is pretty killer too. Hell, I play bass, and can’t really come up with a choice. After all, aren’t most good rock tunes simply elaborated basslines? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/19 "2016-04-25T17:55:19Z")
**Tempus Fugit** by _YES_ ---
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099/20 "2016-04-25T17:55:42Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > CAKE - Short Skirt Long Jacket Another great choice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-line-in-a-song/753099.md?page=2)