# Crowning moments of awesome in rock **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638 "2011-08-05T20:55:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/61 "2011-08-07T13:27:57Z")
Kurt Cobain [vs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpUNTvTubZc) bouncer. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/62 "2011-08-07T13:55:01Z")
I always loved listening to Bowies “Station to Station” with a pair of headphones. You can really appreciate all the layers and intricacies coming out of it. Some of his best work and funny enough, according to interviews, he was so fucked up on drugs at the time he barely remembers recording this. [http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY77zDzNmYw](http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY77zDzNmYw) Also, I’ve always loved the intro to The Stones “Happy”. I can’t resist doing an air guitar to it. [http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ZWIIn67ek](http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ZWIIn67ek) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/63 "2011-08-07T14:49:15Z")
Let’s see, we’re talking arm-hair raising goosebump awesomeness, yes? The guitar solo merging back into the refrain on Floyd’s _Comfortably Numb_… The opening riff/scream on “Revolution”… The guitar solo on “Whole Lotta Love”… “Ziggy played…guitaaaaaarrrrr…snow white tan and screwed down hairdo…like some cat from Japan…” Speaking of Bowie, the self harmonies on “Space Oddity” and his enunciation on “floating in a most peculiar way”… Also a shot out to to Chrissy Hynde on “Chain Gang” where her self harmonies blend into awesomeness at the end of the bridge “…for making us paaaaarrrrt” Bjork’s wailing on “Human Behavior” right after “the compass wouldn’t help at all” line… Skunk Anansie’s chorus to “Selling Jesus”…“they want your soul, and your money, blood, and your bones…” Pretty much all the lyrical content of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”… ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/64 "2011-08-07T15:40:04Z")
Free. Alright now. The beginning bit. The middle bit. The end bit. THAT IS ALL. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/65 "2011-08-07T18:23:20Z")
OK, as the only black metal fan on the SDMB I realize I’m probably not going to convince anybody here, but guys and gals, _ **lemme tell ya** _: Of all the crowning moments of awesome in music, the crowningest of them all takes place around 04:09 on the title track of Mayhem’s 1993 masterpiece, _De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas_. Now, to really catch the full awesomeness of this magical, just _magical_ moment, we’re going to have to dial back, waaaay back, aaaaaall the way back… To the 03:00 mark of the same song. Because this is when the song suddenly, abruptly, dramatically “dies” – the drums stop, even signing off with one final burst of energy, perhaps a madrigalism symbolizing a cadaveric spasm. Ah, the powers have all been spent, the spirit at long last lost its will to live – ah, yes, so here we are… Blackness, darkness, the void beyond; death, the end of all things, etc., etc…! And yet, _and yet_…! _Despite_ the “death” of the _drums_, the _guitars_ keep buzzing on, restless and impatient, rising and falling, not quite ready to pack it in just yet… Hovering above the corpse… Working its magic… Calling and beckoning… And then – ah yes! yes! What magic! A miracle! The corpse… _It lives! **It lives!** _ At _03:13_, as through a miracle, finally a sign of life! The corpse twitches, trembles, shudders…! And at _03:26_, the heart pounds anew as the double bass drums kick in again…! The tension rises and rises, as does the tempo: At 03:37, we go from double bass drums to “blastbeats,” hammering away with deathless fury, the tension just building and building, until at 04:00 you’re fucking clenching your fists, leaning in towards the speakers, grinding your teeth to bloody stumps, just begging for the song to fucking explode at any second, and for the corpse to rise from its grave, to tear the entire goddamn cosmos to shreds… … And oh! Those six eternal seconds between 04:00 – when you _think_ the song will explode – and 04:06 – when it finally _does_ explode… What tension! What unbearable, unspeakable tension! All of creation hangs in the balance! And oh! When the song finally _does_ explode – how it explodes! How gloriously, magically it explodes! The drums triumphantly declare their full return – and at 04:09, finally, the song returns at last, and the dead return to life – and for the first time in what feels, truly, like an eternity, hoooooly shit, to top it all of, _ **the singer’s voice kicks in** _, with a morbid-operatic, mock-Gregorian chant in gloriously filthy pig Latin: “Reeeeeeeex sacriticuluuuuuus mortifeeeeer-eeeee…”, before bringing it all down to the dirt again, with a low, grim, snarling voice: “… in a circle of stone coffins!” It’s just the most groin-grabblingly, mind-blowingly, spine-tinglingly, Christ-rapingly, church-burningly, virgin-sacrificingly awesome moment in all of music. OK, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/66 "2011-08-07T20:34:13Z")
Don’t know if I’m convinced, but you get bonus points for “Christ-rapingly”! Bravo!!! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/67 "2011-08-07T20:42:08Z")
[Wayyyy down in siiiiiiide… Woman… Yooou neeeeed… LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH[SIZE=“5”]HHHHHH!!![/SIZE]](http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=youtube+whole+lotta+love) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/68 "2011-08-07T20:51:14Z")
I love the **DUH DUHHHH**! that comes after “you neeeed”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/69 "2011-08-07T21:07:47Z")
Blitzkreig Bop, the Ramones. Right after the “Hey Ho! Let’s Go!” lines leading into “They’re forming in a straight line.” Rock the Casbah, the Clash. After Joe’s scream. This is Radio Clash, beginning, Joe’s maniacal laugh, followed by the beat. Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/70 "2011-08-07T23:24:57Z")
Leon Russell’s cover of [Jumpin’ Jack Flash](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZIi188Cakk) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/71 "2011-08-07T23:51:14Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > Leon Russell’s cover of [Jumpin’ Jack Flash](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZIi188Cakk) I don’t care for the actual JJF sections, but _Youngblood_ is to die for. The only part of Concert For Bangla Desh that I still listen to. Quite often. . ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/72 "2011-08-08T00:37:08Z")
[Guns of Brixton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfTDqHbwVZQ) by the Clash is awesome from start to finish. Technically punk but it still rocks. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/73 "2011-08-08T01:51:06Z")
I don’t know if anyone on this board listens to indie rock (this “crowning moments” business seems a little 60’s/70’s-centric, so I can already tell anything I add isn’t gonna fit in here), but when I think of music-induced adrenaline rushes I think of these. The first measure of “Only Shallow” by **My Bloody Valentine**. In the middle of “Trigger Cut” by **Pavement** , when Malkmus starts doing the “sha la la…” Little hard to explain why, but it’s the best moment on that album. Can’t believe no one has mentioned this yet - after the already incredibly climactic guitar solo in “Marquee Moon” by **Television** , that massive come-down break with the bird calls. Holy _shit_. At the end of “Web In Front” by **Archers of Loaf** , when the guys are singing “All I ever wanted was to be your spine” in the background and then Eric Bachmann comes back in with the bass and does his last chorus - never fails to make my eyes well up. There are more, but the last one I’ll mention is the opening chords to “It Was There That I Saw You” by **…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead**. There’s just that quiet, simple little riff for four bars and then… suddenly the guitars send you skittering across the floor. It’s a religious experience. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/74 "2011-08-08T01:57:12Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > [Wayyyy down in siiiiiiide… > Woman… > Yooou neeeeed… > LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH[SIZE=“5”]HHHHHH!!![/SIZE]](http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=youtube+whole+lotta+love) Jimmy Page is credited with inventing the “Reverse Echo” made famous in that line. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/75 "2011-08-08T13:48:10Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > “Misirlou” by Dick Dale (is that the correct name?), but better known nowadays as the theme music for “Pulp Fiction.” I LOVE Dick Dale. I really do. But for _Misirlou_, I have to tell you, it’s [Bobby Fuller’s version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr2PIyNSMaM)that rules. Cannot be equaled. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The B-52s _Rock Lobster_ is the only song that will get me dancing (okay, jumping around like an idiot, but still…). I was at the grocery store yesterday and they were playing _Rock Lobster_ on the PA. I couldn’t believe it. I was looking around at all the other shoppers and they were totally oblivious. Nominated: The little drum spot in Marvin Gaye’s _Let’s Get it On_. It’s only about a second and a half, but it pays off. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/76 "2011-08-08T14:15:56Z")
> [@punch\_line\_loser](#): > > I don’t know if anyone on this board listens to indie rock (this “crowning moments” business seems a little 60’s/70’s-centric, so I can already tell anything I add isn’t gonna fit in here), but when I think of music-induced adrenaline rushes I think of these. > > The first measure of “Only Shallow” by **My Bloody Valentine**. Don’t hate us 'cuz we’re geezers. I love that intro - and what Billy Corgan did with it on Cherub Rock, too… I love all the stuff folks have mentioned, and will add the song I used to get pumped up before various things in school: [AC/DC - If You Want Blood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkNQjsgQNP0) Jeez, just checking the intro of the clip made me want to go confront or compete with…something. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/77 "2011-08-08T16:03:38Z")
Smith’s 1969 cover of “[Baby It’s You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6atUODsWGs)” – Gayle McCormick hits a level of sheer soul-tearing, desperate need that has rarely been equaled. Especially in the final recapitulation around 2:50. Speaking of Badfinger – “[No Matter What](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz4uWgdRJ6I)” has two CMAs in my opinion… first is when the chorus guitar comes in at around 1:15, then the slide guitar solo at 1:30. I would also like to mention the Move’s original version of “Do Ya”; the only problem is that it has so many CMAs in it that I can’t pick one or even two. Not sure if anyone’s yet mentioned the Beatles’ version of “Twist and Shout”… Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah …Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah …Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah …Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah …WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/78 "2011-08-08T17:12:32Z")
“I don’t believe you.” “You’re a liar.” “Play fucking loud!” Bob Dylan and the Hawks at the Manchester Free Trade Hall. May 17, 1966. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/79 "2011-08-08T17:55:04Z")
Boston [Don’t Look Back](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz5PjwUX8fA) starting about 2:04 up until about 4:00 with the instrumental buildup. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638/80 "2011-08-08T17:56:40Z")
_Goin’ down to shoot my old lady, You know i caught her messin’ 'round with another man…_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crowning-moments-of-awesome-in-rock/591638.md?page=5)