# Most Memorable Riffs
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 11, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434 "2005-05-11T18:35:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/1 "2005-05-11T18:35:05Z")
I’m pretty sure a “Riff” is what I am after. You know, a 5 second or so clip of MUSIC you have engrained in your head. What are your favorite / most memorable riffs and why?
1. The Law and order “Doink doink”
Gets a Head Bolting turn from me every time I hear it. If it plays about 12 times per episode, and you get 4 episodes a week…
1. The Nickelodeon “Theme”
This is more or less Nick’s Audio Logo the first part (and most common) is just 8 notes, and gets a LOT of air play on Nick self-promotional spots. The longer version has 6 additional notes that commplement the original 8 perfectly.
You know its ““THAT”” piece of nickelodeon music.
1. Pitfall! rope swing music. The piece of music that would play when Harry would grab the rope in the Classic Atari game. For me this will always mean “Atari”.
4.Numerous Riffs that span the Zelda Mythology. Hard to pick just one from here. Its any piece that needs to be played just long enough to let you know that it is a Zelda game.
5.Arkanoid Vaus Ship start. Each time a Level starts, or another Vaus ship (The Paddle) enters play, the piece of music provided. I just love Arkanoid. Breakout may have been the first, but as Cugnot’s Fardier made way for Ford’s Model T, Arkanoid remains the best Brick-break game.
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### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/2 "2005-05-11T19:01:20Z")
From Zelda : The “I found something” tune.
From ‘You Can Call Me Al’ by Paul Simon - the Trumpet riff. You know the one.
Similarly, War’s ‘Low Rider’ has a repeated memorable trumpet riff.
I like trumpets.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/3 "2005-05-11T19:09:45Z")
The opening to Layla
The opening to Purple Haze
The opening to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
“Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah
The 10-note leadup to the cannon fire from the 1812 Overture
The 8-note opening of the Star Trek theme.
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### Author:  [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/4 "2005-05-11T19:18:36Z")
The opening guitar riff of “Day Tripper”.
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### Author:  [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/5 "2005-05-11T19:41:41Z")
The opening riff to “(I Can’t No) Satisfaction.”
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### Author:  [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/6 "2005-05-11T19:44:33Z")
The bass opening to the \*\*Barney Miller \*\* show theme.
Yep - I’m \*that \* old.
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### Author:  [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/7 "2005-05-11T20:13:05Z")
The Final Fantasy Victory Fanfare
The Metroid Item Pickup Fanfare
The Megaman/Megaman X Post-Level Select Fanfare (when the robot master/maverick poses dramatically and that music plays)
Who, me, play too much video games? 😃
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/8 "2005-05-13T02:27:42Z")
Opening guitar riff of “Smoke on the Water” and “Iron Man”.
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### Author:  [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/9 "2005-05-13T03:02:58Z")
One that’s going through my mind right now is the opening to the Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’?”
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### Author:  [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/10 "2005-05-13T03:14:31Z")
The first few notes of the Super Mario Brothers theme. I agree that Zelda and Megaman should be on the list, without a doubt, but Mario paved the way. As such it should be on there before either of those two. All the same, I agree with the inclusion of every single bit from classic Nintendo mentioned so far.
The first few measures of the Star Wars title theme, we can’t forget that.
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### Author:  [@sulamith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sulamith)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/11 "2005-05-13T03:19:36Z")
The most memorable guitar riff ever, of course, Sweet Home Alabama, as over-played as it is.
And the opening riff to Edge of 17 by La Nicks, which was bastardized recently by Beyonce & Co. as the dreaded Bootylicious.
Oh, and No Rain by Blind Melon
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### Author:  [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/12 "2005-05-13T03:39:32Z")
Johnny Marr’s riff from The Smiths’ “How Soon is Now?”–ripped off in the 90’s in a song called “Hippie Chick”.The opening guitar riff from “Train in Vain” by The Clash. Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas” AND, to expand it past guitars, how about the opening keyboard sequence from “Baba O’Riley”? Lynyrd WHO? 😃
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### Author:  [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/13 "2005-05-13T03:41:59Z")
The one I’ve got stuck in my head right now is the opening riff to Steely Dan’s _Reelin’ In the Years_. Man that’s smokin’.
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### Author:  [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/14 "2005-05-13T04:48:47Z")
Great thread. My meager contribution is that I can be transported in time and space by many, many riffs in about 1.7 seconds.
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### Author:  [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/15 "2005-05-13T14:20:11Z")
If a Clash riff is to be mentioned, **want2know** , I’d nominatre the opening riff of “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” instead of “Train in Vain” (which everyone always thinks is called “Stand by Me” BTW).
Especially now since the SISOSIG riff is featured in a heavy rotation Pontiac commercial here in the States.
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-G-D
Pure rock ‘n’ roll.
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### Author:  [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/16 "2005-05-13T14:25:45Z")
The opening of The Beatles’ “I Dig A Pony” is a _great_ riff!
Also, The Stones’ “Brown Sugar”, Rare Earth’s “I Just Want To Celebrate” and The Five Man Electrical Band’s “Julianna” are built on amazing riffs.
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### Author:  [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/17 "2005-05-13T18:08:50Z")
Even though it is being overused in a TV commercial, the Yardbirds’ “ **Over Under Sideways Down** ” is a good one.
“ **Crazy On You** ” by Heart.
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### Author:  [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/18 "2005-05-13T20:10:18Z")
“Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie, or if you are too young to remember that you will probably recognize it as “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice.
I’m sure you all hate me now. My job here is done, and I’m going home.
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### Author:  [@AThingWithFeathers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AThingWithFeathers)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/19 "2005-05-13T21:54:19Z")
Play That Funky Music White Boy, obviously. And My Girl, those are the only two I can actually play. I can recognize the riff to Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl pretty wuickly, but I don’t know if the song counts as memorable. Enter the Sandman is legendary as well.
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [May 13, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/20 "2005-05-13T22:15:48Z")
How about the opening riff to Roy Orbison’s **“Pretty Woman”**?
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