# Most Memorable Riffs **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/21 "2005-05-13T22:16:53Z")
Also, the opening riff of **“Wild Thing”** by The Trogs. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/22 "2005-05-14T02:43:47Z")
The killer synth riff from Elvis Costello’s “Radio Radio”. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/23 "2005-05-14T04:06:18Z")
The 'Floyd’s “Money” and that theme song from Perry Mason. ---
**Author:** ![Antivenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Antivenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antivenin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/24 "2005-05-14T04:16:33Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > 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. I SISOSIG–I came of age in the 80s. However, my parents were rockers, so I have to include In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, baby. of ye ol’ Iron Butterfly, and, of course, Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry. Also love Gimme Three Steps and Things Goin’ On by Lynyrd Synyrd, oh yeah, Ballad of Curtis Lowe (somehow that title doesn’t sound right, but ya know what I mean) Great thread ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/25 "2005-05-14T14:09:00Z")
> [@Antivenin](#): > > … and, of course, Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry. Yeah, _THAT_ one! ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/26 "2005-05-14T14:32:24Z")
Opening to Dragnet Theme: dumm da dum dum…dumm da dum dum DUMM! Jaws : duh dum…duh dum…dumdumdumdumDUMDUMDUMDUM…AAAGHHH! Star Wars Theme: duh duh DUHH DAHH duhduhduh DAHH DAHH duhduhduh DAHH DAHH DUHDUHDUH DAHHHH! Superman Theme: Bah dahdah dah dahhh bah dah dahh bah dahdah dah dahhh DAH DAHDAHHHH! (tip o’ the hat to that ripoff artist John Williams) That slap-base synth riff from “Seinfeld” Rockford Files(!!): (buhduh da DUM) bweeedee dededeee dede dede dee deee deee (buhduh da DUM) bweeedee de de deee de de deee…oh, you know how it goes. Probably the most memorable analog synth riff of all time. Gawd, the earworms!!! ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/27 "2005-05-14T15:38:11Z")
I know it’s here already, but as soon as I read this thread title “Purple Haze’s” riff popped into my head. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/28 "2005-05-14T19:11:30Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > 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. While I agree that SISOSIG is a great riff, I purposely didn’t mention it _because_ of the aforementioned ads. While I have nothing per se against popular music being used in ads, hearing it day after day kinda takes away a good riff’s charm. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/29 "2005-05-14T19:26:22Z")
Here’s an obscure one that came to me…“Tales of Brave Ulysses” by Cream. Waaaow Waaow Wah uh Waaow… Also “My Sharona” by the Knack “Mainline Florida” by Eric Clapton ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/30 "2005-05-14T20:02:32Z")
Dah, dah, DAAAAAHHHH. Dah, dah, DAAAAH DAAAAAAAHHHH. Dah, dah, DAAAAHHHH. DAAAAAHHHHH da da. Probably the easiest riff to write down as humming. And no, I’m not going to tell you what it is nor even if it’s been mentioned yet, but it’s the first thing that popped into my head. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/31 "2005-05-15T00:38:48Z")
Stupidly Happy by XTC. On writing it, Andy Partridge repeatedly played it to friends asking which Stones song he had nicked it from only to repeatedly be told that he hadn’t. I love XTC and paid homage to it in my song ‘I’ll Be Your Dog’. Seek and ye shall find. MiM ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/32 "2005-05-15T01:14:57Z")
“Here comes the bride”! ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/33 "2005-05-15T02:24:52Z")
Rocky…and Indiana Jones themes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/34 "2005-05-15T03:33:02Z")
I’m not a big Led Zeppelin fan, but how about Heartbreaker? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/35 "2005-05-15T06:51:53Z")
> [@Khan](#): > > 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. Pah. The Pac-Man startup tune preceded Mario easily. 🙂 Though the mushroom power-up sound from SMB, now _there’s_ a worthy video-game riff. ---
**Author:** ![A\_qui\_profite\_le\_crime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@A\_qui\_profite\_le\_crime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_qui_profite_le_crime)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/36 "2005-05-15T10:34:37Z")
I second Black Sabbath’s Iron Man. One of my personnal favorites is **Judas Priest’s Breaking the Law**. One of the most recognizable riffs I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/37 "2005-05-15T14:40:13Z")
That riff in Sympathy for the Devil is pretty cool and pretty memorable. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/38 "2005-05-20T11:08:47Z")
The Imperial March, from Star Wars. The opening of the X-Files theme. The organ riff from “Light My Fire”. The guitar lead-in to “I Want To Hold Your Hand”. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/39 "2005-05-20T14:41:39Z")
There seems to be some confusion here about what a riff is. Anyway my candidates: Whole Lotta Love. Am I really the first person to name this? The Peter Gunn theme. Even if you’ve never seem the show (and who has) you _do_ know this one. The into of Tubular Bells TV themes: Mission Impossible. (not the f\*\*ked up film version). Stingray. Any CSI. 🙂 Doctor Who Roobarb **Loopydude** I love the Rockford Files but that’s more of a tune than a riff innit? I refuse to mention Bob the Builder, oh, oops. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434/40 "2005-05-20T17:33:14Z")
How about Sportscenter’s “DA-da-DA! DA-da-DA!” anybody with me on this one? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-memorable-riffs/303434.md?page=3)