# Most recognizable song intro **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732 "2016-03-21T06:11:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [March 21, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/41 "2016-03-21T15:59:29Z")
“Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meat Loaf “Pinball Wizard” by the Who ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/42 "2016-03-21T16:04:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I don’t care what anybody else says, \*\*Lobot \*\*got it back in post #3. You seriously think more people recognize A Hard Day’s Night from its intro than recognize Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony? For real? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/43 "2016-03-21T16:08:16Z")
[“My Girl”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZh7nRw6gl8), The Temptations, intro by The Funk Brothers [“Shotgun”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq6jquFrb08), Junior Walker ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/44 "2016-03-21T16:10:08Z")
If we’re talking guess the song with only one note, I’ll throw in **Steely Dan’s Hey Nineteen**. Drum beat and then one guitar note bent nearly to the point of breaking before laying down the groove. [link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKVb_Q1O9H4) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/45 "2016-03-21T16:11:53Z")
Dylan’s Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 is pretty unmistakable. Honky Tonk Women and Satisfaction are my other top choices. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/46 "2016-03-21T16:13:59Z")
I place in nomination the police sirens that open Paper Lace’s “The Night Chicago Died” and the drums and “son of a gun” at the start of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/47 "2016-03-21T16:14:59Z")
Is “recognizable” the same thing as “identifiable”? For example, the Dave Brubeck tune in post #26. I certainly recognized it, but I couldn’t put a title to it. I nominate [My Girl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eepLY8J4E6c)by The Temptations. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/48 "2016-03-21T16:40:02Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > “Money for Nothing” - Dire Straights That’s one of the ones I thought of as well. > [@Zeldar](#): > > Here’s a blindfold test for you. > > Click the link and shut your eyes and find how long it takes to identify this one: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs) Not bad, try [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkeQsler2Qs). (Maybe he’ll get a two-and-a-half minute youtube ad, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/49 "2016-03-21T16:57:06Z")
Another well known opening from an older tune: [Rhapsody in Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEOo28lsbc) ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/50 "2016-03-21T17:01:48Z")
“Sweet Home Alabama” - Lynyrd Skynyrd ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/51 "2016-03-21T17:03:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is “recognizable” the same thing as “identifiable”? For example, the Dave Brubeck tune in post #26. I certainly recognized it, but I couldn’t put a title to it. > > I nominate [My Girl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eepLY8J4E6c)by The Temptations. See post #43. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/52 "2016-03-21T17:07:26Z")
I’d say Brown Sugar by the Stones. after 2 chords most people would know it. Also after the very first sound I’d say most people growing up of age in the 80’s could guess The Police’s Synchronicity II ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/53 "2016-03-21T17:08:06Z")
Da da dum du-du DUM dum (Super Mario Brothers) Not really a chord, but “Oh. My. God. Becky, look at her butt” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/54 "2016-03-21T17:08:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Another well known opening from an older tune: [Rhapsody in Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEOo28lsbc) Nice! ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/55 "2016-03-21T17:11:37Z")
I dunno about recognizable when you’re not one of the biggest bands in the world, but you’ll never forget the intro to: The JSBX’s [Full Grown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mkVE9dN1s). Do not click on that motherfucking link at work. Do not. Seriously. You cannot turn down that track fast enough when your elderly parents are in the car. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/56 "2016-03-21T17:17:52Z")
> [@Theodore\_Striker](#): > > I’ll see both of you and raise you Paradise City… > > But back to the original, my first thought was Layla as well, but there are a number of great ones mentioned here. > > One that I love is Zep’s Good Times, Bad Times… what a way to start the first song of your first album than with that stereophonic guitar dig that is crunchy and sharp at the same time backed up with just enough drum play to build the anticipation. > > And then there is the open to When the Levee Breaks… the power thump of Bonzo’s drums, and the wail of the harmonica, just peeling off anguish. > > Man, I could do this all day, so many great ones. When I saw Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes I kept waiting to hear those first few bass notes of Dazed and Confused. Though, I’ll grant you, those aren’t exactly ‘most recognizable’ to people that aren’t familiar with Led Zeppelin’s catalog. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/57 "2016-03-21T17:18:20Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is “recognizable” the same thing as “identifiable”? For example, the Dave Brubeck tune in post #26. I certainly recognized it, but I couldn’t put a title to it. Take Five ---
**Author:** ![Mattie\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mattie\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mattie_Blue)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/58 "2016-03-21T23:18:14Z")
3 chords and you’re there. [Start Me Up](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGyOaCXr8Lw) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/59 "2016-03-22T00:01:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > In terms of “I’ll name this tune in one note/chord,” I think that’s gotta be it, too. I can probably identify hundreds or thousands of tunes with the first few of notes or beats, but there’s very few I could think of where the absolute first note or notes struck together I could name immediately without any other context. I’m sure there are a couple of others, but that’s the obvious one. Another one I thought of, though it’s not as well-known (at least I don’t think it is), is [The Who’s “The Kids Are Alright”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afam2nIae4o). First strum and you know what the song is (assuming you are familiar with it.) For me, it’s kind of interesting to know what songs are identifiable from the first simultaneous or near-simultaneous collection of notes, and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/60 "2016-03-22T00:59:10Z")
[Another one you can get off the first chord.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfeNhwnO8hw) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732.md?page=4)