# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/61 "2016-03-22T01:26:08Z")
The first song that came to my mind was **Black Magic Woman** , but some of those already mentioned are even better. \*\*Hey Nineteen \*\*and \*\*The Kids Are Alright \*\*would be two of my favorites. Another one that is not only instantly recognizable but seems alter the chemistry of my brain the moment I hear it is Radiohead’s **Everything in its Right Place**. Amazing song, amazing album. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/62 "2016-03-22T01:39:49Z")
Four words but only one chord - [Bohemian Rhapsody](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ) has to be up there somewhere ---
**Author:** ![EBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@EBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EBird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/63 "2016-03-22T01:41:12Z")
Johnny B. Goode Beethoven 5th ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/64 "2016-03-22T03:18:23Z")
Although I think We Will Rock You is probably the answer, I still think my guy is close with School’s Out. You hear that opening riff and there’s not one single doubt to who and what it is. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2016, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/65 "2016-03-22T03:29:18Z")
This thread is kind of strange. I can recognize hundreds of songs after the first few notes. There are very few where the opening chord defines the song though. “Help” has to be the hands down winner for one single opening chord. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/66 "2016-03-22T03:31:04Z")
Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/67 "2016-03-22T03:44:38Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > This thread is kind of strange. I can recognize hundreds of songs after the first few notes. There are very few where the opening chord defines the song though. “Help” has to be the hands down winner for one single opening chord. Obviously I meant “A Hard Day’s Night.” And obviously, for me it was. Good night! ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/68 "2016-03-22T03:47:25Z")
‘Help’ by The Fab Four. I mean, the very first sound you hear is the name of the tune. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/69 "2016-03-22T05:41:27Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > “Sweet Home Alabama” - Lynyrd Skynyrd _Turn it up!_ ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/70 "2016-03-22T10:52:34Z")
Another vote for _Satisfaction_. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/71 "2016-03-22T10:58:38Z")
[Superstition.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/72 "2016-03-22T12:52:14Z")
Radiohead [“No Surprises”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqkgpHnp7Tg) is clear from the first note. Or perhaps “thunderstruck” by AC/DC? There’s nothing quite like that initial fiddly bit ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/73 "2016-03-22T21:16:07Z")
“Like a Rolling Stone” - the opening drum crash defines it pretty well. “Baba O’Riley” - hear that synthesizer, know the song. “Tubular Bells” - famous for being used in the Exorcist, but an unmistakeable theme. And back a ways I won a prize from a radio station for identifying “Love Like a Man” from Ten Years After. I was on the phone to them before the opening organ chord was over. Unfortunately the prize was the solo album by Chick Churchill, not something useful like a pizza. ---
**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, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/74 "2016-03-22T21:27:49Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Radiohead [“No Surprises”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqkgpHnp7Tg) is clear from the first note. Hmm…I have that album and it took me a good four notes or so before I recognized it. I mean, yes, I know you put the name of the song in the link, but I don’t know the names of all the songs on the album, even though I’ve heard it probably a hundred times or so. No way I would have known it if you just played the first note or two for me. It’s not really that distinctive (in my opinion.) ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/75 "2016-03-22T21:50:36Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > _Turn it up!_ Me, too! And I always shout along with the “Turn it up!”, too. Big fun. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/76 "2016-03-22T22:04:12Z")
Not quite as well known a song as some of the others but Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” is pretty distinct. Once I was sitting with a friend and his wife and we heard a guy hammering in the distance, seven times in quick succession, and I just went “da da da da dum”, cracked them both up. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/77 "2016-03-22T22:49:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > _pound, pound, clap > pound, pound, clap_ You just described my night with the twins I met on Craigslist. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/78 "2016-03-22T23:16:15Z")
“Let it Be” “My Sharona” Nobody here has heard this one, but once you hear the beginning, you won’t associate it with any other song again (NSFW) (but crank it up): https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQnFjrmKQQE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLMfbAjOiZTu5rJqGeDktp0Ndvs8KLUo8_ > [@pulykamell](#): > > Bonham’s [opening] pattern [in “Rock n’Roll”] is pure snare & tom I’ll say it’s snare and hi-hat. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/79 "2016-03-23T01:35:02Z")
_Dancing Queen_ by ABBA. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732/80 "2016-03-23T02:44:57Z")
Well, most songs that are very well known are immediately recognizable from the first few notes… dunno, I nominate Smells Like Teen Spirit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-recognizable-song-intro/749732.md?page=5)