# Name (and link to) a song that is instantly recognizable with the very first few notes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844 "2014-08-18T17:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/41 "2014-08-19T13:51:24Z")
But listening to those clips makes me wonder… what if the notes or chords were played on just a piano. No recognizable voices, guitar tones or effects, arrangements, or orchestrations? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/42 "2014-08-19T15:02:46Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > But listening to those clips makes me wonder… what if the notes or chords were played on just a piano. No recognizable voices, guitar tones or effects, arrangements, or orchestrations? I agree with the basic idea you express. There are probably pianists who could generate a sound that approximates the non-piano sounds on many of these songs, but as a general rule, I’d think the _identifiable_ hook in most cases is dependent on some gimmick outside the actual music. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/43 "2014-08-19T16:38:12Z")
[Here’s the best I can do.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jg8jf9oTjw) ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/44 "2014-08-19T16:44:14Z")
This is more recent that some, of course… [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/45 "2014-08-19T16:48:13Z")
> [@bunyupp](#): > > This [one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70QfHtKdh_0). That one wins the thread; but [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcemeFcfszM)’s almost as iconic. Another contribution: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Eab_beh07HU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGEIgVyhlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDT2UdOGvjG3SDzSXBx5i6KV8N2Fw "The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eab_beh07HU) ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/46 "2014-08-19T17:04:18Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8pPvNqOb6RA/hqdefault.jpg "Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven (Music-Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pPvNqOb6RA) ---
**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:** [August 19, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/47 "2014-08-19T18:53:40Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/48 "2014-08-19T19:16:37Z")
I am pretty sure this wasn’t done yet: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clPhtitSpes) ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/49 "2014-08-19T19:27:10Z")
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYmIKcP7Nbc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYmIKcP7Nbc) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1PNvopXjbg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1PNvopXjbg) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwEIt9ez7M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwEIt9ez7M) ---
**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:** [August 19, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/50 "2014-08-19T19:36:13Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > I am pretty sure this wasn’t done yet: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clPhtitSpes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clPhtitSpes) I misidentified that one, thought it was [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubAjEjkJIJo). 🙂 mmm ---
**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:** [August 19, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/51 "2014-08-19T19:38:23Z")
[Here is one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DED812HKWyM) with just a sound effect. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/52 "2014-08-19T19:54:27Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > The first organ note of [A Whiter Shade of Pale](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtzRRwfOXus) is unmistakeable. Yup. I heard the note in my head immediately upon reading the title here. Good job. As you said: unmistakable. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/53 "2014-08-19T19:54:45Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I misidentified that one, thought it was [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubAjEjkJIJo). 🙂 > mmm mmm - me too. Is it the same tone I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/54 "2014-08-19T20:51:43Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otdHbA4GlSI) ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/55 "2014-08-19T21:05:10Z")
Here are three that are iconic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCmUhYSr-e4 ---
**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:** [August 19, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/56 "2014-08-19T23:31:17Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I agree with the basic idea you express. There are probably pianists who could generate a sound that approximates the non-piano sounds on many of these songs, but as a general rule, I’d think the _identifiable_ hook in most cases is dependent on some gimmick outside the actual music. I wouldn’t call that a gimmick, though. That is the actual music. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/57 "2014-08-20T04:07:13Z")
I can name that song in two notes. Name that tune! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59K2kF6o9Tk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59K2kF6o9Tk) ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/58 "2014-08-20T11:56:37Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > But listening to those clips makes me wonder… what if the notes or chords were played on just a piano. No recognizable voices, guitar tones or effects, arrangements, or orchestrations? Wouldn’t obscure this one: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yteMugRAc0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yteMugRAc0) ’ ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/59 "2014-08-20T12:15:28Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > [Pop Quiz: Can You Identify These Hit Songs by Just Their First Second?](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/07/02/pop_music_quiz_name_these_recent_billboard_hits_by_their_first_second.html) I couldn’t identify any of them … even listening to the entire song. :smack: I thought “hits” referred to the 1960’s or early 70’s. Or even Big Band tunes from the 30’s and 40’s. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844/60 "2014-08-20T13:03:53Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I thought “hits” referred to the 1960’s or early 70’s. Or even Big Band tunes from the 30’s and 40’s. [Do](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kM1khne_sg) [not](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY) [disrespect](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzxDc2TyOEk) the '50s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-and-link-to-a-song-that-is-instantly-recognizable-with-the-very-first-few-notes/695844.md?page=4)