28 Iconic Songs That Are Instantly Recognizable By Their Intros
Music has an amazing power to transport us back in time with just a few notes. Some songs are so iconic that we can name them from their first few seconds alone. These musical openings have become part of our cultural fabric, instantly triggering memories and emotions across generations.
Ready to test your musical memory with these instantly recognizable intros?
1. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
That hypnotic bassline paired with the crisp hi-hat pattern creates an instant dance floor invitation. Released in 1983, this Thriller masterpiece showcases Jackson’s genius for crafting hooks from the very first beat.
Even decades later, those opening notes still make people’s heads bob involuntarily. The intro alone revolutionized pop music production techniques.
2. Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
Slash’s guitar riff spirals through the air like a musical question that demands your attention. The story goes that this legendary intro began as a simple string-skipping exercise during band practice.
When Axl Rose heard it from another room, magic happened. Now it stands as perhaps the most recognizable guitar intro in rock history.
3. Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie
Boom boom clap! John Deacon’s bassline grabs you immediately and never lets go. This collaboration between two musical powerhouses created a intro so compelling that Vanilla Ice would famously sample it years later.
The pressure builds with each note, setting up the vocal fireworks to come. Few basslines in music history have achieved such instant recognition.
4. Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple
Guitar teachers everywhere sigh when beginners request this one, yet smile knowing its power. Those four simple notes have launched countless rock careers since 1972.
Inspired by watching a casino fire in Montreux, Switzerland, Ritchie Blackmore transformed disaster into rock history. The riff’s simplicity belies its staying power – proof that sometimes less truly is more.
5. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
Power chords punch through silence, instantly triggering visions of Rocky Balboa training montages. Written specifically for Rocky III at Sylvester Stallone’s request, this intro embodies pure determination.
The steady build mimics a fighter’s heartbeat before a bout. Every gym playlist since 1982 has featured these opening notes as the ultimate motivation soundtrack.
6. Another One Bites the Dust by Queen
Roger Taylor’s drum hit followed by John Deacon’s funk-inspired bassline creates instant head-nodding magic. The story goes that Michael Jackson himself suggested to Queen that this track should be a single.
Smart move, Michael! The stripped-back intro demonstrates Queen’s versatility beyond their operatic rock anthems. Its infectious groove remains a staple at sporting events worldwide.
7. Back in Black by AC/DC
Those opening guitar chords hit like a sledgehammer, announcing AC/DC’s triumphant return after tragedy. Following lead singer Bon Scott’s passing, the band created this defiant statement with new vocalist Brian Johnson.
Producer Mutt Lange captured the raw energy perfectly. The intro’s percussive precision demonstrates why this became one of the best-selling albums in history and a rock radio staple.
8. Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
Jack White’s deceptively simple seven-note pattern wasn’t even played on bass – it was a guitar with an octave pedal! Released in 2003, this intro transcended rock radio to become a global sports anthem.
From soccer stadiums to basketball arenas, fans worldwide chant this melody. Its military march quality makes it perfect for rallying crowds, proving some musical ideas are universal.
9. Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses
Slash’s serpentine guitar lick slithers through silence before the band explodes into action. This 1987 intro perfectly captures the dangerous energy of Sunset Strip’s rock scene.
The delayed gratification technique builds unbearable tension. When Axl finally screams “You know where you are?” it’s like being thrown headfirst into the chaotic world Guns N’ Roses inhabited.
10. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page’s delicate fingerpicking creates an almost mystical atmosphere that’s captivated listeners since 1971. The gradual progression from acoustic gentleness to electric power mirrors the song’s epic journey.
Guitar store employees famously hear these opening notes from eager beginners daily. Despite (or because of) its ubiquity, those first haunting measures still transport listeners to another realm.
11. Thriller by Michael Jackson
Creaking doors, footsteps, and that sinister synthesizer line create instant Halloween vibes any time of year. Producer Quincy Jones and Jackson crafted the perfect musical introduction to the supernatural tale that follows.
The tension builds with each note of the keyboard riff. Even without Vincent Price’s iconic laugh (which comes later), those opening measures signal something wickedly entertaining is about to happen.
12. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
“Is this the real life?” Freddie Mercury’s a cappella opening question launches the most ambitious pop single ever. The gentle piano accompaniment belies the musical rollercoaster ahead.
Those harmonized vocals create an almost religious atmosphere. The restraint shown in these opening measures makes the operatic middle and rock finale all the more powerful by contrast.
13. Enter Sandman by Metallica
Kirk Hammett’s clean guitar figure emerges from darkness before the full band hammers you into submission. This calculated intro from 1991’s Black Album represented Metallica’s evolution from thrash pioneers to metal mainstream.
Producer Bob Rock helped craft this instantly memorable opening. The gradual intensity increase mirrors the song’s nightmare theme perfectly, making it an ideal concert opener that still electrifies crowds today.
14. Money by Pink Floyd
Cash registers and coins create an unusual 7/4 time signature rhythm that’s instantly recognizable. Released on 1973’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” this intro perfectly encapsulates the album’s themes of materialism.
Roger Waters recorded these sounds himself using traditional tape splicing techniques. The result? A sonic collage that remains one of rock’s most innovative openings and a testament to Floyd’s studio wizardry.
15. Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix
That disorienting tritone interval (nicknamed “the devil’s interval” in medieval times) announces Hendrix’s psychedelic masterpiece. Released in 1967, this intro captured the expanding consciousness of the flower power generation.
Jimi’s innovative use of effects created sounds previously unheard in rock. Those opening notes still sound futuristic today, proving Hendrix wasn’t just ahead of his time – he created a new musical dimension.
16. Beat It by Michael Jackson
That sharp synth stab cuts through silence before Eddie Van Halen’s guitar work takes this pop song to unexpected heights. Producer Quincy Jones and Jackson’s willingness to blend genres created this unforgettable opening.
The intro’s menacing quality perfectly sets up the song’s anti-violence message. This 1983 hit bridged the gap between rock and R&B audiences, demonstrating Jackson’s cross-genre appeal.
17. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Steve Perry’s piano arpeggios have launched a million karaoke performances since 1981. The notes bounce with optimistic energy, perfectly setting up the song’s message of perseverance.
The intro gained renewed cultural significance through The Sopranos’ finale. Those opening measures work like a time machine, instantly transporting listeners to an era of arena rock anthems and lighter-waving power ballads.
18. Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Stevie’s clavinet riff grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. Created on the Hohner Clavinet D6, this funky introduction showcases Wonder’s instrumental genius beyond his vocal talents.
The story goes that Jeff Beck was originally supposed to record this song. Lucky for us, Stevie kept it for himself! Those opening measures remain a masterclass in funk arrangement that still fills dance floors five decades later.
19. Hotel California by Eagles
Don Felder and Joe Walsh’s intertwined guitars create a Spanish-tinged atmosphere that’s pure California dreaming. The 12-string and 6-string guitar duet paints a sunset over the Pacific before Don Henley’s vocals begin.
This extended intro builds anticipation masterfully. The mysterious quality of those opening notes perfectly sets up the song’s enigmatic lyrics about the dark side of the American dream.
20. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Kurt Cobain’s four simple chords, played clean then exploding into distortion, announced grunge’s arrival to the mainstream. This 1991 intro captured Generation X’s quiet-loud emotional landscape perfectly.
Producer Butch Vig helped craft this sonic statement. The contrast between the restrained opening and the unleashed chorus mirrors the pent-up frustration of youth, creating an anthem that still resonates with each new generation of teenagers.
21. Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones
Keith Richards’ open-G tuned riff struts with the same confidence as Mick Jagger on stage. Originally recorded years earlier as a reggae song, this rejected version was rediscovered and transformed into rock gold.
Released in 1981, the intro rejuvenated the Stones’ career. Those opening notes contain the essence of rock and roll attitude – simultaneously loose and precise, with Richards’ slightly behind-the-beat timing creating irresistible tension.
22. Baba O’Riley by The Who
Pete Townshend’s synthesizer arpeggios cascade like a waterfall before the piano pounds home the song’s heartbeat. Often mistakenly called “Teenage Wasteland,” this 1971 classic pioneered the use of synthesizers in rock.
The intro was created using an organ fed through an ARP synthesizer. Those hypnotic opening notes set up one of rock’s most dramatic builds, perfectly capturing the ambition of The Who’s groundbreaking rock opera approach.
23. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page’s guitar orchestra creates an exotic atmosphere that transports listeners to distant lands. The unusual time signatures and string arrangements give this 1975 epic an almost mystical quality from the very first notes.
Page used an alternative tuning (DADGAD) to achieve the distinctive sound. The majestic opening measures blend Western rock with Eastern musical influences, creating one of rock’s most ambitious and instantly recognizable introductions.
24. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
A single piano note followed by that iconic drum fill launches Springsteen’s definitive anthem. The E Street Band’s wall-of-sound approach creates a musical equivalent of breaking free from small-town constraints.
Producer Jon Landau helped capture this ambitious sound. The opening measures build anticipation like a motorcycle revving before hitting the open highway, perfectly setting up the song’s themes of escape and freedom.
25. Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
Keith Richards’ reverb-drenched guitar creates an atmosphere of approaching storm clouds. Released in 1969 amid Vietnam War protests, this intro captures the era’s sense of impending doom perfectly.
Richards achieved the sound using open tuning and Leslie speakers. The tremolo effect mimics the song’s themes of seeking protection from a threatening world. Those opening notes still raise goosebumps five decades later.
26. Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics
Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart’s synthesizer riff emerged from experimentation with one of the first affordable sequencers. This hypnotic pattern transformed a band on the verge of being dropped by their label into global superstars.
Released in 1983, the intro’s mechanical precision contrasts with Lennox’s soulful vocals. The distinctive synth line demonstrates how electronic instruments could create hooks as memorable as any guitar riff.
27. Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page’s guitar riff stomps with primal force, establishing Led Zeppelin’s heavy blues approach instantly. The slightly delayed second guitar creates a massive sound that defined heavy rock for generations.
Released in 1969, this intro showcased Page’s innovative production techniques. The spacing between notes gives the riff room to breathe while maintaining its hypnotic power. Air guitarists worldwide still attempt to capture its swagger.
28. Jump by Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen’s synthesizer riff shocked fans expecting his usual guitar pyrotechnics. This bold move in 1984 demonstrated the band’s willingness to evolve beyond their hard rock origins.
Eddie created the part on an Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer. The bouncy, optimistic keyboard line contrasts with the band’s previous guitar-centric approach. Those opening notes propelled Van Halen to their first and only #1 single.