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Just a few notes is all it takes! Join us as we count down our picks for the most famous and instantly-recognizable song intros in music history. From fuzzy guitar riffs to unforgettable piano melodies, these legendary openings grab your attention from the very first second. Which iconic intro gets you pumped every time you hear it?
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most famous and instantly
00:08recognizable song intros. We'll only be including one song per artist.
00:21Number 20. Money, Pink Floyd
00:30That cha-ching of a cash register coupled with that iconic bass line might be the most
00:37lucrative sound in rock history. Pink Floyd's Money opens side two of the dark side of the moon
00:43with a literal rhythm of capitalism crafted from a loop of coins, cash registers, and paper tearing.
00:50Then comes that slinky 7-4 bass line, instantly recognizable and unlike anything ever heard
00:56on the radio. It's both mechanical and groovy, reflecting the album's critique of materialism.
01:03The intro doesn't just grab your ear, it sets up an entire mood of cynicism and funk-laden
01:09cool. In one bar, you know you're listening to Pink Floyd, and you know it's about to be
01:15weirdly perfect.
01:24Number 19. Layla, Derek and the Dominoes
01:28Talk about emotional combustion. The intro to Layla erupts with twin guitars from Eric Clapton
01:43and Dwayne Allman, intertwining in a descending, desperate riff that screams heartbreak. The tone
01:49is raw, and the attack ferocious, a perfect reflection of Clapton's real-life romantic turmoil.
01:55The riff's minor key tension grabs you instantly. Its combination of blues, rock, and anguish rolled
02:02into one unforgettable hook. Then, before a single lyric, you already feel the ache of unrequited love.
02:09It's like the guitar itself is crying. Few openings ever hit so hard or meant so much.
02:23Number 18. Sunshine of Your Love, Cream
02:27That thick, rolling riff is rock history in four bars. Cream's Sunshine of Your Love fused blues and
02:43psychedelia into a new sound. Heavy, hypnotic, and super cool. Jack Bruce's bass and Eric Clapton's guitar
02:50lock into a syncopated pattern that feels both behind the beats and ahead of its time. Ginger
02:56Baker's steady, tom-heavy drumming adds a tribal pulse that grounds the song's swirling psychedelia.
03:03The result is pure groove, sultry, smoky, and instantly recognizable. The intro alone practically
03:10invented Hard Rock's attitude in the late 1960s, introducing a sludgier, groovier element that was
03:17way ahead of its time. And yeah, it still slaps.
03:28Number 17. Barracuda, Heart
03:39From the first pick scrape, Barracuda attacks. Nancy Wilson's galloping E minor riff slices forward like
03:46its namesake predator, blending speed, precision, and fury. It's a masterclass in controlled aggression.
03:53Hard Rock streamlined for maximum impact. Written by Michael Fisher and powered by Heart's feminist
03:59fire, the intro hits with metallic sharpness and hypnotic repetition. Ann Wilson's soon-to-arrive
04:06vocals and the pitch of the cymbals only amplify the tension. But it's that opening riff that defines the
04:12song's bite. Every note drips with adrenaline and it'll get you pumped like nothing else.
04:25Number 16. Imagine John Lennon
04:29When he was in the Beatles, John Lennon was more of a counter-cultural rebel. And here he is,
04:42opening Imagine with something serene and spacious. The opening piano chords of Imagine are perfectly
04:48simplistic, with Lennon's soft touch and gentle pacing creating an atmosphere of peace that feels
04:53almost sacred. There's no ornamentation, no flashy production like people were used to with the
04:59Beatles. Just good, old-fashioned, raw sincerity. Each note lands like a gentle breath, leaving quiet room
05:07for reflection and encouraging you to simply close your eyes and, well, just imagine.
05:13The intro to Still Dre is one of hip-hop's most efficient power moves, establishing the fact that
05:40Dr. Dre was still the best in the biz. Produced by the legend himself, it's cold, repeating melody
05:47immediately establishes authority before a single word drops. The minimalism is surgical, with just
05:53enough space for Dre's confidence to breathe. That metallic timber gives it an almost futuristic vibe,
05:59while the relentless repetition turns it iconic. You know the beat instantly, and it never fades from
06:06memory. Even now, over two decades removed, it still sounds fresh. And you know, it's an easy song to
06:13learn on the piano. 14. Under Pressure, Queen and David Bowie
06:31That iconic bass line, dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun, might be humanity's favorite groove. John Deacon and
06:38David Bowie crafted a masterpiece of sound with this simple yet ingenious pattern. What makes it iconic,
06:44aside from the fact that it's an absolute bop, is its emotional duality. Steady and comforting,
06:50yet urgent and anxious. And as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie join in, the intro blossoms from
06:57simplicity into pure majesty. Minimal, yet monumental. It captures both artists' theatrical power,
07:04and it could just be the greatest team-up in music history. And yes, Vanilla Ice has a role to play
07:09in its longevity. We can't deny that. 13. Baba O'Reilly, The Who
07:25What other keyboard intro sounds as alive as this one? Baba O'Reilly, not Teenage Wasteland,
07:36opens with a cold and pulsating loop on the synthesizer, an early experiment in sequencing
07:41that instantly became legendary. Pete Townsend built the famous arpeggio from a Lowry organ with
07:47its built-in marimba repeat feature, creating a hypnotic and mechanical rhythm that still sounds
07:53futuristic half a century on. And when Keith Moon's drums crash in, it feels like liberation,
07:58technology colliding with rebellion. The intro has a restless energy, and it basically introduced
08:04the future of rock and electronic fusion. You could say that the 70s… began here.
08:10And here we have the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Pure rock, no futuristic bells and
08:33whistles. It's amazing what Angus Young can do with a guitar, as he has crafted countless legendary riffs,
08:39including the one to Highway to Hell, which is instantly recognizable with just a few punchy power
08:45chords. That opening blast lasts barely a second, yet you immediately think, oh yeah, Highway to Hell,
08:52I'm so in. There's no build-up, no suspense, just straight to business, straight to headbanging.
08:58The tone is immediately clear. Party hard, live free, and crank the volume up, just not too loud.
09:05Mind your neighbors.
09:17Number 11. I Got You, I Feel Good, James Brown.
09:29Few songs announce themselves quite like James Brown's I Got You, I Feel Good. Beginning with Brown's loud and
09:35confident yell, this thing gets off the ground running and never lets up. The moment that sharp
09:40brass blast hits, you know exactly what's coming. Pure, unfiltered joy. Brown's electrifying yell and
09:47that sharp saxophone riff combine to make one of music's most instantly recognizable intros. A
09:53boisterous call to get off your feet and dance. Released in 1965, the track's opening seconds cemented Brown as
10:00the godfather of soul, fusing rhythm, funk, and charisma into one perfect groove. Even today,
10:07just a few notes are enough to make anyone grin, nod, and of course, feel good.
10:1310. Smoke on the Water, Deep Purple
10:31Richie Blackmore didn't just write a guitar riff, he wrote the alphabet of rock. Smoke on the Water opens
10:38with four simple notes that have basically transcended time and space. The power of the intro lies
10:45in its structure, played in fourths, heavy yet melodic, and defining the very language of the
10:51electric guitar. Its fuzzy tone gives each note wonderful punch and precision, and its timing is
10:57just offbeat enough to feel alive. And of course, its simplicity is universal, with basically every
11:04budding guitarist learning to play this as a young lad. This is Baby's first guitar song. The note's a
11:11rite of passage. Number 9. I ran so far away, a flock of seagulls.
11:34Talk about perfectly capturing that shimmering, futuristic sound of early, new wave. I ran opens
11:47with bright, echoing guitar arpeggios drenched in delay and reverb, creating a sense of vast space
11:55that sounded like the future. The swirling synths and driving drumbeat immediately establish a sleek,
12:01otherworldly atmosphere that was fresh at the time, but what is now unmistakably of its era. In a good
12:07way, of course. It evokes a cinematic, almost science fiction mood, and it remains the quintessential
12:13sound of 80s new wave. This thing is a time machine in auditory form.
12:19I walk along the avenue. I never thought I'd meet a girl like you.
12:26Number 8. I can't get no satisfaction. The Rolling Stones.
12:38Three notes changed rock forever. Keith Richards' fuzz, drenched guitar intro to I can't get no
12:46satisfaction is the ultimate statement of counter-cultural attitude. Sounding far heavier
12:51and more immediate than, well, anything really, it's hard to imagine just how earth-shattering
12:56this opening was in 1965. Richards supposedly dreamed the riff and recorded it while half asleep,
13:03accidentally creating one of music's most recognizable intros in the process.
13:07Its raw distortion, produced by a Gibson maestro fuzzbox, gave the Stones their defining edge and
13:14practically invented hard rock. The riff's simplicity makes it universal, primal enough for anyone to
13:20hum, but powerful enough to fill a stadium. And fill stadiums they have, many of them.
13:32Number 7. Sweet Home Alabama.
13:35It's the sound of sunshine on strings. It's pure Americana, distilled into a few seconds of auditory
13:50magic. The opening riff of Sweet Home Alabama sparkles with clean, country-flavored twang that
13:56radiate with warmth and swagger. Ed King's picking and Gary Rossington's rhythm create a breezy interplay
14:03that instantly sets the mood, and the bright, inviting tone is like being invited onto a porch
14:08to drink some iced tea, or whatever cold beverage you prefer. You don't just hear this song, you feel
14:15the Southern pride and good humor that is baked into every note. Lynyrd Skynyrd helped create Southern
14:21rock, and their work still sounds fresh all these years later. And when Ronnie Van Zant tells you to turn it up,
14:27you better listen.
14:33Number 6. Billie Jean. Michael Jackson.
14:44Pop begins here. Well, it began way before this, but you know what we mean. The intro to Billie Jean is
14:52all about tension. The crisp kick drum, the tight snare, and that funky, rubbery bass line locking
14:58together in irresistible precision. Quincy Jones and MJ collaboratively built the groove like a suspense
15:04film, being lean, dark, and endlessly looping. It's a hypnotic rhythm, and it's so distinctive that DJs
15:11could play one second of that opening drum beat and instantly fill a dance floor. The minimalism is
15:17timeless. It never tries too hard, because it doesn't need to. They know they made an absolute
15:23banger with just a few notes, and they defined cool in the process.
15:27Number 5. Lose Yourself. Eminem.
15:44Arguably the best rap song ever written. Lose Yourself is cool because it kind of has two iconic
15:50intros for the price of one. You've got that awesome piano section with its simple yet urgent
15:56progression, immediately building tension and anticipation. It feels like the calm before a
16:02storm. And then the storm comes in the form of a gritty beat, which adds a street-level edge that
16:08mirrors the song's themes of struggle and determination. Once you hear these two instruments,
16:13you know you're in five minutes of sheer hip-hop brilliance. One moment that you capture,
16:21just let it slip. Number 4. A Hard Day's Night. The Beatles.
16:25This might hold the record for the shortest yet most instantly recognizable song intro of all time.
16:40Lasting about one second, it's just a huge something of noise, and then the Beatles just
16:47get right into it. No mucking about as the Brits would say. As described by musicologist Jeremy
16:53Summerlee, the sound of this chord is the most discussed pop opening of all time. And funnily
16:58enough, music experts long theorized how they even made that sound in the first place. There have been
17:04entire academic reports written about it. How amazing is that? The Beatles were so ahead of their
17:10time in terms of production that their music sounded downright alien.
17:21Number 3. Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelin.
17:32Delicate, mysterious, and eternal. Stairway to Heaven opens with Jimmy Page's finger-picked acoustic
17:38guitar weaving through an ethereal progression, with each note feeling deliberate and setting a
17:44meditative tone. The melody is old-fashioned, a little classical, almost medieval, and it invites
17:50you in gently, promising a mythical journey rather than an outright Zeppelin-esque jam. Layered
17:57recorders enrich the mood, while Robert Plant's voice soon rises like an ancient storyteller. It's a
18:04masterclass in build-up. It's contrast to the more explosive back half being a perfect bit of
18:10songwriting. Even decades later, those first measures can still put a hush over any room. It's like a spell.
18:17Number 2. Sweet Child O' Mine. Guns N' Roses.
18:36Slash turned a joke riff into rock immortality. That's how much of a musical genius he is.
18:42The opening riff of Sweet Child O' Mine was written while Slash was joking around with drummer Steven
18:47Adler, yet it shimmers with a beautiful melody, each note dancing like sunlight on chrome. It's
18:53intricate and complex, like most of Slash's riffs, yet it's also instantly singable, bridging hard rock's
19:01intensity with pop accessibility. It's no wonder this was the band's first and only number one single.
19:07Within seconds, you know you're hearing something special, both tender and epic all at once.
19:13The riff still sounds fresh and unique, even all these decades later.
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19:341. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
19:49It's almost unheard of for a single musician to change the course of history with just a couple of
19:55notes. Kurt Cobain did it with Smells Like Teen Spirit, with those opening notes popularizing the
20:00grunge movement and altering rock on a whole different course. The song explodes with four
20:06distorted chords that define 90s rebellion, with Cobain's jagged guitar drenched in fuzz and perfectly
20:13balancing punk urgency with a radio-friendly pop structure. The guitar continues on its own until
20:20the tension is broken with an unforgettable release, with Krist Novoselic's bass and Dave Grohl's drums
20:27erupting in with authority. With just a few notes, the song transformed underground angst into mainstream
20:34movement and ignited an entire cultural movement. Pretty darned iconic, we'd say.
20:45What other songs do you instantly recognize? Let us know in the comments below.
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