Top 10 Most Instantly Recognizable Song Intros

SoldierOfFortune, I agree. Stairway to Heaven's nice river of acoustic guitars in the intro is magic, but to say you've never heard this song is just poppycock. The intro to Hot Legs is more melodic than any other "Rock" song intro. It may be too hard for most ears, but give it a good listen. And Bohemian Rhapsody? Come on, that's a cliché of a song, nicely put together but catering to the taste of mediocrity...

What? I've never even heard of this song, and it's above classics like Stairway to Heaven, Smoke on the Water, and Bohemian Rhapsody?

Only #1 because of the Rod Stewart spam voter. I have never heard this song, so of course I wouldn't recognize the intro.

This is a clear number one. I would think even people who don't know the song would still recognize the opening riff.

I'm just commenting to help get this above Rod Stewart.

Voting this to keep the obviously spam-voted Rod Stewart song from the #1 spot.

Almost everyone knows this one. "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?"

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide...
No escape from reality..."

What's funny is that people don't even know the lyrics that well. Just the iconic intro.

You can hear the clapping, making it an instant hit.

The intro is like the whole song.

I'm surprised this iconic song isn't #1.
Almost everyone knows this song and its intro.

The intro is so iconic and badass.

No matter what genre of music you like, everyone knows the intro and main riff of this song.