Top 10 Most Instantly Recognizable Song Intros

You've probably had that moment when a song starts, and within an instant, you recognize it. Maybe it reminds you of a specific time in your life, or it's just a song you've heard a million times and could never tire of. These intros are more than just the start of a song. They've become cultural signals, triggering excitement, nostalgia, or even just the urge to dance.
The Top Ten
Hot Legs - Rod Stewart

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.

Who's that knocking on my door?

Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

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

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Obviously, I'd recognize this one if I suddenly heard the intro.

Hot Legs was spam-voted.

Almost everyone knows this one. "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."

We Will Rock You - Queen

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.

Back in Black - ACDC

I'm surprised this iconic song isn't #1.

Almost everyone knows this song and its intro.

Back in Black is iconic.

Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood
Echoes - Pink Floyd
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye

The Newcomers

? Flying High - The Arcana
? Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
The Contenders
Master of Puppets - Metallica

I can dream the intro!

Come Together - The Beatles

I love this soft intro.

Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seger
Sweet Child O'Mine - Guns N' Roses

How is this not number one?

Should be in the top 20.

Oof, should be higher. Top 15 at least.

Extreme Ways - Moby
Iron Man - Black Sabbath
One - Metallica
Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne

The intro is so iconic and badass.

Fallen - Electus
The Final Countdown - Europe

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

Roundabout - Yes
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

Anyone would know it.

Avaritia - Deadmau5
Battery - Metallica

One of the greatest Metallica intros.

I love how it starts soft and then kicks into the distortion. I like it more than Master of Puppets.

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