Top 10 Songs that Start with a Lyrical Cold Open

What on earth is a lyrical cold opening? I stole it from the website TV Tropes, who call it a Lyrical Cold Open (I decided that the word "opening" sounded better).

Basically, this list is about songs where the lyrics come in at the very beginning of the song. No intro, no riff, no fade-in, nothing. These songs don't have to start off a cappella (though they can). It's okay if an instrument plays along with the vocalist at the very beginning.

Feel free to add to this list. If you do, tell me more about how each song starts.

The Top Ten

  1. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

    "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" I think it's fair to say that all of you just recognized that and probably sang along too.

    Phenomenal song with a phenomenal a cappella opening - possibly one of the most famous of all time. Screw Lil Meerkat's cover, by the way.

  2. Supper's Ready - Genesis

    "Walking across the sitting room, I turn the television off." I find it interesting that one of the best '70s prog songs starts with the vocals coming in straightaway.

    One thing's for sure, this exquisite song should rank above Bohemian Rhapsody.

  3. Nowhere Man - The Beatles

    John, Paul, and George sing the intro a cappella in harmony.

  4. Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen

  5. Another Brick In the Wall, Pt. 2 - Pink Floyd

  6. You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi

  7. Some Nights - Fun.

  8. Basket Case - Green Day

  9. Demons - Imagine Dragons

  10. We are the Champions - Queen

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Particle Man - They Might Be Giants

    Particle Man jumps right into the lyrics simultaneously with the lilting accompaniment.

  12. ?

    Red Red Wine - UB40

    This Neil Diamond-penned tune from 1968 originally starts with Diamond singing with a drum downbeat: "RED. RED. WINE." UB40 also began the lyrics with a cold open and turned it into a reggae staple, adding a drum, bass, and syncopated keyboard rhythm track.

    13. The Contenders

  13. Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas

  14. Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones

    The song starts with Mick Jagger singing, "She would never say where she came from." It makes you wonder where he's going next.

  15. All Star - Smash Mouth

  16. Sky's the Limit - The Notorious B.I.G.

  17. The Crystal Ship - The Doors

    Jim Morrison sings the first two words by himself and finishes the phrase with the rest of the band.

  18. Buddy Holly - Weezer

    The most brutal opening ever. The vocals are perfectly synchronized with the singing.

  19. What is and What Should Never Be - Led Zeppelin

    Robert Plant sings the line "And if I say to you tomorrow," right before the band comes in.

  20. Hey Jude - The Beatles

  21. Thank God It's Christmas - Queen

  22. Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen

    Are you gonna take me home tonight?

    Ah, down beside that red firelight,

    Are you gonna let it all hang out?

    Fat-bottomed girls,

    You make the rocking world go 'round.

  23. Mother - Pink Floyd

    The song starts with Roger Waters and his acoustic guitar, asking, "Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?"

  24. Fuel - Metallica

    Why was this not on the list? "Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire!"

    One of the best Metallica songs.

  25. Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons

  26. Shadows of the Night - Pat Benatar

    Benatar harmonizes with herself in this long cold open, singing the entire chorus a cappella.

  27. Natural - Imagine Dragons

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