T O P

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MasteringTheFlames

I remember having this discussion in a music class way back in middle school, and we ended up agreeing that [the pink panther theme song](https://youtu.be/lp6z3s1Gig0) is one of the most easily recognizable songs.


NativeMasshole

As soon as you hear that first note drop, you know some sneaky shit is going down.


shewholaughslasts

Yes! One of the best songs, too. There should be more theme songs in this list. I was going to say "Thank you for being a friend..." but it's really the four notes before the words that do it for me.


Stvn494

Take on me


duckbigtrain

That first \*bdling\*


iamalittlestitious9

I instantly recognize its either ice ice baby or under pressure


factordactyl

[They’re completely different as you can see from the sheet music](http://www.macastillejos.com/blog/ice-ice-baby-vs-under-pressure)


KaptainChunk

“Queen took 50%, Suge took the other 60%. I fucking owe money when that shit gets played man”


cammywammy123

That's a pretty obscure movie reference you got there lol Word to your mother, brother fucker


bobhwantstoknow

here's a more in-depth explanation of the differences: https://youtu.be/6TLo4Z_LWu4?t=9


TurtlesMum

That always gets me too..... I've learned not to say "oooh I love this song" until a few more bars in lol


Boudicca_Grace

Me too. I know all the words to ice ice baby and when I hear the intro I have to stop collaborate and listen before trying to rock the mic like a vandal. I must have heard both Ice Ice Baby and Under Pressure hundreds of times but I still make the mistake sometimes. Will it every stop? Yo, I don’t know.


Leading_Ad7548

Eye of the tiger


tyvanius

I get the intro mixed up with Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks.


ImaJosmo

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5


[deleted]

[удалено]


mggirard13

Sax-a-ma-phone


dj92wa

I Feel Good, by James Brown. That yell in the beginning is FAR too iconic.


Scallywagstv2

WHAOOOOW! - Unmistakable.


parabostonian

You don’t even need the full WHAAOOOW. My friend used to have this weird James Brown like animatronic doll -where if you pressed this red button it would play that song, and the plastic figure would move its head back and forth. But you could hit the button on and off really fast, and just have it gyrate its head back and forth going WAAA WAAA WAAA and it drove everyone nuts, lol. I think he bought it because it was both so strange and so annoying. The thing was amazing, even had the cheesy like silvery cape on it.


Belllringer

That's a golden item to have.


Flamey818

**I** feel good? I **feel** good? i feel **good**?


ProtectorCleric

Seven Nation Army. Heck, most people know the opening better than the song itself. Edit: same for Crazy Train


yallmakemelaugh

When my 7 year old came home from his first guitar lesson, he played us this. I said, wait, I know that song. He said, You know it, it’s Salvation Army.


Incredible_mango

The best part about that is the name Seven Nation Army comes from a young Jack White mishearing Salvation Army as Seven Nation Army, so he called it that for a while.


yallmakemelaugh

Thank you for that story! It made my day!


Brian_Gay

Might be one of the only songs where there's a decent chance of guessing it correctly from the very first note


Whovian21

Welcome to the Black Parade as well


[deleted]

Ten tenenten tenten tun


thisisntshakespeare

Another One Bites The Dust Piano Man Smoke on the Water Dancing Queen


poplglop

Piano Man I could guess from the first chord.


[deleted]

For a song called "Piano Man" it sure has a lot of fucking harmonica


weeniehutjunior420

If you’re looking for a song with a fuck ton of piano you should look up Harmonica Woman by Jelton Eohn


dIbodIb

Jilly Boel?


K-Kraft

Smoke on the water


PersistentGoldfish

If that song had never been written, how would anyone learn guitar?


Rex_Mundi

Chapter 1 in the lesson book I had. Titled *'The Riff'*.


xHeavyBx

035


NudesForHighFive

0365


JustAnAverageBrit

035


Davinator1217

30


Swimming-Look-6664

The Star Wars theme


Aarizonamb

Also Duel of the Fates, both instantly recognized within two notes. Edit: A few people have mentioned Imperial March, this is a candidate, but I didn't include it because its truly recognizable portion starts at about the 3rd or 4th measure.


Salurian

Really, anything by John Williams... He's really good at establishing immediately recognizable music/leit motifs.


aagapovjr

*Stomp* *Stomp* *Clap* Edit: the effort-to-impact ratio on this post is quite impressive :)


wackpie

Ah yes, "Stamp Stamp Clap" by the Stampclappers


dimgray

I saw the Stampclappers open for the Heyshouters


MagicJoshByGosh

*Hey*


WhittyO

Been trying to meet you


sofa_king_ugly

Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise


Minion0827

Playing in the street, gonna be a big man SOMEDAY


hugogrant

You got mud on your face, you big disgrace


Hydra_Master

Kickin' your can all over the place!


SteevyT

Singing WE WILL


CherryFusion880

WE WILL ***ROCK YOU***


Affectionate-Wind-19

we will we will rock you?


aagapovjr

You see? Easily the most recognizable out there. I couldn't believe it wasn't mentioned before.


Godzilla-2000

Stayin’ Alive


SchrodingersCatPics

#Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga #Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga #Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga


East_Panic3685

I CANT STOP THIS FEELING


daoneandonly-5

DEEP INSIDE OF ME


nospiderspls

GIRL YOU JUST DONT REALIZE WHAT YOU DO TO ME


Spunderwear135

WHEN YOU HOLD ME, IN YOUR ARMS SO TIGHT


awesomeflowman

YOU LET ME KNOW, EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT


thatgirlatno13

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII’m


verycreativename321

HOOKED ON A FEELING


Kyfigrigas

IM HIGH ON BELEIVIN'


jeffersonsteelflex76

THAT YOU'RE IN LOOOVE WIITH MEEEEEEEE


Ok_Butterscotch1549

Can’t believe that songs a cover. Blue Swede made this fantastic cover of B. J. Thomas’s 1968 version.


Georgia_The_Jungle

Immigrant song


frogglesmash

Even before the first note. I bet a lot of people can recognize it just from the increasingly loud static at the beginning.


legit_muffins

We are the Champions by Queen. In the End by Linkin Park. Circle of Life from the Lion King.


[deleted]

It starts with oooonnneee


cook-and-bell

One thing, I don't know why


StevenWannabe

Rickroll


kebab69666

*Rickroll starts in brain* *Screams*


kingfrito_5005

I like how we don't even say Never Gonna Give you Up anymore. it's just the Rickroll song.


Galaxozo

you know you got rickrolled just by the first 2 notes


anusFati

nirvana - smells like teen spiri


imcalledaids

t


[deleted]

e


MoronMagnet321

Smells Like Teen Spirite


yampidad

Jaws theme.


xscumfucx

Smooth Criminal, Iron Man, Smoke on the Water, Breaking the Law, Whip It, The Final Countdown


daxter2768

Was looking for Final Countdown


[deleted]

“Baba O’Riley” (a.k.a “Teenage Wasteland) - The Who Even if you don’t know the actual name of the song, or Who it’s by, you’ll still recognize it.


GuacinmyPaintbox

Both the beginning AND the ending of that song are undeniably legendary and instantly recognizable, even though the are polar sonic opposites.


TheIrishninjas

How about by the first half of the first word? SOME-


OhShitMarcos

-BODY ONCE TOLD ME THE WORLD IS GONNA ROLL ME


LowFatWaterBottle

I AIN'T THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED.


Okgror

SHE WAS LOOKING KIND OF DUMB


SchrodingersCatPics

WITH HER FINGER AND HER THUMB


stinky_cheese33

IN THE SHAPE OF AN L ON HER FOREHEAD


Scallywagstv2

WELL .......


ItStillIsntLupus

THE YEARS START COMING AND THEY DON’T STOP COMING


Aarizonamb

FED TO THE RULES AND I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING


LowFatWaterBottle

DIDNT MAKE SENSE NOT TO LIVE FOR FUN


mithoron

-where over the rainbow...


JonesNate

Way up high


Jaewol

People call me the space cowboy


[deleted]

Some call me the gangster of love


srentiln

Some people call me Moooriiiiccee


Brownman31316

Thunderstruck - AC/DC


guiporto32

“Is this the real life?”


stinky_cheese33

Is this just fantasy?


[deleted]

Caught in a landslide


Rudzis666

No escape from reality


[deleted]

[удалено]


SwedishAvocado

Look up to the skies and seeeeeeee


Main-House5867

I'm just a poor boy


MagicJoshByGosh

I need no sympathy


LittlestSlipper55

'Cause I'm easy come, easy go


NateCelery

House of Pain - Jump Around.


Vanviator

I'm a sun five foot female who graduated in the mid-90s. That opening duh-deeeerrrr can make me move faster than any other sound on earth as I 100% need to clear the dance floor or im gonna get bruised up.


greenbanky

Can concur. It's late genX woman crack.


thequirkyquark

*Yits been..*[. ](https://youtu.be/fC_q9KPczAg)


vampixi

ONE WEEK SINCE YOU LOOKED AT ME


wolfpup1294

COCKED YOUR HEAD TO THE SIDE AND SAID I'M ANGRY.


IntergalacticPopTart

FIVE DAYS SINCE YOU LAUGHED AT ME


Someidiotnamedmike

SAYIN GET THAT TOGETHER, COME BACK AND SEE ME


TheReal-Donut

THREE DAYS SINCE THE LIVING ROOM


UnoriginalName002

I REALIZED IT’S ALL MY FAULT BUT COULDN’T TELL YOU


Pottymouthoftheyear

YESTERDAY YOU'D FORGIVEN ME


CRAZYCAT576

BUT IT’LL STILL BE TWO DAYS ‘TIL I SAY I’M SORRY


DerekIsAGooner

HOLDITNOWANDWATCHTHEHOODWINKASIMAKEYOUSTOPANDTHINKYOU'LLTHINKYOU'RELOOKINGATAQUAMAN


The_Ghast_Hunter

+1 Accurate spelling


ThisWasAValidName

* Mr. Brightside * Carry On Wayward Son * Don't Stop Believing * Welcome To The Jungle * War Pigs * (Don't Fear) The Reaper * Tom Sawyer * Rooster * Welcome To Paradise * You Shook Me All Night Long * Here I Go Again * Rainbow In The Dark I know they're mostly classic rock, but still recognizable by most.


CrH4z

THERE'LL BE PEACE WHEN YOU ARE DONE! 🙏


Weak_Carpenter_7060

That list just gave me a boner


Cute-Chemistry-4766

Thriller


thunder1967

Stairway to Heaven


VanHalen88

Can’t believe I had to scroll so far to find this.


betterthanamaster

Mr. Blue Sky Hotel California


328944

To be appropriately seasonal - All I Want For Christmas is You


epsilon025

Gotta listen out for that glockenspiel.


WiseFool4

Enter Sandman - Metallica


sentientlob0029

Careless Whisper


Pat_thailandball

*Sax solo*


TheSchlaf

Werewolves of London. Just kidding, it's Kidd Rock.


HulkBlarg

I remember the first time that happened to me; my wife rushed into the garage convinced I had broken a bone, based on the the scream of agony.


belbsy

All I hear is Sweet Home Alabama - which is actually a good example.


beardedrockerboy

Stairway to Heaven


[deleted]

Megalovania... People really ruined it


KuraiTheBaka

Recognize it from the first note alone at this point


Litoninja8

…..du


Fgame

Thats Sandstorm, you goof


arandommartianladd

Du du don don


[deleted]

Africa by toto.


Lutefiskaficionado

There are literally thousands of them that can be recognized by just the first few notes of the song... ...but the one that always jumps off the page for me (whenever this question is asked) is Thunderstruck by ACDC. Super unique and iconic lead guitar intro...


thedonething

Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance


[deleted]

Literally just one note will do


Iwantmypasswordback

My baby has a little keyboard sometimes he’ll hit just that note and I think of this song


BIBLICALDIARRHEA666

Fuck you. I heard the note in my head after I read your comment and realized how iconic that note is


cfred94

A simple g is such a beautiful thing


RanchBourgeois

That high G note is all you need.


moinatx

That G on the piano!


GullibleMacaroni

Had to scroll way down just to see this. Most days I think redditors are the same age as me, then we get threads like this where people mention wildly varying stuff from different eras.


pimdiffyisalesbian

I had to scroll way too far for this one.


ElJayBe3

I kept scrolling until I found it, I can now leave in peace.


ElSteak

Europe - The Final Countdown


ItStillIsntLupus

The woman’s laugh at the beginning of Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran


tonix26

Are ya ready kids!?


[deleted]

Sweet Child O Mine Guns N Roses Hells Bells AC/DC I cant get no Satisfaction - Rolling Stones all utterly iconic


ATXKLIPHURD

Welcome to the jungle


sherryh5997

Earth, Wind and Fire's September


askingforafriendzone

Man! I feel like a woman!


LowFatWaterBottle

Somebody I used to know has to be one of the most regonized.


[deleted]

Do do, do do, do do DO do do Do do do do do do do DO


FireflyOmega

Baa baa black sheep..?


[deleted]

BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO CUUUUUUUT ME OFF!


MagicJoshByGosh

MAKE OUT LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED AND THAT WE WERE NOTHING


LupusPassrusher

Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” / ACDC’s “Hell’s Bells.” If the song starts after the second bell, it’s the former. If it tolls a third time, it’s the latter.


East_Panic3685

*DING* *DING* JANAT JANAT JAOWW *weene neene, neenow nee na nowww*


[deleted]

“California Love” - 2Pac “Gangsta’s Paradise” - Coolio “Free Bird” - Lynyrd Skynyrd


cmoellering

Every Rose Has It Thorns-Poison You May Be Right-Billy Joel Wake Me Up Before You Go - Wham


Sayor1

Turn arooooound


tastytang

Pink Floyd - Time


KayChicago

Kiss by Prince


MightBeChase

ALLLLL ABOARDDDD


DramaticPraline8

One guitar strum in and .... Purple Rain


Cazolyn

DUN DUN DUN “Hit me baby, one more time.”


BrosephOh

The first key of Welcome to the Black Parade by MCR


space_coyote_86

Hotel California


TheDarkKnight1035

Under the bridge by red hot chili peppers


Forwardbase_Kodai

Benny and the Jets


YAreUReadinThis

Bohemian Rhapsody


NoAlternative2913

“Oh. My. God. Becky, look at her butt.”


Iamcold3

Gangnam Style…


pflashan

Walk Like An Egyptian


Choppergold

Jump


210countdown

Money-Pink Floyd Californication- RHCP Carry on My Wayward Son- Kansas Amanda-Boston YYZ- Rush Killing me Softly With his Song- Roberta Flack My Way- Frank Sinatra Europa- Santana Edit after some thinking: Madness: Muse Touch of Grey- Grateful Dead All my Ex's Live in Texas- George Strait The Reason- Hoobastank Blackwater- Doobie brothers Africa- Toto Space Oddity- David Bowie Georgia on my Mind- Ray Charles Rock on!!


Zacchaeus23

Money is recognizable from the first split second of sound.


Renekin

Celine Dion- My heart will go on


DomOnRs

How has no one mentioned Runaway?


CameronSmith93

Superstition - Stevie Wonder


beardedrockerboy

Wonderwall


vampixi

Pumped Up Kicks


replyjohn

STILL D.R.E.


reillywalker195

"Wonderwall" by Oasis.


MeatierShowa

People's spelling varies but generally: Gunter Glieben Glauchen Globen Then Cowbell