The First Few Seconds That Gave Us Chills
Some songs don’t need time to warm up—they hit you the second they start.
Whether it’s a haunting piano, an iconic guitar riff, or just a perfectly placed silence, these tracks made their mark before the lyrics even dropped.
We’re celebrating the intros that grabbed our ears and never let go. From rock legends to synth pioneers, these are the coolest intros of all time. Some of them you definitely know and others might be new to you—so, turn it up and enjoy the ride.
"Back in Black" (AC/DC)
Is there a better place to start? Sometimes all you need is a killer riff. and there are few more iconic than this one. The intro to Back in Black is stripped down and direct—just that crunchy guitar and a whole lot of attitude. It doesn’t try to be flashy, it just slaps.
And in that same vein...
AC/DC - Back In Black “Official 4K Video”, AC/DC
"The White Stripes" (Seven Nation Army)
A single, chugging riff on a semi-acoustic guitar shouldn’t have become this iconic—but it did. Seven Nation Army proves a powerful intro doesn’t need complexity, just confidence.
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army (Official Music Video), The White Stripes
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana)
That gritty, four-chord guitar riff is pure electricity. When Nirvana kicked off Smells Like Teen Spirit with that now-iconic intro, it didn’t just start a song—it started a movement. Raw, rebellious, and unforgettable, this intro signaled the explosion of grunge into the mainstream.
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video), Nirvana
"Enter Sandman" (Metallica)
Enter Sandman begins with a creeping, palm-muted riff that builds like a nightmare. It’s the blueprint for metal intros.
Metallica: Enter Sandman (Official Music Video), Metallica
"Baba O'Riley" (The Who)
The looped synth pattern that begins Baba O'Riley was groundbreaking in 1971—and it still feels futuristic today. Pete Townshend’s experimental spirit helped birth one of the most recognizable intros ever, with its hypnotic pulse giving way to a full-on rock anthem. CSI: NY fans know what we're talking about.
"In the Air Tonight" (Phil Collins)
Haunting and cold, the intro to In the Air Tonight is all atmosphere and anticipation. The sparse drums, eerie synths, and moody pacing create unforgettable tension. And just when it floats in space… that drum fill lands like thunder.
Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight (Official Music Video), Phil Collins
"Sweet Child O' Mine" (Guns N' Roses)
Slash’s melodic, meandering riff in Sweet Child O’ Mine has become guitar legend. It's deceptively simple yet emotionally powerful, instantly grabbing attention and pulling you into the world of Axl Rose’s iconic ballad.
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine (Official Music Video), Guns N' Roses
"Superstition" (Stevie Wonder)
Those opening clavinet stabs? Funk perfection. Superstition doesn’t waste a single second—it kicks off with that tight, funky groove and never looks back. Stevie Wonder’s masterclass in rhythm and feel made this intro irresistible.
Stevie Wonder - Superstition (1974), Musikladen
"Ain’t No Sunshine" (Bill Withers)
The intro to Ain’t No Sunshine is moody minimalism at its best. Just a few sparse guitar strums and a melancholic vibe, and you're instantly in the emotional zone. The simplicity mirrors the heartbreak of the lyrics.
Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine (Old Grey Whistle Test, 1972), Bill Withers
"Welcome to the Jungle" (Guns N' Roses)
Few intros build raw chaos better than this. Welcome to the Jungle kicks off with eerie, echoing guitar sounds before launching into an all-out sonic assault. Then there 's Axl’s primal scream that seals the deal.
Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle, Guns N' Roses
"California Love" (2Pac ft. Dr. Dre)
That electro-funk beat and talkbox vocal from Roger Troutman? Iconic. California Love starts like a party in motion. Dr. Dre’s production brings West Coast swagger from the first second.
2Pac ft. Dr. Dre - California Love (Official Video) [Full Length Version], UPROXX
"Crazy in Love" (Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z)
The blaring horn loop at the beginning of Crazy in Love is one of the most arresting pop intros ever. It slaps you awake and demands attention. Coupled with Jay-Z’s cool spoken line, it’s a pop culture explosion.
Beyoncé - Crazy In Love ft. JAY Z, Beyoncé
"The Chain" (Fleetwood Mac)
The intro to The Chain is quiet, mysterious, and tense. Harmonies build slowly. It whispers before it roars.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
"Jump" (Van Halen)
Jump opens with a bold, synth-driven fanfare that still gets arenas hyped. It’s joyful, unapologetically ‘80s, and unforgettable. A synth intro in a hard rock track? Risky—but it worked.
Van Halen - Jump (Official Music Video) [HD], Van Halen
"Killing in the Name" (Rage Against the Machine)
Killing in the Name starts like a machine waking up—ominous feedback and a slow-burning riff. The intro builds tension before the full rebellion explodes.
Rage Against The Machine - Killing In the Name (Official HD Video), Rage Against the Machine
"Gimme Shelter" (The Rolling Stones)
From the moment that moody guitar lick hits, you know Gimme Shelter is haunting. It opens like a storm rolling in—eerie, cinematic, and powerful.
"Money for Nothing" (Dire Straits)
Money for Nothing starts with ambient sounds and a swooping synth-guitar hybrid that feels like a TV turning on. And then—bam!—the riff takes over.
Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (Live at Wembley 1985), Dire Straits
"Lose Yourself" (Eminem)
The piano motif that opens Lose Yourself is instantly tense. It sounds like nerves, ambition, and time running out. Add creeping beats, and you’ve got urgency in intro form.
Eminem - Lose Yourself [HD], msvogue23
"Come Together" (The Beatles)
Just a slow, funky bassline slink that comes grooving up slowly. The intro to Come Together is understated and weird—and totally magnetic.
The Beatles - Abbey Road CD Unboxing, Unbox Kings International
"Clocks" (Coldplay)
Clocks opens with looped piano arpeggios that are instantly beautiful. It sets a tone of melancholy and wonder that defines the song.
Coldplay - Clocks (Official Video), Coldplay
"Misirlou" (Dick Dale)
One blazing surf-rock guitar tremolo and Misirlou launches you into adrenaline. No buildup, just full-throttle energy, immortalized by Pulp Fiction.
Guitar Center Sessions: Dick Dale - Misirlou, Guitar Center
"Under Pressure" (Queen & David Bowie)
That bassline. Under Pressure begins with a simple two-note bounce that builds curiosity. Sampled endlessly, but nothing tops the original vibe.
Queen - Under Pressure (Rah Mix 1999) (Official Video), Queen Official
"Iron Man" (Black Sabbath)
Iron Man begins with a robotic voice and a crushing riff—setting the tone for doom, drama, and of course, metal history.
"Let’s Go Crazy" (Prince)
Let’s Go Crazy starts with a spoken-word sermon over church organ, then erupts into a party. Classic Prince—bold, spiritual, and fun.
Prince and the Revolution - Let's Go Crazy (Official Music Video), Prince
"Shook Ones Pt. II" (Mobb Deep)
Shook Ones Pt. II opens with cold, minimal piano. The menacing tone is unforgettable. A masterclass in mood.
Mobb Deep - Shook Ones, Pt. II (Official HD Video), Mobb Deep
"Bittersweet Symphony" (The Verve)
Bittersweet Symphony opens with a sweeping string sample—melancholy and majestic. Emotion hits before lyrics start.
The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Verve
"The Final Countdown" (Europe)
The Final Countdown kicks off with that soaring synth riff. Is it cheesy? Ya. But is it also iconic? Definitely. It’s dramatic, ridiculous, and totally unforgettable.
Europe - The Final Countdown (Official Video), Europe
"Jumpin’ Jack Flash" (The Rolling Stones)
The Stones make the list for a second time with this one. That distorted guitar riff—taped and fuzzed—feels like a jolt. Jumpin’ Jack Flash leaps with swagger and groove.
The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash (Official Music Video) [Makeup Version], The Rolling Stones
"Just Like Heaven" (The Cure)
The guitar melody that opens Just Like Heaven is light and joyful—like falling into a dream. A euphoric alt-rock classic.
The Cure - Just Like Heaven, The Cure
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