Best Opening 20 Seconds of a Song

Pink Floyd - Time (2:13 Intro)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwYX52BP2Sk

Trumpton Riots - Half Man Half Biscuit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZxkErDC16A

Goldfrapp - Utopia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB5Qoy8JHdI

Don't touch me there by the Tubes.
This time baby by Jackie Moore
Loving you losing you Phylis Hyman
Ready or not here I come by the Delfonics

Is this the market without Song 2?

Age Of Consent - New Order

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkdYRDvX3n4

Those opening 20 secs also feature in Wayne's World 2, just as he sets off for the First Presbyterian Church on Gordon Street. Well, at least a cover version does. They'd run out of money and couldn't afford the original.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3JsuWz4xWc

Hey Joe, Jimi Hendrix.

It's the reversal of chords at the start - the key change? - almost casual, yet instantly recognizable fifty years later, unparalleled.

By the late Ian Dury:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtuVBPwzstM

Dr C

Sweet have 2 that spring to mind

Ballroom Blitz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFBuYHldeY

Fox On The Run

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGu6v2OjW8s

Blowin Free - Wishbone Ash

Down to Zero - Joan Armatrading

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brp8Va8XVQw

Beat this gentlemen.

RUSH - Best intro EVER!!!!!!!!!!

.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSToKcbWz1k

Of course this is the correct answer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6CjO0H2j0s

Narrowing down the field, I'd say my recommendation nails it in the first ten.

I've mentioned it on here before as have others but the opening of She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult never fails to get my engine running. It was released in 1985 and still sounds fresh and ballsy after all those years, one of my favourite songs most definitely.

Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild

also they conned the term Heavy Metal in this song before anyone else:

"I like smoke and lightening
Heavy metal thunder
Racing with the wind
And the feeling that I,m under"

there it is, pretty good to come up with a line like that

Spirit Of Radio takes some beating as does this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvO7HNQPFRI

Another Girl Another Planet - The Only Ones

Narrowing it down, "Hey Joe" Hendrix totally nails it in the first 7 seconds.
And still the most recognizable intro in rock and roll - can we all agree on this?

Remember going to a motorbike festival many years ago and a tribute band played that song with a female lead singer in black leathers, just about as sexy as it is possible for music
..or anything else to be

The Band - It makes no Difference
Chuck Berry - Johnny b Goode

End of Fred  ,https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gLQrbo_i2Zw

Dancing The Night Away - The Motors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8X1EKyhLHw

Tony Wilson used that intro for one of his shows at the time ("What's On", maybe?).

The BBC captions in the video make a big deal out of identifying the cool dude picking out the intro as Bram Tchaikovsky; nobody that cool has a name like Bram Tchaikovsky - it's Nick Garvey.

://youtu.be/6uikJTnmtgw

https://youtu.be/6uikJTnmtgw

O dear all wrong
I give you "Another Girl Another Planet by the Only Ones.
Game Over

What I'd like to know is this.
Iron Maiden, 2 minutes to midnight - the song is 6 minutes long.
Surely by the end it's 4 minutes PAST midnight?

Smoke on the water.. eot.

Never noticed before but 'Song 2' is just a slightly faster rip-off of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Spirit of Radio is a good shout though.

The Surfaris - Surfer Joe (Long Version)

https://youtu.be/iXonYSkZE04

Best opening 20 seconds eh? Well this one ticks the boxes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDpYBT0XyvA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w7OgIMMRc4

S2 that belongs at the top of the best opening 30 seconds intro list

Van Halen "Hot for Teacher" - shocking omission.

Franz Ferdinand  take me out

Dancing The Night Away by The Motors.....A Great Call

I used to love that record

Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtCVLtcfLi4

Long cool woman in a black dress - The Hollies
Well, almost exactly 30 seconds actually. Maybe not the best either - but still a good intro.

Sweet Child Of Mine - Guns 'n Roses

^^ Official video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx6tcHkp1o4

smoke on the water/deep purple

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6GDdKrQ8EI

Intro = Hawkwind , Silver Machine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yao_T2adl14

Pretty Vacant - The Sex Pistols

Black Betty - Ram Jam

Lagartija Nick - Bauhaus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiV0DAs6LeI

Apologies if someone has posted this as a link.  I do not listen to untitled ones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLo7z50Tt2g

Alternative Ulster - Stiff Little Fingers


I would also add Baba O'Riley by The Who.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqxyyir2qt4

Gary Moore version

i was gonna put up the only ones -another girl another planet-but terry mccann beat me to it

so ill go -hells bells-ACDC

Thanks both - I had forgotten quite how good "another girl another planet" was.  Probably a qualifier for the best opening 50 seconds too.

Get me a drink 28 Apr 18 09:55 
Pretty Vacant - The Sex Pistols

That's a yes from me!

Werewolves of London - bang on 20 seconds (cheesy vid follows intro)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSc8qVMjKM

pretty vacant is a definite strong contender

Gun - Race With The Devil 1969

give it 30 seconds


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj716pc1fC0

or,

Jo Jo Gunne RUN RUN RUN 1972

always got the 2 confused, equally great.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS7pOaEEOTs

Pulp - Disco 2000

Tin Soldier, Small Faces

Does anyone actually take the time the time to listen to any links posted or is it just a my favourite fest. It seems it.

As posted, I listen to every link posted, even if I know it, or think I know it well. I do not listen to untitled links. I have much enjoyed this thread.

How come you're not picking holes in my two choices, blackbarn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mCYgjhnGg

John Kongos - Tokoloshe Man

It's a cracking song if you young-uns aint heard it

kenny - My absence of comment was not intended to offend, but your suggestions are frankly not first div. given the subject of the thread. No doubt you will will get the plaudits you desire from others on here.

That's more like the cynical blackbarn I know.

On another day I'd have picked this. Sublime

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Summertime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIDOEsQL7lA

Kenny  I may be critical but I am not a cynic.   Not much wrong with your choice this time round.

Good call Bonst, tremendous song.

Hard as a Rock - AC/DC

No problems Blackbarn, I have such a wide musical taste. Al Jolson to Teardrop Explodes and beyond.:-)

rose of the shires 26 Apr 18 19:57

Down to Zero - Joan Armatrading

Kwality Rose, one of my favourites! Saw her at The Royal Albert Hall once.

I am trying to imagine hearing Gloria Jones for the first time in 1964 shirley that would have blown your mind?