February 24, 2009

Top Drum Intro Songs

So, file this under “not-really-important-and-you-may-not-care,” but here is a list I’ve compiled, in no particular order, of my songs with my favorite percussion-based intros. Yes, I do have some biases, but you’ll get over it. Where possible, I’ve tried to link to a youtube video containing the song in question.

  • Rush - One Little Victory: This blazing double-bass intro marked the comeback from Rush’s 5 year hiatus, and boy does it storm out of the gate. This track alone should prove to anyone that Neil Peart is a modern day drumming diety.
  • Pink Floyd - Time: Once you get past the alarm-clock intro (I guess originally recorded by Alan Parsons to test quadraphonic systems), you hear Nick Mason’s incredible and echoing performance on the rototoms.
  • Van Halen - Hot for Teacher: This one is just an 80’s staple. Classic David Lee Roth era Van Halen.
  • Dire Straits - Money for Nothing: Known more widely for being the first computer animated music video, I love the drums in the beginning of this one. The burning guitar intro that follows the drums is pretty great, too.
  • Aerosmith - Rag Doll: The intro on this one is stupid simple, but you know what song it is. Also, there are EXTRA DRUMS being hit with mallets in the music video.
  • Queen - We Will Rock You: Boom boom clap. You hear this, and you immediately know the tune. It’s a staple at sports venues everywhere. Now, I just wish that radio stations would stop ALWAYS playing it back to back with We Are The Champions. Ugh.
  • Rafi - Bananaphone: An unlikely candidate for this list, the drums at the intro are friggin awesome.
  • Rush - YYZ: Any rocker worth anything knows this song from the get-go. While the drumming is far more impressive throughout the song, the single cymbal Morse code of Y-Y-Z (Toronto’s airport code) to begin is great.
  • Spinal Tap - Big Bottom: The classic song from everyone’s favorite made-up metal band, the drum intro to Big Bottom is just brilliant.
  • The Knack - My Sharona: Another very simple entry on this list, I chalk this one up to “songs you know when you first hear the drum beats.” Also, I DARE you to name another song that the Knack did.
    Ed note: I’m amused that the video at the youtube link for this one contains in the description “click this link to enable stereo.” That link opens a second copy of the video. I see what you did there.

by mashthekeys

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