Jamie Reidy reveals his Top 10 most recognizable Opening Bass lines in Rock-n-Roll.
This is the third in a series. I have already covered my Top 10 most recognizable guitar riffs and my Top 10 most recognizable piano/keyboard opening chords. Drum beats will follow next week.
Before you start yelling at me for this list, I invite you to take a deep breath and re-read the headline.
It says “Most Recognizable.” It does not say “Best” or “Most Epic” or “Most Influential.” It says “Most Recognizable,” as in “The majority of the people in your car, bar or party instantly know what song it is by the first note of the song.”
That first note part is key.
And one more arbitrary rule: Only one song per band.
Now, for the Top 10 Most Recognizable Opening Bass Lines of All-Time.
I will go in descending order:
10. Stand by Me – Ben E. King
9. Man on The Moon – R.E.M.
8. She – Green Day
7. Walk on The Wild Side – Lou Reed
6. Don’t Stand So Close to Me – The Police
5. Breakdown – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4. With or Without You – U2
3. Come As You Are – Nirvana
2. Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
1. Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Which bass lines did I miss?
About Jamie Reidy
National Anthem (Radiohead)
Does Seven Nation Army count? If not, it should.
What about:
Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
Led Zeppelin – Dazed and Confused
The Clash – Guns of Brixton
… those are just some off the top of my head. Maybe I just listen to different stuff than the author, but I can’t recall almost half of his top 10.
What? “Under Pressure” isn’t in your list?
Gotta agree here…it even spans generations thanks to Vanilla Ice’s butchering of it.
Live with Me – The Rolling Stones
the pretenders… Ohio
oops, sorry: My City Was Gone… (and, glad to break up the above sausage fest!)
White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)
good one!
Excuse me, but I simply must interject — no “Come Together?” Come on.
Another one bites the dust?
Not that I’m a huge Queen fan, but it’s just obvious, isn’t it?
Gratitude ~ Beastie Boys.
Not a bad music list for a romantic comedy writer. “She” and Come as you are, although great songs and known by their fans, but not sure how well known by most others. I would replace those with Under Pressure (which should come in #1 or 2), and Jeremy. Also, I think you mean Sweet Emotion (long version) which is a great call. No matter how you rank them, Under Pressure, Sweet Emotion (long version) and Bites the dust are the Top 3 in any order (then, With or without you as #4).
a couple more things . . . I don’t think Come As You Are starts with a bass line, but rhythm guitar, if so probably DQ’d from this list. Although I think the bass line from Sweet Emotion is one of the greatest, the version of that song that most people know is the short version (i.e., radio version), in which the opening bass line is edited out. So, I think this song should also be DQ’d although it pains me to say so.
Come As You Are: It’s a bass line…though it might be played on an electric guitar.
Well my car’d have to include Weather Report’s Birdland and Herbie Hancock’s Chameleon…but I don’t know how recognizable they are to people who aren’t into jazz fusion…or around in the 1970s.
Nirvana/Shocking Blue ‘Love Buzz’
I KNEW something was wrong here, a void – you’ve got NO Eric Avery/Jane’s Addiction songs? Three Days, for example. Avery must be represented! He’d play two notes and 10,000 people would go nuts!
Rick James – Super Freak. An iconic bass line that is unmistakable.
My Girl – The Temptations
Pink Floyd – Money (duh!) ;P
Billie Jean.