This has been a very tough decision for everyone.
After Ireland’s heroics against Germany at the Aviva Stadium, we’ve been hearing this song quite a bit.
Clip via almery1916
Among many great points, the tune has a crackin’ intro, so it got us thinking; what are the best song intros ever?
The JOE team have been asked to pick their favourite and give the reason why…
Colm Boohig: I Wanna Be Adored – The Stone Roses
The best for me. It’s all about the slow and subtle build-up, before the rhythm of the guitar kicks in followed by that one-beat drum. You know something big’s about to happen… and it does.
The recorded version sounds better, but the atmosphere live can’t be beaten.
Clip via E-YOUNG KIM
Paul Moore: Voodoo Child – Jimi Hendrix
In terms of the instrumental, the pedal and distortion makes it feel like you’re on a helicopter and there’s a gritty, war-like sound to it.
The switch from psychedelia to blues rock does the trick for me.
Clip via josepht007
Cian Murray: All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem
The keyboard. Two chords. A and D, played over and over. ‘That’s how it starts.’
Then it hits you: you’re slightly older and life’s not the same as it was.
This song is about having responsibility but not necessarily being ready for it. Its intro and overall atmosphere, is that feeling bottled.
Clip via URBeTV
Tony Cuddihy: The Stone Roses – I Wanna Be Adored
I chose this while I continue to experience a This Is England ’90 comedown.
While Shane Meadows doesn’t overdo it on his favourite band, he does feature Waterfall heavily in one of the episodes but I’ve gone for the intro to another classic from that debut album.
The slow build brings you in and doesn’t let go, you’re hooked long before you don’t have to sell your soul. Gorgeous.
Clip via StoneRosesVEVO
Carl Kinsella: Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
The intro to Wish You Were Here reminds me of that moment on a rollercoaster where you’re tilted back, slowly climbing the inclining tracks, staring at the clouds, seconds from hurtling around at an intensity humans probably weren’t designed to withstand.
A blues riff emerges from some fading radio static and twists around your ears for a few moments before it is joined by a sibling riff, cleaner but no less melancholy, setting up the saddest cowboy anthem you ever did hear.
You can taste the tears and sarsaparilla before the words even start, and you’re still only staring at the sky.
Clip via chartrand’s channel
Conor Heneghan: Rebellion (Lies) – Arcade Fire
The intro to Wake Up is probably more noticeable in that it shakes you into life straight away, but much like I Wanna Be Adored, I prefer the more subtle build-up to my favourite Arcade Fire track.
That iconic bass line is nearly enough to carry the song on its own, but when you add in the crescendo of noise that comes later, it really is something else.
Eric Lalor: She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult
Billy Duffy’s psychedelic guitar intro mixed over a distorted feedback heralds something big is on the way. And then some.
It meanders along for a couple of seconds and then BANG, an explosion of drums and guitars all in perfect harmony and without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest intro to any song I have ever heard.
Clip via MusicGuideYT
Paddy McKenna: Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
I came to this list fully expecting it to be already bagsied, so I was going to plump for The Kinks, You Really Got Me. Captain Obvious I may be but no intros list is complete without those four snarling power chords in the 16-bar intro of Teen Spirit.
Learn to play it and you can become a house party legend, seeing as you will also be able to play crowdpleasers like More Than A Feeling by Boston, Louie Louie by The Kingsmen and a shedload of other songs.
The sound of the 90s….
That’s what JOE reckons, but what do you think? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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