Q.
Which songs or pieces are most quickly identifiable by or celebrated for their first notes?

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A.

It’s hard to argue against what must be the most referenced 8 notes in musical history: the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Ludwig von’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor premiered in Vienna on December 22, 1808.

The premiere conditions were less than idyllic – the venue was freezing cold, the symphony performance started two hours into a four hour concert, and the orchestra had only practiced Beethoven’s much toiled over piece just once. His hearing was almost completely lost, yet Beethoven – who was conducting – was so horrified with what he was hearing, he stopped mid-phrase and demanded the orchestra start again from the beginning.

Even with all of this mayhem, audiences soon came to appreciate the brilliance of Beethoven’s Fifth and its ‘Fate knocking at the door’ opening motif.

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What are some other quickly recognizable opening notes across musical genres?

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Well, a poll of the Ultimate Guitar community placed Beethoven’s Fifth at the top of their list.

Best Song Intros. 2020 Ultimate Guitar Poll
i.    Symphony No 5. Ludwig von Beethoven
ii.   Welcome to the Jungle. Guns N’ Roses.
iii.  For Whom The Bell Tolls. Metallica.
iv.   Thunderstruck. AC/DC
v.    Battery. Metallica
vi.   Roundabout. Yes
vii.  Baba O’Riley. The Who
viii. Would. Alice in Chains
ix.   Electric Eye (The Hellion). Judas Priest
x.    Mr. Crowley. Ozzy Osbourne

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Planet Rock polled their readers about the Greatest Rock Song Intros…

Greatest Rock Song Intros. Planet Rock. 2023
i.    Smoke on the Water. Deep Purple
ii.   Sweet Child O’ Mine. Guns N’ Roses
iii.  Thunderstruck. AC/DC
iv.   Hells Bells. AC/DC
v.    Stargazer. Rainbow
vi.   Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath
vii.  Back in Black. AC/DC
viii. The Spirit of Radio. Rush
ix.   Enter Sandman. Metallica
x.    Rock and Roll. Led Zeppelin

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Far Out Magazine generated their own list of 10 songs recognizable from the first note…

Songs Recognizable From Their First Note. Far Out Magazine. 2024
i.    Back in Black.AC/DC
ii.   Sweet Child O Mine. Guns N’ Roses
iii.  Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelin
iv.  Eye of the Tiger. Survivor
v.   Baby One More Time. Britney Spears
vi.  Thriller. Michael Jackson
vii. Wonderwall. Oasis
viii. Smells like Teen Spirit. Nirvana
ix.   Free Bird. Lynyrd Skinner
x.    Seven Nation Army. White Stripes

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And, finally, in the world of musical theatre, it’s hard not to instantly recognize the intro to the opening number of Hamilton: Alexander Hamilton.

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From a WhatsOnStage reader poll, we see Alexander topping the list of Top 10 Musical Opening Numbers…

Top 10 Musical Opening Numbers. WhatsOnStage. 2020
i.    Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton
ii.   Welcome to the Rock. Come From Away
iii.  Hello. The Book of Mormon
iv.   The Circle of Life. The Lion King
v.    No One Mourns the Wicked. Wicked
vi.   What’s Inside/Opening Up. Waitress
vii.  Good Morning Baltimore. Hairspray
viii. Prologue/Look Down. Les Misérables
ix.   Ex-Wives. Six
x.    Heaven On Their Minds. Jesus Christ Superstar

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www.justcurious.ca

Header Photo: Allison Saeng