[Playlist] 10 Rock Songs With Iconic & Instantly Recognizable Intros (Part 1)

Every entertainment product follows a well-established formula that aims at grabbing the attention of the audience right from the very beginning. By doing so, the consumers easily get hooked and are more likely to view or listen to the entire piece. Such is the case with movies, TV shows, advertisements and of course, musical products. It’s a popular practice and I can totally understand why; humans are exposed to hundreds of songs per day and of course, time is valuable which often results in consumers quickly moving on to the next song in case they are not impressed during the first 30 seconds of a song. Such is the case with albums; why else do you think artists put their strongest, most powerful songs in the first positions?

Since we were talking about making an impact on the listener right from the very beginning, I decided to craft this little playlist, full of classic rock songs which can not only capture the listeners’ attention from the very first second but also gained acknowledgment with their instantly recognizable, catchy and memorable intros. Of course, there are plenty of tracks with immensely appealing, throat-grabbing intros, decorated with mesmerizing riffs or mind-blowing screams; the list is endless, as a matter of fact. Still, I had to draw the line somewhere and consider a couple of factors. Finally, the first part of my playlist of classic rock tunes with iconic intros is done. I hope you enjoy it and stay tuned for part 2!

Don’t forget to comment and follow my Twitter Page and blog!

The following two songs have something in common and that’s Eric Clapton. I don’t think I need to prove a point with those two.

“Layla” has the most iconic and memorable song intro of all time (in my book, that is). You hear those epic opening riffs and you just know that something magical will follow. You can’t but be hooked and expect the best…

Cream‘s “Sunshine of Your Love” is a similar case but this time, the intro is more psychedelic and may have a different effect on you. Rather than excitement, you may feel like you need to just light a cigarette and chill for a while while you listen to the entire song…

Derek & The Dominos – Layla

Cream – Sunshine of Your Love

The Kinks – You Really Got Me

I’m gonna say just one thing; you try to read it without singing or immediately recalling the melody; that’s gonna be enough to prove my case!

Ta ra ra ra ram…ta ra ra ra ram…Giiirl, you really got me now….
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’ now!!

Van Halen – Jump

Synthesizers and Van Halen = one of the most beloved rock songs of all time, Van Halen‘s biggest hit and of course, the intro that makes us “jump” to the dance floor right from the very first key. People say that the synthesizer was one of the reasons why David left the band; I don’t mind them, though. Objectively speaking, if we have to talk about the ’80s and “most instantly recognizable & iconic song intros” this gotta top the playlist.

Chuck Berry – Johny B. Goode

Nothing much to say about this track because no words are worthy enough to describe the great Chuck Berry and his art. The uplifting “Johnt B. Goode” is one of the highlights of his career and definitely one of the greatest rock&roll songs of all time. Most importantly, no force is strong enough to remove the memory of that opening riff once heard; it’s just that powerful.

Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water

I bet there’s not a single person on this universe who doesn’t recognize “the riff”. The four-note blues scale melody, composed by Ritchie Blackmore will forever remain in the history of rock music as one of the simplest, yet so captivating intros and central themes. Not to mention that every youngster learns how to play the guitar with this riff.

Survivor – Eye of the Tiger

This right here is a good example of how important it is to have a huge, powerful impact on the listeners right from the start. One of the reasons why this song is the ultimate staple of ’80s hard rock music is because people can feel the strength and get energized right from the start…by the end of the song you are ready to go and climb a mountain and fight with tigers (literally).

Metallica – Enter Sandman

Love them or hate them, you gotta admit that this intro is known by everyone…Once played, you immediately go “BAM! I know this, it’s Metallica” regardless of whether you are a metalhead or you listen to classical music.

The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” is a glorious rock track, one of the greatest as a matter of fact. A song, sending such strong message needs a proper intro and The Who (Pete Townshend to be precise) knew how to draw the audience with a thrilling, organ-driven intro, progressing into a mass appealing, timeless classic.

Dire Straits – Money for Nothing

“I want my MTV”, says Sting at the beginning of “Money for Nothing”! (I want it too, dear…I want it back too, believe me). The colossal impact of the song and its immortality are unquestionable. That thrilling intro is just the beginning…What follows next is equally intriguing and has tons of story! Make sure you check it out…

+Honorable Mentions

The Ronettes – Be My Baby

(It may not fall under the “rock” genre category but Phil Spector and his wall of sound did play a huge role in the history of modern music. Moreover, that famous intro has been sampled and used (and abused) so many times since the ’60s which absolutely proves how influential and memorable it is! The Ronettes are rockstars and whoever disagrees is more than welcomed to listen to a rock&roll history lesson by me.)

Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall

Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven

&…many more

References:

P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Cheers~

[PLAYLIST] MY TOP 10 DIRE STRAITS Songs

Dire Straits…where do I even begin!? “Walk of Life”, “Money for Nothing”, “Sultans of Swing”, etc. – endless, timeless hits! Dire Straits are definitely one of the best British bands to conquer the world! Their radio-friendly, guitar-driven, polished sound, in combination with cheerful and clever lyrics is what made them so successful on a worldwide level. Of course, having such a talented guitar-player and a musical mastermind as a frontman does help a lot! Mark Knopfler was the main reason for their commercial success in the mid-80s. “Brothers in Arms” (which by the way is one of my most favorite albums of all time) became a true staple of 80s rock-radio music and one of the best-selling albums! In addition to this record, of course, they have a few other quite interesting and worthy of checking out stuff. They called it quits in 1995, but left quite the legacy. This is my personal top 10 Dire Straits playlist! Some people associate the band with “Money for Nothing” only (which is fine) BUT they have so many other beautiful rockers! Take a listen!

Walk of Life

Sultans of Swing

Money for Nothing

Lady Writer

Brothers in Arms

Your Latest Trick

So Far Away

Private Investigations

Down to the Waterline

Industrial Disease

[The Greatest Rock Albums of the 80s] Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms

Dire Straits’ “Brothers in Arms” is one of those albums that are absolutely essential and one should most certainly have it in their record collection. The level of its greatness can be proven with numbers – 10 weeks at number one on the UK Album charts, 9 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 Chart in USA, 34 weeks at number one on the Australian Album chart and number one on album charts in numerous other countries such as Germany, Greece, Canada, Finland, France, etc. This album literally conquered the world. It sold over 30 million copies worldwide and it’s the eight-best-selling-album in UK chart history and one of the best-selling albums in the world! Why was this album such a phenomenal success? Well, it’s a combination of factors, actually, including a surprisingly well-crafted attack of jazz and rock sound and uplifting pop beats. Let’s look more into it…

Brothers in Arms

Released: May 13, 1985
Recorded: November 1984 – March 1985, AIR Studios, Montserrat
Genre: Pop/Rock
Length: 54:40
Label: Vertigo Records (UK), Warner Bros. Records (U.S.)
Producer(s): Neil Dorfsman, Mark Knopfler
Singles: “So Far Away”, “Money for Nothing”, “Brothers in Arms”, “Walk of Life”, “Your Latest Trick”
Personnel: Mark Knopfler – guitars, lead vocals; John Illsley – bass, vocals; Alan Clark – keyboards; Guy Fletcher – synthesizer, backing vocals; Omar Hakim – drums; Terry Williams – drums
Certified: 9xPlatinum (RIAA)

TRACKLIST:

“So Far Away”
“Money for Nothing”
“Walk of Life”
“Your Latest Trick”
“Why Worry”
“Ride Across the River”
“The Man’s Too Strong”
“One World”
“Brothers in Arms”

OVERVIEW

The album is very carefully produced and crafted in such a beautiful way that can’t but leave an impression. The international success of “Brothers in Arms” should be credited to the finest moment of the album – the hit single “Money for Nothing”, co-written by Sting. The song grabs with its unforgettable guitar riffs and futuristic electronic sound. Not to mention of course its computer-animated music video that established a total dominance on MTV back in the day. The lyrics of “Money for Nothing” are also quite intriguing and comical as they depict an underdog’s objections towards rock music, money and fame.

In addition, Mark Knopfler’s impeccable sense of musicianship and pop songcraft can also be felt in the bluesy, love songs “Why Worry” and “So Far Away”. “Walk of Life” gives us a little bit of that boogie “Sultans of Swing” vibe with its upbeat and optimistic melody. The jazzy “Why Worry” and “Your Latest Trick” impress with well-polished and terrific Caribbean paradise melody and definitely make-up for the rest of the album. The rest of the album is pretty consistent and keeps on demonstrating how Dire Straits managed to scheme a pop-rock album that somehow doesn’t really sound that commercial or ordinary. In conclusion, the album provides outstanding music, perfect arrangements and is most certainly the best one Dire Straits have ever made!

Listen to some of the tracks from “Brothers in Arms”:

Money for Nothing

Your Latest Trick

Walk of Life

Credits:

“Brothers in Arms” official Wikipedia webpage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_in_Arms_%28Dire_Straits_album%29
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
Cheers~

Rock Legends Who Deserve to be Inducted in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame Right Now!!!

I have very strong opinions towards this “institution” called Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and I have always been one of those people who cannot stop criticizing and being mad at their rather shady and unrealistic nomination process. Let’s face it – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an absolute joke and it doesn’t really reflect or represent an objective and fair point of view. Not to mention that they include too many artists from all kinds of genres which confuses people and makes them lose their trust in this “institution”. They lost me as a fan and a supporter a long time ago. However, I cannot ignore their inductions because if I do ignore what’s happening, it will bug me and I won’t be able to find my sleep!!! Bottom line is – if you are a top rock act with a career that lasted for more than 30+ years and you sold millions of records, the chance of you being inducted into this “piss stain” is very SLIM! WHY? No one knows… Money? Politics? Basically, all that crap that ruin everything decent in life… The nomination process sucks and they better hope I never find a way to get down there and give them a little rock ‘n’ roll lesson cause apparently they don’t really know what that is….

Anyhow, these are 10 of the most outstanding and timeless rock legends who guess what… are NOT INDUCTED in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Let’s talk a little bit about their accomplishments and careers and try to figure out who in their right mind decided that THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for this “prestigious” recognition! I swear, I’m losing it… Let’s just hope that they will be inducted sometime soon. The influence, success and love for those following artists is SO HUGE that they most definitely DESERVE to be there among the other legends of rock music… Let’s check them out!

Def Leppard

Def Leppard have been active since the late 70s and never stopped making awesome music. With their Platinum hit records “Pyromania” and “Hysteria”, they basically ruled the hard rock scene in the 80s and quickly became one of the best-selling bands in the world. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide and released over 50 timeless classic singles we can’t get enough of. I can’t stop asking myself why are they STILL NOT INDUCTED in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?? Only a few other artists managed to sell over 10 million copies of an original studio album and if this is not a worthy accomplishment I don’t know what is…

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden – the absolute pioneers of British Heavy Metal and one of the most influential and successful rock bands ever! They began their journey in the late 70s and so far have released 38 albums which sold more than 90 million copies worldwide!!! Their contributions and achievements are unquestionable and they should be inducted in Rock Hall of Fame RIGHT NOW!

Judas Priest

Judas Priest – the fathers of metal and one of the most essential bands for the development and success of rock music back in the day. In the 70s, they helped shape thrash and in the 80s they just blew everyone’s minds away with their heavy metal sound and innovations. Up to date, they have sold more than 45 million records worldwide and influenced the majority of rock artists with their unique style, image and music. Induct them NOW, please!

Journey (2017 Inductees)

Journey! A band that went through a lot of line-up changes but became one of the most commercially successful rock acts of the 80s. They have 18 top 40 singles and a number of unforgettable tunes we love with all our hearts – “Open Arms”, “Don’t Stop Believin’” and many more. Journey sold over 48 million records and became one of America’s most beloved bands! Also, we have to talk about Steve Perry and his immense contributions and vocal abilities which became one of the main reasons why they reached such success back in the day! They deserve to be inducted for sure!

Ronnie James Dio

This right here is the biggest mistake of Rock Hall of Fame – not inducting the MOST influential and talented rockstar – Ronnie James Dio. I can never forgive them for that. I don’t really need someone to tell me that he was a legend and a pioneer of rock, but he deserves to be acknowledged and respected for what he did. His name should be alongside the other big names – Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, etc. He fronted Dio, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Elf and Heaven & Hell and sold over 47 million albums over the span of his career! It’s time, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – it’s time!!

Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi were nominated in 2011 but couldn’t make it – I have absolutely no idea why, though! They have the whole package – a long and productive career, amazing and charismatic frontman, timeless classic rock hits, sold over 100 million records worldwide and keep on releasing awesome music! Come on, Rock Hall of Fame – it’s now or never!

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

ELP – one of the most essential progressive rock supergroup which completely re-defined the music scene. Formed back in the 70s, these phenomenal artists were destined for success. By combining unique elements of classical music, jazz, symphonic rock and excessive use of Hammond organ, they crafted a sound that was never heard of or will ever be heard again! Such influential bands should be inducted in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – no second opinion about it.

Electric Light Orchestra (2017 Inductees)

Sometimes it really makes me mad when people just forget about the influence and success of this awesome rock band. Formed back in the 1970s, they have also crafted a unique sound, combining elements of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography. Not to mention that they have 27 top 40 hits and an outstanding leader in the face of Jeffrey “Jeff” Lynne who also by the way co-founded the supergroup Traveling Wilburys and is the only one of them who is not included…Such a SHAME!

Dire Straits

Dire Straits – a band everyone loves listening to! They became hugely successful in the 80s with their distinctive sound, drawing influences from jazz, folk and blues music. Their biggest triumph was undoubtedly the ultimate “Brothers in Arms” which became the first album to cell million copies on CDs. Not to mention the tons of music awards they received throughout their career… Bottom line is, Dire Straits are awesome and they should be inducted!

Motorhead

Motörhead are undoubtedly the pioneers of speed and thrash metal. Formed back in 1975, the influence of this band goes above and beyond any other heavy metal band. By mixing elements of punk and metal, the mastermind of the band – Lemmy, crafted a sound that still sounds as awesome as ever! The band has sold more than 30 million records worldwide and becoming the number one influence of bands such as Metallica, Motörhead have earned their rightful place in the Rock Hall of Fame… RIP, Lemmy!

There are plenty more….

My Favorite ’80s Rock Albums! (PART 2)

Hello, everyone!

Previously, I have listed 10 of my favorite rock albums from the 80s (you can check the publication by clicking here – [CLICK HERE] My Top 10 ’80s Rock Albums! ). However, since we are talking about the 80s and rock music, naturally, much more than 10 albums are in “my favorite” category. Therefore, I decided to prepare a part 2 and list 10 more incredible records from the golden era of rock, I love and appreciate with all my heart and soul. There will be a part 3, 4, etc. for sure because let’s face it – 80s were the greatest decade for rock music and one can’t but love all the music that was released back then… It is indeed very difficult for me to choose favorites but I will try…

Now – here we go again…

Survivor – Vital Signs ( 1984 )

Anyone who knows me is quite aware of the fact that I ADORE Survivor and Jimi Jamison is one of my favorite male vocalists of all time. “Vital Signs” happens to be the first album with him as their frontman and as a bonus we can find some awesome classics, such as “I Can’t Hold Back”, “High on You” and “First Night”. I think this is my favorite Survivor album in general and I am particularly fond of the song “Popular Girl” which is very catchy and has such captivating lyrics… “When she’s breaking your heart, she’s the state of the art… with license to take what she wants…”

AC/DC – For Those About To Rock We Salute You ( 1981 )

The follow up of AC/DC’s highly successful album “Back in Black” turned out to be equally important for their career and as perfect as one can imagine. I also consider “For Those About to Rock We Salute You” as their greatest album in terms of technicality, vocal delivery and quality of production. The title song is also one of my favorite 80s tunes – the lyrics and the energy of it are out of this world. Songs such as “Let’s Lit It Up” and “Spellbound” are also among my favorite tracks of the era. The album is the third and final collaboration between AC/DC and famous producer Mutt Lange.

Steve Perry – Street Talk ( 1984 )

The first solo album of Steve Perry turned out to be a phenomenal project and of course it’s going to be in my favorite rock albums from the 80s! The title track of “Street Talk” – “Oh Sherrie” is beyond impressive and I can’t have my day going without listening to it at least once. In addition to this massive hit, songs such as “Foolish Heart” and “She’s Mine” are also among my ultimate favorite tracks from the album (and from the 80s as well). Steve Perry is an incredible talent and I am so happy he released this album – it’s the golden egg of my collection!

Eric Clapton – Money and Cigarettes
( 1983 )

I have a whole publication dedicated to the greatness of this album – you can read it here: [CLICK HERE] [The Greatest Rock Albums of the 80s] Eric Clapton – Money and Cigarettes
What else can I say? This is my favorite album of Eric Clapton and contrary to the popular belief I think what he did in the 80s was quite impressive! The sound is indeed a little bit more commercial but the songs are very well-written and create such a beautiful mood. Among all, I think “Pretty Girl” and “I’ve Got a Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart” are my ultimate favorite songs from this album.

Genesis – Invisible Touch ( 1986 )

Till today, “Invisible Touch” remains Genesis’ best-selling album and one of the most loved records of the era. I love Phil Collins and I’ve always preferred him as their frontman in comparison with Peter Gabriel. The record has so many beautiful and quite famous tracks – “Invisible Touch”, “Land of Confusion” and of course my personal favorite – “In Too Deep”. The overall sound of the album may be too soft for some people, but to me it sounds perfect. I particularly enjoy the electronic drums.

Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms ( 1985 )

I love Dire Straits and this is absolutely my favorite album of theirs. With awesome tracks such as “Money for Nothing”, “So Far Away” and “Walk of Life”, the album was destined for success. It occupied top chart positions for months! “Money for Nothing” was also one of the most played music videos in the history of MTV. It’s an awesome track – probably one of THE tracks of the 80s and the MV is also quite memorable and era-defining – let’s just watch it…

Def Leppard – High ‘n’ Dry ( 1981 )

Of course you will find yet another album of Def Leppard in here, on this list…you know now much I love all of their work! “High ‘n’ Dry” was the album that signaled that something strong and powerful was coming and it was going to change to course of rock music – that thing was called Def Leppard! “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak”, “Lady Strange” and “On through the Night” are just a few of the songs I love from this album. The 80s belonged to Def Leppard and this album is indeed one of their finest projects. Interesting fact – it’s their final album with guitarist and original member Pete Willis.

Judas Priest – Turbo ( 1986 )

This has to be my favorite Judas Priest album of all time. “Turbo” marked the band’s first use of guitar synthesizers and as a result, a very unique and interesting sound was crafted. Songs such as “Turbo Lover”, “Locked In” and “Rock You All around the World” are ultimate classics and I do really enjoy listening to them on a daily basis. The reason why this album in particular is here, on this list is because it’s somehow different from all of their works – the theme of love and romance is heavily emphasized and I absolutely like it!

Foreigner – Agent Provocateur ( 1984 )

But of course Foreigner’s ultimate hit record “Agent Provocateur” is going to be on my list!! I love Foreigner and this album is so special and important to me. It was a bit criticized for being too commercial and ordinary; however to me this album is everything! It contains the band’s biggest hit single, “I Want to Know What Love Is” and my most favorite Foreigner song of all time – “That Was Yesterday”. Also, I have a very special bond with “Reaction to Action” and I can’t have my day without listening to this song at least a few times…

Rainbow – Bent Out of Shape ( 1983 )

Rainbow with Joe Lynn Turner was the most amazing combination ever! During his time as their frontman, they released some awesome albums and “Bent out of Shape” has to be my favorite one among all. “Can’t Let You Go” and “Street of Dreams” are classics which will always be remembered, played and performed – they will forever remain some of the most appreciated anthems of the 80s!

This is it for now! Tell me your favorite rock albums from the 80s!
Stay tuned for part 3!

Velina

xoxo

[PLAYLIST] My Good Morning Classic Rock Mixtape

Good Morning, everyone!

I don’t know which side of the world you live in, but for me it’s time to rise and shine and marry the day! Like many other rock fans out there, I can’t really imagine waking up and start preparing for the day, without listening to some rock ‘n’ roll tunes as a background. However, mornings can be pretty tough – we are still too sleepy, still very tired and it takes time for the coffee to start working…So, to some people, including myself, solid hard rock sounds and crazy guitars might not be the best option for your morning…especially if it’s the beginning of the week. Thus, a few years ago, I made the so called “morning playlist” or “morning mixtape”, featuring classic rock tunes which I think are perfect for the early start of your day. I love collecting songs and making playlists, so I decided to share with you guys, some of the songs you can find on this morning playlist of mine (My personal playlist is too long, so I decided to share just 20 songs from it). They are indeed more soft and melodic than the usual songs I post on the blog, because I just can’t handle the crazy riffs at 6 am in the morning (haha). I hope you guys will enjoy the mixtape I prepared for you and might get some ideas for your own “morning playlist”. It’s a personal selection, combining classic rock songs with no common grounds, except being suitable for your busy and tiring mornings ( of course, based on my opinion only). Let’s play!