TGI: What are the greatest intros of all time?

TGI: What are the greatest intros of all time?

Recent research into listening habits on Spotify state that most people decide in thirty seconds whether to continue listening to a song. So as our attention spans grow shorter, driven by increasingly hyperactive internet, social media and streaming platforms, where song clips are shared rather than whole songs, then the intro has become even more important. So which song would you choose to grab someone in 30 seconds? Back in the day they were called floor fillers, when the needle drops (or the laptop streams) what intro makes you rush to the dance floor? What makes up a great intro?! Which song has the best intro? Blaring horns? A hooky riff? An awesome synth part? A powerful drum track? An incredibly striking vocal? Even a sample. What are the greatest intros of all time? Here are a few of my favourites:

  1. Some are longer than 30 seconds but I’d suggest: Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water; Genesis – Firth of Fifth; The Go-Gos – Our Lips Are Sealed; N-Trance – Set You Free (original version, as featured recently). More when I can think of them. How about best outros? I’ll pitch in with the outro to M83’s Outro, if you see what I mean (the final section from 1:35 here). Brilliant video BTW. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyjj8BgsBGU

  2. MBV’s Only Shallow has to be the most thrilling intro of all time. Other notables:

    RFTC – Born in 69
    Cypress Hill – Insane in the Brain
    Ministry – Jesus Built My Hotrod
    Orbital – Satan
    Front 242 – Headhunter
    The Smiths – This Charming Man
    Mogwai – Batcat
    Kool & the Gang – Jungle Boogie
    Supremes – Stoned Love

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God is in the TV is an online music and culture fanzine founded in Cardiff by the editor Bill Cummings in 2003. GIITTV Bill has developed the site with the aid of a team of sub-editors and writers from across Britain, covering a wide range of music from unsigned and independent artists to major releases.