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'Don't Stop Believin'' by Journey -

The major key piano intro in this Journey classic just sounds so positive and hopeful. Indeed it is timeless.

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'Back in Black' by AC/DC -

If there's an intro that make you smile and headbang immediately, it's 'Back in Black.' Though as far as iconic intros go, the Aussie rockers have many more, including 'Thunderstruck' and 'Highway to Hell,' to name a few.

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'Sweet Child O'Mine' by Guns N' Roses -

Slash's iconic guitar intro was originally an exercise he did to warm up his fingers. It turned into one of the most recognizable intros of all time!

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'The Final Countdown' by Europe -

The year was 1986. Hard rock Swedish band Europe released a song with one of the most iconic intros of all time, and we still recognize it to this day.

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'Sweet Home Alabama' by Lynyrd Skynyrd -

The intro the this southern rock classic is instantly recognizable. You can almost feel the warm sunshine on your face as the guitar starts playing. 

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'We Will Rock You' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen -

Yes, we chose two songs by Queen. They are both so easily recognizable as soon as they start, and indeed such great songs, that we couldn't choose one over the other. Of course, there are many others, including 'Under Pressure' and 'Another One Bites the Dust.'

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'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson -

A simple drum beat and an iconic synth line. It's all it takes to make us tap our feet and click our fingers to the intro of this Michael Jackson tune. 

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'Folsom Prison Blues' by Johnny Cash -

The guitar line, followed by the Man in Black's iconic percussive guitar strumming, makes this one of the most recognizable song intros of all time. Cash's 1963 hit 'Ring of Fire' is also a strong contender, with its Mariachi-style trumpet intro.

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'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana -

Bands such as Nirvana have many instantly recognizable song intros. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' however, is on another level. The guitar chords strummed by Kurt Cobain, followed by Dave Grohl's drumming, is just spectacular.

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'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor -

Released in 1982 and famously part of the soundtrack of 'Rocky III,' 'Eye of the Tiger' really is a classic with an epic intro.

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'Imagine' by John Lennon -

It's (almost) impossible to not recognize the beautiful piano intro to 'Imagine.'

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'Nothing Else Matters' by Metallica -

Metallica's famous ballad got many kids to pick up guitars in the '90s and start playing. But there's more. 'Master of Puppets,' 'Enter Sandman,' and 'Sad But True,' among many others, also have epic intros.

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'Money for Nothing' by Dire Straits -

The words "I want my MTV," followed by a crescendo and Mark Knopfler's epic guitar riff, make this song a Dire Straits classic. Another song by the band also has a guitar intro that we all know. That song is, of course, 'Sultans of Swing.'

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'Careless Whisper' by George Michael -

Now, this is what a sax intro should sound like. George Michael really hit the nail on the head with this one, and we love it!

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'Just Can't Get Enough' by Depeche Mode -

Depeche Mode delivers an epic synth line on this song that is almost impossible to forget. 'Never Let Me Down Again' is also a good example, as are so many other songs by the British band.

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'Under the Bridge' by Red Hot Chili Peppers -

The guitar intro to this Red Hot Chili Peppers song really is something special. So much so that we can recognize it as soon as we hear it.

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'Never Tear Us Apart' by INXS -

The melancholic chord progression on the keyboard in the intro of this INXS hit is as iconic as it gets.

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'Should I Stay or Should I Go' by The Clash -

The guitar intro on this punk rock classic sets the tone for the rest of the song, and just sounds really cool!

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'Creep' by Radiohead -

Probably one of the first songs aspiring guitarists in the '90s learned to play, 'Creep' not only is a classic, but it also has a very recognizable intro.

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'Jump' by Van Halen -

You couldn't be a keyboard player in the '80s and not know how to play 'Jump,' right?

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'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zeppelin -

The iconic British rockers have many famous song intros. Among them, we picked the haunting melody of 'Stairway to Heaven.' Of course, there are a lot more, including 'Whole Lotta Love.'

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'Iron Man' by Black Sabbath -

The heaviness of Tommy Iommi's string bending, followed by one of the most recognizable guitar riffs of all time, make 'Iron Man' really special.

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'Bad to the Bone' by George Thorogood -

Which guitar hero hopeful hasn't tried to emulate the sound of George Thorogood's guitar lick, right? It's a true blues rock classic!

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'Smoke on the Water' by Deep Purple -

The timeless guitar riff of 'Smoke on the Water' was released in 1972, but it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

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'Blue Monday' by New Order -

Punchy and memorable, this intro by New Order sounds as powerful today as it did in 1983.

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'Straight Outta Compton' by NWA -

You know what's coming when you listen to the line, "You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge."

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'Superstition' by Stevie Wonder -

Most of us will recognize the super groovy intro of this song when we listen to it.

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'(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' by The Rolling Stones -

Simple, catchy, and truly memorable. The intro to this classic Stones' song is one that virtually everyone can recognize.

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'Come Together' and 'Let it Be' by The Beatles -

The unique intro of 'Come Together' is what makes it so memorable. As for 'Let it Be,' well, the piano melody is just beautiful.

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'I Feel Love' by Donna Summer -

The atmospheric synth of this song transports us to a club in the late '70s and we love it.

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'Wonderwall' by Oasis -

The opening chords of 'Wonderwall' are recognizable to almost everyone.

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'I'm Coming Out' by Diana Ross -

Uplifting guitar chops and horns, with a catchy vocal line, make this song instantly recognizable.

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'Born to Run' and 'Born in the U.S.A.' by Bruce Springsteen -

Two epic songs by The Boss with equally epic intros that are instantly recognizable.

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'I Want You Back' by The Jackson 5 -

A chugging guitar chord, and the same line played on piano and bass, makes this a really catchy intro.

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'Light My Fire' by The Doors -

The intro to 'Light My Fire' incorporates all the elements that made The Doors such a unique band. Ray Manzarek's keyboard line is instantly recognizable.

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'Down Under' by Men at Work -

The Aussie band was huge in the '80s. The drum and pipes intro on 'Down Under' make their hit instantly recognizable. The sax intro on 'Who Can It Be Now?' is also a classic!

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'Let's Get It On' by Marvin Gaye -

Possibly one of the most iconic song intros of all time, 'Let's Get It On' is a true classic. 

Sources: (MusicRadar) (TheTopTens) (RouteNote) 

See also: Songs you never knew were about stalkers and obsession

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