The cut-off note in "Ashes To Ashes"? The train solo in "Station To Station?" The drum bop in "Alternative CAndidate?" What makes you pay attention?

I'm okay, you're so-so

All good shouts
How about Let's Dance? That intro really is a statement of intent for a change of artistic direction.


Here are my suggestions for best intros using different instruments

Best (only?) acapaella /vocal intro - Looking For Satellites

Best piano intro - Changes or Time

Best acoustic guitar intro - Space Oddity, I love the dreamy wistfulness of Bowie's 12 string strumming of Fmaj7 and Em before the C kicks in and Bowie sings "ground control to Major Tom"

Best Drum intro - Either the snappy intro to Jump They Say, or the laid back cool of Young Americans

Best electric guitar intro - Rebel Rebel. That riff!

Best synth intro - Dead Man Walking

Real Cool World is a fairly shite song, but it had a decent intro. It was all synths and saxophon with a drum machine, but it was better than the rest of the song. The ascending sax line and chord changes reminded me of Young Americans, as did Underground, which also had a similar intro.

There are so many great intros..

The electronic drum intro to Sound And Vision is very cool..

The majestic guitar to Ziggy..

The waltzing drum loop to Five Years

The guitar on Cat People (let's Dance version)

Actually, I retract my suggestion of Time or Changes as having the best piano intro. That nomination goes to Oh! You pretty things

Lady Stardust has a pretty good intro too.
There's something about a piano intro.I was trying to think of a better one than I don't like Mondays yesterday but couldn't.
I have one in my front room (piano) but I can't play it.

Best Bowie intro for me is Station To Station.

Everybody stop! The best intro is Ziggy Stardust. It is the sound of a granddaddy spider crawling across mars.

Sound and Vision, although I'm not sure where the intro ends and the song begins--which may be what I like about it.

I just relistened to "Cracked Actor". When the bass comes in, it's killer.

I'm okay, you're so-so

Lee, I could teach you how to play the intro of I D L M on your piano

Easy, the first part is ebony keys only!

Just hold down the sustain pedal and then run your hand across the highest ebony note and drag to the left about 2 octaves, so you play about 10 notes in very quick succession.

Before your right hand has finished dragging across repeat with your left hand, but an octave lower, so that they overlap, then do the same with your right hand, again lower. Contine until you work your way to the lowest notes.

You should get harmonic, beautiful cascading notes like musical trickles of water as you work your hands run across the piano.

When you get near the bottom, hit 2 low Eflat keys with your left hand for the booming bass sound.


Try it!

Thanks Alan.I will give it a try tomorrow.Might put the Rats DVD on later too.I can't remember whether the video actually shows Johnny Fingers playing it.

Ladies and Gentlemen straight from his fantastically successful world tour
Including the United States of America , Japan , now his home Country
For the last time " DAVID BOWIE "

Width of a Circle, no doubt about that

Moonage Daydream - Goes straight into the action with 'I'm an Aliigator' not many songs claim that phrase.

Outside has a great build up.

Station to Station obvious contender for great intros.

Sense of Doubt - reminds me of Bach's classic.

The start of the outside album.

________________________________
http://www.loureed.nl

I have always been really fond of the intros to lady grinning soul, soul love, sound and vision, fashion, modern love, p. picasso and absolute beginners.

Slicks' riff on Stay.

My fav.

Geo.

http://www.georgewolstenholme.com

Andy Warhol - as in holes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaf6zF-FJBk&feature=fvw

...is 'Starman' - it still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck just like the first time I heard it at the age of 15 all those years ago.....

gorgeousineedya

I have a few over the years but most have been so played to death, they now lack their initial appeal:

"Heroes"
Watch That Man
Here Comes The Night
I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday
Strangers When We Meet (Outside version)
Sweet Thing (Reprise)
As The World Falls Down - it's so pretty!
Yassassin
Pictures Of Lily
Like A Rolling Stone
Win
Word On A Wing - just so desolate

But I agree with Em - "I just relistened to "Cracked Actor". When the bass comes in, it's killer."

On 27 Jun 2000 at BBC Broadcasting House, London any hot-blooded heterosexual male should see the look on Holly Palmer's face when Bowie sings, 'give me some head', during the 1st chorus of Cracked Actor. The song just exudes sex!

---------------------

Baal

I smile and go off waving
(Amiably) - for that's my way

http://www.helden.org.uk

Thank you, Baal.
It strikes me that Mr. Bowie has created a large selection of the best intros in rock, and the intro is at least seventy per-cent of the battle.

There's also a few songs which didn't live up to their intros. Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" was a serious comedown. Can anyone think of any others?

I'm okay, you're so-so

Lady Grinning Soul's dramatic piano opening and vocals. I'm still on the fence as to whether I enjoy the 'Tequila' shot in the middle of the solo though.

Definitely the piano leading into the alternative Candidate - magic - sends shivers down my spine. And of course, I only listen to that song when I put it on so even though it's never a surprise it's still a thrill.

Imagine listening to the radio and hearing that intro come on ........

V2 Schneider has a real interesting intro. I wish it would go on longer.

just like Speed of Life. the intro is too short lived. It would sound great stretched out a bit. But I guess it sums it up about the speed of Life. You have to enjoy the moment however long it lasts because it's over before you know it.

'The Jean genie' Em

rgds

billb

Just a few of them:

Joe The Lion
African Night Flight
Modern Love
If you consider Future Legend as an intro to Diamond Dogs, it should be high on any list.
Somebody Up There Likes Me
Little Wonder

Your Turn To Drive has a totally wonderful piano layered intro and a wonderful but under-played track

 

Sweet Thing for its menace

 

Fill Your Heart for its 1920s style intro

 

Station to Station -for its total majesty and pomp

 

Win for the shimmering saxes

Admit it - Thats what you were thnking too!

Yeah Station to Station would likely be my favourite. Was just listening to it last night and thinking how fantastic it was. However, I do like the start of the title track Black Tie White Noise for that sound like when you put the needle to the groove.

I can't believe what Alan just said about Real Cool World. Where's yer head at mister? that's a cracking tune especially the repeated "You came from nowhere" I love that bit.

Many great intros already listed. No point in me repeating them.

Agreed, Real Cool World had a great middle eight section (You came from nowhere, you shook me away) , but I was extremely disappointed with it as Bowie's first new solo material for 5 years.

He quickly disowned the song, as did the charts (number 52 for 1 week as I remember).

Great as a bonus track or b side, though.

Number 52. Pah, what do the general public know anyway

Love the video too.