IMAGI-BLOG
Best opening lyrics
Submitted by imaginary char on August 7, 2007.
Spinner.com published the Top 25 Best Opening Lyrics list.
25. "You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar"
--Human League's 'Don't You Want Me'
24. "I've been a bad, bad girl"
--Fiona Apple's 'Criminal'
23. "You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips"
--The Righteous Brothers' 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin''
22. "Go, shorty. It's your birthday"
--50 Cent's 'In Da Club'
21. "Hello, Darkness, my old friend"
--Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Sound of Silence'
20. "I am an Antichrist"
--Sex Pistols' 'Anarchy in the UK'
19. "Well, I guess it would be nice if I could touch your body"
--George Michael's 'Faith'
18. "We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee"
--Merle Haggard's 'Okie From Muskokee'
17. "I was dreaming when I wrote this"
--Prince's '1999'
16. "Pigs, they tend to wiggle when they walk"
--Pavement's 'Stereo'
15. "She was more like a beauty queen from a
movie scene"
--Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean'
14. "There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief"
--Jimi Hendrix's 'All Along the Watchtower'
13. "What's with these homies dissin' my girl?"
--Weezer's 'Buddy Holly'
12. "A candy-colored clown they call the sandman tiptoes to my room every night"
--Roy Orbison's 'In Dreams'
11. "Oh, I just don't know where to begin"
--Elvis Costello's 'Accidents Will Happen'
10. "Tommy used to work on the docks"
--Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer'
9. "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine"
--Patti Smith's 'Gloria'
8. "Well, it's one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, now go, cat, go!"
--Carl Perkins' 'Blue Suede Shoes'
7. "In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey"
--Beck's 'Loser'
6. "Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?"
--The Carpenters' 'Close to You'
5. "Don't call it a comeback"
--LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out!'
4. "Well, she was just seventeen -- you know what I mean"
--The Beatles' 'I Saw Her Standing There'
3. "Hey, ho, let's go!"
--The Ramones' 'Blitzkrieg Bop'
2. "I was born in a cross-fire hurricane"
--The Rolling Stones' 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'
1. "She's a very kinky girl"
--Rick James' 'Superfreak'
What do you think? Is there anything missing?
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3
Erik Gonzalez said on August 7, 2007:
See, I don't know if it is the songs on the list or the list itself that leaves me uninspired. Of course, off the top of my head:
Pulp's "Dishes": "I am not Jesus, but I have the same initials".
Johnny Cash's "Cocaine": Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds, I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down.
(and some people will hate me)
U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday": Have you heard the news today? (when taken in context).
REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)": "That's great, it starts with an earthquake."
I suppose my problem is that song lyrics belong in context with the song, so stripping out the first line and deeming it "best" is trivial at best.
Damn my liberal arts education!
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4
Levi said on August 7, 2007:
"Buy a pack of squares . . ."
-Big Black
"Frank settled down in the Valley, and he hung his wild years on a nail that he drove through his wife's forehead."
-Tom Waits
Actually, Steve Albini and Tom Waits could probably fill the top 25 on their own.
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imaginary dana said on August 7, 2007:
I've always been partial to the bombastic opening lines of James "Laid" -->
"This bed is on fire, with passionate love!
The neighbors complain about the noises above!
But she only comes when she's on top!"
But then I guess that's three lines...
And of course, the opening line to Nick Cave's "Let Love In" is the BEST:
"I met her on a night of fire and noise."
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6
imaginary ash said on August 7, 2007:
I think there are waaaay too many summer interns making bad lists at these 'zines/websites.
TOOOOTALLY. This is lame-o. I don't even know what 'best' is supposed to mean. Most memorable? Most poetic? Most original? That can't be it.
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7
Arab Strap said on August 7, 2007:
Haha and then, of course, there is the first line from the first song on Arab Strap's Philophobia: "It was the biggest cock you'd ever seen..."
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8
Rick G said on August 7, 2007:
Ignore the haters, Char. I think this is the BEST LIST EVAR.
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9
imaginary ash said on August 7, 2007:
We're not hating on Char here! We heart Char. We just think the list is poorly executed.
Cowboy.
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10
imaginary char said on August 7, 2007:
I think this list is fun and shouldn't be taken too seriously. But I love top {insert number} lists... and mochi. Probably mochi more than lists, but that's a different story.
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11
Imaginary-Kiku said on August 7, 2007:
I'm very partial to the muttering opening lines of an Aqueduct song "Lying in the Bed I've Made":
So, I guess this is officially what singing while driving down the highway sounds like
and then
Take stuff from work! It's the best way to feel better about your job! by King Missile
and I also really like
Read all the pamphlets, and watch the tapes! Read all the pamphlets, and watch the tapes! Read all the pamphlets, and watch the tapes! I...get all confused when you mix up the tapes! by LCD Soundsystem
I don't know if that counts as just one opening line, but I like it :]
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15
Erik Gonzalez said on August 7, 2007:
Uh oh, we got Char on the defensive. Char, it is the list that is no good, not the Char!
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imaginary dana said on August 7, 2007:
I love me the Char, but I can't abide the mochi. The outside feels like skin! *shudder*
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18
Rick G said on August 7, 2007:
Okay, how about TERRIBLE opening lines? But you can't count any band where EVERY line is stupid (so sorry, no Warrant or Van Halen)
I nominate:
"Park the car at the side of the road": That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore / The Smiths
Really? One of the best lyricists of all time couldn't do better than that? Why doesn't it start out "Pick up milk when you go to the store..." ?
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Reviews
Erik Gonzalez said on August 7, 2007:
Is it just me, or is this sort of a lame list. Maybe not in concept, but the list in general. I think there are waaaay too many summer interns making bad lists at these 'zines/websites.