What is the most recent classic riff?

[Dr. DTVT]

I was talking to a friend this evening and I made a comment how I could play most classic riffs even though I'm a complete hack, and it got us thinking, "What is the last 'classic riff' that most people could identify.  I was trying to stick to mainstream stuff, and the most recent one I could think of is the "Enter Sandman" riff.  Most people recognize that one.  Can anyone think of anything more recent and almost as big as that one?  My drifting away from mainstream probably hurts my knowledge base on this, and I really don't want to believe nothing more memorable has been made in the 24 years since (as a commentary on the state of music, not the riff.  I love that riff).

[BlobVanDam]

I can think of a couple of reasons. Anything too recent is hard to classify as classic yet (say, under 20 years), and rock isn't as popular as it was before the 1990s, so it's harder for a song to be widely known enough to be as universally recognized, or have the longevity.

I'm sure there are some one hit wonders during the '90s that have fairly recognizable riffs, but I'm not sure if they'd ever be considered "classic" riffs.

[jingle.boy]

I agree with Blob.  And, sadly... I hate to admit it, but Smells Like Teen Spirit is newer than Enter Sandman.

[BlobVanDam]

I agree with Blob.  And, sadly... I hate to admit it, but Smells Like Teen Spirit is newer than Enter Sandman.

I was going to mention that one, but wasn't sure if it was any newer given that they were released in the same year, and also because it would have made me feel dirty.

Well, dirtier than usual.

[425]

Yes, unfortunately, that one was my first thought as well. Can't really think of anything that ubiquitous since.

[TVC 15]

Seven Nation Army?

[Calvin6s]

Linkin Park - One Step Closer

I would have said In The End, but One Step Closer is more riff oriented

[Anguyen92]

If we were talking about Linkin Park, I would have totally thought it would be Numb regarding this subject.

[Elite]

I wouldn't say Linkin Park. I used to like them once (when I was twelve), but I can't recall a single thing from them, let aline that a complete music noob could.

Seven Nation Army?

This, definitely. The riff has been beaten to death, even in electronic music and the likes. Everybody knows this one. However, it feels odd to me at least to call this a 'classic' riff, mainly because it's fairly recent. It's from 2003, though I think we could even find something more recent, but I'm not sure. I can't think of anything (guitar driven at least!) that has had the same impact since.

[BlobVanDam]

I just checked out that Seven Nation Army song on Youtube, and have never heard it before.

[Zydar]

Seven Nation Army?

This is the first one I thought of too. Fans are singing it on sport stadiums around the world etc.

And that Blob hasn't heard it doesn't stop it from being considered a classic

[sneakyblueberry]

Seven Nation Army?

This is the first one I thought of too.

yo, yep.

[PixelDream]

I just checked out that Seven Nation Army song on Youtube, and have never heard it before.

But did you recognize the riff when you heard it? It's being sung at parties and sports events all around the world, with most people not knowing that's even coming out of a rock song.

[BlobVanDam]

Never mind, I must have checked the wrong song entirely in the video I clicked, because I just checked out a different video and I did recognize it (although I guarantee not from a party or sports event). Carry on.

[Dr. DTVT]

I don't know anything by The White Stripes except that riff.  Good call.

Classic might have been the wrong word choice, but I think most of you got what I meant.

[Zydar]

Never mind, I must have checked the wrong song entirely in the video I clicked, because I just checked out a different video and I did recognize it (although I guarantee not from a party or sports event). Carry on.

Oh okay then

[wolfking]

Maybe something from Green Day?

That White Stripes one is a great call.

[King Postwhore]

Maybe something from Green Day?

That White Stripes one is a great call.

American Idiot comes to mind.

[wolfking]

Yeah, I think that's the one I'm thinking of.

[KevShmev]

The end of Knights of Cydonia. 

Yeah, yeah, everybody doesn't know it, but so what?

[ZKX-2099]

I've always thought No One Knows by Queens of The Stone Age had a great main riff.

[Stadler]

I just checked out that Seven Nation Army song on Youtube, and have never heard it before.

I'm with you.  Once you say "White Stripes" or "Hack White", it's pretty much a given I haven't heard it (and I do listen to modern music a fair amount in the car on Sirius Satellite Radio).

My vote was already tendered in the very first post:  "Enter Sandman".   I was watching "Later... with Jools Holland" and mostly that show is a bunch of arty pretentious douches, but they had Metallica on, and it was amazing to watch when the camera panned around the other artists:  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM sat or stood, clapping and singing along to Metallica playing "Enter Sandman".  (I think Kings of Leon, Nicole Atkins, Carla Bruni, and Paul McCartney/Youth were the other acts).   And they DESTROYED it.   It was so good.  Even my 14 year old daughter commented something to the effect of "Uh, dad, so... do you have that on CD anywhere?"   The only other time I got a vibe like that was when U2 played SNL and after the regular two songs, they came back out and played over the credits (and by all accounts put on a three-song "mini concert" after the show).   

One of the reasons I love music; how it can bring people together so unexpectedly.

[Outcrier]

If only talking about 00's mainstream stuff:

Take Me Out, Plug in Baby, Reptilia, American Idiot, Seven Nation Army, No One Knows.

[Kotowboy]

I just checked out that Seven Nation Army song on Youtube, and have never heard it before.

I'm with you.  Once you say "White Stripes" or "Hack White", it's pretty much a given I haven't heard it (and I do listen to modern music a fair amount in the car on Sirius Satellite Radio).

My vote was already tendered in the very first post:  "Enter Sandman".   I was watching "Later... with Jools Holland" and mostly that show is a bunch of arty pretentious douches, but they had Metallica on, and it was amazing to watch when the camera panned around the other artists:  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM sat or stood, clapping and singing along to Metallica playing "Enter Sandman".  (I think Kings of Leon, Nicole Atkins, Carla Bruni, and Paul McCartney/Youth were the other acts).   And they DESTROYED it.   It was so good.  Even my 14 year old daughter commented something to the effect of "Uh, dad, so... do you have that on CD anywhere?"   The only other time I got a vibe like that was when U2 played SNL and after the regular two songs, they came back out and played over the credits (and by all accounts put on a three-song "mini concert" after the show).   

One of the reasons I love music; how it can bring people together so unexpectedly.

One day her kids will be like " Mum - do you have any metallica CDs ? "

And she'll be all " No but I might have the mp3s on a hard drive in the loft somewhere... "

[hefdaddy42]

Seven Nation Army?

First thing I thought of.

Hell, my daughter's marching band was playing that as in-stadium music during football games 4 years ago.  You can't get away from it.

[Sacul]

Is it bad that I've never heard the Enter Sandman riff nor the song until a few minutes ago?

[hefdaddy42]

Is it bad that I've never heard the Enter Sandman riff nor the song until a few minutes ago?

Not to make a mountain out of a molehill or anything, but fuck yes, it's bad.

[sneakyblueberry]

Maybe something from Green Day?

That White Stripes one is a great call.

American Idiot comes to mind.

Your guys' avatars are confusing the shit out of me!  I don't know who is who AND I now have a massive boner which is also confusing. 

Is it bad that I've never heard the Enter Sandman riff nor the song until a few minutes ago?

Jesus wtf is wrong with you Lucas.

[King Postwhore]

   I'll go back to my old avatar after TAC roullete ends.


I wonder if the death of radio has something to do with it.  Let me explain.

Radio dominated how you got all your new rock songs.  You heard them a million times.  Then classic rock stations popped up and you heard those same iconic riffs over and over.

Now you don't really here much new rock on radio anymore. Mostly classic rock still so you don't hear the riffs over an over and they don't seem as iconic since we are not beaten over the head again and again.

I'm wondering if that has any influence in us not coming up with many riffs for the newer rock songs and how we go to Enter Sandman and Smells Like Teen Spirit since you saw them on MTV over and over and now, not so much.

[Outcrier]

Ah, i thought it was only about 00's...

There is Smells like Teen Spirit, Song 2 (Blur), Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode), Symphony of Destruction, Thunderstruck, Here Comes Your Man (Pixies), Black or White...

Shit, there is tons of them but these are the ones that came to my head for now.

[Kotowboy]

Duhh ! It's THIS Obviously

[Kotowboy]

Ah, i thought it was only about 00's...

There is Smells like Teen Spirit, Song 2 (Blur), Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode), Symphony of Destruction, Thunderstruck, Here Comes Your Man (Pixies), Black or White...

Shit, there is tons of them but these are the ones that came to my head for now.

Definitely Song 2. That's a guitar shop riff that is.

[King Postwhore]

Yeah, Song 2 is in my brain forever.


WHOOOOOOWHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[Dr. DTVT]

Ah, i thought it was only about 00's...

There is Smells like Teen Spirit, Song 2 (Blur), Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode), Symphony of Destruction, Thunderstruck, Here Comes Your Man (Pixies), Black or White...

Shit, there is tons of them but these are the ones that came to my head for now.

Thunderstruck is pretty well known.  State side, I don't know if Song 2 or Pixies would be well known enough.  Sure they have cult followings, but I don't think they would be as recognizable as some of the others mentioned.

[Crow]

Is it bad that I've never heard the Enter Sandman riff nor the song until a few minutes ago?

i only know enter sandman (or really 90% of the metallica i know) because of the guitar hero metallica game, so