Few songs kick off with the chorus. It goes against the standard formula of a pop or rock song, after all. Still, the following five rock songs include the chorus from the start, and their creators were smart to do so. I can’t imagine these songs starting any other way. Let’s take a look!
“Edge Of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks was never the kind of musician to stick to a basic, boring formula. That’s part of what made her such a standout member of Fleetwood Mac, and what also helped her form her own niche as a solo artist. The 1982 hit song “Edge Of Seventeen” is a great example of Nicks not sticking to a standard formula, considering the song starts with a chorus at the very start.
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“I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister
I can’t imagine this 1984 high-energy classic starting with literally any other line but “I wanna rock!” That line is basically the whole chorus, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister is a campy classic.
“Minority” by Green Day
The 2000 punk rock song “Minority” by Green Day does technically start with the chorus. But ahead of that, a pretty amazing guitar intro kicks off the song in the best way possible. There are some great folk-leaning elements on this song that are unexpected, but Green Day is known for being unexpected above all else.
“Any Way You Want It” by Journey
Like “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister, I really can’t imagine anything other than the powerhouse chorus kicking off the 1980 classic, “Any Way You Want It” by Journey. Listeners don’t even have a second to prepare before the iconic “Anyway you want it, that’s the way you need it, anyway you want it!” blasts at the very start of the song.
“Shout” by Tears For Fears
“Shout” by Tears For Fears is a new wave classic from 1984, and it’s still quite loved by fans of the band, decades later. While the outfit is best known for “Mad World”, “Shout” still has a spot in my heart. It’s so ahead of its time, and the decision to start with that reverberating, echoing chorus was a smart one.
Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
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