40+ of the most iconic piano intros ever written

There’s something about a piano intro that sticks with you. Maybe it’s the simplicity. Maybe it’s the emotion. Or maybe it’s just that sound — naked, vulnerable, and straight to the point — before the rest of the layers kick in and everything else comes crashing through.

This isn’t a list of technical masterpieces. It’s not about the most difficult or obscure intros. It’s about recognisability. That moment when the first few notes hit and you know exactly what’s coming next. Maybe it’s a Coldplay song, a rap classic, something you heard over a video or that made you cry in a French arthouse film.

So here they are — 40 of the most iconic piano intros ever written.

Grouped by genre. Played to death. And still brilliant.