AKARSH SHEKHAR
Top 10 Keyboard Riffs of the 80s
What is a riff? In general terms, it's that part of a song which people recognize immediately. The intro of Deep Purple’s- Smoke On
The Water or Guns N' Roses'- Sweet Child O' Mine, for example, are songs that invoke a sense of familiarity and make you want to
hum along to it (although these aren’t keyboard riffs, these intros are mentioned to help the uninitiated understand what a riff is).
Understanding The Riff:
Even if you have no memory of the lyrics or the solos, you'll
recognize certain songs the moment they are played, based
on the intro riff. Even if you don't recognize it completely,
your mind will still go ‘I have heard this tune somewhere’.
In absolute musical terms, a riff is a repeated chord pattern,
series of notes, or musical phrase. Riffs can be heard in genres
such as rock, metal, jazz, blues, country and pop music.
80s Riffs:
Before the eccentricities of the 80s came along, the term ‘riff’
was only applied to the electric guitar driven music of rock/
metal bands such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath,
Deep Purple, and Judas Priest. The keyboards were mainly
used to add an ‘atmospheric’ element in the background.
The 80s plucked the keyboard from the background and
placed it firmly at the center of every song. In fact, the most
popular and beloved 80s tunes had prominent keyboard/
synthesizer/piano parts. Their keyboard riffs marked the
imminent arrival of something awesome and epic.
Here's a list of ten of the best ones from the 80’s:
1. Europe – The Final Countdown
If you still don’t know what a riff is, after reading
“The Final Countdown” the tune that instantly
popped in your mind, is called a riff.
This song probably has the most memorable
keyboard riff in the world.
2. A-ha – Take on Me
In addition to the iconic keyboard riff, this innovative
music video from the 80s, was the highlight of
animation and went on to win 6 awards.
4. Van Halen – Jump
When you hear the name Eddie Van Halen, you usually
associate it with guitar wizardry ‘erupting’ out of your
speakers. However, in 1984, he took his enormous talents to
the keyboard and created one of the most memorable keyboard
riffs and it’s bound to make you jump every time you hear it.
5. Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F
Made popular by the Crazy Frog era, this
riff was where it all started.
6. Journey – Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
If you aren’t already familiar with this song’s ‘so-
bad-it’s-good’ music video from the 80s, you would’ve
definitely heard it in the Tron: Legacy movie.
7. Bon Jovi – Runaway
Before Bon Jovi was selling out stadiums with Livin’
on a Prayer, they made a stellar entrance into the
music world with Runaway. This song about teenage
rebellion is driven by its iconic keyboard riff.
8. Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in the Dark
This song is so good it has an instantly recognizable
keyboard riff and, it even has Courteney Cox, before
she became famous as Monica in Friends!
9. Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters
The Ghostbusters theme song was the anthem of all children in
the 80s and honestly, it’s all thanks to that famous keyboard riff!
10. Toto - Africa
One of the most recognizable intros, a pop classic,
this song has been taking us to Africa since the
80s with that brilliant keyboard riff.
3. Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
If you haven’t been Rick Rolled, then listening to this super
hit’s keyboard intro riff will make you want to wear trench
coats and dance to Astley’s deep voice and smooth moves.
The
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