The Score Magazine October 2019 | Page 33

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 Score Magazine highonscore.com 31