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Tuesday Coffee Break: 1,2, 1-2-3-4!!!

Posted at 8:48 AM on July 26, 2011 by Steve Seel (57 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about the count-off: 1-2-3-4! What are some songs that feature a healthy count-off, in whatever form, at the beginning?

Comments (57)

Not really a count off...but I like it!

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Even the Losers

"It's just the normal noises in here"

Posted by Kathleen | July 26, 2011 9:06 AM

How about Bruce Springsteen's rendition of "Old Dan Tucker?"

Posted by Christian | July 26, 2011 9:07 AM

Holland 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel

Posted by Mike | July 26, 2011 9:07 AM

"Ramrod" -- Springsteen (The River)
"Commando" or "Rockaway Beach" -- Ramones

Posted by (JL) | July 26, 2011 9:08 AM

Beck - Elevator Music

Posted by John | July 26, 2011 9:08 AM

Kukuxumusu, by the Electric Six

Posted by Ben | July 26, 2011 9:08 AM

Wooly Bully -- Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs

Land of 1000 Dances -- Wilson Pickett

1 2 X U -- Wire

Roadrunner -- Modern Lovers [goes to 8!]

Obligatories:: I Saw Her Standing There + Taxman + Yer Blues + more . . . . .

Posted by lou | July 26, 2011 9:09 AM

Ryan Adams - To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)

"You stay classy, San Diego..."

Posted by rob | July 26, 2011 9:11 AM

You gotta play Wooly Bully by Sam The Sham $ The Pharoahs!

and I saw her standing there by the Beatles, which was semi-famously edited down to just a "4" on the VeeJay records version.

Posted by wellst | July 26, 2011 9:13 AM

I second Neutral Milk Hotel--Holland 1945

Also, I am not sure if it is completely radio appropriate, but the best count-in of all time is X-Ray Spex "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!"

Posted by Matt | July 26, 2011 9:14 AM

The Pretenders - Middle of the Road - for the count off in the middle of the song

Posted by Deb | July 26, 2011 9:14 AM

U2 - Vertigo

"Unos, dos, tres, catorce!" (1,2,3,14)

Posted by Cathryn | July 26, 2011 9:15 AM

"Yer Blues" & "Taxman" - The Beatles

Ws going to say "Loose!" by Prince, but I don't think it'll pass the language censors.

Posted by Todd | July 26, 2011 9:15 AM

Does the middle of "Groove is in the Heart" count? Because I will love any excuse to hear that song in the morning!

Posted by Tara | July 26, 2011 9:15 AM

2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson Band
Major Tom - Peter Schilling (always love the German version)

Posted by juanita | July 26, 2011 9:15 AM

Gaelic Storm - Raised on Black and Tans (countdown done in Spanish)

Posted by dave | July 26, 2011 9:16 AM

Misery- Soul Asylum

Posted by MG | July 26, 2011 9:16 AM

Metallica - Tuesday's Gone

Posted by Brandon | July 26, 2011 9:16 AM

"Give Peace a Chance"- John Lennon

Posted by Todd | July 26, 2011 9:17 AM

Prince did a lot of this in the 80's. The most know was starting off "Raspberry Beret", he also did it on that album with "Paisley Park". In an offshoot, he and Sheila E. started off "A Love Bizarre" with "A,B,C,D!"

Also, Aerosmith/Run DMC's "Walk This Way".

And..(and don't ask why it popped in my head) Billy Joel's "A Matter Of Trust"

Good Coffee Break. Hope I Didn't over-do it!

Posted by Damon Deforest | July 26, 2011 9:17 AM

HEIRUSPECS 5EVS

not a traditional count in, but still really good.

Posted by Maize | July 26, 2011 9:18 AM

What about "Kiss OFf" by the Violent Femmes? It's not a count-off in the traditional sense, though.

Posted by Greg L. | July 26, 2011 9:18 AM

"Calhoun Square" - Prince

Posted by Todd | July 26, 2011 9:19 AM

It's not quite the count-off that you're looking for, but what about Feist's "1234"?

Posted by Dana Schumacher-Schmidt | July 26, 2011 9:19 AM

What about Pretty Fly for a White Guy by Offspring? It starts with "Gunter glieben glauchen globen" stolen from Def Leppard...supposedly a gibberish replacement for "1,2,3,4"

Or you could do "Til Kingdom Come" by Coldplay...Chris Martin says "1..2.."

Posted by Jami | July 26, 2011 9:19 AM

Hitchin' a Ride by Green Day, the live version from Bullet in a Bible.

Posted by Amy | July 26, 2011 9:20 AM

I seem to remember a Rufus Wainwright that starts with a 6-8 countoff (one two three four five six), but I can't remember what the name of the song is.

It might be on Want One or Want Two. Does anyone else know?

Posted by Ian | July 26, 2011 9:20 AM

A little more remote, but worth the exposure if you've got it: Locksley's "Don't Make Me Wait" starts with a "1! 2! 3! 4!" and then jumps into a lively throwback song that reminds me of a modern version of early Beatles stuff.

Posted by Kalie | July 26, 2011 9:20 AM

Boat Behind - Kings of Convenience
a very mellow countup

Posted by loran | July 26, 2011 9:21 AM

"I Saw Her Standing There" - The Beatles or "Give Peace a Chance" - Just Lennon

"Holland 1945" - Neutral Milk Hotel

"Do You Realize" - Flaming Lips

Posted by Patrick | July 26, 2011 9:21 AM

Catch - The Cure

Posted by wellst | July 26, 2011 9:21 AM

Guster - "Barrel of a Gun"

Posted by Kelly | July 26, 2011 9:21 AM

Sort of surprised this hasn't been said yet...

1234 by Feist

Posted by Brianna | July 26, 2011 9:21 AM

sufjan stevens - "for the widows in paradise, for the fatherless in ypsilanti"

count-offs don't always have to be super fast and energetic - sometimes it's just about coordination. sufjan stevens has a nice, subtle 2-3-4 lead-in on "for the widows..." it provides just those few extra seconds to help set the tone for the one of my favorite songs.

Posted by matt. | July 26, 2011 9:21 AM

-Take On Me, covered by Reel Big Fish-- the count off is about 10 seconds in :)

Although there isn't a count off, you said you wanted something not in 4-4 --> try 'Take Five' by Dave Brubek-- 5-4, great song!

Posted by MC | July 26, 2011 9:22 AM

One of my favorite songs with a count off is RADIOHEAD - POLYETHYLENE PARTS 1 & 2 where he counts off between the 2 parts

Posted by Brent | July 26, 2011 9:23 AM

"Daydream Believer" by the Monkees ("7-A!")
"S*x machine" by James Brown

Posted by David | July 26, 2011 9:24 AM

Story of the Grandson of Jesus
Cloud Cult

"I messed up." "No you didn't, 1234."

It's just the best, love listening for it everytime.

Posted by Tita | July 26, 2011 9:24 AM

It's no game, by David bowie. It's from scary monsters.

Posted by Steve | July 26, 2011 9:24 AM

1,2,3,4 - Feist or Plain White T's

Posted by JoeC | July 26, 2011 9:27 AM

Shy - Ani Difranco

Posted by Niki | July 26, 2011 9:28 AM

Waitress in the Sky - Replacements
Actually starts with a little guitar then regroups with counting.

Posted by loran | July 26, 2011 9:28 AM

Outkast's "Hey Ya"

Posted by Kate | July 26, 2011 9:28 AM

Bright Eyes - At The Bottom Of Everything

Posted by Joe | July 26, 2011 9:29 AM

The Redwalls - "Glory of War"

Brilliant song.

Posted by Caleb Rotach | July 26, 2011 9:29 AM

Hey Ya! - Outkast
Raspberry Beret - Prince

Posted by Michelle | July 26, 2011 9:30 AM

Glory of War by The Redwalls

Posted by Caleb Rotach | July 26, 2011 9:30 AM

My first, and probably favorite, is John Bonham on Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean" from Houses of the Holy:

"We've done four already but now we're steady and then they went, 1... 2... 3... 4..."

Posted by Ben | July 26, 2011 9:30 AM

oh, and who could forget the infamous, "uno! dos! tres! CATORCE!

u2- vertigo

Posted by matt. | July 26, 2011 9:31 AM

Pearl Jam's "Brain of J" had a muffled count-off.
U2 "40" also, off of War.

Posted by Fredo | July 26, 2011 9:33 AM

1234- Feist

I saw her standing there- Beatles

Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen

And yes, please, Holland, 1945- NMH

Posted by Topher Boyd | July 26, 2011 9:34 AM

A different kind of count off...

Add It Up- Violent Femmes

Posted by matthew | July 26, 2011 9:37 AM

Nice call on "Hey Ya!" by Outkast, but their earlier song "Bombs Over Baghdad" also has a count-off to 3!

Posted by Fredo | July 26, 2011 9:37 AM

I love cookie monster and the count! That just made my morning! Thanks guys!

Posted by Erin | July 26, 2011 9:43 AM

A deep bizarre voice says 2-3-4 right before the song begins on a big power chord.

Fate Won't Wait by Terramara

Posted by John | July 26, 2011 9:44 AM

Roxy Music - In the Midnight Hour

Posted by MB | July 26, 2011 9:46 AM

Oops! JoJo only makes it to six . . . . .

Posted by lou | July 26, 2011 9:53 AM

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