Your favorite Piano Riff/Melody of all time..

You can only choose one.

I'll have to go with the chorus of....

 

A great song that samples "Bennie and the Jets" .

 

Not a riff, more of a backdrop, but the piano in I'm Free (The Who, Tommy) always gives me goosebumps.
Love how the chords change subtly under the guitar riff.

First one I thought of. Doesn't really qualify but there ya go.

 

Bill Evans from Blue In Green

 

Floyd Cramer: On the Rebound

 

Professor Longhair: "Mardi Gras In New Orleans" (1950):



Arnie

 

Little Richard: "Lucille" (1957):



Arnie

 

The OP post reminds me that I have always like the connection riff between "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" on Elton John;s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road LP.

 

I also forgot the "piano exit" on Layla.

 

Love It To Death by Type O Negative

Brilliant piano riff incorporating high and low notes that is sustained for atmosphere, and works well in the quieter sections. Type O are the great undersung prog band of their time, being so much more than the gothic metal they were often pigeonholed as.

 

Such a beauty.

 

The third movement of Beethoven's Waldstein sonata.

 

Easy and a classic:

 

Yep.... Good one !

 

The piano intro to Frank and Jesse James by Warren Zevon and the piano solo midway through blow me away every time .

 

The piano riff that defines the melody of Tubular Bells.

 

Traffic, Glad
(impossible to pick one only, but I am just surprised this one popped into my head!_)

 

ASIA MINOR

 

Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
That piano loop is sick, forgot where RZA got that from.

 

I'm not sure I really have a favorite but I love the intro/verses on this one. I've always found this a very odd song though, the verses are just haunting and stunning and then the chorus leaves me completely disappointed!

 

Slightly off topic, but this reminds me of a funny story. Many years ago, I was trying to enlist a highly sought after local keyboardist to join our cover band, to replace a departing member. I mentioned that we do some Elton John ( we were doing Love Lies Bleeding, Take Me To The Pilot, All the Young Girls). He says "Elton John? What Elton John? Cause I gotta tell ya, if it's Bennie and the Jets, I'm outta here"

To the OP, favorite piano riff: the Beatles, "Hey Bulldog".