Best pauses/comebacks in the middle of a song

"Clearly," the new single by Grace VanderWaal:



Based loosely (with permission) on Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now."

 

Bee Gees--The Earnest of Being George

 

and the pause after the initial "sitting on the keyboard" noise, before the piano riff starts in "Shut Up" by Madness

 

No one said "Hotel California" yet?

 

I see this thread title, first thing is not the best - but it's a clear stand out to me..

That Whitney Houston version of Dolly's song - middle-ish end part (goes up a key too maybe)... "I will always love you, I will always love you, etc. etc. [BEAT].......... AND IIIIIII-yeee-IIIIII-yeee-III will always love youuuuu"

Jeff

 

"Going Down" by Jeff Beck does it a coupla times. I like to play it on the radio show and fool my cohost when he's running the board - he never remembers!

 

"In September, my cousin tried reefer for the very first time. Now he's doing horse...
[pause]
...it's June."

- Prince

 

Back in '89 when the song was climbing the charts, a lot of DJs were compelled to stick in a sound effect on that one, because it was such an unusually long pause for a pop song. Lots of comical "boing!" sounds, etc.

 

Lee Michaels "Do You Know What I Mean"...at about one minute 42 seconds in...

 

Joe Walsh & James Gang ~ Rides Again - The Bomber outro @ 6:44, 0:20 from the end of the track.

 

This is one of my favorites. 3:35 mark. Joe has a wonderful sense of humor.

 

When James Gurley plays a few chords, pauses, then he continues with his freak-psychedelic style
Edit: it’s not in the middle, but it rocks!

 

Devin Townsend Project: Heaven Send
Very lengthy pause starting @7:18

 

Styx: A.D. 1928/Rockin' the Paradise (@1:43)
One of my favorite Epic Pauses

 

This one might be known to only a few on here, but the Crowes dropped in a great pause on live versions of their “unreleased” song, “Feathers”. See 4:40: a bass walk down, pause, and Chris Robinson leads the band back in.

 

"Short Skirt Long Jacket," by Cake. A great pause at :50.

 

Grand Funk - Gimme Shelter near the end you think the song is over then they switch into high gear for super finish.

 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned "Couldn't Stand The Weather", Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. The pauses are near the beginning, though:

 

Venom-At War With Satan

 

The Auteurs -‘Show Girl’
28 secs.

 

"Too Much" - The Easybeats

 

There should be a subcategory of songs that stop on the word "stop."

 

Jimi Hendrix - If 6 Was 9

'Cause I got my own world to live through, and uh.. and I ain't gonna copy you...
1:29 [hiss] 1:32 White collar conservative flashing down the street...

(Listening now to the new Axis SACD)

 

This has been my favorite pause song for a long time now. 11 second pause, so effective. Sit back, relax and let the whole song ride.

Primal Scream - Give Out But Don’t Give Up (Portishead Remix)

 

Strawberry Fields - close thread