Unforgettable first lines

Can you recognize these songs by their first words? Let's see!

Published on July 16, 2025

Credit: Igor Sanches

Can you hear the tune just by reading the first few words of a famous song? We think you can. In fact, we’ve picked 15 songs so familiar that just a glance at the opening line should bring the melody, title, and artist straight to mind. Think you can guess them all? Let’s find out!

"I see trees of green…"

Credit: Valentin S

This line is tied not just to a particular melody, but to a particular voice as well! Can’t you hear Louis Armstrong’s raspy tone just by reading it? Yes, that’s the iconic "What a Wonderful World," which Armstrong recorded in 1967, as legend has it, with a smile on his face.

"Hello, darkness, my old friend…"

Credit: Екатерина Васильева

Here’s another case where just reading the words is enough to hear the voice—or, in this case, both voices! The signature counterpoint between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel in "The Sound of Silence" is unforgettable. So… had you really forgotten it?

"At first I was afraid, I was petrified…"

Credit: BRUNO CERVERA

The opening words of this breakup anthem are impossible to ignore. This lyric has been strutting through our minds since 1978. It’s Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic, "I Will Survive." Can you believe that she recorded it just weeks after a spinal surgery, singing in a back brace? You definitely can’t tell by her powerful vocals!

"On a dark desert highway…"

Credit: Peter Mizsak

Some might joke that the next words are "...Cool Whip in my hair." Of course, those aren’t the correct lyrics. Have you identified it yet? It’s none other than "Hotel California" by the Eagles. The eerie story about a hotel that one "can never leave" is as unforgettable as the ominous first line.

"Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame…"

Credit: frame harirak

Here’s a clue: the name of the song rhymes with those opening words. Got it? Cue the air guitars and big hair—this is Bon Jovi’s "You Give Love a Bad Name," which became the band’s first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986.

"Just a small-town girl…"

Credit: Pavel Danilov

Where was the small-town girl living? You should be able to tell if you recognize the song!

This is Journey’s rock anthem, "Don’t Stop Believin’." Steve Perry’s voice, that iconic piano riff, the slow build-up to the chorus by the end of the song—it’s all unforgettable. Definitely hard to miss.

"I don't want a lot for Christmas..."

Credit: Valeria Vinnik

Admit it—you’re already humming it. You’d have to spend every December hiding under a rock not to know this seasonal anthem. Did you know that "All I Want for Christmas Is You" earns Mariah Carey an estimated $2.5 million every year? Now that’s a timeless hit!

"It’s 9 o’clock on a Saturday, the regular crowd shuffles in…"

Credit: Merve Nur Türker

If you read those words and immediately pictured a beer mug atop a wooden piano, you’ve got it. This is Billy Joel’s "Piano Man," a karaoke must. Did you know the song is based on Joel’s own experience playing piano at a dive bar in L.A., and that it features real-life characters he met there?

"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?"

Credit: Oscar Keys

If your brain immediately followed that with "Caught in a landslide…," you win this point. This is "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. Released in 1975, it defied nearly every music industry rule—nearly six minutes long, an operatic interlude, no chorus. But Freddie Mercury knew exactly what he was doing.

"There is a house in New Orleans…"

Credit: Anne-Marie Allesø Rasmussen

A haunting folk tune that became a British Invasion staple in the ’60s. The Animals’ version of "The House of the Rising Sun" spread its fame worldwide, but the song is much older. It dates back to at least the 19th century, possibly earlier, passed down through Appalachian folk singers.

"When I find myself in times of trouble…"

Credit: Friso Baaij

Hopefully, this one is easy. Paul McCartney wrote the song in 1968 after dreaming about his mother, Mary, who died when he was 14. In the dream, she told him, "It’s going to be okay. Just let it be." This, of course, became "Let It Be," The Beatles’ final single before their breakup.

"Please allow me to introduce myself…"

Credit: Ander Burdain

What an elegant way to start a song in the first person. Suave and a little too charming, this line kicks off "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones. The song was inspired by The Master and Margarita, a Soviet novel about the Devil visiting Moscow.

"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk…"

Credit: NEOSiAM 2024+

If you do recognize the song, you immediately start moving your foot along to the rhythm. Of course, it’s "Stayin’ Alive" by the Bee Gees. Fun fact: CPR instructors use this song’s tempo—about 104 beats per minute—to teach how fast to perform chest compressions.

"Turn around…"

Credit: Matt Nelson

The most difficult one comes last! Those two words are enough for some to recognize the iconic ’80s power ballad. Who can resist singing dramatically along to the chorus of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler? Even now, it still gives us chills.

Word twins that aren’t

You think you know what these words mean... But you probably don't!

Published on July 16, 2025

Credit: Eileen Pan

You’re not the only one who thinks the English language plays tricks on us. Plenty of everyday word pairs sound like they’re interchangeable, but using the wrong one can make all the difference. You know what they say: the devil’s in the details. So today, we’re unpacking a few of those tricky duos that people tend to mix up. Buckle up for a fun little language tune-up. It’s never too late to outsmart your spellcheck.

Negative reinforcement vs. punishment

Credit: Victor G

Contrary to what you might think, negative reinforcement isn’t about scolding—it’s actually about removing something unpleasant to encourage a behavior. Punishment, on the other hand, involves adding something unpleasant to stop a behavior.

So, if you want to discourage your dog from chewing shoes, a punishment might be a firm "No!", while negative reinforcement could involve removing a leash restriction after the dog stops barking. Remember: one removes to reward, the other adds to deter.

Prejudice vs. discrimination

Credit: Tim Mossholder

Prejudice lives in the mind: it’s a preconceived opinion about someone based on group identity. Discrimination? That’s when you act on that opinion. For example, someone might think all redheads are hot-tempered (prejudice), but if they refuse to hire one (discrimination), that’s when it crosses the line. Both are harmful, but one’s silent, and the other speaks volumes. And we would advise against both anyway!

Race vs. ethnicity

Credit: Joeyy Lee

This one’s a classic. While race often refers to physical traits like skin color—think White, Black, or Asian—ethnicity digs deeper, encompassing culture, language, and ancestry, like Irish American, Korean, or Ashkenazi Jewish.

You can belong to the same race but be part of very different ethnic groups. For example, two people might be considered "Asian" by race but have entirely different cultures if one is from India and the other from Japan.

Disease vs. illness

Credit: Kelly Sikkema

Here’s a helpful distinction: disease is the malfunction; illness is the experience. Disease is what the doctor diagnoses—say, bronchitis. Illness, on the other hand, is how you feel while you’re stuck in bed binge-watching old Westerns with a box of tissues.

It’s possible to have a disease and feel just fine, or to feel ill without knowing the exact disease yet. Sociologists use this distinction to better understand how culture and emotions influence how people seek treatment. It’s why two people with the same diagnosis might cope in very different ways.

Anxiety vs. fear

Credit: mali desha

They both feel unpleasant, that’s for sure—but anxiety and fear are not the same. Fear is your brain saying, "Danger is here!" Anxiety is your brain saying, "Something might go wrong," even if it’s just in your mind.

Fear is about an immediate, unavoidable threat. Anxiety is more like a long-term guest who overstays their welcome, even after the threat is gone. They also show up differently in your body and brain. Knowing which one you’re experiencing can help you cope more effectively.

Empathy vs. sympathy

Credit: Saulo Meza

These two are emotional cousins, but most people use them interchangeably. Empathy is when you feel with someone, like you step into their shoes and walk around a bit. Sympathy is when you feel for someone, offering comfort from the outside.

Empathy connects more deeply but takes more energy; sympathy is often where people start. Both are kind, but one reaches across the table, and the other passes the tissues. Either way, we need more of both in the world, don’t you think?

Delusion vs. hallucination

Credit: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona

Let’s clear this one up: a delusion is a belief that isn’t based in reality, while a hallucination is a perception that isn’t based in reality. Think of it this way: if someone believes the government is watching them through their TV (when it isn’t), that’s a delusion. If someone sees people in the room who aren’t there, that’s a hallucination.

One is about what’s believed to be true; the other is about what’s actually sensed. Both are serious symptoms often linked to mental health conditions, but they’re very different in nature and require different approaches to treatment.

Obsession vs. compulsion

Credit: Deniz Demirci

If you’ve ever said, "I’m obsessed with crossword puzzles," you’re probably not using the clinical definition. In psychology, an obsession is an intrusive thought or image you can’t shake. A compulsion is the ritual or behavior you feel forced to do in response.

Obsessions might involve a fear of germs; compulsions might include constant handwashing. According to the DSM, compulsions follow rigid rules, while obsessions are mental intruders. They often go hand in hand, but they’re distinct players in the OCD story.

Testing vs. assessment

Credit: Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu

Testing is all about collecting data, scores on an IQ test, and answers on a personality inventory. Assessment is putting those puzzle pieces together to understand the person or situation as a whole.

A single test score can say something, but an assessment interprets what it means in real life. Scientists use both to theorize and come up with explanations and solutions. But confusing the two can lead to misunderstanding the process, and your results.

Psychopath vs. sociopath

Credit: Viktor Talashuk

These two terms are often tossed around interchangeably in movies, but they’re not the same. Psychopaths are typically cold, calculated, and harder to spot in a crowd. Sociopaths are more impulsive, emotional, and prone to erratic behavior.

What do they have in common? Both fall under the broader category of antisocial personality disorder. While the terms aren’t used as official diagnoses, they describe different shades of the same behavioral spectrum.