To complement the new Pulse section, we at the Daily decided to do something a little different this semester. Not only are we compromising our health and sanity for your reading pleasure in the new WTF section, each week in Highnote we’ll be ranking the best and worst of movies, music, people, TV, video games — nothing is safe from the scorn and/or exaltation of your friendly neighborhood newspaper.

To kick off the semester, we decided to do a list that will most likely be hated, or at least vehemently disagreed with, by most of the student body: The greatest song intros of all time.

Originality was a key deciding factor in what songs got on the list, as were how influential and recognizable they are. Being awesome didn’t hurt either. We tried to avoid cliches (hence no “Stairway to Heaven”), but sometimes songs are cliche for a reason — they’re just really good.

Our perfection with these lists is on par with Michael Jackson’s parenting, so we seek your feedback. If you love it, hate it or have an idea for a future ranking, let us know.

Enjoy.

1. “Voodoo Child,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Jimi Hendrix opens this song wailing on his Strat for more than a minute. The only thing that could make this intro better is if Hendrix wailed on guitar for more than an hour. The same can be said for “Purple Haze,” which, along with nearly every other Hendrix song, could feasibly have been near the top of this list.

2. “Baba O’Riley,” The Who

Epic.

That’s the best way to describe “Baba O’Riley.” There’s some pounding piano, Pete Townshend plays a tingly sounding guitar and Keith Moon, the best — and probably most insane — drummer rock has ever seen, drums furiously. Plus, it’s the freaking Who.

3. “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana

Sure, it’s only four basic chords. And yes, a drunk eleven-year-old could play it. But what that alcoholic adolescent doesn’t have is Dave Grohl on drums, which is what turned this good intro into something great.

4. “Layla,” Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton on guitar. Enough said.

5. “Hells Bells,” AC/DC

A valid argument can be made for at least six AC/DC songs to appear on this list. But that just wouldn’t be fair to other bands, so we had to go with the best of the best, and it was not an easy decision.

6. “Immigrant Song,” Led Zeppelin

It’s only 19 seconds long, but it’s better than the first four minutes of “Stairway to Heaven.” Actually, those 19 seconds are better than all of pretty much every other song ever made.

7. “Money,” Pink Floyd

Who besides Wal-Mart executives and Uncle Scrooge from DuckTales would think of the sound of a cash register and bags of money as music?

8. “The Seed,” The Roots

Finally, some hip-hop artists took a break from ripping off Stevie Wonder and George Clinton to do something original. The result? The best, catchiest hip-hop intro ever, from a rap group on par with Sugar Hill Gang, NWA and Public Enemy.

9. “Sunshine of Your Love,” Cream

See No. 4. Then add in Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, two of the most underrated musicians of all time.

10. “Loser,” Beck

If this was a list of the most nonsensical lyrics ever written, “Loser” would be No. 1. But the typical Beck quirkiness really shines through on the intro, which is the best part of this song.

11. “Enter Sandman,” Metallica

The obvious choice? Yes. The pinnacle of heavy-metal intros? Yes. Does it deserve to be higher on the list? You tell us.

12. “Kashmir,” Led Zeppelin / “Crazy Train,” Ozzy Osbourne/ “Under Pressure,” David Bowie and Queen

The common thread among these songs? All of them were desecrated by much less talented rappers (unless you believe Vanilla Ice’s side of the story). Hey hip-hoppers — take a cue from The Roots and do something original!

13. “Sweet Home Alabama,” Lynyrd Skynyrd

This song, written for deceased Southern rocker Duane Allman, has had sorority sisters screaming obnoxiously in bars from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Ore., for years. Every person in America, despite most of them not being able to point out Alabama on a map, knows this song.

14. “Cowboys From Hell,” Pantera

The late Dimebag Darrell Abbott takes a shot at the entire state of Texas with one opening riff. RIP, Dimebag — we know you’re wrangling with the cowboys in heaven now.

15. “Start Me Up,” The Rolling Stones / “Blitzkrieg Bop,” The Ramones

The Stones and the Ramones. Why would they possibly be lumped together, you ask? Football. These two songs, with the best opening riffs from their respective band’s collection (and that’s impressive), are played at every professional football game. Every single one.

16. “Devil’s Dance Floor,” Flogging Molly

If Michael Flatley were a punk, this would be his theme song. The intro is more Irish than U2 could ever dream to be.

17. “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” Blue Oyster Cult

In 1976, the members of Blue Oyster Cult had a fever, and the only prescription was more cowbell. So, in desperation, the band released “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Problem solved.

18. “La Grange,” ZZ Top

This song is on every movie soundtrack between 1973 and 1990. And most of them after 1990, for that matter.

19. “The Trooper,” Iron Maiden

The is the ultimate metal song. If you’re a metalhead and haven’t at least attempted to play the intro to “The Trooper” on guitar, guess what — you’re not a metalhead.

20. “Use Me Up,” Bill Withers

Another piece of soundtrack gold. Bill Withers is probably second in the babies-made-to-their-music category, just behind Barry White. Well, maybe third — Air Supply has to be up there toward the top.

Runners-up Raining Blood, Slayer; Mary Jane’s Last Dance, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; For What It’s Worth, Buffalo Springfield; Eighth Wonder, Sugar Hill Gang; Low Rider, War; Super Freak, Rick James; What’s Golden, Jurassic 5; Beautiful Disaster, 311; Smoke on the Water, Deep Purple; B is for Brutus, The Hives; Play that Funky Music, Wild Cherry; Come Together, The Beatles; When I Come Around, Green Day