What is the most famous bass line? Can be from a song, movie, TV series, national anthem, Mozart . . . whatever.

Let's exclude lines played by bass and guitar together (ie, Sunshine Of Your Love or Whole Lotta Love).

My candidates:

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (1966) sung by Nancy Sinatra, double bass played by Chuck Berghofer (Carol Kaye played bass guitar on the track, but not the famous bass line)

My Girl 1964 by The Temptations. The track was recorded by the Motown "Funk Brothers" so the bass guitar player was probably James Jamerson.

Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys - Carol Kaye played bass guitar on the recording.

The main theme from Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

You said no bass and guitar not bass and entire orchestra.

A few maybe lesser-known great bass lines. You didn't say it had to be world-famous.

"Closer to Home" by Grand Funk Railroad

"The Emerald" or "Cowboy Song" by Thin Lizzy

"Green Grass and High Tides Forever" or "There Goes Another Love Song" by the Outlaws

"Rock and Roll All Night" by Kiss

Just to add fuel to the fire.............

Walking On The Moon--The Police

How about the "Barney Miller" theme?

and Seinfeld (even though it's not played on a bass)

How about Green Onion or the bassline from the Peter Gunn Theme? How about Lou Reed's Take a Walk on the Wild Side.

Another One Bites The Dust

Lee Dorman's opening riff on "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."

John Entwhitle's line in "My Generation."

Berry Oakley's opening riff in "Whipping Post"

Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed

"Come Together"

Prince - Kiss

Sweet Emotion -Aerosmith
Boris the Spider -Who
Under Pressure -Queen
Money -Pink Floyd
Mario Brothers theme
Stand By Me

Chic - "good times".

Sample used for "Rappers Delight" by the Sugarhill gang.

And of course the classic scene in the Wedding Singer.

Feel like its been a while since i have posted.

Hows things everybody?

Alannah Myles - Black Velvet

Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure

Melissa Etheridge - The Way I Do

Tally Banner & The Suicide Bombers

I don't know how 'famous' they are, but my candidates (aside of many that have been mentioned)

The theme from Law & Order SVU
One of These Days- Pink Floyd
Crazy Little Thing Called Love- Queen
Hey You- Pink Floyd
Most anything by Jaco
Vic Wooten's "Amazing Grace" using harmonics
Who's Crying Now- Journey
Come Together- the Beatles
Wouldn't Want to Be Like You- Alan Parsons Project
Stayin' Alive- BeeGees

Those are some that came to me. There are more, but this is a good start

There are some pretty off-the-wall suggestions in some of the posts.

How about a song that someone who is not a musician and certainly not a bass player will recognize immediately from the bass line?

Come Together is certainly one of those.

I was going to say Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman", but if I remember correctly that was guitar and bass.

How about the Beatles' "Day Tripper"? People definitely recognize that one from the bassline.

Definately the Peter Gunn theme.

When Doves Cry - Prince

Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations
Silly Love Songs - Wings
The Real Me - The Who

+1
Those opening 2 notes are just magic.

Probably mentioned a few times, Queen - "Under Pressure"

Good criterion for selection. My thoughts, including some already mentioned. In no particular order, at that.

"Money" by Pink Floyd
"I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5
"Walking on the Moon" by The Police
"Glide" by Pleasure
"Walk on the Wildside" by Lou Reed ("Can I Kick It? Yes, you can...")
"Good Times" by Chic
"Express Yourself" by Charles Watts et all
"So What" by Miles Davis

Peace.
--s to the u to the u

Wise ass. There's no bass on that song. Nice try.

Another Brick in the Wall P.2

Dreams- Fleetwood Mac (I think it would be recognizeable to a non- bass player. If not, "The Chain" most likely would.)

Come as you are- Nirvana ( I've played it while noodling and people recognize it)

Among other things, I am the OP.

Lots of great bass lines posted. I think the problem is how to define "famous". I did mean famous among the general US population. But there is a big generational factor. I am over 60 years old, so I was around for The Peter Gun TV series and Nancy Sinatra, and Money (man, that is great and famous line). But, would someone who is 20 years old today even know any of this music? Isn't this the MP3, Lady GaGa, Britney Spears and Kanye West generation?

If the opening of B's 5th can be called a bass line (and I would argue that it is a bass line that the whole orchestra is playing - read the sheet music), then without doubt it is the most famous ever. I would bet that even Ms Spears knows the 5th (well, maybe not).

I'm sure that Ms. Spears has both drunk a fifth and taken the fifth on various occasions. She might even have heard Beethoven's Fifth at some time.