Here it is, the potentially longest running thread in the history of Internet forums, emerging as newborn before your eyes yet totally dependent on you for it's survival
Post now if you got one, post later if you think of one. There are no correct answers or notion of right or wrong, there is no prize money to be had. If doesn't even need to be a riff by definition, the keyword here is really iconic. Some synth part of a song that you always notice when you hear it, and it reminds you why you involved yourself with synths in the first place. Identifying the actual instrument used is not required but highly encouraged with the research tools we have in front of us today. Even if it doesn't sound as good on a modern ipod or youtube or whatever as it did back in the day on vinyl (let's face it, it's sometimes hard to bring the true sound back over sound media that it wasn't originally optimized for), throw it out there and see what happens. Links to the song containing riff in question also not required but encouraged?
Many examples come to my mind, but I don't want to bogart the thread, so I'll throw one out just to get us started, and will circle back to post more later:
"Let Me Go" - Heaven 17... their use of that TB-303 was an early example of "wubawub" bass that a lot of folks now think is something new:
As far as I can tell, this is the version most of us are familiar with (the song not the video playing here):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FmWZSQoG0
Original 12" (not the radio version most remember but highlights the TB303):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj8GBas6AJs
Quickly turned into modern trance track (like with UmpteePhooPhee BeePeeEms! wooooooo):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SetP4hyzdA
Old geezers coming back at it, with a JP-8000 on stage no less. Makes me feel good that I don't look my age yet ... My dad has held up better than this
:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH8kN5g_2ec