Songs where an atypical instrument makes the song stand out?

[Terzo]

A while back I was entranced by Moldova's entry to Eurovison, mostly because of the appropriately dubbed epic sax guy.
Now, our radio overlords have started playing Stereo Love, a trance song with a wonderful accordion accompaniment. Music to my ears.

What are some of your favorite songs that feature an instrument you don't typically hear? Anything works as long as it's unusual; such as an oboe in a rock band or a bagpipe with an orchestra.

 

[ProfJohn]

Paint it Black and the sitar

Saw them live years ago and he played the intro on a guitar and it just isn't the same.

 

[ProfJohn]

God Only Knows and the French Horns during the intro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfH_J4MAUQ

 

[ProfJohn]

One more...

Good Vibrations with the Electro-Theremin. Easily one of the greatest songs of all time, top 10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCeD_6Y3GQc

 

[DrPizza]

Lunatic Fringe (Red Rider) whatever that guitar-like thing is called (I can't remember its name.)
2:28 on this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTFVMMCwsss

And the use of a flute in Jethro Tull songs.
edit:
Wow, those guys were amazing in concert - I had never seen anything live by them before.
(Unless, by amazing, you mean choreographed prancing around the stage and singing with an auto-tuner; I'm talking about singing & instrumental ability.)
Locomotive Breath: (with flute) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmcLfq1cKGA
Also, the piano really stands out more than in typical rock songs with keyboards.
Aqualung (no flute, but posted for its awesomeness) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqZmtq5LhFo

 

[NikolaeVarius]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQsWpcwvmI0

Zero- Keiki Kobayashi

Spanish Guitar, Epic Choir, also set to one of the most amazing levels in video games.

Fuck yeah.

 

[ProfJohn]

Lunatic Fringe (Red Rider) whatever that guitar-like thing is called (I can't remember its name.)
2:28 on this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTFVMMCwsss

And the use of a flute in Jethro Tull songs.

Wow... that video has totally ruined that song for me.

From epic badass song to gay looking blonde dude?? WTF??
All early 80s rock videos should be destroyed.

 

[DrPizza]

Wow... that video has totally ruined that song for me.

From epic badass song to gay looking blonde dude?? WTF??
All early 80s rock videos should be destroyed.

Agreed. At least that video didn't really destroy their careers.
If you were an incredibly guitar player in the 80's, and had hit after hit with your songs, it was very possible to destroy your career with one... lame... video
He did this video: just watch the beginning; as a kid in the 80's, you were trying to have photographic memory about every 5 seconds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW0MY_KhL7Q -good rock video from the 80's
Billy Squier - The Stroke, Lonely is the Night, My Kind of Lover, Everybody Wants You, In The Dark, Don't Say You Love me - hit, hit, hit, hit, hit, hit
Career ruiner: (this'll ruin the song for those who like it)
(Extra credit if you can make it more than 1:30 into the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR0j7sModCI


And, wow, Jethro Tull was still awesome decades later:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4F4h-QLnjg

 

[ProfJohn]

Was that video directed by Freddie Mercury??

 

[Gibsons]

Penny Lane - piccolo trumpet
Supergrass - Richard III - theremin

 

[Druidx]

The violin made several Kansas songs such as Dust in the Wind & Miracles Out Of Nowhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnt3I2RvhXw

Their overall musicianship was ahead of most of the bands at the time. I saw them during their small coming home tour backed by the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra. The music was amazing, unfortunately Steve Walsh's voice no longer does the songs justice.

 

[Rubycon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaoIDEnbR0o

Not only the music was unplugged.

Nothing like running the theater! :awe:

 

[zinfamous]

anything with a vibraslap.

 

[Rubycon]

anything with a vibraslap.

Love the vibraslap. :awe:

 

[Fritzo]

Whole Lotta Love comes to mind first---how many songs do you hear a theramin in?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Rlr0FgSVc

 

[Terzo]

The violin made several Kansas songs such as Dust in the Wind & Miracles Out Of Nowhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnt3I2RvhXw

Their overall musicianship was ahead of most of the bands at the time. I saw them during their small coming home tour backed by the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra. The music was amazing, unfortunately Steve Walsh's voice no longer does the songs justice.

:thumbsup:
Probably my favorite mention thus far.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Some good mentions in here. I'll add one.

Breaking the Girl by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Instruments used included various junkyard debris found by members of the band, and a Mellotron (using a flute patch).

Video of them recording on the junkyard debris.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've always loved this album...Flute, xylophone, mad man on lead vocals!!! What could go wrong?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toHlMD50eYY

I actually had the good fortune to see them live at SPAC in the mid 80s.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

behold the siren's song of communism - the theremin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI

 

[zinfamous]

Whole Lotta Love comes to mind first---how many songs do you hear a theramin in?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Rlr0FgSVc

a lot, actually. but I do like it.

actually, next to vibraslap, theramin was the first thing that popped into my head.