"Ride" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo

Twenty One Pilots Twenty One Pilots (stylized in Letter case, all lowercase or as twenty øne piløts) are an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio. Initially a band, the group was formed in 2009 by lead vocalist Tyler Joseph along with Nick Thomas and Chris ...

, from their fourth studio album, ''

Blurryface ''Blurryface'' (stylized as ') is the fourth studio album by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released on May 17, 2015, through Fueled by Ramen. The album is primarily an alternative hip hop, electropop, indie pop, and reggae album ...

''. "Ride" was originally released as a promotional single on

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

on May 11, 2015. The music video for the song was released on

the following day. It was serviced to US

contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by ...

on April 16, 2016, as the album's fifth official single. The song peaked at number five on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Composition

"Ride" is an uptempo

alternative rap Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a subgenre of hip hop music that encompasses a wide range of styles that are not typically identified as mainstream. AllMusic defines it as comprising " hip hop groups that refuse to confor ...

song that lasts for a duration of three minutes and thirty-four seconds. The track combines elements of

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

, hip hop,

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

, electro and pop. According to the

sheet music Sheet music is a handwritten or printed form of musical notation that uses List of musical symbols, musical symbols to indicate the pitches, rhythms, or chord (music), chords of a song or instrumental Musical composition, musical piece. Like ...

published at Musicnotes.com by

Alfred Music Alfred Music is an American music publishing company. Founded in New York in 1922, it is headquartered in Van Nuys, California, with additional branches in Miami, New York, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. History In New York City ...

, it written in the

time signature The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...

common time The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...

, with a fast

tempo In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...

of 150

beats per minute Beat, beats or beating may refer to: Common uses * Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area ** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols ** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men * Battery ( ...

. "Ride" is composed in the

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

G-flat major G-flat major (or the key of G-flat) is a major scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has six flats. Its relative minor is E-flat minor (or enharmonically D-sharp minor), and its parallel ...

, while Tyler Joseph's

vocal range Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of stud ...

ranges from a low of D₃ to a high of B₄. The song has a basic sequence of G–Am–Em–C/D during the

introduction Introduction, The Introduction, Intro, or The Intro may refer to: General use * Introduction (music), an opening section of a piece of music * Introduction (writing), a beginning section to a book, article or essay which states its purpose and g ...

, changes to G–Am–Em–C–G–Am–Em–D_sus2 in the sung verse, has G–Am–Em–C during the

pre-chorus Song structure is the arrangement of a song, and is a part of the songwriting process. It is typically sectional, which uses repeating forms in songs. Common forms include bar form, 32-bar form, verse–chorus form, ternary form, strophic form, and ...

, follows G–Am–Em–C–G–Am–Em–D_sus2 at the refrain, changes to G–Am–Em–C–G–Am– Em–C/D in the rap verse and follows G–Am–D–Em–Am_7(add4)–Em–D–D/F during the

bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...

as its

chord progression In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in Western musical tradition from the common practice ...

. The musical composition has a mix of infectious parts built on a rich reggae influence infused with rock sounds. The chilled-out number instrumentally exudes an upbeat reggae vibe, being drenched deeply in

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

-tinged

riff A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompani ...

s and shimmery

synth A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...

s. Josh Dun's slow, one-two

drum beat A drum beat or drum pattern is a rhythmic pattern, or repeated rhythm establishing the meter and groove through the pulse and subdivision, played on drum kits and other percussion instruments. As such a "beat" consists of multiple drum strokes ...

binds together the track alongside a dark, brooding

bassline Bassline (also known as a bass line or bass part) is the term used in many styles of music, such as blues, jazz, funk, Dub music, dub and electronic music, electronic, traditional music, traditional, or classical music for the low-pitched Part ( ...

. His drumming provides the upbeat track with rhythmic dexterity, playing in a punk-inspired fashion. Joseph recites contemplative rhymes over

electropop Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...

-oriented reggae beats. His vocal parts demonstrate a crisp delivery, one that abruptly goes from

balladry A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

rapping Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

screaming A scream is a loud speech production, vocalization in which air is passed through the vocal cords with greater force than is used in regular or close-distance vocalisation. This can be performed by any creature possessing lungs, including human ...

. After singing an opening verse, Joseph delivers his lyrics in a hard,

staccato Staccato (; Italian for "detached") is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation, it signifies a note of shortened duration, separated from the note that may follow by silence. It has been described by theorists and has appeared in music ...

style of fast-paced rapping. The song's chorus and his proclamations come layered between verses that bear highly rhymthic sensibilities. The track's instrumental also takes dub-inspired deviations. At its bridge, Joseph engages in

call-and-response Call and response is a form of interaction between a speaker and an audience in which the speaker's statements ("calls") are punctuated by responses from the listeners. This form is also used in music, where it falls under the general category of ...

phrases. During the

breakdown Breakdown may refer to: Breaking down *Breakdown (vehicle), failure of a motor vehicle in such a way that it cannot be operated *Chemical decomposition, also called chemical breakdown, the breakdown of a substance into simpler components *Decompo ...

, he sings in a manner shifting between his regular voice and a ''

falsetto ''Falsetto'' (, ; Italian diminutive of , "false") is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous ed ...

''. The song builds over time, culminating in a towering climax which has Joseph's vocals emphatically soaring. The musical arrangement closes with a piano-driven conclusion. The lyrical content of "Ride" speaks about going with the flow and is home to

idiom An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, ...

s as well as an ominous message. Despite its upbeat atmosphere, the song harbors melancholic rumination concerning the

human condition The human condition is all of the characteristics and key events of human life, including birth, learning, emotion, aspiration, morality, conflict, and death. This is a very broad topic that has been and continues to be pondered and analyzed fr ...

. Joseph's apprehensive lyrics address

millennial Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the Western demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000 ...

angst Angst is fear or anxiety (''anguish'' is its Romance languages, Latinate cognate, equivalent, and the words ''anxious'' and ''anxiety'' are of similar origin). The dictionary definition for angst is a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insec ...

while discussing relatable life struggles. While he tries to relax and feel confident about his accomplishments, Joseph's mind digresses on who or what he'd die for and what is truly important in life. At one point, he proclaims, "Yeah I think about the end just way too much/But it's fun to fantasize." The song's chorus has Joseph elongating its syllables and shouting his lines: "Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride." He sings poignant lyrics with a hint of darkness that have him confessing, "I've been thinking too much/help me."

Critical reception

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

''s Garrett Kamps favorably compared "Ride" to the work of Jamaican sound engineer

King Tubby Osbourne Ruddock (28 January 1941 – 6 February 1989), better known as King Tubby, was a Jamaican sound engineer who greatly influenced the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s. Tubby's innovative studio work, which saw him elevate the ...

. Gab Ginsberg, from the same publication, called the single "irresistible." Erik Leijon of ''

Montreal Gazette The ''Montreal Gazette'', formerly titled ''The Gazette'', is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Three other daily English-language newspapers shuttered at various times during the second half of th ...

'' described "Ride" as "impossibly catchy faux-reggae." Jason Pettigrew from ''

Alternative Press Alternative press may refer to: Individual publications * ''Alternative Press'' (magazine), an American music magazine Alternative journalism * Alternative media ** Alternative media (U.S. political left) ** Alternative media (U.S. political ri ...

'' claimed it "might be the most happiest song in TOP's songbook, and there's ''still'' an ominous message." Mitchell Hillman for ''

Phoenix New Times ''Phoenix New Times'' is a free digital and print media company based in Phoenix, Arizona. ''New Times'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue ...

'' remarked that the song "is pushed even further into a blissful realm by Joseph's supersonic rapping." Chelsea Deeley from ''

Music Feeds ''Music Feeds'' is a free bi-weekly digital music and lifestyle magazine (street press) established in 2008 and based in Sydney, Australia. It is distributed electronically every second Tuesday, with additional material posted on the website r ...

'' praised the vocal parts Tyler Joseph contributed to the song, writing that it "showcases a succinct vocal delivery that can go from rapping to balladry to screaming in a heartbeat and flourish with complete satisfaction to the ears." ''

Kerrang ''Kerrang!'' is a British weekly magazine devoted to rock, punk and heavy metal music, currently published by Wasted Talent (the same company that owns electronic music publication ''Mixmag''). It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one-off ...

''s Sam Law described "Ride" by saying, "Ostensibly the most upbeat track in the twenty one pilots back-catalogue... Wearing its rich reggae influence on its (short) sleeve, luxuriating in a deep well of Caribbean-kissed riffage and shimmering synth-work, it introduced newcomers to another infectious facet of their sound." Anne Nickoloff and Troy Smith for ''

The Plain Dealer ''The Plain Dealer'' is the major newspaper of Cleveland, Ohio, United States. In fall 2019, it ranked 23rd in U.S. newspaper circulation, a significant drop since March 2013, when its circulation ranked 17th daily and 15th on Sunday. As of Ma ...

'' considered the single "a hodgepodge of everything the band does best." Conversely, George Palathingal for ''

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...

'' claimed, "'Ride, meanwhile, proves an equal-opportunity offender to fans of dub, hip-hop and rock." Likewise, Philip Cosores from ''

Consequence of Sound ''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...

'' questioned, "Is this the future of rock? A little hip-hop, a little dub, a little aggravating, and a lotta catchy?" He concludes, "'Ride' represents the worst-case scenario for Twenty One Pilots — a musical cornucopia that lacks for good taste."

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number one on the

Hot Rock Songs Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (formerly known as Rock Songs and Hot Rock Songs) is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine. From its debut on June 20, 2009, through October 13, 2012, the chart ranked the airplay of songs across alternati ...

Mainstream Top 40 Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...

, and

Alternative Songs Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks (1988–2009) and Alternative Songs (2009–2020)) is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in ''Billboard'' magazine since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played ...

charts, number four on the

Adult Top 40 The Adult Pop Airplay (formerly known as Adult Pop Songs and Adult Top 40) chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and ranks "the most popular adult top 40 as based on radio airplay detections measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems ...

chart and number five on the

Hot Dance Airplay Dance/Mix Show Airplay (formerly Hot Dance Airplay) is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. History The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic d ...

chart. The former ranking, coupled with " Heathens" positioned at number four, made Twenty One Pilots the third rock act with simultaneous top five Hot 100 singles in the chart's 58-year history, following only

the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

and

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

, making them the first act in 47 years to achieve this milestone. It is the duo's third highest ranking single to date, behind "

Stressed Out "Stressed Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released as a promotional single from their fourth studio album, ''Blurryface'' (2015). Produced by Mike Elizondo and recorded at studios in Los Ang ...

" and " Heathens". "Ride" has also reached the top 20 in various other countries, including Australia, Canada, Slovakia and France. As of December 2016, "Ride" has sold over 1.2 million copies in the US.

Music video

The music video for "Ride" demonstrates a stark contrast of a performance within a forest, abruptly transitioning from the dark to daylight. It showcases Tyler Joseph playing

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

wearing white-rimmed sunglasses while Josh Dun performs on drums. The white-rimmed pair of sunglasses seen in the video for "Ride" have since become part of Joseph's signature attire. The video, as of April 2022, has over 1.25 billion views on YouTube.

Reception

Rachel Campell from ''

'' commented, "While this track instrumentally gives off an upbeat, reggae vibe, the video for it is anything but, showing a stark contrast of a forest performance in the dark and in daylight. The one unique thing about it is Joseph plays bass, a talent minimally showcased in their live performances as he normally runs, crashes and dances across the stage while Josh Dun holds it down on the drums." Writing for the same publication, Jessica Bridgeman complimented Joseph's stylish fashion sense, saying, "Who needs boring

Aviators An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they ar ...

when you can step out in some statement shades, à la Tyler?" The music video for the single "Ride" has since surpassed a billion views on

. Although this is not the first time Twenty One Pilots have achieved such a feat, it still remains an uncommon figure for

and

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

bands to reach. In modern times, only the band

Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. The band's current lineup comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave Farrell, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn and drummer ...

alongside the duo's videos for " Heathens" and "

" have experienced similar success and broken the barrier.

Live performances

Twenty One Pilots performed "Ride" during a concert held at

Comerica Theatre The Arizona Financial Theatre (formerly known as the Dodge Theatre, the Comerica Theatre and the Arizona Federal Theatre) is a multi-use theatre in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The venue seats 5,000 people. History Jerry Colangelo, longtime fo ...

Downtown Phoenix Downtown Phoenix is the central business district (CBD) of the City of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is located in the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area or Valley of the Sun. Phoenix, being the county seat of Maricopa County and ...

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

. For the performance, Tyler Joseph picked up and played a

. Their rendition close with Josh Dun's drum kit being brought into the pit while a crowd of fans kept him afloat. With the lower half of their faces half-covered in balaclava, Twenty One Pilots provided a live performance of "Ride" during a concert at UNSW Roundhouse in

Sydney, Australia Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...

on April 20, 2016. They performed the song an at the

Forum Forum or The Forum (plural forums or fora) may refer to: Common uses * Forum (legal), designated space for public expression in the United States *Forum (Roman), open public space within a Roman city **Roman Forum, most famous example *Internet ...

in Inglewood, California during their

Emotional Roadshow World Tour Emotional Roadshow World Tour (stylized as EMØTIØNAL RØADSHØW WØRLD TØUR) is the fifth concert tour by the American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, in support of their album ''Blurryface''. The tour began on May 31, 2016 in Cincinnati and c ...

. After drummer Josh Dun played a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

of "

My Heart Will Go On "My Heart Will Go On" is a 1997 song recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion. The song serves as the main theme to James Cameron's blockbuster film '' Titanic'', based on an account of the transatlantic ocean liner of the same name which san ...

" by

Céline Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...

on trumpet, the duo segued into a performance of "Ride." It was accompanied by a visual set change, with the stage suddenly becoming crowded by nine additional musicians from their two opening acts as Dun played drums on a platform held afloat by fans in the pit. While still on the tour the duo provided a live rendition at the

Honda Center The Honda Center (formerly known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim) is an indoor arena located in Anaheim, California. The arena is home to the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. Originally named the Anaheim Arena during construction ...

in Anaheim on February 15, 2017. The concert was a spectacle, featuring two stages and a giant hamster ball. The band provided a live rendition of "Ride" during a concert at

Bell Centre Bell Centre (), formerly known as Molson Centre (), is a multi-purpose arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Opened on March 16, 1996, it is the home arena of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL), replacing the Montr ...

on May 22, 2019. After starting their show with a performance of " Holding on to You," they segued into a live rendition "Ride." The audience participated in a singalong during their performance.

Usage in media

The song appears on the soundtracks for the video games ''

WWE 2K17 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vari ...

'' and ''

Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 ''Pro Evolution Soccer 2017'' (officially abbreviated as ''PES 2017'', also known in some Asian countries as ''Winning Eleven 2017'') is a sports video game developed by PES Productions and published by Konami for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, ...

''.

Track listing

Personnel

Twenty One Pilots * Tyler Joseph – vocals, bass guitar, piano,

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

, guitar, organ, programming, synthesizers * Josh Dun – drums, percussion Additional musicians *

Ricky Reed Eric Burton Frederic (born July 23, 1982), known professionally as Ricky Reed, is an American artist, music producer, singer, songwriter, and founder of Nice Life Recording Company. From 2005 to 2014, Reed was also known as Wallpaper. Early w ...

– bass, programming, backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ride 2015 singles 2015 songs American reggae songs Reggae fusion songs American pop punk songs American hip hop songs Fueled by Ramen singles Songs written by Tyler Joseph Twenty One Pilots songs