CMT Blog: Archive

Was Fast Ryde Inspired by "Thug Story"?

Posted: May 19th, 2010 at 10:33 am  |  By: Alison Bonaguro  

The new video for Fast Ryde's "Top Down" has everything it needs to be a solid country video. Vintage convertible, fishing pole, coolers, popsicles, sparklers, bonfires, girls in sundresses and a hot lead singer. So I should love it. Right? But I can't seem to get past the auto-tune vocal effects. It makes the singing sound just like T-Pain's in his collaboration with Taylor Swift for "Thug Story." And in that video it made sense, because that's Pain's signature sound. Could that video have inspired Fast Ryde's James Harrison and Jody Stevens? The band's website says the video "breaks ground by introducing country music to the auto-tune effect, a technology that affects the vocal pitch that's usually found in pop and rock." What do you think?

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Reader Comments

  • joe says:

    Posted: May 19th, 2010 at 12:44 pm  

    Why not actually try and sing and not use auto-tune.

    How much did t-pain and taylor pay you to use this reference

  • sandy says:

    Posted: May 19th, 2010 at 1:14 pm  

    AWSOME!!! first time I hear this song..and I love it!!!

  • Always Right says:

    Posted: May 19th, 2010 at 2:40 pm  

    Grow up Sandy.

  • Moo says:

    Posted: May 19th, 2010 at 3:08 pm  

    All artists use Auto-Tune to help them stay in tune. That isn’t the case here… they’ve used it as an artistic expression of youth culture. It sounds NOW; why live in the past?!!
    Fast Ryde CAN sing… just listen to ‘Make it Rain’.

  • matt says:

    Posted: May 19th, 2010 at 3:50 pm  

    haha just when I think today’s country cant get any worse…along comes Fast Ryde! One of those songs that makes you tell a buddy “hey dude listen to how bad this song sucks” and then laugh about it

  • Tenn says:

    Posted: May 20th, 2010 at 8:28 am  

    how many songs are we going to hav about country riding in the ruck topdown girls swinging to the tunehaving fun - why is the autotune necessary??? Maybe to draw attention to the video because the song or the video wouldn’t stand out otherwise

  • Lindsay says:

    Posted: May 20th, 2010 at 12:41 pm  

    CMT Needs to get on it & play this video!!! THANK GOD FOR FASTRYDE FOR MAKING GREAT NEW COUNTRY MUSIC!!! They are definately just what we need!! Go to FastRyde.com and listen. These guys can ABSOLUTELY SING & PLAY!!! Great live show!!…I’m glad they can have a little fun & make us a SWEET summer song like Top Down!!!

  • Lindsay says:

    Posted: May 20th, 2010 at 12:49 pm  

    Don’t know why people love to hate. But for the people that can actually recognize talent & skill, we HAVE BEEN LOVING FAST RYDE FOR A LOOONG TIME!! Been rocking it on GAC, now CMT needs to play this video cuz its HOTT & we NEED MORE FAST RYDE!!

  • stacy says:

    Posted: May 20th, 2010 at 1:06 pm  

    Say it loud and proud! WE LOVE FAST RYDE!!!!! Always keep doin your thang boys! ……hey CMT, Play the Top Down video cuz the people that are sick of lame music, LOVE FAST RYDE!!!!

  • Ashley says:

    Posted: May 20th, 2010 at 1:22 pm  

    i agree with stacy and lindsay we love fast ryde and we’re proud of it. This video is great and so is the song. The video is fun and fresh. Just like these guys. Theyre are awesome guys. stop hating.

  • bucky says:

    Posted: May 20th, 2010 at 1:38 pm  

    These guys are great! Man I love this song! CMT should play the video for sure! I know GAC does. The video is really cool!

  • Tonis218 says:

    Posted: May 20th, 2010 at 3:33 pm  

    “Top down” is a fun, Summer song, the kind of song you really crank up and sing along to when driving down the highway, outside grilling some steaks, washing your car, all the summer stuff we all do while listening to some tunes while we do them! The auto tune effects just punch it up, and add the “fun” element to the song!! These guys can sing, check em out and see. Today’s country music isn’t your boring twang of yesteryear, it’s happening and “Top Down” is “today’s” country!! Love it!!!!

  • tiffany says:

    Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 1:43 am  

    I totally Love Fast Ryde!!!! Please play this video!!!

  • Lester says:

    Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 2:41 pm  

    I LOVE the song and the video. I have been a country music fan for years and Fast Ryde has added a new and exciting sound to country music!! Listen to their songs and the video is Awesome!!

  • jason says:

    Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 3:32 pm  

    This video is so cool! Fast Ryde makes great music & Country music is lucky to have gotten them! Keep it up guys!

  • D Trotter says:

    Posted: May 24th, 2010 at 1:06 am  

    Hard to find anything to dislike about a couple of good old boys havin’ summertime fun with pretty girls.

    Is the sound of auto tune effects really so revolutionary though? You hear the same effect with some of Tim McGraw’s stuff.

  • suzannne says:

    Posted: May 25th, 2010 at 5:56 am  

    This blog is wrong! Fast Ryde is amazing! Two really great guys making GREAT new music. CMT should play this video like crazy!!!

  • Jackie says:

    Posted: May 25th, 2010 at 7:27 pm  

    Heard this song on their myspace last year b4 Taylor

  • Jackie says:

    Posted: May 25th, 2010 at 7:28 pm  

    Maybe taylor heard their song and did thug story

  • tyler says:

    Posted: May 26th, 2010 at 7:09 am  

    Fast Ryde makes great music! The Top Down video is so cool! CMT should definately play it

  • niki says:

    Posted: May 26th, 2010 at 7:22 am  

    I JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF “TOP DOWN” AND FAST RYDE!!! Unstoppable talent. What’s not to love?! Great artists, writing their own songs, & killer guitars! …….oh yeah, & they can SING. Go watch a show

  • brandon says:

    Posted: May 26th, 2010 at 7:26 am  

    Why do people care about the auto tune?! Its for fun. Get over it. FastRyde KICKS ASS!!! Its as simple as that

  • nationsofstyle says:

    Posted: May 26th, 2010 at 8:44 pm  

    These Dudes are top notch talent - this song has been kickin it on the underground for over a year and the autotune just adds some flair - TRUST ME - These guys have talent and no matter what the haters say I have a feeling they will blow up before its all said and done…i’ve got my eye on these guys as the next big crossover act! CMT - I don’t know what your rotations are looking like but get on the boat because this is going all the way to the top!

  • sonyintelligence says:

    Posted: May 27th, 2010 at 9:22 am  

    First, they did not “Break Ground” introducing autotune to country music. HELLO… Cowboy Troy.. and artists NOT ALL, have been using it for years. I don’t mind the sound. I just don’t like the lyrics themselves. HEARD it HEARD it HEARD IT. The boys are trying too incredibly hard to get noticed. It’s sad, really. They will get attention and then POOF be gone. It’s time for REALNESS in country music. No more smoke, mirrors, cookie cutters, or anyone and their brother with a pop in high places helping them make a record. Uh hemm.. Cough.. fast ryde.

  • lauren says:

    Posted: June 3rd, 2010 at 11:30 pm  

    All I have to say is go see Fast Ryde live. They are DAMN GOOD. Can’t believe the amount of talent. They can sing, play & make all their own GREAT music. That’s pretty much all there is to it. They’re real & they rock!

  • GOODmusiclover says:

    Posted: June 4th, 2010 at 2:06 pm  

    Fast Ryde is with out a doubt REAL talent, making GREAT music. Oh yeah, & SMOKIN HOT!! Love “Top Down” and the video! Play it over & over & over!!!!

  • Countrymusicstation says:

    Posted: June 15th, 2010 at 11:04 pm  

    You know auto tune has been around since Cher used it in 1990 I believe. True, it is just an effect but it tends to go with Pop music. We are talking about Coutry music! Whats next, pull out the old record scratching effect & try to call that Coutry also? Just look at the greatest talent in Coutry Music. George Strait, Reba, Brooks & Dunn, just to name a few. If you have true tallent you don’t need the gimmicks & you might have longevity in Coutry Music like the greats I named above. You like pop music? Great! Go watch it on MTV or VH1. I prefer my Country to be new and fresh but, also be distinctively Country.
    Not a hater. Just love Coutry Music.

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