You know that feeling when the bass kicks in at a wedding and suddenly every aunt, cousin, and reluctant teenager is shuffling toward the dance floor? It's magnetic. Most of the time, that gravitational pull comes from one of two songs that people constantly mix up, even though they sound nothing alike. We're talking about the Quad City DJ’s classic C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) and the smooth, sultry vibes of Jay Sean’s Ride It.
Both tracks are legendary. They both use the word "ride." But they represent two completely different eras of "getting down."
Honestly, it’s kind of funny how "Come on ride the train and ride it song" has become a catch-all search term for people trying to find their favorite party anthem. One is a high-octane 1996 Miami bass explosion that demands you form a human chain. The other is a 2008 R&B slow-burn that found a second life as a viral TikTok remix. If you’ve ever found yourself humming "ride it, ride it" and weren't sure which rabbit hole you were falling down, you aren't alone. Let's peel back the layers on these two very different beasts of the music industry.
The Locomotion of the 90s: C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)
When the Quad City DJ’s dropped C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) in 1996, they weren't just making a song. They were creating a cultural mandate. This wasn't subtle music. It was loud, fast, and built on a relentless loop of Barry White’s "Theme from Together Brothers."
Think about the production for a second. Most people don't realize that the "choo-choo" sounds and the frantic pace were part of a specific movement called Miami Bass. It’s the same energy that gave us "Whoomp! (There It Is)." The group—consisting of Jay Ski, C.C. Lemonhead, and singer JeLana LaFleur—wanted something that felt like a literal ride. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, which is wild for a song that is essentially about pretending to be a locomotive.
It worked because it was accessible. You didn't need to be a professional dancer to join a conga line. The lyrics are basically instructions. "Come on, ride the train, hey, ride it." It’s repetitive, sure, but in a way that feels communal. It’s the sonic equivalent of a bouncy castle. You can't be sad while doing the train. It's physically impossible.
Why the 90s Train Never Stopped
Why does a song from 1996 still show up at every sporting event? Licensing. The track is a staple for stadium Jumbotrons. It’s the ultimate "get the crowd moving" tool. But there’s also a level of nostalgia that keeps it alive. For Gen X and older Millennials, this song represents the peak of the 90s "jock jam" era. It’s unpretentious.
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Actually, the song faced some criticism back in the day for being "novelty" music. Critics thought it would vanish in six months. They were wrong. It survived because it tapped into a primal human urge to follow a beat in a straight line. It’s the "Electric Slide" for people who like bass.
The Other Side of the Track: Jay Sean’s Ride It
Fast forward to 2008. The vibe shifted completely. Jay Sean released Ride It as part of his My Own Way album, and it was a massive departure from the train whistles of the previous decade. This was silky. It was bedroom R&B. It was the "ride it song" for a generation that wanted to look cool, not skip around a reception hall.
Jay Sean, a British-Asian artist who was breaking barriers at the time, brought a South Asian influence to mainstream pop-R&B. The original version of the song has these subtle Eastern strings and a mid-tempo groove that feels very "early 2000s club." It was a hit in the UK and across Europe, cementing him as a global star before he even hit the US charts with "Down."
The Regard Remix and the TikTok Resurrection
If you’re under the age of 25, you probably don't know the 2008 version. You know the Regard remix. In 2019, a DJ named Regard took the vocals, pitched them down, and layered them over a deep house beat.
It went nuclear.
Suddenly, the "ride it song" wasn't just an R&B throwback; it was the soundtrack to millions of "get ready with me" videos and dance challenges. The remix stripped away the R&B polish and turned it into something moody and hypnotic. It’s a perfect example of how a song’s DNA can be rewritten for a new audience. The original was about a romantic encounter; the remix is about the "vibe."
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Comparing the Two: A Tale of Two Tempos
It’s fascinating to look at these two tracks side-by-side because they occupy such different spaces in our brains.
- The Energy Factor: Quad City DJ’s is 136 BPM (Beats Per Minute). It’s a sprint. Jay Sean’s (especially the Regard remix) sits around 118 BPM. It’s a sway.
- The Social Context: You play the "Train" when you want to unite a room of 500 people who don't know each other. You play Jay Sean when you're in a dark lounge or scrolling through your phone at 2 AM.
- The Lyrical Intent: One is literally about a train metaphor for partying. The other is a much more intimate "ride it" that implies... well, not a locomotive.
The confusion between the two usually happens in voice searches. If you tell a smart speaker "play the ride it song," it’s a coin toss. You might get a 90s party or a 2010s club vibe.
The Technical Art of the Party Anthem
What makes "Come on ride the train" so effective from a technical standpoint? It’s the "call and response." When the voice yells "Hey, let's do it," the crowd feels compelled to answer. It’s a psychological trick used by DJs for decades. The song uses a very basic 4/4 time signature, but it layers the percussion so thickly that it feels faster than it actually is.
On the flip side, Jay Sean’s track relies on "syncopation." The way he sings the chorus—slightly behind the beat—creates a sense of tension. It feels "cool" because it isn't trying too hard. The Regard remix amplified this by adding a "hollow" bassline that leaves a lot of room for the vocals to breathe.
Cultural Impact and Longevity
The Quad City DJ’s are often lumped in with "one-hit wonders," though they also had "Space Jam," which is arguably just as iconic. But C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) is their legacy. It’s been sampled, parodied, and played in every roller rink in America. It’s a piece of folk music at this point.
Jay Sean’s Ride It represents a different kind of longevity. It shows how the internet has democratized music history. A song can sleep for eleven years and then become the biggest track in the world because one person in Kosovo (Regard) decided to mess with the EQ.
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How to Actually Tell Them Apart (The Cheat Sheet)
If you're trying to find a specific one for a playlist, here is the breakdown without the fluff:
- Does it have a whistle? If yes, it's Quad City DJ’s. It’s the 90s. Get ready to sweat.
- Does it sound like a "vibe" or "mood"? If it’s slow, deep, or sounds like a modern club, it’s the Regard Remix of Jay Sean.
- Are there lyrics about "the choo-choo train"? That’s the 90s one.
- Is it a guy with a smooth, high-pitched voice singing about a "touch"? That’s Jay Sean.
Honestly, both deserve a spot in your library. They represent the two poles of dance music: the pure, goofy joy of the 90s and the slick, curated coolness of the modern era.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Event
If you’re tasked with being the "aux cord" hero or a DIY wedding DJ, don't just throw these songs on randomly. Timing is everything.
- Deploy the Train early. Use Quad City DJ’s right after the first "big" event (like the cake cutting) to break the ice. It’s a low-stakes way to get people to stand up.
- Save Jay Sean for the transition. Use the Regard remix when you’re moving from the "family-friendly" portion of the night into the "adults-only" late-night dance set. It bridges the gap between pop and house music perfectly.
- Check your versions. Make sure you have the Radio Edit of the Quad City DJ’s track—the album version is unnecessarily long and can kill the momentum. For Jay Sean, always have the Regard remix ready; the 2008 original is great, but the remix is what people expect to hear now.
Ultimately, whether you're hopping on the train or just riding the vibe, these songs prove that a good hook is timeless. They might share a keyword, but they offer two completely different ways to experience a night out. Know your audience, pick your "ride," and let the beat do the heavy lifting.
Next Steps for Your Playlist:
To maximize the energy of your set, try mixing C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) into other 90s bass hits like "Whoomp! (There It Is)" or "Space Jam." For a modern flair, transition from the Ride It (Regard Remix) into similar deep house tracks like Meduza's "Piece of Your Heart" to keep the late-night atmosphere consistent and engaging.