Durand Bernarr & James Fauntleroy, Wild Ride | Song Review

Grammy-winning R&B artist Durand Bernarr and James Fauntleroy take listeners on an exhilarating listening experience with “Wild Ride.”

Hmm… Okay, Durand Bernarr. Please, tell us more.  “Wouldn’t let no one else take over you driving / I’m riding.” Oh… Durand, are you talking about S Meets E, and then they X? The innuendo is ripe AF in the first verse from “Wild Ride”.  The Grammy-winning musician and James Fauntleroy are both credited as artists on “Wild Ride.” Bernarr and Fauntleroy composed the intriguing track. Fauntleroy produced it.

A brief but notable instrumental introduction sets the tone on “Wild Ride.” The sounds are the sugar, honey, iced tea, thanks to a banging, syncopated, souped-up beat, vibrant keyboards, and striking synths. Durand Bernarr puts his foot into his performance.  He delivers refined, sophisticated, and expressive vocals. His tone is everything. I adore the fullness of his lower register. That said, his upper register and falsetto are ripe as well.  He also drops some sickening vocal ad-libs and runs.  What I’m saying is, Durand delivers a complete performance.  “Niggas be / They tripping with me too much,” he sings in the second verse, and adds, “Fuck would you rather be? /… in love? / If that’s what you want / Stop bullshitting, pull up.” Word.  The chorus, expectedly, is a big deal:

“And you can have the control, don’t rush

You can go slow, slow

And I don’t care where we go

Don’t even need to know, woah, just go, oh.”

Durand is going wherever his man is, PERIOD! Notably, the bridge distinguishes itself from the verses and choruses.  It goes percussion-less, which contrasts with most of the song. L-O-V-E is in the air: “Huh, your hand in mine, into the light / That’s the kind of wild ride I like.” The outro (“Let’s stop chasing, let’s get active…”) allows the instrumental to shine alongside silky-smooth background vocals. It is a vibe in its own right. Durand Bernarr and James Fauntleroy bring the heat and deliver the goods on “Wild Ride”, which is more like an exhilarating ride.

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Durand Bernarr & James Fauntleroy » “Wild Ride” » Durand Bernarr / DSING RECORDS / Create Music Group Inc. » 3.20.26 [📷: Durand Bernarr / DSING RECORDS / Create Music Group Inc.]

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