First Time Reaction | Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve & Ren) 

The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' is one of Lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft's finest compositions, along with 'The Drugs Don't Work' 'Lucky Man' and 'Sonnet' he's an immensely talented songwriter, and storyteller from the North of England.

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is based on a sample of a 1965 orchestral version of the Rolling Stones song "The Last Time" by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra

The video itself is inspired by Massive Attack's "Unfinished Sympathy", which is most definitely worth a check out.

Very clever idea, to react to the two songs side by side! I'm here for it. Ren always pays homage to the original material with his retakes, but then goes completely in his own direction. Please, more double reactions!! 😄❤

The woman who gets out of the car and starts yelling at him is his wife

I’m British and the Verve are one of our greatest bands ever . I used to work for Liam Gallagher at Pretty Green and meet Richard a good few times , lovely bloke . This song brings back so many memories 😊🙏 🇬🇧.

Great reaction, fair play to Ren's version but The Verve's original version is in a different league in my opinion, the anthemic quality raises it, but that maybe a generation thing. I would recommend checking out more Verve/Richard Ashcroft (lead singer of The Verve) songs. The Drugs Dont Work, Lucky Man, Sonnet, History, This Thing Called Life, Check The Meaning. Richard Ashcroft is one of the most underrated singer/songwriters

This is why you're the best. Love that you did both reactions together. Keep it up!

The number is from the album "Urban Hymns" which is in the top 100 albums of all time. Very much worth a listen.

the guitar player from the verve like Ren retake so much that he sent him one of his guitar autograph

Tbh I think this song has aged really well, I was a teen when this came out and relistening to it now and understanding the lyrics now it is what life feels like these days for sure

Please don’t apologize for your tears your genuine emotions are beautiful

The Verve were a very good band, The Lead singer Richard Ashcroft had a very good solo career, well worth a listen

Absolutely love both versions, and owe Ren for reminding me of the Verve's song. I hadn't really forgotten it, but couldn't remember who did it. Both deserve billions of views. Great reaction

Oh my, I do love this concept of multiple versions of a song. I'd love to see you do something similar for A-ha's "Take on me" since their MTV unplugged version is so radically different (but hauntingly beautiful) compared to the pop version. Having said that, The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" is a classic in my book. I enjoyed Ren's take on it as well.

Congrats on the 50K Stacey. The Verve album "Urban Hymns", from which this song is taken was originally being recorded as a solo project for Richard Ashcroft (the singer). He got cold feet part way through the making of the album and called the rest of the band in to help him finish it. The rest, as they say, is history. You should check out other songs from this album, as it has a few very good ones. I think perhaps "The Drugs Don't Work", or "Lucky Man" would be to your taste.

Movie: Cruel Intentions

The Verve’s Northern Soul album is outstanding. Richard Ashcroft the singer has some great solo work too.

Lucky Man by The Verve is a good song.

Ren’s retake is a love letter to Britain and the city. It reminds we of Waterloo Sunset.

You might recognize this song from the movie Cruel Intentions, with Ryan Phillipe, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Selma Blair. This was the song they played during the final scenes. Not sure if you've seen it, but if not, i HIGHLY recommend it!

This song or the musical part is familiar because it was used in countless different movies and t.v shows. It was originally in the movie soundtrack for the movie called cruel intentions. It's an iconic song that it's been called one of the greatest rock songs ever created by the billboard music charts.

True Story My daughter took her first breath 13 years ago to the Verve bittersweet symphony The intro was playing It was a playlist of my wife’s with a bunch of our favorite songs. I’m a 2 year Ren fan & this was a perfect years later retake of a song that was omnipresent in a perfect moment of my life & Ren done gone & made it relevant in a different way.

Great selection. Very much like the approach you took here with the two versions. Grew up listening to the Verve original, so I shall always be partial to that one. Would call it a masterpiece. Arguably the song of the 90's, raw, visceral lyrics & all. As an aside, you should see the 1996 movie 'Cruel Intentions' if you have not already. The end of the movie has 'Bittersweet Symphony.' A great use of the song in accordance with the story.

Richard Ashcroft was given the rights to this song back and is now credited as the sole songwriter,he took an unknown instrumental piece and turned it into a masterpiece,loved and appreciated all over the world.

Great idea, Stacey. You should do this with all of Rens retakes.!! I can't believe no one else has even thought about it.!!! Get on it before the others do.!! And don't forget getting your sister in on it as well.!! ❤❤🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧👌👍✌️😁😁🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

One of the better songs coming out after grunge. It was produced by Youth of Killing Joke and The Firemen (with Paul McCartney). You could do some darker/gothic songs I think you would like, like The Killing Joke's Love Like Blood, This Corrosion by Sisters of Mercy, The Cure's Lullaby, or anything by the Cocteau Twins (I wonder what you would think of Liz Frazer's voice :)). Depeche Mode (then you will hear where Rammstein got their ideas from) would also be something you could like and get into, especially their Black Celebration album. But what I recommend you should do next: the whole Animals LP by... clear, Pink Floyd. For a lot of people one of the best albums ever made - like Supertramp's Crime of the Century or The Beatles' Revolver.

Bittersweet Symphony is one of my all time Faves! It is so simple musically but so monumental emotionally. In '97, The Verve's leader, main composer & singer Richard Ashcroft took a small sample from an orchestral version of a Rolling Stones' song, "The Last Time", as the foundation of the song. The usage rights were obtained from Decca Records, but were blocked by Allen Klein, who owned the rights to the original song. Klein was a former manager/lawyer for the Stones. Long story short, the songwriting credits & royalties were taken from Ashcroft & given to Mick Jagger & Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. The song became a big hit & generated millions of dollars for the Rolling Stones camp. In 2019, Jagger, Richards & Klein's son Jody, who had become head of his now-deceased father's company ABKCO, returned the royalties & songwriting credits to Richard Ashcroft. Jagger & Richards never thought they should own the rights to the song, they simply let the lawyers fight it out. They happily gave the song back to Ashcroft, understanding what it's like for someone to take ownership of their songs away from them. Truly a Bittersweet story. The Verve & Ashcroft solo have fantastic songs & albums. 2 Verve songs I can recommend are "The Drugs Don't Work" & "Lucky Man". This is the first time I'm hearing Ren. I know alot of people have been raving about him, but I've been putting off listening to him. HIs rendition of Bittersweet Symphony was ok, I suppose. Oh Stacey, comparison reactions are always interesting, as long as the originals are respected! 😃👍🏻

Cat in the background just Staceyflix and Chilling 😂 great analysis.

Again I loved your music videos, again I love your reaction, again I love your personalit... 🙂

The violin section has been used in about a thousand ads. So that's probably where you've heard it before.

The violins are actually a sample of an orchestral version Andrew Oldham Orchestra, former manager of the Rolling Stones, created from a Rolling Stones song. There was quite a heavy controversy about the song writer credits and finally The Verve lost it and the song was credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling stones. Alan Kleine, a former Rolling Stones manager claimed it, as he was the rights owner of the Rolling Stones back catalogue. Some years after he passed away his son, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ceded it to The Verve again. So the biggest hit The Verve ever had did not pay off for them money wise for quite some years. The story behind this dispute ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-I_s90-Hi2ZY.htmlsi=mJicvJnG-eaYHp4V

You really should hear the full album version from The Verve, it’s got a longer buildup and packs more of a punch. The live rendition from Glastonbury 2008 is also great

The whole of The Verve's Urban Hymns album is a must listen, and it's great.

You might have heard it via a NIKE commercial. Until recently the Verve didn't get any of royalties for the song. It went to the Rolling Stones instead. The part you heard in the beginning was from a Stones song (the strings part)...they were supposed to get permission to use it but they ended up not getting it. A few years ago the Stones gave the Verve back the song---and the new royalties. If I remember correctly---they even had to put the Stones as writers on the CD. Great Band!!

If you've ever seen Cruel Intentions then that could very well be why the music sounds so familiar, the ending of the movie makes great use of the song.

Hi Stacey from England! You must listen to the Verve album 'Urban Hymns' which this track is from. So many late 90's anthems on it. You are right. All the band members join Richard Ashcroft at the end (who lives not far from me, although originally from Wigan, in NW England). I love your facial expressions during the reactions. Oh, and your beautiful eyes.......and cats! ❤

He's not happy but he doesn't let the bastard's grind him down.❤

The verve. Considered one of the best written songs. Richard Ashcroft

The drugs don't work by the verve is a beautiful song

Really like the formula of the original followed by the retake. The Verve seemed to like his retake as well as their bass player, sent Ren one of his guitars. Another Ren retake that this would work really well for is 'Back on 74' by Jungle, followed by Rens Back on 74/Message in a bottle retake.

From the absolute classic album Urban Hymns believe me it is a BANGER. The drugs don't work will get you in floods of tears and Velvet Morning will too please check out this album it is one of the Greatest albums ever made full stop.The Verve

The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Stereophonics, Supergrass, The Bluestones, Kasabian, Ian Brown.

Different kind of music to this but the song title reminds me of an album title by an English band called Thunder, The record title was Backstreet Symphony. Thunder were at their biggest in the late 80s and early 90s but still together doing their thing these days, or they will be once their singer, Danny Bowes, recovers from a pretty bad accident he had, well worth checking out, one of my favourite bands of my teenage years.

so now you should do unfinished sympathy by massive attack,the holy trinity of songs with these two

There’s more to The Verve than this song that everyone seems to react to. Should check out some of their other amazing stuff. Maybe you might like Sonnet.

Thank you 🙏❤ Stacey ❤ for your The Verve & 🐷 Ren - Bittersweet Symphony double reaction! #ren #theverve #bittersweetsymphony #brighton If you haven't seen The Verve's Original Music Video, you can't get all of the references Ren makes in this video, so well done Stacey!

Great reaction, you should also check out Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack.

this song was catapulted into the limelight as prominent in the soundtrack to the movie Cruel Intentions, which was the epitome of the teen movie surge of the late 90's. Check out this cast: Ryan Philippe (Crash) Sarah Michelle Geller (Buffy) Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde) Selma Blaire (Legally Blonde) Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek) Sean Patrick Thomas (Save the Last Dance) Tara Reid (American Pie)

You have to do the Ren Chapters. He put out the first one on Thursday and is releasing one everyday leading up to his new song's video. Today, Saturday was Chapeter 3. But he's telling his WHOLE life and what he's went through. It's so eye opening. Alot of us thought we already knew Ren and his story, but we didn't know anything really. And it's so different seeing Ren nervous and vulnerable as he tells the different stories of his life and his battle with his illness for 8 long years. ALSO if you watch his video for the song "It's Alright" you'll see him walking out of the apartment that he stopped infront of at the end of this video. But that song "It's Alright" is so absolutely beautiful. Both the lyrics and video. Such an amazing message.

The Verve version was in the soundtrack for Cruel Intentions movie.

7:59 Ren's "RENdition"...😄

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is based on a sample from a 1965 version of the Rolling Stones song "The Last Time" by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. The Verve added strings, guitar, percussion and vocals. They obtained rights to use the "Last Time" sample from the copyright holder, Decca Records, but were denied permission from the Rolling Stones' former manager, Allen Klein. Following a lawsuit, the Verve relinquished all royalties and the Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were added to the songwriting credits. In 2019, ten years after Klein's death, Jagger, Richards, and Klein's son ceded the rights to the Verve songwriter Richard Ashcroft.

2 other suggestions: Hurt by nine inch nails covered by Johnny cash. And zombie by the cranberries with a tribute by bad wolves

Video is tribute to Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy!

Richard ❤. I’ve seen him perform live over 10 times and he’s amazing. The verve were great but prefer Richard as a solo, singer..He is headlining a local festival this August and I can’t wait to see him perform again. Listening to him for over 30 years now 💕. Although I do like what REN have done with the song Richard has a coolness that can’t be beat…. Love that you have listened to Iron maiden, one of guitarists lives near me and is such a lovely down to earth guy! Have you listened to Paolo Nutini, One of the best vocalists ever xxx

Stacey, great way to view this cover song. Super job you're doing!

Amazing song and the verve one of the best bands ever period !

the composition for this piecwe was an unconscious copy of a Rolling Stones song. If you haven't done Power, you should.

The Verve - everyone from the North as soon as they reach London 😊

Irrelevant side fact: „Bitter Sweet Symphony“ is written in the Mixolydian Mode, characterized by a flat 7. It has a more mellow tone than the classic Ionian („major“) Sound (using only the white keys on a keyboard when you are in the key of C) but is still brighter than Aeolian („natural minor“) (using the white keys starting with A).

Another double play that you might really love is "Hey You" by Pink Floyd, and the new cover by Anti-Nowhere League..

It's a love song to gritty British city life (careful how you say that). My affection for London reignites every time I hear Rens' version.

The contrast between lyrical disharmony + musical harmony is precisely a "Bitter + Sweet" Symphony.

good thought the original/cover/retake format. check The Verve - Lucky Man

Such an amazing reaction thank you I would love to see you react to REN big push ‘Precious’ it’s different from most songs he does but very meaningful and beautiful

Since I'm not familiar with The Verve I liked you showing both versions.

Great format idea, and I think you're the first I've seen do this to a "retake". You could do ones like "All My Life" or "Halftime" this way, but it makes me smile to think of trying to do "Fred Again" or "Back on 74/Message in a Bottle". :D

Volleyball! One of my favourite-to-play sports! (Almost up there with 7 rugged years playing full-contact Canadian 3-down injurious football.) ... And, this is a great tune! 🤗

This is the only way you should walk in London 🎸😃😂

They are both talking about life from different times but it doesn't change "you're a slave to money then you die" Good thing Ren changed the lyrics which made it his own

Love the side by side reaction, both amazing track, great videos... Great reaction 👏😘👍

Loved the back to back take! Well dun! I love Ren too. This one finally made me a subscriber. Ty and slainte ☘️ 😊 🙏

It's actually a good tune and part of the northern beat. British music has been dominated by London. In the north, we had and have our own music and style.

Great job doing these side by side reactions

Thank you pleased i have found your channel subscribed😊

I like the dual video reaction. I absolutely loved when you reacted to both Great Gig in the Sky versions in one video.

A reactor who reacts to REN & Pink Floyd, are you serious? I’m in heaven with Stacey ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

Hello Stacey, beautiful to say the least, ye the verve are from my neck of the woods, here in Manchester/Wigan, UK. Love this tune.

This idea for the video comes from the video of Massive Attacks 'Unfinished sympathy', another amazing track. keep these amazing posts coming😀

Super reaction, Stacey of two great versions of the same song! It's very British and as you say human, it's life. I'm pretty sure that backing track has been sampled many times, hence your familiarisation with it. I love The Verve and Richard Ashcroft's voice, I was at Live 8 at Hyde Park and Richard appeared with Coldplay and they did this song. Ren, as always, pays homage to tracks and artists he loves, always sprinkling a bit of magic over it to make it (or The Big Push's) own.

Nice reaction..I bought The Verve album in 1997 and I still love it 🥰❤

Just let you know the Lady who came out of the car is his wife in the video.

I do love the lyrics in this song, pretty much sums up my life.

I like this song and the music video are different from most songs. The music is upbeat but once you pay attention to the lyrics it's dark. Glad the Rolling Stones eventually gave the rights back after he credited them (abet years later after Allen died).

I'm about to enlighten you. You heard the song at the end of the 90's film Starring Sarah Michelle Ghellar & Risse Witherspon " cruel intentions" it was in the movie and on the soundtrack. There you go.

Do Sonnet next. Beautiful song. 😊

Brilliant combination to react to, both classics! Ren and Molly McKinna " Penitence " is beautiful and touching.

Trying to narrow down Ren recommendations is almost impossible but I’d love to see you react to ‘How to be Me(Live)’ (with Chinchilla), ‘Dominoes’, ‘Suic*de’ and ‘For Joe’, and then (cos you’ll need cheering up) ‘Humble’, the ‘Love Music’ series and maybe a Big Push performance or two… (war pigs my favourite 😜)

Urban Hymns is one of the great albums, this song is track 1

Never heard the Ren version, loved it too!

One of my faves from the 80s new wave type stuff, the Verve hit gold with this great song. Nice reaction as always, I'm partial to the original. How about some U2? Achtung Baby was a killer album and was the launching pad for the massive Zoo TV tour, with multiple screens and feeds, a huge, new, more heavy and industrial sound and killer songs. Try End of the World on Zoo TV live, one of the best stadium performances from prime U2, it is still damn good in 2024. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎸🎶

As many times, probably hundreds by now, I've heard the Verve version, don't think I've ever seen the video. Had no idea Ren even retook the walk down the high street! I shouldn't be surprised tho, it's Ren 😂 Love this format tho! Please do all his retakes with the original first! My other 2 fave retakes are losing it (fisher) and back on 74 (jungle). I reeeally wanna see u do both pls 😆 x

Richard's Songs are amazing ..I would like to set Him in one level with John Lenon ..but I can't..but He is a super..I love a British rock'n'rool :)❤

Yuhuuu!..viva la Ashcroft!..Let's brake the night with color!😊

the verves 1st 2 albums were mindblowing and DEEP their guitarist is a legend in creating fantastic "soundscapes" heavenly vibes!

Stacey, please react to "Telegraph Road - Alchemy Live" by Dire Straits.

The girl who gets out of her car (after he walks over it) and gives him hell, is actually his wife in real life. All the people he bumps into, are meant to represent obstacles we all encounter in our own lives on a daily basis.

Have always liked this the sway good tune

Isn’t this true of all good music though ? The contrasts are what brings a dynamic. It stirs thoughts. Completely random, but I was listening to George Harrison’s “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and this is another one of those contrasts. George’s vocals are like a gentle commentary but the music is very dark and foreboding.