I'm a 47 year old guy and everytime I hear the words "some people know me as hope/some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope" I just cry. The imagery and artistry that Ren has is worthy of much more recognition than he's had up to this point. Every Ren track gives you something different. I'm not going to recommend. Listen to it all!
That line... Phew... There's so much to unpack about this song. I feel like every line gives me a though or a feeling and it all becomes a big blur by the end of the song. All I'm left with is the feeling that I just witnessed a genius. So grateful that this channel told me about Ren.
I concur. Those words “some people know me as hope…” combined with Ren breaking the 4th wall and right at the camera in essence right at me into my soul. When it went to the dark that also was impactful and the previous quote beautifully. Finally, the monologue at then seemed to bring the performance into focus and elevate from just music to an artistic theater performance.
Concur but there is something about the line "That I won't retire I'll stand in your fire and inspire the meek to be strong" ......that may just be Ren's purpose.
@@gr8tr8s33 That is all of our purpose. To serve as an inspiration to others who may otherwise feel too small to rise to the occasion and defend their beliefs. Ren is certainly a perfect example of what it is to be human and though his life has been such a struggle I believe his perspective is so advanced in a time where claiming to be a victim is celebrated
I managed to take my biggest steps in my depression through the song, I was shown it by my therapist. Since I think about it, that I can also hear it on my "good" side, I've made so much progress, for me it had been completely gone for 10+ years, of course I wasn't healed, but I've really made progress
Dennis... I'm so glad that you are healing. Music has been a savior for me. I recently bought a guitar and... Wow it came into my life in the BEST timing ever. I needed it more than I knew at the time I bought it. I also don't think that the "Bad side" is really bad. It's our logic and ego keeping us all in check. But when it oversaturate your life... It takes over. There has to be a balance. That's the dance. To me at least. I could be wrong. IDK.
Me too. I have to deal with a constant negative internal monologue, which is demoralising and exhausting. Watching Ren act out what he is going through really emphasises that I am not alone in this, I am not abnormal, and I feel comforted and reassured. Yes, it is a “dance”, not a “battle” that can be won; fighting and struggling against your negative thoughts and feelings instinctively seemed like the right thing to do, but it only makes things worse. Now I am trying to “relax” and “soften”, and I try to be more objective about my negative mood swings, none of which is easy, but it certainly helps me deal with my mental health issues.
The thing about the swinging pendulum is that it marks the progression of time. Whether it is moving forward or backward, it is change. As change is assured, all we must remember is to enjoy the good, and endure the bad. It will all pass. It will all return. We are the constant! We alone continue and persevere!
Me too. I was 65 when I first heard the song. I needed it so badly. I hied to a therapist and started working on those....painful bits. Thank Gods someone gave me a CLUE.....I might just be able to spend my final years in some kind of semi-comfortable self-knowledge. Not that panic that it was lived in.....too many hard painful blows had me closing myself inside a wall.....that was my prison. I was miserable in there. Thank you Ren, for opening the door....I am now a student. Not a stalactite. I can REACT in real time. I've felt the blows that fall like a crashing pilot. I stayed silent. I am anything BUT silent now.
The most impactful part was the soliloquy. I have lived and am living this dance for decades...fighting the same a Job. Never thought before how it separates us from angels, demons, and God. We are the only beings in the universe that have, or will ever have this struggle. Also, the brighter the light the larger the shadow. I have lived in the opposite, the darker it seems, the brighter the light to guide me out.
I wrote this introduction to Ren when I first discovered him earlier this year, as there wasn't a Wikipedia entry for people to look him up prior to March 2023. I have posted this info to every "Hi Ren" reaction I have come across since, and I hope it will be of some use to the uninitiated. "Hi Ren" is the song that put Ren on everyone's radar since December; it went viral and has garnered over 15 million views since its debut, but he has been creating great music for more than ten years. Many of Ren's songs resonate with people because he addresses struggles that many others face every day. Ren's music videos are frequently recorded live, often in a single take, although not necessarily the first take, and from various camera angles. In the case of "Hi Ren," it took four takes, all live in the room, to get the footage he wanted. Someone commented that Samuel Perry-Falvey who filmed "Hi Ren," talks about the production of the video in the comments of Jonathan Hiller's (Filmmaker Reacts) reaction to the song. According to him, this video is not a one-take per se, but the audio was recorded live. Ren's release, "Sick Boi," is almost another chapter to "Hi Ren" and appears to have been filmed in the same room. Ren is an independent artist/singer/songwriter/busker/producer from Brighton, UK. He plays multiple instruments (acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, drums), has impressive vocals, produces all his own beats, is an excellent storyteller, and is quite the philosopher and poet. He is considered by many a modern-day bard; he calls his music "bardcore." Ren's earliest recordings on RU-vid are from his time in a band called "Trick The Fox," consisting of Ren and his buddies Charlie and Tommy. Unfortunately, the band performed only briefly due to Ren's onset of health issues. They are very talented. A fun clip to watch is "The Mash Up." Ren's trilogy "The Tale of Jenny/Screech/Violet" has been likened to a Shakespearean tragedy and is a prime example of his genius; it is a master's class in storytelling and also showcases his guitar skills. The three acts are haunting, and the conclusion will catch you off guard. The trilogy needs to be watched in the order given, as this is the flow of the storyline and is best watched as a whole rather than piecemeal. Ren's collaborations with Chinchilla ("Chalk Outlines," "How to Be Me," "Sexual Healing," "One Dance/Drunk in Love") are beautiful and showcase his singing voice. His live music videos are especially impressive. Ren's personal reflections are threaded through many of his songs; "Insomnia," "Depression," "Diazepam," "Penitence," "Dear God," "Heretic," "Dominos," his "Freckled Angels" album, in particular his song "Fire," just to name a few, all deserve a listen. His song "Money Game" (Part I & II) is another recommendation, although it is less of a personal song than it is an indictment of greed and the resulting injustices in this world. Ren is about to shoot "Money Game Part III." Ren's Hip Hop/Rap style songs are all worth checking out if you enjoy this genre; they are pretty amazing. Check out "The Hunger," "Genesis," "What You Want," "Losing It (FISHER rap retake)," "Right Here, Right Now (Fatboy Slim one shot retake)," "Life is Funny," "Love Music (Parts 1, 2, and 3)," "Crucify Your Culture," "Power," "Hold On," "Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake)," his recent release "The Illest Of Our Time," and his latest song "Animal Flow," both the full production and the live acoustic version. Ren's performances with Sam Tompkins ("Blind Eyed," "Earned It /Mans World / Falling," "Walking on the Moon/No Diggity," "Feeling Good/Trouble So High/Masterblaster (Jammin')," "Latch," "Wild Thoughts/Crazy in love (Live Session)," "Same Old Situation (Live, feat. Ren)," "Improvising Around Stevie Wonder," "Live in the Streets of Brighton, UK," "What Went Wrong" Part I&II) are definitely a must. Also, his collaborations with Eden Nash ("Humble," "Ocean"), Bibi ("Crutch," "Ahiahiaoha"), Molly McKinna ("Penitence"), Orlean ("Jessica"), his former bandmate Romain Axisa ("French Song"), are all great. Last but not least, Ren's busking sessions with Liv Sangster are awesome. I recently discovered that Ren also recorded a cover of "Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Cover)," which is simply beautiful. "The Big Push" (Ren Gill, Gorran Kendall, Romain Axisa, and Glen Chambers) busking sessions, concerts, and live recordings all are amazing and well worth checking out. All but the drummer sing lead vocals at times. Ren, Gorran, and Romain all play multiple instruments. Ren plays acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, and drums. Gorran plays acoustic, electric, bass guitar, and harmonica. Romain plays acoustic, electric, bass guitar, ukulele, and piano. They are each incredibly gifted artists, and their solo work is completely different from each other. Well worth checking out. Their covers of "I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop," "Wade in the Water/Nina Simone/Trouble so Hard," "Watch Out," "War Pigs," "Roadhouse Blues," "My Generation," "Paint It Black," "An Englishman in New York," "Bongo Bong" are excellent. On "These Boots Are Made For Walking'/Satisfaction/Everybody," "Praise You" (Fatboy Slim Cover), and "What Kind Of Woman Is This," all three take a turn singing. The songs "Oh My Woman," "Swan Song," "Sweet Little Lady," "It's Alright," "Dignity," and so many others are equally impressive. The band, at least for the time being, performed their last official busking session and gave their last concert in September of last year (2022) due to the fact that Ren was leaving for Canada to undergo specialized medical care and surgeries for his multiple health issues. In anticipation of his stay in Canada, Ren prepared some music ahead of time to be released over the next six months that he expects to be gone. He released "Sick Boi" and "Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve retake)," which is another masterful work. Ren released his song, "Illest Of Our Time," on his birthday, March 29. His recent release, "Animal Flow," is out now in two versions, a full-production music video and a live, one-take acoustic version. Ren's latest work, "Suicide," just premiered, and it was hard to watch. It is a sad, haunting, gut-wrenching tribute to Ren's friend Joe who committed suicide. I have not been able to watch it again and have not watched a single reaction to it.
Just realized I commented on your other comment - but either way - I will support him however I can. And react to more of his videos. Hopefully he'll see the impact he is making.
I truly believe Ren is the greatest artist of our time and will be remembered for centuries to come. His yesterday released life take from Calgary "For Joe" is a continuation of "Suicide" displaying the five stages of grief, adding acceptance to the end of his last song. As always a masterpiece. This song and the sobbing hug, he received from Joe's mom after showing the video, brings closure to all involved!
@@thomasgoldschmidt298 Interesting you should say that, because that is the same feeling I and a few others have taken away from this performance. Ending "To Joe" with lines from "Freckles Angels" feels as if Ren is trying to tell us that even though some of our loved ones are physically gone from our life, their memory continues to live in and through us. I think that is why I found closure and peace with regard to the loss of my best friend 38 years ago.
If you want contrast, I suggest you listen to the following next, in this order.. How to be me (live) The FULL tale of Jenny and Screech (don't listen to the individual ones, and certainly not Violet's tale first). These three takes are also live and recorded on one take. Chalk Outlines Sick Boi Humble Animal Flow And then all the rest :-)
@@ronireacts_to_all let me recommend Ren's Band, The Big Push - I shot the sherrif/road to zion/hip hop - It's an amazing live street performance mashup, will require plenty of floor space. and Ren (ft. Sam Tompkins) - Earned it/Mans World/Falling - another amazing street performance mashup with vocals that will have you melting in your chair. maybe bring a towel. but yeah, +1 on the how to be me (live), and tale of jenny and screech (full), those are my top two picks.
This is one of the few songs that made me (a 57 yrs old teacher) cry.... The closes I can think of is Sinead O´Connors Troy. So much love and hate at once... listen to it!
New sub. Any fan of Ren is good in my book! Please check out more of his work. Also know that Ren loves reactors, and will never come after you for copyright. I look forward to you enjoying more of his music!
Oh thanks for the sub! And my goodness Ren is awesome! I feel conflicted about this because even though I am not monetized (yet) on this channel, I feel like Ren (or any other artist) should be receiving the revenue from ads. Not me. But I guess when you are a true artist and you just want to share your art (and heart) into the world... you share it through others too. I like that...
@@ronireacts_to_all Ren has talked about the artist/reactor relationship being symbiotic. Reactors are keeping his face all over RU-vid for longer than a music video would normally stay in rotation. Sometimes RU-vid blocks reactions for copyright, but Ren will whitelist you from what I hear. He commented on a lot of the first reactor's videos, he's done interviews with several and he brought a couple over to the U.K. for the "Money Game 3" video he's working on (end of another trilogy). Ren knows he's riding a wave and he's trying to take as many people with him as he can. He's guided his fans to check out underrated artists he enjoys to help them along even though they don't know him and weren't expecting it. He's extremely humble and appreciative. Reactors generally include a link to the original video in the reaction description to reciprocate.
Since no one has commented yet, Ren is a Swiss army Knife of music and all that goes with it. There's a lot to dive into and all of it is stellar in one way or another.
I love that part too! For me it was the moment he took to himself after the battle. And then quietly sang again "Hi Ren" Just before he stood up. Ooof!
NEWS FLASH.....*goosebumps*.. the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope....*goosebumps* And on and on....."I was made to stand on my own two feet"...."goosebumps*......"...we are human".....WOW what a roller coaster ride! I love how he jumps into reggae for the TRIUMPH...."so cower at the man I've become..." Just......every note and word.....directly to the heart. So deliciously rich.
I've watched this video so many times, I've lost count. The most important moment for me is the idea of an eternal dance. I've fought depression and insecurity all my life. At 58, the fact that I was still fighting those feelings was worse than the insecurities themselves. It made me think something was wrong with me. But what he said just clicked for me and a weight was suddenly lifted.
It makes sense in a way. I understand this dance. Even though I'm a relatively upbeat person. I get it. I'm so happy that his video clicked in for you. It does for many.
The human condition is not...serene. I thought the battle was my own; but I found the same notes resonated with everyone. If nothing else......I am not alone. I am not "the one" who doesn't understand what is going on.
Welcome to the RENaissance! Lol Highly Recommend the Jenny and Screech trilogy... make sure it's the FULL version! Also... basically Anything from Ren is TOP notch! Depends on your preference! Feom Rock, to Pop, to Reggae, to Hip Hop, To Bardcore... he does it all Exceptionally Well!!! Don't pass on his band... The Big Push! I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop, Praise You, Bongo Bong and Englishman in New York to start!
Most impactful moment wss we Ren sang at the top of his lungs. Best bar "Some people know me as Hope. Some people know me as the voice you hear whenyou loosen the noose on the rope".
Yes! Yes! Yes! What a line. For me it was when he took a moment and "repeated" the line " Hi Ren I'm been taking some time to be distant". He sounds like he was broken. Like he heard everything his other self told him, and let it sink in him. Yet he comes in stronger. He'll never surrender. My goodness. His voice on that "Hi Ren" is just... Beautiful.
I'm 61, an avowed old prog-rocker. Haven't been excited by most new music in the last decade. Ren is the most exciting, talented, and interesting thing to happen in music in not only years, but I think decades. The independent artist in symbiotic relationship with the proper medium to attract a great audience. As a reactor you help that. Thanks. You're in for a fun ride. And scary too. Because he knows how to make just about anyone who watches his work FEEL exactly the same. It's not an abstract painting that every viewer might "feel" differently about. You see it and you feel exactly what the artist intended. Blessings.
Leo - first of all thank you for saying that! I'm happy that my videos help spread the word out. And I agree with you - I loved 80's and 90's rock and I felt like nothing REAL came out lately. But now thanks to this channel I know about Ren and NF... I'm sure more will be suggested on my feed here and I am so ready for it. Rock on.
65....I love music; weaned on rock n roll. But I have to say that this is MIRACULOUS. The multi directional art. The Shakespearian wordsmithing, the saying of things WE NEED TO HEAR. I cried for an hour and called a therapist. Six months down the road I am lighter, more joyful, and back to being INTERESTED in everything. A guy in an empty room in a hospital gown just BLEW my mind. I must say it needed blowing. THIS is what I needed....I watched it accidentally....and my life is changed. Folk sensibilities, communication of emotion, a little taste of classical, reggae, rap and....Gods know everything else. He is'nt COPYING all those things, he's weaving them together like golden silks to make a tapestry. NO ONE has made an impact on my LIFE by making a song. Except this man. Just WOW of the highest caliber. The guitar has never been pressed to create some of these sounds. Every moment of silence, background noise, change of position, etc. is critically woven together to tell a story like it's never been told. The point is communication, not static perfection. Bardic, Folkish.....TASTY. I want it ALL....Face it, nobody is "normal". This is so relatable!!!!! Two people I know recently experienced unusual psychiatric symptoms....TESTED POSITIVE FOR LYME DISEASE. NOW they are checking! THANK YOU REN!
Loved the way you were totally absorbed in the Hi Ren experience without talking over, and your excitement in your end reaction. Enjoy your Ren Journey, his catalogue of music, art and performances is extraordinary. His latest two releases are the rawest most emotionally charged music video performances I have seen, though before getting into the deep feels performances, you may like to have some fun reacting to 'What You want" or "Losing It". Ren's street performance in Brighton with his band "The Big Push' are also something else. 😀❤
Oh thank you! Yeah I don't like talking over a video when it's playing. It's like talking in a movie theater. I know why people do it, but... I just want to absorb the art before me. Adding the songs to my list! Thank you!
The two most impactful moments for me were when Ren looks directly into camera on the word 'dawn' and the fact that at the end, the melody doesn't resolve. 'Good art makes you talk about the art; great art makes you think about your life.'
It depends on who is watching. Videographhers like myself are impacted by the fact that it is a One take video, the big and heavy shadow on the left side of screen and the hard light on the upper right. (The more intense the light the darker the shadow
@@1individeo I love both of these comment so much. It’s so amazing to see what little things different people notice, there is so much in this for being a very stripped back set. I have yet to hear anyone say anything about him looking up at the camera when he says ‘dawn’. I only wish they hadn’t cut away so quickly, it really takes away from the intensity of the moment. My most impactful moment is kind of weird, K
I love both of these comment so much. It’s so amazing to see what little things different people notice, there is so much in this for being a very stripped back set. I have yet to hear anyone say anything about him looking up at the camera when he says ‘dawn’. I only wish they hadn’t cut away so quickly, it really takes away from the intensity of the moment. My most impactful moment is kind of weird, but it still gives me the same chills as it did the first time I heard it. At the end when he’s doing the spoken word, there is an extra beat of silence before he says ‘relax,’ it gets me every time. No idea why.
@@ronireacts_to_all I loved your reaction and I'm now Sub'd to watch you dive into this rabbit hole. Ren is a Singer/Songwriter, Rapper, plays Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums and Beatboxes proficiently. Ren Produces his own beats, he's an Actor, Director, Storyteller, & Poet + he's self taught in all these instruments & talents. His catalog is incredibly versatile and he has an amazing skill of bending and fusing many genres of music. Enjoy the ride Roni, it's an amazing journey!🤩
I am 57 years old and have dealt with ADHD and depression for as long as I can remember I have not identified with the struggle in a song in this way since Fortune Faded by red hot chili peppers .. and Ren did this by himself with only a guitar . to say that he is special is damning with faint praise
When he rose on his feet I was blown away. And then when he started singing. I still get the chills after watching this dozens of times. Greetings from Brazil.
I like how he uses chromatics to create tension, and power chords to mimic ego and vanity (which is called a Devil's Interval) And his Resolve near the end was not to erradicate the tension, but to include it in the truimph. A reminder that we are all on our way home, just not yet. There is work to be done, ferocious and persitent work.
I'm pleased that you enjoyed the experience. I'm a 70 year old retired guy and Ren, through his music, and through the example of his life, has made a huge difference in my life. I would like to see you react to more of Ren's catalog.
Lovely reaction to this most amazing performance. There are a 100 of Ren's I could recommend , but maybe Chalk Outlines with Chinchilla LIVE . Just subbed and look forward to seeing more. Good luck with your channel.
Here is some additional information on Ren's story that I gathered from old newspaper interviews, articles, and Ren's livestreams and posts where he discussed his condition. Ren Erin Gill is a British musician/independent artist; born in Wales on March 29, 1990; he eventually moved to Brighton. Ren pursued a career in music from an early age. In 2009, while studying music performance at Bath Spa University, Ren began to experience health issues and was struggling to attend his lectures. In 2010, he was signed by Sony Records and was working on an album when his health deteriorated to the point where he was unable to continue; subsequently, his contract with Sony was dissolved. Ren's illness often kept him in bed for up to 23 hours daily. Ren was initially misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led him to experience psychosis and develop PTSD. It would take seven years before a doctor in Belgium finally correctly diagnosed Ren with autoimmunity, Lyme disease, and resulting damage to the brain, organs, joints, and PTSD. Ren eventually underwent stem cell therapy in the United States, which improved his health, but it has not been a cure. Ren is currently in Calgary, Canada, for more treatments, including surgeries, and will have to be there for at least six months (Summer of 2023) undergoing IV and other interventions five days a week. Ren recently underwent wisdom tooth removal and cavitation surgery. In addition, his Canadian doctor discovered that Ren also developed a condition called Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD), which has affected the myelin sheath in his brain, his thyroid, and adrenals as well as his bones/joints. Now, Ren is receiving additional treatments for this previously undiagnosed condition. Let's keep supporting Ren as he undergoes his treatments. Check out and subscribe to his channel; if you are a content creator, ask your audience to subscribe to Ren. Ren's YT channel has less than 1 million subscribers, while his videos have garnered millions and millions of views. Listen to some of his earlier work, like and comment on his performances, and let's lift Ren's spirits. If you are a believer, pray for him. Ren is an artist with something to say to the world, and his work is important in these troubling times. Someone has finally created a Wikipedia page for Ren, so there is additional information available.
Hey Jens. Thank you for the detailed comment. Some of those songs you mentioned I already heard of (not seen yet!) And a thumbnail for Ren's "suicide" already popped in my feed. I am also a bit weary of clicking on it. But I will. In time. One of my subs here also mentioned Ren's illness. I really appreciate all of your recommendations. I hope to get to all of them (even if I don't react to all).
I didn't realise Ren spoke Welsh (but not overly surprised) until recently when he was interviewed at the RNLI in Anglesey, it's a real tongue twisting language to learn but probably one of my favourite accents here in the UK.
Impactful for me: everything! , especially imprinted, so I will never forget: "...my music is really connecting, and the people ,who find it, respect it..." "... the voice, that you hear, when you loosen the noose on the rope..." ...it is an eternal dance..." The moment he stood up!!! (Shivers)
The whole song is 'impactful'. From the moment pigperson wheels him in, he grabs your attention and never lets you wander. Ren is a phenomenon, such a breath of fresh air in such a stale industry. Everything he does is memorable, so varied, sometimes shocking, often funny, deeply honest and sometimes overpoweringly emotional. He commands attention. You can't pin a genre on his work. He's an artist that (to me) stands comparison with any household name / legend in popular music my lifetime, a uniquely talented one. Enjoy the journey. Subbed to share it..
I agree. I was at a loss of words after watching this video. I commented just a tiny bit on it, but I watched it again later. Just from this one song I can tell that he is a great actor (can totally do the mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland, or portray Jekyll And Hyde). And if you are a good actor, it means that you are open in heart and mind to traumas and good things that happened to you in your life. That you can summon your emotions and intentions in a heart beat. Also a virtuoso in guitar playing (and piano as what people say here). Rap. Singing. Everything. Wow.
New sub for the REN ride…enjoy it, he is fire everything he does is special in one way or another. I especially like Life Is Funny, Ready For You, Crucify Your Culture….wtf I could list them all!! As a self described RENegade I can’t wait to watch the RENaissance of it all✌🏼
Ren is the Original "Bardcore Genre Bender" The Master Bard himself ( Shakespeare ) would have understood exactly where Ren was coming from. Ren isn't just a songwriter but rather a Performance Art Master who blends music and character acting from all the styles over the last 500 years and makes it modern and relatable to all generations even if normally you may not be a fan of whatever genre he is currently performing. The Ren Rabbit Hole is Deep and Powerful! Get Ready for the Ride of your Life!
YES! Thank you....I've studied history. I hear bits and pieces of timeless music in there. Like...all of it. "Performance Art Master" is about as close as one could get. I asked "what KIND of music is this?" ALL OF THEM. He has studied.
I'm 46 and I haven't been moved so significantly by a piece of music since '92/'93. I connect to and relate to the end monologue of, "Hi Ren," the most. I've probably watched the performance multiple hundreds of times and I will still find myself getting misty eyed when he lands the phrase, "that we are human beings," right onto the threshold of my soul. Seeing SO MANY others deeply relate to, "Hi Ren," in addition to the rest of his catalog, has been a much needed source of hope and inspiration and joy for me recently.
Most impactful for me is when he stops arguing side to side, but instead after looking down for a bit, he looks up at US. He is no longer him talking to him. He is now delivering the message to us that his inner voice delivered to him.
I loved the moment before he stood up - when he repeated the lines "Hi Ren, I've been taking some time to be distant". So many great moment in this piece.
He wasn't just talking about mental illness, he was talking about the human condition. :) Also, his mental health problems, although they've been bad, particularly in the past, are the least of his health problems and were largely due to a misdiagnosis of his most serious illness. A misdiagnosis that lasted for 10 years! It was assumed that he was bi-polar and that his physical pain and deterioration was psychosomatic. Thus they put him on heavy psychotropic drugs. That, combined with his actual illnecausing severe damage to his body and brain, caused the psychosis. At it's peak, he was bedridden for 23 hours a day and couldn't go outside. With a correct diagnosis and proper treatment the psychosis disappeared and his condition improved but he still has a severely debilitating and incurable chronic illness and they recently discovered he had another chronic illness on top of that. He's still on large doses of medication and has to undergo a whole range of invasive treatments daily. He tires easily, is in constant pain and can't really plan ahead very easily, as some days he can't function at all. Despite this, his creative output is spectacular! He doesn't really miss, producing masterpiece after masterpiece in a whole range of styles and genres. He's an incredible songwriter, a spectacular lyricist, a poet really, he beatboxes, is a world-class rapper, an amazing singer, produces all his own music and is a ridiculous talented multi-instrumentalist, on 7 different instruments! His performance skills are ridiculous. He even makes his own videos, in conjuntion with his friend Sam. Most are recorded live, in a single take. Hi Ren being a prime example. I'd largely given up on modern music but after discovery Ren a few months ago, I've been blown away! As is the case with virtually everybody that finds him, it appears. He's a musical and artistic genius. A once in a generation artist. I'd recommended something but it's all good. It's hard to pick just one. Whatever you pick will blow you away, :)
I agree. He is insanely talented. I'm blown away from the little I just saw. New Ren videos coming soon. And let me tell you - I had the feels. What an incredible artist. I wish that nothing but good things from now on will come his way.
Thank you for sharing. Please explore more Ren, you've only scratched the surface. Most impactful line for me is "... voice that you hear when u loosen the noose on the rope"
I love it! It seems like this line did it for most of us. For me though it was just the moment before that. When he takes a moment to digest the battle he just endured with himself and say "Hi Ren. I've been taking some time to be distant" Something about that moment, about his voice. The moment before the hero stands back on his feet and fights back.
Other ren must do’s is the tale of Jenny and screech and violet and power and sick boi oooh and rens band the big push ( I shot the sheriff cover ) great reaction u got a new sub here 👊🏼 from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Now that's how to do a reaction. No interruptions (no need, your face said it all) and because of that I was looking forward to what you had to say at the conclusion. Others take note.
Thank you for the positive feedback! I like letting it all run through me and be honest. I don't want to ruin the flow of the video (for either of us). The downside is... I forget what I wanted to say about certain parts of the video lol.
Great reaction! Look forward to seeing your reactions to some of his other live one-takes, Tale of Jenny & Screech (all three songs), Chalk Outlines, then there is his rap stuff, Money Game, The hunger, Losing it, Animal Flow, and don't miss his work with the band The Big Push! So much to enjoy :)
Great reaction ren his amazing artist and has so many great songs have fun with this amazing person 68 years old great grandad many thanks love and respect from the UK 👍👍👍👍👍 👍🌟😀😀 amazing channel 👍
Ren really doesn't miss. I typically don't listen to rap but I've listed to everything Ren has ever made multiple times. Some of my favorites: Freckled Angels (tribute to his late friend Joe Hughes) Losing It (fun rap song) The Hunter (Skillful rap) Chalk Outlines (Duet about big pharma) Ocean (Dope ass groove)
Thanks Brandon! I'll try to listen to those as well! Some of those are already on my list. Also - Another fellow gamer I see! (I peeked at your channel) Welcome!
thanks to JensRandolff ( comments below ) for the Ren bio: my thoughts --- Ren is still in treatment ( maybe for the rest of his life ) & has a GoFundMe account to help pay staggering medical bills -- the Pig is a butcher, Ren's opinion of many doctors and therapists....the discordant vocals and guitar symbolize his internal chaos, as do the blinking lights....."Truth in a blender, Deceitful Pretender"........
Yeah I had no idea. So grateful that Jens put down the bio. I noticed the lights too and forgot to mention it on my reaction! Gosh I feel like there's so much to unpack here that I just.. .I forget everything I want to say. Next video I'll watch again and write down my thoughts.
@@larryc3860 Yes. I think that's why I like NF too. He is so raw and painfully honest. Ren is honest too. Hmm... I like honesty. It's something I'm trying to go by. Even if it's hard. Even if it hurts. Maybe that's why I'm at a loss of words after these videos.
Somewhere on the comments page of the Suicide video Ren wrote this but it wasn’t pinned so it can get lost in the comments. This is beautiful and relevant to the song and everyone should read it. Today I want to write something beautiful and eloquent but I’ve been staring at my computer screen for the past 10 minutes blankly. So I’ll just write. Today, the 1st of June is my friend Joe’s birthday. I first met Joe when I was 8 years old, my friend Josh said I had to meet this guy, so we both walked over to his, it took about 10 minutes from my house. I was greeted by this kid covered head to toe in freckles, he grinned at us, climbed onto the back of his sofa and screamed “Swanton Bomb!” then front flipped off the top and landed right onto his back on a stone floor. He lay still for a moment, twitched a few times, then got up, grinned at us, brushed himself off, and did it again. This was Joe. He’d do anything to make people laugh. He ended up becoming one of my best friends. He was there when we stole our first cigarettes out of his mums pack, way too young. He was there when I had my first kiss, with a girl twice my size on the back of the 42 bus. He was there when I first got so drunk I threw up in the woods after drinking as much white lightning Cider as we could. I was there when he did his first backflip on skates, and saw him do a 720 off of the pier cave, that moment became legendary. Joe was the funny one in our friend group, he’d make us laugh till it hurt. No one had a bad word to say about him. It was impossible not to like him. Usually we put celebrities, athletes and actors on pedestals, turn them into role models and admire them from a far. The person I admired was Joe. Him and Sagar knew every word to the songs id write, we’d get drunk at parties and they’d be singing along as loud as they could. It gave me a lot of confidence back then. On Christmas Eve 2010 I was sitting in a pub with Joe, he’d been feeling low after a couple of consecutive break ups. He tried to check himself into a mental health outpatient facility a few weeks earlier but they turned him away because he didn’t have an appointment. He turned to me and said that sometimes he wished he could just walk into the sea and keep walking. He said it in a kind of half joking throw away comment type of way, then took a sip of his drink, walked over to the juke box and put Dig by Incubus on. If I knew that was the last time I’d see Joe id have hugged him, told him how much I loved him, how much I looked up to him, how much we all loved him, and I wouldn’t have left that pub. I didn’t know that, so I finished my drink, said happy Christmas and left. Two nights after Christmas I got woken up by a phone call at 3am, it was my friend Ella. She told me Joe was on the Menai Bridge, a large suspension bridge connecting the main land to the isle of Anglesey where we lived. He’d been on the phone to her in tears saying goodbye. He told her to tell everyone he loved them. I pulled on my clothes as fast as I could and started running toward the bridge. It was up a hill. I lived about a ten minute walk away, I could run it in five. As I ran I started dialling then redialing his number. The line was busy, which was a good sign, it meant he was still on the phone to someone. As I got about halfway, the busy tone changed. It told me the line was out of service. I got a sinking feeling and picked up my speed. I arrived to the bridge minutes after I left my house. It was deafeningly quiet. I was the first person to arrive. I got there probably about 2 minutes too late. Joe’s body was never found. Initially we refused to believe he was gone. The coastguard came out that night, with boats, and helicopters. Me and my friends spent the next 10 days putting up missing posters everywhere we could, walking up and down beaches with flashlights, getting about 3 hours sleep a night. When you’re walking up and down a beach with a torch when its dark everything looks like a body. We still haven’t found Joe. As his birthday came around, I wrote a song, freckled angels, a song I dedicated to Joe which I sang in front of his friends and family. A charity football match was put on for him, raising money for the RNLI where I won two bottles of wine in a raffle, I drank them both as quickly as I could, naturally, turned to my friend and probably slurred something along the lines of “This is the last time I ever drink” That was 12 years ago, I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol since. My first ever album I named Freckled Angels in tribute of one of the best people I ever knew. Skip forward some years. I’d been sitting on this song I wrote a few years ago. It always felt a little incomplete. It was going to be my next release, but I was dreading it because of this feeling of incompletion. I decided, very last minute, to do something about it. I sat by my piano, and the rest of the song fell out of me. I hadn’t thought about Joe in a little while, and the song initially wasn’t going to be about him, but the words all fell out of me. I wrote and recorded a whole 2 minutes extra, recording each part as I wrote it. Tears spewing out of my eyes pretty much the whole time, and decided not to do my usual thing of perfecting each line, I just recorded every line as it came.
HK... I read through your story about Joe in tears. And I am so sorry. I wish you could get there in time. I wish you didn't have to go through this. I wish he had been able to get the help he needed. I wish... so many things. Where can I hear the song you wrote about him? All I can offer you is a virtual hug. I hope in some way it's comforting. Just know that you, your story impacted someone today.
@@ronireacts_to_all Hk copied this from Ren's channel as he stated. This is the background story to Ren's most recent releases. Suic*de and now the follow up "For Joe" a live performance. Bring tissues when checking those
@@ronireacts_to_all Hi. Great reaction. Really enjoyed it. Thankyou. The above comment is actually quoted from Rens own words about his dear friend Joe. The song he's referring to "Freckled Angels" can be found right here on RU-vid. Take care hun, sending love from the U.K 💕
He has such a great crew about him... the "one takes"... that anybody who has performed knows there is never a one take... you perform it all day long... walk the halls rehearsing... do some walk throughs.. figure you what works and does not... like, uhm, Life???... they do such a fantastic job on the "performance" pieces... but also can busk and throw down in a breath... He's my fav performer since Kendrick and The Heart Part 5... and then I needed to go back and learn because Lamar was very new to me. Loving this channel and just 3 vids in. [must admit... i have stories about psychological warfare that involved being tied down, going to a bowling alley in the basement of a hospital, and taking steel plates off your chest because you still have a little of you left]
@@ronireacts_to_all you are very kind. Danke, Love. .... much to say. Everybody has a story they should write. We are better when we "break bread" whether that is over food or pain or best moment or history... 8.7+B people on this spinning dirty glorious rock... if we'd just talk kindly, honestly, humbly and caringly it'd be a better spinny rock thingy. Out
Hi Roni...at the very end it hard when he said "It was never a battle for me to win. It was more of an eternal dance" I've had social anxieties my entire life and it's felt like a dance to get through to this point. I'm 67 and not suicidal or I doubt I'd be here now. God bless others who deal with problems.
Ren has been through more hell in his 33 years than some will deal with in a lifetime. Some of his songs are EXTREMELY raw and he likes to do continuous shot/live recordings (like this was if you didn't notice his lapel microphone and the wires on his back). His friend Joe took his own life when he was 19 and Ren has several songs about Joe and suicide. He also has several about his own struggles with illness, misdiagnosis and mental breakdown. From interviews and some of his other songs, Ren grew up on societal commentary literature like "1984", "Animal Farm" and so on. Some of his songs reflect that and are comments on current society, but he also has some songs that are just bops where he flexes his rap and skill making beats. He plays the piano, guitar, drums and who knows what else. He's completely independent now and doesn't even have "management", let alone a record label. This allows him to ignore genre definitions and work at his own pace while he's still receiving treatment for the damage done by his illness. I'll warn you not to make the mistake other reactors have - don't watch "Violet's Tale". It's available as one of his more recent videos, but it's actually the end of a trilogy. The trilogy has been put together in a single video, "The Tale of Jenny & Screech (Full)", with Violet's Tale as the 3rd part. This is definitely what he calls "Bard core" because it's almost a Shakespearian tragedy written told by a modern bard. This is a must-see to get an idea of his artistic range and acting skills. It's also continuous-shot live recordings.
Thank you for the details and heads up! I am looking forward watching the trilogy in order. I just hope my camera (phone) can handle it! Also - yes a few others mentioned the many talents and bardcore style. Ohhhhh I'm excited to find out more!
@@ronireacts_to_all not on the Ren rollercoaster there are lots of ups and downs ,twists and turns you might want to hold on tight sometimes other times put your hands up in the air and let go ,you will smile ,maybe cry ,its the ride people get on not knowing they will never want to get off ,enjoy 😉
The think I love the most about this reactions, is you people going through all of the emotions Ren music provokes. It's great to see multiple times this video through yours eyes and feelings. GREAT REACTION RONI, PLEASE KEEP THIS MAGNIFICENT JOURNEY, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!! 🤘🏼🎶
@@ronireacts_to_all Just an advice, be sure you're doing the correct videos. For example: I don't know if you've watched Money Game I and II, you must do the oficial video for "Money Game" (it's a live performance by theway) and the oficial video for "Money Game 2". Never in the world do the live version before the one I'm telling you please. It's not a bad video, in fact you should watch it. But for this reactions purpose, the oficial video of Money Game 2 is so much better. I hope this will help you, enjoy this amazing peaces of art 🤘🏼🎶
Oh Keith thank you! I do this to all of my videos. I sometimes can't help myself to make some comments, but I like giving the respect to the video I'm watching. To the artists. 🙏🙏🎸🎶
He has given voice to many. For his storytelling try Jenny and Screeches tale (full)masterpiece. For a beautiful blend of voices try Chalk Outlines (live)and How to be me(live) For his rapping try Hunger,Genesis,Illest of all time. There is far more to discover theres his Busking with Sam Tompkins or his band The big push. Welcome to the rabbit hole.
Holy Hell Roni! Loved your reaction. In fact your first 😮response 0:41 to Ren’s first fairly aggressive pluck on his guitar told me that I’d enjoy riding along with you to experience Ren’s artistry again. Newly subbed. Gotta see what else you have on your channel. I’m sure you’ll get wonderful suggestions for his deeply emotional material… for me the raw intensity of the Ren experience is best when you mix in some fun ones like his busking with Sam Thompkins, The Big Push, or Chinchilla… or some fun old school beastly beats like What You Want. 🤘🏼🎧🤟🏼
I have seen at least 50 reactions, in addition to going back to the "official version" a number of times. I truly enjoyed observing YOUR reactions as you listened. Your commentary afterwards was very impressive and insightful. You certainly picked up on more than I did on MY first listen! I think that something I "picked up on" after the 4th or 5th time was how he finishes the musical portion of this piece (before his closing monologue). The chord progressions seem a bit wild... almost manic... and then they stop abruptly... on a chord that leaves me hanging. It doesn't resolve like MOST endings to a verse or to a song. I may be reading too much into this, but I think that is symbolic of the struggle he talks about... the pendulum... the dance. It's never over... it never resolves. It (hopefully) gets a bit easier with age and wisdom, but it's never "gone." You're always wanting that clean resolution, yet it doesn't come. For those who are truly suffering with profound psychological issues, I can't even fathom how difficult and terrifying that must be. Anyway, I'm rambling. I really appreciated your reaction. Hope to see you again!!. Liked and subscribed!
Thank you so much for your feedback! And wow! I didn't even notice what you said! (going to watch it again!) Thanks again. Really appreciate you being here.
Hey Roni. Ren's video is so well done - such a testament to surviving through mental illness. I'm really glad you reacted to this. Definitely, kudos to Ren for being here today and "winning". His talent and story are moving and powerful (as you said) to all deeply creative souls. YT just recommended your reaction video to me today. I really enjoy experiencing your experiences to these amazing videos. Hope you've had a lovely weekend, my friend. See you again soon! xo 🥰❣✨
Thanks! I appreciate it. I like letting it all play without disturbing or distracting from the piece. I sometimes forget the things I want to say, or certain moments that made me feel something but the time the video ends but... I like letting it play.
Notice confidence shaken ren is the only one throwing around threats of violence. Not negative ren. NegativeRen is just antogonizing the situation until ren said "I'll lock you inside" not "ill kill you ren" 😮 I suffer from a few mental health issues to put it lightly. He's not just making live performance mistakes. This slipping and deviations are unintentionally intentional. Oh yeah this and the tales and many other videos like MG1 And MG3 are live one takes. Songs like mg3 and murder have 1 cut so not true one takes. And murderer isn't live a recording. That makes his art more impressive none the less
This is art of transcendent beauty and an *important* song. Artists often struggle with imposter syndrome. There’s a movie starring Olivia Munn called “Violet” that rings of this and was a transformative experience for me… just as this song also resonates. As a person who’s never been able to escape imposter syndrome and negative self-talk, *realizing* that I can exert the strength that destructive voice questions-strength that I *know* I have-was sooo important. It takes time to push past the negativity-to make your own voice stronger, but if anyone out there is struggling with this, please please please *know* that you can do it. *Know* that I believe in you… but you don’t need me to-just like you don’t need the shroud of doubt that feels first of protection and then as a prison. You are *stronger* than that voice. You are stronger than you can *possibly* know… until you push back with softness or aggression-your choice.
Keep going down the Ren music rabbit hole, it's effing incredible. There are so many amazing moments awaiting. React to all of them and you are in for some amazing surprises. You will not be disappointed often by Ren. Maybe 1 or 2 won't be a great as your favorites, but with all of them the genius is undeniable.
Bad ren: you wanna be a big deal, next Jiminy hendrix? Good ren: forget it, (good ren says this during the transition) man it's not like that Bad ren: man it's just like that I'm inside you you twat I don't think good ren saying "forget it" was unintentional. I think that's the moment doubt begins to slip from that compartment to this one. He makes a statement with the light that only slips a little after this while condemning a big part of his soul. That statement carries over to after he stands up. We have to understand that the parts of ourselves we despise was necessary despite all its cost. And it shouldn't be destroyed just redirect the energy and be aware of just how scary, dangerous, and self destructive this part of you is. If left unchecked and forgetting the time you talked yourself down "the voice you hear when you loosen the noose" we can't allow this powerful voice overwhlem us and just let it take the reigns. We must stay at the forefront of our mental issues and remember it's a dance. Not a fight.
Found tour comment! Thanks for the breakdown and thought you shared. And I agree that we should embrace ourselves even if there are parts in us that require some work. 🙏
But he really deals with psychosis, read up on him, he was misdiagnosed and suffered from Lyme disease for years, I think he's still battling from all the crap he's been through. Umm my favorite part is all of it, I've battled psychosis and that literal other side of myself all my life, I hid it, never had therapy , and no medications, I just fought, I never won, it's still a battle, but I have learned to relax and yesss, he's absolutely right with what he says, the whole piece is important to me, cause it told me, I'm not alone and it's ok to tell others what I am, it gave me strength, more than just music, more than just art, it's a piece of musical art that gives hope, its beautiful 😍 Your next Ren selection should be the tale of Jenny and screech, it will break your heart and in the end, you will see the whole story and probably be speechless, it's amazing, sooo sad but amazing. Then watch Chalk Outlines with chinchilla, also amazing 😉
I'm so sorry for your battles. Glad that Ren gave you that feeling and knowing, that you're not alone. I love what music can do. I love what Ren did to music. And what it does when music and Ren are combined and intertwined. It's beautiful.
Impactful for sure! Where do you begin? You're taken on this performance Rollercoaster culminating on a crescendo of emotional highs. Fir me it's when his fragile self takes a stand against his negative self that made me want to stand up also and shake my fist in defiance. Great reaction ... thx!
YES! And thank you! I loved that moment when he manages to stand up for himself. Man... I connected to that. I wish I started more about it in the video - the inner battle between the self that believes in you, and the self that is trying to diminish you. And when you find out that it's not evil (just trying to protect you from getting hurt), you manage to be at peace with it. And it with you. Does it even makes sense? I don't know.
I didn't mean to write a crappy book and have it published on your comment thread. I reckon my mind can still be blown by rens talents after a few hundred listens. I like your reactions.
Yes! All of the wonderful people here told me that he does it all in ONE take! All more respect for doing a theater show for us. I'm in awe with Ren. Wow. So much respect.
Just found you today, earned my sub. Ren is a prince among artists. Heartily suggest you go down his rabbit hole. Bring a tissue box and an open mind and you will not regret it. I promise you
Ren also comes with a very lovely and active fanbase that will come and say hi. Some will move on, but quite a freight stay for your normal channel. Welcome to the cult!
I resonated with "loosen the noose on the rope". I'm a combat vet with a slew of mental disorders that can come with that and at one point (a few times actually) in my life I was seconds away from ending it. Instead of a rope it was me removing the slide. The darkness is deep and you can't hear or see except some lighter and darker shades of black as you stumble through. It is a constant battle and yeah you learn how to cope, even when life sucker punches you further on, you can use those mechanisms to fight again.
I am so sorry that all of this happened to you. As a former military myself I'm sending you a big hug. I didn't go through anything half as bad as others but I just want to tell you - you're not alone. And yes, you keep on fighting. You are here on this planet for a good reason, so keep fighting. That line hit most people by the way. If you read through the comment section it's beautiful. People are sharing their story - so thank you for sharing yours. 🫂🙏💜
Ren is therapy for so many from one song he helps so many people open up in ways therapists struggle to do in person. We as consumers and fans of his music and his message need to push his channel he should have millions of subs on his channel this is a crime he's saves people with his music or at least helps them by them opening up and talking
I hope that my channel will help push his art out there. Music is healing, eye opening, mind blowing beautiful form of art. And just from watching this one video, I know he is an incredible artist. Can't wait to explore more. Can't wait to see him blow up and reach millions more.
I like how the pig who pushed him in, represents the system. Have you been told that this performance is a live one take. I think it was his third or fourth try. Best of times to you and all those you love
Yes! Some of the (incredible) viewers here told me. How amazing that it! Wow! Very much like a theater performance. Not cuts in between a scene. Just the whole story as is.
so just a little back story to this it was done live and also as a 1 take he did 4 1take tries and this was the best one. also when he was younger he was misdiagnosed with Depression, Bipolar and other illnesses so was fed wrong medications. he was signed to sony music but after a short period due to his illness's sony dropped him then he was. finally he was diagnosed with lyme disease and is now getting the proper treatment
I can't wait to watch all of it! I recently got back to play the guitar (I bought myself a birthday present) and it is HARD! So I have a bit of an extra appreciation (then a non- guitar player) to Ren for that.
@ronireacts_to_all Same here, I purchased a 🎸 just a few months ago and have a set of keyboards on the way as we speak. Never played 🎸 in my life, but as a child, I did play keyboards as well as a few other instruments, I'm hoping I pick up the keyboards, better than I am with the 🎸
You know this reminds me of a time in my life where I was defeated. And I learned later in life that it is ok to fall down. It's ok to get angry and sad and even be embarrassed of what you were, or how you were. As long as you learn from it, grow and evolve to be the person you want to be. A person to look up to.
some people know me as hope. some people know me as the sound that you hear whaen you loosen the nooseon the rope. i actually took a day off work the forst time i heard this. as a sui$ide survivor i feel that statement hard.
I am 63 years old and have followed Ren for a few years now, I am a cancer survivor and have suffered from mental health for a number of years, Rens music and back story has helped me so much and has saved my life, I hope you go down the Ren rabbit hole you wont be disappointed ❤❤❤
I'm so happy that his music helped you. And sorry for all that you've been through already. I just watched a few of his videos. And oh my... I'm going in!
