The BOYZ REACT to Ren - Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake) 

You should make a shirt with Rens wheel chair on it that says “So, you’ve never heard of Ren before?!”

The bass player of the Verve sent him a beautiful guitar after seeing this and Ren made a short about receiving it - he made it look like some treasure from Raiders of the Lost Ark!!😀

If Netflix go sleeping on Ren, fu*k'em, he will create his own RENflix, and sink them 🙃 Edit: a number of times you said his songs have deep or heavy or serious message, but you like how music is uplifting. Well... he did say he liked how a song can be a "Trojan horse" for conveying a more meaningful thought. He's a master at it.

I love this song. 🖤Britain🇬🇧drink it down and moan about the weather.☔ When it's all said and done we'll be in it altogether🍻.. This song just resonates and really is bittersweet. 🔥

Props for the Boyz for the shout out to Justin Hawkins and Knox! This was such RENaissance thing to do. And Knox just shouted out Rozalie. Ren's magic is happening ❤

"Mad how small altercations can define who we are." Almost a throwaway line in the song, but so profound.

As always, great reaction. Ren wrote his own lyrics and filmed his own video to the music score of the original 1997 Verve song "Bitter Sweet Symphony. Ren calls it a "retake" when he uses the base melody of another artist's song and raps over the track. I like the original, too, but I love Ren's version; it is more hopeful and upbeat than the original. Others have pointed out that this was not a one-take. Ren set up the storyline "actors" for the video. For those who are not familiar with British English, in Great Britain, a cubicle usually refers to a bathroom stall, so "junkie in a cubicle" refers to a junkie found in a bathroom, and "out on the lash" is slang for going out for some heavy drinking. Stepping “in and out of gaps of the pavement cracks" is probably a play on superstitious behavior; in the US, some people think it is bad luck to step on sidewalk cracks. In other parts of the world, it is believed that it will release evil spirits from the underworld. Birds of a feather is an English metaphor meaning those with similar interests or of the same kind tend to form groups. Someone else commented that Ren said he crossed the road to catch the sunlight to match up with the lyrics "glow" and then stopped at the coffin-shaped storm drain for "crying at a funeral" to represent the gravestone. Ren's attention to detail is remarkable. By the way, 10 GBP equates to almost $13 right now. Good thing Ren had to quit smoking because of his health on the advice of his Canadian doctor.

Your Support for Ren is amazing. Thanks for that!

I read in a comment that the door that Ren crouches in front of at the end of the video belonged to a good friend who overdosed and died. Also one lyrical gem. When Ren says "people rise for work and the sun mirrors that" The two major newspapers in Britain are the Sun and the Mirror.

Love that you shouted out Knox too. ❤ The vibe you, Knox, Ren, and others give - lifting up others as you rise too - it renews my hope.

Ren NEVER misses... but neither do you guys. Thanks for another dope reaction!!

Love this cover. Totally spins it on the head and such a feel good tune. Best moment is as Ren crosses the road and the sun hits you at the precise time. Amazing work by Ren yet again

The Verve's version was actually sampled from an orchestral arrangement of the Rolling Stone's song 'The Last Time' from 1965

Ren did a great job in putting a modern spin on this classic, You should def react to the original though too, it's a great tune and gives an insight into his video choice here, etc .. 🙂

The Poetry within the last bars is outstanding, like Bob Ross but with words

"Taking me back to my 20's." Me, too. In my 20's I lived in NYC, in Harlem, and I spent a New Year's Eve with friends drinking champagne and doing cocaine (the one and only time I did that, because it was great and I was NOT going to take the risk of addiction). We stayed up all night, and then at dawn I walked home -- it was a gorgeous New Year's Day morning walking along the Hudson River while most of the City slept. I felt so alive that morning! Anyway, that's what this cover evokes for me. Thanks for another great video, guys!

Other little video details: they go from shade into sunlight on the glow lyric and on the funeral lyric he stops at a rectangle drain cover on the footpath like it is a grave. Flipping clever 😎

I love BP just repping Ren, the respect is real.

The thing that most reactions miss (because most reactors are US-based and you’d *really* need to know your football to spot it) is the gulls at the end. Brighton and Hove Albion football club’s nickname is The Seagulls. Nice reaction. Again.

Yo bro so much in that video, just crossing the street to go from shade to sunlit as the beat drops, the long pavingstone he stops at to represent a grave. Crazyness😮. Y'all still need to do REN and SAM improvising on Stevie Wonder, busking with hip hop easter eggs yna I'm saying nothing to spoil it. Also you need to do BLIND EYED official (not live) an amazing beat Sam smashes his vocals and REN triple times bars again. ❤🎉

This one isn’t quite a one take, there are visual skips & gaps. Nevertheless, i do think a one shot was the goal. But they were restricted by the sunrise. They couldn’t do dozens of takes to get it perfect because they wanted that low just after sunrise angle. The result is they’ve got a couple of spots where you see a jump or the words on screen are distracting you from the visual or you see they are walking on the same portion of the street they already did. They made it work.

Me too-Minnesota! In my twenties! Ahhh loved it in the wee hours of the morning after partying all night. 62 yrs now. ❤

Apparently the original artists loved it so much they gave him a personal guitar that they played

One take GOATs is right. "Here in the city we glow" - at the exact moment he steps out into the sunshine glowing down on the road.

This song, and the feeling of "I love my city even it's imperfections" really reminds me of Lin Manuel Miranda's "In the heights". Some tracks from that show might be worth you guys reacting to.

RosalieReacts also did a good interview with Ren. And you STILL haven’t listened to How To Be Me (he live version)! But did enjoy this!! 😁👍

Cigarettes in North Europe costs more to prevent smoking. Especially making it so expensive that kids can't afford them. Here in Norway we have even removed the 10pack. Also the price of a 20pack is about $14-16 or more. From 1987 until 2021, smoking (daily or non-daily) fell from just over 30% to 16% among men, and from almost 40% to 13% among women in the 16-19 age group. EDIT: Most of the sum goes back as tax which is used on research on how to reduce and prevent smoking.

This just sums up a typical, beautiful night out 😂 what a lovesong to Britain 🫶🏻

Yea, them matching the lyrics to the people walking around blew me away! Definitely something I noticed while first watching it. Must of taken forever! Lpl

"here in the city we glow" as he steps out from the shade of fhe building into the sunlight. Genius.

Si, the bassist from the Verve, saw this and sent him a rare guitar as a gift. Si and Ren have been in discussions about a possible collab as well

Mushy peas is an epic parody!!! I love it!! You’re so clever to think of doing this!! Love yah BP!!

Oh man I love your Ren reacts. The best thing to have happened in music in 23. Don’t stop. This is such a feel good tune.

I really enjoyed this retake- Bittersweet was part of the soundtrack to my uni days so loved this too. My favourite retake is Losing It too. Love your description- ‘an ode to the city’. Another great reaction and discussion 🔥

There is nothing like sunrise after being awake all night. It's completely different from waking up at sunrise.

This is my favourite of Ren’s retakes. He nailed the sentimentality of the original track, and even the video is a take on the original music video where Richard Ashcroft walks along Hoxton Street in London. I love that you brought up Hi Ren because it spreads the same message that we’ve gotta accept the good and the bad to be content and at peace.

just love his music...thanks guys

1. Last time I bought a pack here in NYC was about 5 years ago, and they were $14/pack. Unemployed at the time, it's why I switched to vaping. $$$. (I'm now on nic lozenges.) 2. Ren's version quite parallels the original, as it’s still a contradictory Britain: "'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life / Tryna make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die / I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down / You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah" 3. This song's so great. So happy the Verve bass player gave Ren a guitar after hearing it. What praise! 4. Thank you for staying on the Ren train. You've covered my current tops ("Ocean", "Humble", and "Power") so I'm happy listening to more. Much love to you Boyz!

I had many of those times in Colorado Springs and Denver myself and this song makes me think of those times too! Great reaction guys!

This song makes you feel a certain nostalgia for the days when you were carefree, with no time clock, no checking in with anyone, pulling all nighters, people watching, loving your lifestyle and being in the moment! Makes you love Britain 🇬🇧 even though I'm not British! Very relatable song and Ren is always in the pocket with his songs 😊❤

Im from near Brighton,this is my city too, and this is THE BRITAIN I LOVE 🇬🇧

@BlackPegasusRaps - there is a hidden gem on Ren's Twitch channel - on the set of The Hunger...right before i guess he was going to release the video... it is basically a live performance of the song ...The Hunger Live on Set

It looks to me like they did a few one takes, selected one as the main video, then used cuts from the other takes to create that break or jump cut effects in the video. The tune itself is fire.

The crazier I look to people after an EPIC SESH the better I feel! 🤣🤣🤣

He did an amazing job with this rework. Love seeing the Verve give him props for this version.

Ren always gets you thinking and so beautifully.

A love letter to the real life of working people in Britain ☮️

I liked your opening conversation about the price of cigarettes. In the UK, it's now the price and not the tobacco that contributes to a heart attack or stroke.

Thanks for another great reaction video. Ren is the gift that keeps on giving. What a genius performer. I love the many facets of Ren's presentations and I love being surprised by each totally unique song. I appreciate your reactions and really want you to analyze every song Ren has on video! I'd like to suggest that you do a reaction to Ren & Sam Tompkins performing a live busking mashup of Earned It/Man's World/Falling. I think you will be amazed by both of them. Can't wait for your next reaction!

BP and Don, I love your support for Ren which is so consistent, I think you are kindred spirits to him, which all of us fans are ❤

If you look up "The Last Time" by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra, it's actually their instrumental cover of The Rolling Stones. The Verve used it (to great effect), but got in some hot water at the time.

DJ Ren, “Another One…Take!”

Always a good time with good people in chat 🖐️❤️🥰

As he mentions "Pack of Malbaro Lights" He is outside the 'Cancer Research UK' shop front.

Gotta do Right here, right now retake!

What an amazing performance!

I love watching this video alongside The Verve's original. That in itself is a beautiful juxtaposition and compliment to the original.. Loved your guys' reaction as always.

I love all his retakes, and i would love a retake of mattafix - big city life . omg that's already 17 years...

Ren 1990s, you won't regret it...

Just a bit of trivia if it's not already been said, the music in the song (Not The Verve's or Ren's lyrics just the music) is not a Verve original. It was originally recorded as an instrumental piece by the manager of The Rolling Stones, Andrew Loog Oldham on an album he made way back in the day and The Verve were sued for using it.

Just walked along that street this morning 🌄 on my way home...it's such a lively street and the city is full of life..my fav seaside city 💕

His stories remind you of your stories, without mentioning your stories all the time enthralled by his storyline Birds of a feather!

Another brilliant video! I love it!!!

The best timing is him saying "Glow" at the same time he steps into the sunshine

Best comment ever " it's like sneaking the vegies in " love your channel keep up the amazing content

Marlboro Lights are definitely more than 5 or 6 dollars in Colorado. Smokes are expensive everywhere now and have been for awhile. Great reaction as usual!

It s very interesting how Ren affect people so much. Yes he is a big secret.Consantly something tell us always in other way.I ts not just a disease there is something more. But is wonderfull that you present Ren s music. Strange times for us.🕳🕳

The sign about cancer research that’s behind him as he lights up.

Love your reactions!!👏👏🔥🔥

when he says here in the city we glow he steps into the sunlight

Cool little nod to under the bridge by the chilli peppers in there as well. Great reaction, great artist.

Don, you are a treasure.

hahaha a box of Marlboro is AU$50 in Australia!! and I am from Spain and it is about 6euros there! loved the reaction!

As someone who always believed that Oasis got all the credit the Verve deserved, i love this. Ren really hit home with this one.

The original string section was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. They’ve gave the IP to the verve after 25yrs of the song being a success

Love the channel, my age group... a mix of real life "real" & fun "fun".

Great reaction!! Good thing Ren quit the cigarettes.. NYC here they are close to 16 dollars a pack glad I don’t smoke..😊 Lov ya guys..yes it was the sun..😊 we are so lucky to have him…

Who thinks that Ren and Sam(the film guy) have so much tape of Rens journey and when he really blows up we’re going to get one hell of a Netflix documentary…

Yessss been waiting for this reaction 👍👍

The Verve took the sample from The Rolling Stones

Great reaction guys this looks like they tried to do a one take but it didn't work out the initial cuts were behind the lyrics that flash on the screen then it was just fast cuts still a brilliant video. Mimicking the verve original video 😎👍

Listen without interrruption, go with the flow and embrace the feeling. x

Did anyone save the reel of him shooting his new videos with Sam in Canada? I can't find it but I wanted to show my son cuz we live kind of close to there in the natural beauty looks similar to where we live... Also looks like he's finally doing piano!!

this isn't a 1 take, epic vid & tune, but not a 1 take this time. respect the reaction always & thx

It's a luxury tax - in England, cigarettes, alcohol, gasoline and now anything with more than a specific grams of sugar per service (ie junk food) all have luxury tax added

Pools are usable however you can always get them for 20 cents at an op shop/ thrift shop!!

Yeah in Massachusetts it’s like 11 to 13 depending on the brand. Had to switch it up from American Spirits to Montegos😂

He crosses the road and says 'glow' as he steps into the sunlight and talks about a funeral whilst standing at a manhole cover like it's a grave. Genius is overused by in Ren's case it's not strong enough. Peace.

For a song that challenges while being beautiful, that teaches while bearing a strong social Justice message, a song that is both haunting and triumphant and extraordinarily percussive, checkout “Biko” by Peter Gabriel (you really need to hear the studio version though). It’s as if the horror and pain of Stephen Biko’s death is doubling as the pain of birthing the end of apartheid in South Africa, it’s really that good

The multiple cuts at 'the City is my companion so I'm never alone' seem to be for effect only and filmed at different angles and times of day, the lighting resumes to how it was prior to the cuts and Ren continues.

Simon, the Verve bass player sent Ren his guitar he loved this so much so cool! It encapsulates Britain just like the original song.

Ooooh shit, so never get drunk.... That's the magical sauce?? Got it!

He recorded this a while back, I bought a pack of Marlboro last month and it was £14. So yeah, cigarette prices over here in the UK are pretty high.

Loved it.

Hey man i was torn about you and some of your opinions i have subbed and un-subbed a few times. In the spirit of Ren, i am sorry man. I was stupid. I did more damage to myself, i love your shit, you really are dope and i love your formats and bringing in new people and how you do three songs and the songs you pick. Cheers man. I wanna try you on good mush peas. 😂❤

In many of his raps/songs Ren is like the Frankenstein monster of a combination urban poet, graffiti artist, philosopher, wordsmith, musical maestro and roving spy camera. Every song both visually, musically and lyrically are like diving into complicated fractals, you always find more as you relisten/watch and realise you still missed things

“Here in the city we glow” right as he steps into the street and the sun comes out from behind the building causing the whole shot to glow. If they planned that? /micdrop

FINALLY BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY YEAAAAAAAAAAH

About the pack of cigs: Europe has a higher tobacco tax than the US. Therefore the cigarettes cost a lot more. It is part of a campaign to reduce smoking and with it the strain on the public health system. Other things include that ads for tobacco are forbidden and there are health warnings on each pack including drastic photos.

Funny he walked right past KFC, McDonalds and Subway in one frame- In the land of Beer Pubs and Fish Joints. Brittan!