I cannot say how much I appreciate you talking about nakedness being an allusion to vulnerability. Every other reactor I've seen has either not mentioned it or just said "Lol he's naked that's weird" and moved on. It is genuinely one of the most impactful pieces of visual imagery in the special for me and it was really nice seeing someone pay respect to it. Thanks for all of your amazing reactions!
It's something he does more than once. It's serves more than one purpose, both the vulnerability, but also it gives the viewer an opportunity to see how the quarantine affected him physically. The camera grab at the end of "All Eyes On Me" also does two things, it jars the viewer, but it also reminds them that he's all alone in the room.
One of the things I like about metaphorical nakedness is that it both represents vulnerability and strength depending on the context. You are either exposed and threatened by all the eyes on you, seeing your vulnerability; but in only a slightly different context, being naked and unafraid and/or confident...it's the same thing, showing people that you have nothing to hide and are not intimated. The latter is used less frequently, usually because of the sexual connotations of nakedness.
Sort of similar: somebody else pointed out that in one of the beginning songs, he goofily sings “Robert’s been a little depressed…” I honestly didn’t think about his name _not_ being “Bo” until that line lol. But more importantly, this reviewer pointed out, he believes Bo was drawing a distinction between Bo Burnham: The Performer, The Commodity! vs Robert: the person. And sure enough, there are several points in the larger special when he solemnly starts to say something very vulnerable, but then suddenly switches to ✨🕺Lights! Overacting! Being silly! Minimizing!😀✨ in order to actually _say the vulnerable thing._ Like Robert can’t fully come to terms with the heavy things yet, and just as much as we consume Bo Burnham’s content as entertainment, Robert both uses and hides behind Bo - sorta the whole “give a man a mask and he’ll show you who he really is.”
One of the ways I have interpreted the ending was when he left the house that was him releasing “inside” and once he releases it no matter how much he might want to go back and change it or if he regrets releasing it it’s impossible to take back represented by him struggling to go back inside, but when it shows him watching the ending of it he smiles a little bit showing he is at least content with what he made
This is it exactly. His perfectionism and anxiety make him not want to stop working on Inside, thinking there's always something else that needs to be tweaked or added, removed or expanded, etc. And he knows that once it's out, he can never make it "just his" again, and now it's in the hands of all of the viewers. The thought is obviously terrifying to him, and the smile at the end shows that he has made peace with that and is ready to stop hiding from the world, it is time to re-enter.
For me is a little more bleak. The whole special has been Bo trying to be the voice of reason, to vocalize what we all have been feeling. And when he finally goes "outside" he realizes that no matter where you go, outside is no longer there. We are always in front of an audience through our phones and social media. That smirk at the end makes me feel "Bo gave up" he is going to laugh along with us instead of fighting anymore
@@curicurucuru I could see that, only if he hadn’t mentioned multiple times throughout the special how he wants to never stop working on the special and “never go outside again”. His perfectionism is on display and highlighted multiple times during the show, so him “going outside” at the end pretty clearly shows him letting go of this special as “just his” and giving it to everyone else. And he smiles because he’s content with that choice, and glad to be making people laugh again.
Just starting this so cant comment yet but be sure to watch / listen to the credits. It's a different song and he dedicates the project to his serious gf "for lor, for everything."
@@WeaknessorWickedness I mean it’s his fourth but ok. Ironically most people think it’s his third and the one they don’t know is Words Words Words. The others are what. and Make Happy by the way.
The first person to actually get some context for these songs. GS. Personally I feel when it comes to the line do returns always diminish... is he ever going to get out what he put in? No. A year... more... of his life is gone. He did what he wanted to do with it, but that time is gone. He's never going to get the same impactful kind of return that he gave us. Mostly because of the genius that is Inside...
One thing you missed that had a huge impact on me was when he said "When im fully irrelevant and totally broke", he actually said "totally broke (ken)" as in "broken" 💔
If you want to understand this song and some of the lyrics to this song, you should listen to the last song he released called "Are You Happy", oddly enough filmed in this same room 5 years earlier and was final song of the make happy special.
I never comment on stuff, but wanted to step out and share support for you. You are really good at this. Your thoughtful and intellectual reactions to these videos have been awesome and id love to see you continue content in the future. If you need any help brainstorming ideas on how to proceed with your channel, I’d love to help. Reach out
Ever since INSIDE came out I've been obsessed with it. But more so with people's reactions to it and their interpretations of it. I must say that your review has been the most eloquent and insightful and I give you props for it. I'm curious as to what you do next..
I agree I watched inside like 20 times then watched about 20 reactions per popular song and this guy who I don't know has nailed what I also think on what Bo was going for.
First time we've found a reactor thats like us. I spent a lot of time viewing different reactors hoping they'd understand the nuance and depth, many came close. The difference here is that Chris Reacts actually understands and you get to watch him understand and experience as many of us have. Top tier, ez sub. Time to dive into his other reactions.
I think it's a bit of both. He's referencing when he's a broken person sure, but the fact that he sings it "BROKE... N," with two syllables and a space between them makes me think there's something else. It has been the case sometimes where someone ends up destitute, completely broke, irrelevent, AND broken.
Another little callback there that's easy to miss is that the melody to "Am I going crazy? Would I even know? Am I right back where I started 14 years ago?" is very similar to the part of "All Eyes On Me" where he sings "Are you feeling nervous? Are you having fun? It's almost over. It's just begun."
"Am I right back to where I started 14 years ago?" Bo was just a kid making music and writing jokes in his room when he started on TH-cam. With this special, he's back to making music and writing jokes in this room again as his comeback to comedy. Perfect symmetry. And we've been with him, growing up at the same time.
@@C.A.D. I hope Bo will make a comeback someday, but it doesn't seem like it'll happen soon, if ever. He hasn't even written anything at all on any kind of social media for a while, with the last posts on Twitter and Instagram ending with "I will never tweet again" and "goodbye" accordingly, which - mind you - is far from a bad thing, but doesn't really suggest any willingness to return to being a social person. I think the promise to stay inside was rather honest.
One of my favorite details is Bo's subtle smirk at the end. I DESPERATELY wanted him to approve of the final product and enjoy it. To know he considers what he put himself through to be worth it. You can see that he is proud of what he's able to pull out of darkness. What really gets me though is that the approval, that little smirk, starts the whole cycle over again. He'll continue to do things detrimental to his mental health because the end product and the approval validates his existence. It's very sad
@@brachialtick6539 well as someone who is in creative arts. No matter how much you separate your muse from yourself... You still end up bleeding your issues into your work. Its just a hazard related to the work
@@rheam9391 Of course there's a part of him, but i feel like people don't do "inside" justice when they think it's a representation of bo's feelings alone
I feel the whole song, especially the ending; speaks to Bo's and every artists feelings on not wanting to finish a project. This thing that you've been so passionate about and put so much blood, sweat and tears into is no longer just yours, now it's everybody's, it belongs to the world, and it's open to criticism and mockery. He's opened the door now and can't go back inside.
I took that last scene as Bo releasing the special as him leaving. Once he releases it. He cant take it back. No matter the outcome. He cant go back inside.
don't know if it was intended, but the part which incorporates lyrics from the previous songs reminds me of how previous days and events felt like they were blending together while staying inside at home during lockdown/quarantine
Many musicals have a song at the end that brings out the whole cast practically and has layers of songs throughout the show for a finale. I loved that he treated his show with class in this song, at least that is how I see it.
The thing that saved this special from completely wrecking me (lol as if it didnt already) when II first watched it, is the smile on Bo's face at the end, as he presumably watched the entire special as a whole. He is smiling. He likes what he's done. He is happy with it. I think the major point of contention with Bo as an artist is his relation to his own fame and talent. He simultaneously jerks away from it, while always being lured back in by it-- that's just how it's gonna be, as an artist. And with the ending here, I can safely assume that Bo has grown into his fame. He has grown into his talent. And I am excited for what he creates next.
man, kinda sad with the end of the outtakes providing more context. though, I think in the outtakes him stopping smiling could be to show he isn't as happy with how it turned out as he presented himself to be, or to show that some of the special really is a partial character or act he puts on for the camera, the distance between Robert and "Bo" the personality
@@Razercool1878 I don't now what you mean. Even in the outtakes, he smirks as if he's laughing at the special, and then it ends. I take the same thing away from Inside Outtakes as I did with Inside itself. Also, Bo is obviously happy with Inside, That's why he put it out and keeps putting out content related to it. It's his masterwork to date. (Also, anyone filmed is always partially a character. The camera is never objective)
I think him stepping out and being stuck on stage retroactively explains that one lyric "Went out to find a reason to hide again ... well well looks like you found it, now come out with your hands up we've got you surrounded" Now that his hiatus is over and he's performing he knows he might be stuck performing, and if he was wrong about being over his panic attacks, it could be put him back into a bad place. It is probably a scary prospect.
I think it also might have to do with another lyric from "Welcome to the Internet" - that being, "apathy's a tragedy and boredom is a crime". He's stuck being bored in his house (a crime) and now he's surrounded.
I interpret the "how about I sit on the couch and I watch you next time" a little differently, I think he's sort of saying that the vulnerability of being a performer and having others take shallow and almost voyeuristic pleasure in watching his personal fears and problems on display, is starting to take too much of a toll. It would be easier to be the one on the couch, not on display.
The insane thing about Bo is you can see the increasing cynicism and mental health decline from the beginning of his career with out there witty funny songs, to Words words words where he got a little more serious but still generally positive. Then Make Happy where it's a lot darker, more serious, and you can really see the effects on his mental health, and 5 years later Inside happens and it's just a culmination of everything in his career
I wouldn't say that he suggests to joke in difficult situations, that's his job, but with "oh shit, YOU'RE really joking at a time like this" he acknowledges that man, sometimes jokes really do not help, maybe they have an opposite effect
I always interpretted "inside" as a state of depression, and how awful it is to be stuck there with self doubt feeling so lonely. Stepping away takes so much power. But when depressed people "get outside" things can be scary and people can expect so much from you to the point where going inside feels safer. Him not being able to get inside feels like him saying he got out of that depressed place, and now as much as he wants to go back to the comfort of "inside" people expect the performance from him, even though he originally put himself in that position by stepping out of the door.
About the "meet you on the other side" line, that just sounds like Bo's sense of theater. I'm pretty sure old movies would do something like that, or dramatic productions? Two friends, 10 years separated, one standing on a lonely street corner, the other approaching, dramatic close-up shots as they tearfully rush towards each other. Is it just me?
I think it’s always up to interpretation and he does have that dramatic streak in him, so your take is valid. With the whole special being about anxiety, depression and his struggles coping with the pandemic, I always thought that line was very much touching on the anxiety of finally leaving your home, being paranoid about everything. “The other side” could also just be the other side of the pandemic too. Loads of ways of reading it, IMO.
Everything about this special does have to do with COVID tho. So "see you on the other side" is also just literally how people have met up during the lockdowns. Being on other sides of the street. Someone dropping off something on your front door, and you only wave at them from their car on the other side of the street.
Here's my list of suggestions: Can't handle this(make happy), is the perfect precursor to inside. Are you happy(make happy) Country song(make happy) Repeat stuff(what, stage version/music video version) Straight white male(make happy) Kill yourself(make happy) From God's perspective (what) Left brain, right brain(what) Sad (what) We think we know you(what) Art is dead(words, words, words) Those are some of his best work. But maybe you can watch those two specials, song for song. Just like what you did with this one. The specials in order: Words, words, words. What. Make happy. Inside. Ps: I probably forgot to mention a few things.
He's honestly right up there with George Carlin imo. His early youtube songs, Words Words Words, What, Make Happy, and Inside perfectly encapsulates the depression and pressure of millennials, tbh
@@ashketchup9040 Bo is about 3 years older than me and I gained so much comfort from him talking about his struggles in a comedic way. It made me feel like I wasn't alone and I wasn't the only one that thought that way
I think that the part where he promises never to go out again is a reference to All Eyes On Me interlude where he says; 'I thought, "You know what? I should start performing again. I've been hiding from the world and I need to re-enter" And then, the funniest thing happened'
As someone who has been through similar issues, I interpreted it as if Bo is telling the universe "I tried going outside and a pandemic happened, so I promise I won't try anymore". As if it wasn't coincidence and instead the whole world changed itself just to make sure he stays "Inside". When you're really deep in a depression valley, it really does feel like the world is out to get you even though you know it's not. Your mind focuses on the negative things and keeps reinforcing the bad thoughts. That's what I took out of those lines at least.
Yeah the room he filmed everything in is like a mother-in-law studio apartment in his back yard. At the very end of his ‘Make Happy’ special there’s a shot of him walking out of that apartment and we can see the back of his actual house. I don’t know about anyone else, but I absolutely needed to see that little smile of his at the very end. Just knowing that he’s even a little bit okay is very comforting. This special hits so hard, I was a blubbering mess the first time I watched. And several other times after that lol. Thank you so much for reacting to the whole thing, I’ve had such a blast watching all of these. Now that you’re done with Inside, what other kinds of things do you want us to suggest to watch? I’ve got a huge list of awesome music I could suggest.
Also. Him being naked with the spotlight on him, the lyrics at the moment saying "well, well, look who's inside again, went out to look for a reason to hide again. Well, well, buddy you found it, now come out with your hands up, we've got you surrounded" He put himself out there with the special again, gave people what they wanted, and that made him want to go hide again. But the audience, being the spotlight, are telling him it's not gonna be over like he thinks, we won't let him hide again now that we've got him back, so he's threatened to come out with his hands up, we, the audience, have him surrounded. Like saying he has no choice now, we won't let him go away again. And after that, the final scene of him fighting to open the door and go inside that room again, but he can't. I think that also means that once the special is out there, there's no way back, people will see it. The scene at the end, with him watching his special end, he's satisfied with what he made, he's happy about it, and it also says that even though almost everything in it is true, it's just a special, it's scripted, it's an act. So he likes what he's made and we're don't need to feel so bad for him, for he's ok with it and everything it's act.
Have you seen his special before this one? "Make happy"? Would be great to see your reaction and thoughts on it as well. If not the whole special then AT LEAST "can't handle it". BTW. Found your channel today and it's great. I've watch all your reactions in one sitting :) it's great to see someone who gets the songs. Keep up the good work :)
I think your take that Bo saying he'd like to see us make something and him watch us realise how hard it is is a little cynical. In interviews he did for his directorial debut Eighth Grade, he talks about going on TH-cam and being fascinated by these videos teenagers would make vlogging and performing and doing the standard influencer stuff, while getting around 10 views per video or even less, aka "making jokes when no one's laughing in the background." He never once disparages these teenagers, he understands that they have grown up knowing nothing else, but that those first steps can still be valuable, just as the videos he made when he was 16 led to what he is today. I believe Bo is a proponent of making art no matter what, and when he's telling the audience that they should make something, he's being genuine, he wants art out there to make him feel better too - "I'll panic, call me up and tell me a joke". He's never come across as someone who would get bitter over people criticising his work, and definitely not have it as the closing song of his special. He said he wants "a little bit of everything all of the time", and that's him saying he's the same as the rest of the young people who he was talking about in Welcome to the Internet, he's not some special auteur unlike any other, and that everyone who can make art, should. And not a reaction request, but just a recommendation to watch in your own time - CJ the X made a great video essay called "Bo Burnham vs Jeff Bezos" that interpreted and then built upon the message of Inside even further, in my opinion.
@@ChrisReactsToThings again, I don't think Bo cares enough about "haters" to address them. On the contrary, he has repeatedly taken issue with people who adore everything he does. At one point in his Make Happy special he says his biggest problem are the audience, the ones who like him enough to have paid to see him live. In Problematic in this special he's practically begging for someone to hold him accountable for his past mistakes because he thinks people have forgiven him too easily. If anything, artists on the level of success Bo has are going to want to seek criticism to vindicate their own insecurities. I just think it's easy to hear that line as a petty remark, but I think Bo was being sincere there.
@@ChrisReactsToThings Yeah, I don't think he's actually encouraging anyone to perform - in Inside he villainies social media and in Make Happy he urges his audience to do the exact opposite: "Social media - it's just the market's answer to a generation that demanded to perform, so the market said, here - perform. *Perform everything to each other, all the time, for no reason.* It's prison - it's horrific. *It's performer and audience melded together.* What do we want more than to lie in our bed at the end of the day and just watch our life as a satisfied audience member. I know very little about anything. But what I do know is that *if you can live your life without an audience, you should do it* ."
@@pixelised I highly, highly recommend that you check out the video essay I mentioned. I think Eighth Grade and Inside show a very specific but also very nuanced change to Bo's interpretation of the internet's role in modern human life from Make Happy that I frankly can't do justice to in a comment. Like, it's easy to say "social media is bad and performance is too" but also, that's the only reality a lot of young people know, and telling them to just log off sometimes isn't constructive, because the internet has affected the way we interact with each other in our real lives even, even when we're not performing at all.
@@ActuallyAnanya Yikes it's 2,5 h long! 🤪 Being eloquent as it is even Inside is more compact than that analysis… I have yet to watch Eighth Grade but between Make Happy and Inside Bo's take on social media doesn't seem to have shifted dramatically (some things he said while addressing the audience in Make Happy are echoed in lyrics from Inside…).🤔
11:05 When I first heard the line "Here's a fun idea: how about I sit on the couch and I watch you next time." I found it very inspiring as an aspiring musician. As if Bo was speaking to folks like me directly and saying encouragingly "Hey, you can do it too." and that he'd love to see anything someone made that took any inspiration from him
The moon makes me think of “that funny feeling” as it was “outdoors” in the “woods” at night. And the theme of that song was the “end of it all” and the lyrics while the moon is out are “so this is how it ends, I promise to never go outside again.”
I interpreted ‘losing power’ as losing control over the audience. He’s able to somewhat control the audience with a narrative during the special, but once it’s over, it’s up to the opinion of the viewer where his art goes and how it’s interpreted
If I had it my way, Bo would never be irrelevant. He's too important to too many of us. I know the thought of that scares him, but that doesn't make it less true. Inside, and Bo himself to a greater extent, is a defining pillar of my childhood and the rest of my life after I first discovered him 14 years ago, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
That is his actual guest house. If you watch the ending to "Make Happy" His final song is "Are You Happy" and at the end of that song, he actually leaves that room and you can see him walk up to his actual house from guest house. Would definitely recommend reacting to "Make Happy" Still has some serious moments, but it's overall more comedic. It would be a cool idea to maybe react to all his specials in reverse order.
Said it a few videos ago, but I love your reaction style and attention to detail, its really interesting hearing you unpack what you think about the songs, cinematography, etc. Watched every one of your reactions, and I've really enjoyed the journey, and im excited to see where you go from here. Im sure you'll get your fair share of song recommendations and stuff, but considering how much you picked apart the cinematography and symbolism, I feel like TV or movie reactions mixed in with the other stuff you decide to do would be really cool. Id love to hear your opinion on some the great movies and shows out there. Regardless, awesome job on this whole series, looking forward to what comes next 👍
I know you've already seen some of Bo's stuff, since you said that in another video, but you should totally check out some of his others that people are recommending in the comments. The only one I never see mentioned is "Rant". Its one of my favorites, and its very under appreciated. Its more lyric heavy (like a rap song) so there's plenty to unpack, but it is focused around the Catholic Church, so if you dont wanna deal with that sorta topic, that makes sense.
Those lines of "well well look whose inside again, went out to look for a reason to hide again"... So very much relatable to anyone whose been through the cycles of depression and anxiety.
I don't usually leave comments, my English is not great. But I just want to say that your reactions for this special are the best on youtube, and I've watched quite a few! Greetings from the Black sea coast ;)
The ending of this song blew me away. I really like how you pointed out the vulnerability that's portrayed through being naked in front of a spot light. I'd take it a step further, and say the next scene is a continuation of that theme. A man earnestly struggling, almost panicked, on stage as the audience laugh and cheer. Also, that ending shot of him watching himself felt very reminiscent of his message in "white woman's Instagram ", e.g., "remember, this is a carefully curated piece of media, and while it displays genuine emotions and struggles, it does not show the whole story". I'm fairly certain that wasn't the intended message, but that's how it stood out to me. Love your reactions. You've approached this content with a lot of thought and care and I've loved every minute of it
You missed the single most impactful word in the special. Most of my friends did too so I think he did it on purpose. If I wake up in a house that’s full of smoke, I’ll panic, so call me up and tell me a joke. When I’m fully irrelevant and totally broke- damnit, call me up and tell me a joke. That “-“ seems like kind of a vocal flourish, and it makes sense because he rhymes smoke and broke. It’s not a flourish. It’s the letter “n”. When I’m fully irrelevant and totally broken, dammit, call me up and tell me a joke. Just devastating. He also made a rhyme using the middle of a word. Which I don’t know if I’ve ever heard.
I definitely didn’t miss that one but just coupled into my interpretation of the line before it. Hard to cover every line/word but I’m glad you brought it up. Very sad.
@@bobloblaw7972 hilarious username, I like Kitboga, too-I agree that subtitles are important to appreciate the meaning, but the Netflix subtitles are NOT always accurate. They mislabeled “heads” for “hands” thrice in All Eyes On Me.
Goodbye is one of my favorite songs on the album/special. Love how he revisits the previous songs. Honestly this album reminds me of the first 6 months I experienced Kid A. Kept discovering it, reinterpreting it, kept experiencing so much nuance to where now I can’t imagine it not being such a pivotal album haunting my soul. Such honestly in Bo’s work.
Any day now is one of my favorites even though it's just two lines over and over. It's just nice sounding The end credits say a few things that went over my head "For lor, for everything" I'm pretty sure lor is his girlfriend dedicating the special to her I think And of course the s**cide prevention hotline at the end is also a nice touch But yeah my two favorites the last two
Damn, I always heard "am I right back where I started 14 years ago?" As him starting to perform again and it's as if he's completely new (after his break), but your interpretation really gives it more and gives a new appreciation for this line. I've seen Inside about 20 times and you still get new stuff every time
It's weird to say that he was standing up for himself when he was saying "I'll watch you next time"... I'm pretty sure he getting at his previous point. He's done. It's finished. He wants a break now. And he can watch us make content and entertain him.
The word lunatic derives from a Latin word meaning "of the moon" or "moonstruck." I interpret the moon being shown within his head as a reinforcement of the lines "Am I going crazy, would I even know?" While when it's displayed large above him as saying the world around him is crazy, so he'll stay inside.
it is a sincere request for you to react to Tim Minchin. (he is very similar to bo just better at the piano lol) you are one of the very few people who actually understand material like this and i can bet you would really enjoy tim minchin. a few of his songs you can start with are- 1)prejudice 2)the pope song and then build up to his other more refined materials like, thank you god storm (beat poem) stockbroker and a mitsubishi colt the dark side and many more... (p.s. i will put this comment on your all bo burnham videos lol so you get to look at it, sorry if it's annoying xD) also btw, love your reactions, definitely one of my favorite reactions channels of all time, been following you since welcome to the internet and it's been one hell of a ride :)
I've watched countless reactions to this special and yours are significantly above the rest. Just everything about it. So well done and thought out. Keep it up! :)
i've loved your analysis of this special, can't wait to see where you go from here! backtracking through Bo's specials would put a lot of this special in more context and they're all great in their own rights.
To me, the white outfit and the clean room represented his restored mental state. He mentions in All Eyes on Me that he spent time improving himself mentally and that he did get better. The messy room represented the mental state he was in prior. When your mind is riddled with stress and anxiety, nothing is sorted or in order within yourself. The clean room showed that he had finally sorted out his thoughts and the white outfit was a clean version of him. Untarnished and believing himself free of the dirt (negative thoughts). Then upon stepping outside, he realises that it's still the same. The things that triggered the stress and the anxiety are all still there. Sometimes we want to retreat back inside of ourselves but we can't truly overcome these things unless we force ourselves to face them. My interpretation was that when he stepped out and saw all of the things that made him uncomfortable or anxious, he thought, "I can always just go back inside." However, he had to force himself back into the world and he couldn't stay cooped up and shut off forever which was represented by the door being locked and him unable to go back inside. He was forced to confront these things no matter how awful they may seem.
Thanks for actually sticking with it and finishing the whole special. Across all your reactions you have had some really great insight and talking points and I enjoy listening to what you h ave to say. I look forward to what's up next! :)
For other artists, I recommend Tim Minchin! Very funny, great musician, also has some moments of unexpected philosophical wisdom. “Storm” is a good place to start with him.
I already liked another comment saying this, but I want to add my own to say I think "Can't Handle This (Kanye Rant)" should be the next reaction. Seeing his last performance before this special really contextualizes this one. Also, "all eyes on me by Bo Burnham transposed to his original voice" is even more emotionally impactful.
yep! that's his actual guest house! interestingly, he ends his special, Make Happy, in that same guest house. similar camera angles with the door open and everything. it's really neat
The moon metaphorically meant the end of the day. The moon comes out at night when the day is finally over which is what this song signifies that the special is coming to an end with the ending of this song. Hope this helps!
What to do next? There is one kind of reaction lacking on TH-cam. React to "Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog" with Neil Patrick Harris. It is three parts, 15 minutes each.
Most people LOVE Inside. It has been his best work yet, in my opinion, despite it showing his vulnerable side. (What I mean is, I enjoyed it but at the same time, I was worried how this is taking its toll on his mental health.) Despite all that, they ARE people who just don't get it? I suppose they view this special in a very different lens. Like in their mind, this is supposed to be a comedy then why isn't it funny? Humor is subjective, I believe. As people(the comment section) pointed out, there are just people who does not know the feeling that Bo is emphasizing in this special.
Idk if anyone’s caught this or said it but that line “you can pick the street, I’ll meet you on the other side”, I believe it’s a callback to one of the songs that made it to the outtakes - the chicken. Which given that context now, sent shivers down my spine. If you haven’t seen outtakes, you must.
that shot of his eye in the sunlight with the droning in the background. that to me seems like a clear homage to ari aster and horror in daylight. exposure. that he’s not actually safe outside, and in the sunlight.
There's one line that most people miss in this song because the last syllable is split to the next line... "When I'm fully irrelevant and totally broke--en, damnit, call me up and tell me a joke" Like holy shit... Yes he worries about losing relevance and money... But more than that he's worried that he's just broken... And that's heartbreaking.
Hot damn if The Chicken had been left in the special "You can pick the street, I'll meet you on the other side" that sentence would have hit much harder.
Goodbye song: My thoughts when he said "If I wake up in a house full of smoke, call me up and tell me a joke... etc." and ended up with "Are you really joking at the time like this" - time like this being the House full of smoke. I think (my opinion) what Bo meant here is: 1) calling back to Comedy and giving himself the medicine he made with the Comedy song. "How that would help me, if someone just tells me a joke". 2) In Goodbye realizing that it would not help him at all thus, comedy would not make any difference in "Times like this" - meaning as serious situations people can face - realizing by saying "Are you really joking at the time like this?" Conclusion: He thinks that his special is not going help help or change the world. And hoped people would just take it for what it is - "just piece of entertainment". For me personally it is not just a piece of entertainment, more like a piece of art. Same as a painting where painter puts their emotions, fear, joy, etc. into a canvas.
“I’m slowly losing power” is a nod to the Mars Rover, I think...And at the end, he’s trapped in the performance-the laugh track is so scary. I worry the special is a cry for help. The whole special is a feelings transplant. You’re review did his work justice. Thanks for taking the time to put yourself out there.
You said that "You can peek the street I'll meet you on the other side" was a vague line, and it is indeed. But maybe it's the most important one in this song. First we need to ask "meet who?", well, I think that he's talking to us in this song, but it could be also interpreted as the comedy or his career. But in this case it's almost synonyms. So, he's saying goodbye to his audience while asking us for help. And before that line he says "I'll see you when I see you", so he's telling us to not expect another comeback, actually, don't expect anything, maybe he keeps doing netflix specials, maybe he comes back to the theater, we don't know, he doesn't know, it all depends of when he's going OUTSIDE. And after he says that we don't have to wait for him, he tells us that we can "pick the street", wich I think that it's referring to the platform, the way that we're going to see him, but whichever street we choose, he'll meet us on the OTHER side. So he's telling us that we're together now, but it won't stay like this, it doesn't work for him like this, he needs to be on the other side of the street, or else we're going to hear more all eyes on me's. But still, even if he doesn't comes back, even if we can't meet him on the street, we can't touch him, we can still see him. And in my head it's just that beautiful scene of the audience and him looking at each other, so close but so apart, and just giving a subtle smile.
I always thought "the other side" line is a double meaning of social distancing and the "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side" joke (one of the oldest jokes in history). Between Inside's pessimistic view of society amid the pandemic, social injustice, and climate change inaction, and Bo's personal struggle with depression during lockdown, it sounds like he was basically saying "I'll see you guys when we're all dead (on the other side)."
Heyyy, I was wondering if maybe your could react to Rex Orange County. He's a pretty cool british musician who talks about mental health and important topics. I figure since your at the end of inside, you could react. Thanks for reading!
I'm not sure if anyone else said this. But that last part is "when I'm fully irrelevant and totally -- Broken --, dammit, call me up and tell me a joke. For the longest time, I thought it was broke, as in financially. But no, I think he is saying when he is mentally and emotionally broken. At least, that's how I'm hearing it.
I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but I feel like "you can pick the street, I'll meet you on the other side" is a reference to suicide. Saying he'll be dead, and you can choose which street to throw yourself in front of a car in, and he'll meet you on the "other side"
a crazy thing to think about is throughout the show he was constantly being followed by a spotlight. Laying in bed there was the spotlight, even naked in his own house they are being followed. No matter where they go or what they do there will always be a spotlight. Even when they are "staying inside" they can never run away from the spotlight. He leaves his house and there it is again. and like the Kanye rant he says he loves them but hates them but needs them but fears them. so he is stuck in this spotlight not seeing a way out. When he's locked out it's like he released this special and there is no going back. It's out there and he will again be in the spotlight again. Being loved, being hated, being judged...something so deep it blows my mind how he has the ability to even explain how he is feeling to people
There is another analysis video, and it says that going out means that the special is out now, and he can't go back inside with it. When the work gets published, the artist loses control over it or has no control over reactions to it.
I’m loving your reactions! Other music artists would be cool to see. Maybe some NF, twenty one pilots or other artists with thoughtful lyrics. I’m sure whatever you do will be great!
First of all, nice content! Second of all: I love that in the last scene he's watching his own ending and first looks serious but at the end seems to realize that yes, this is what I love to do - performing. He seems like he almost agrees with the audience at this point. Like, "look at that doofus trying to get inside again". He seemed pleased with either his own content or the fact that the audience liked what he was doing. ..Because he hasn't really been happy through any of the special. And yeah, the smile is probably fake, but right there I think it's supposed to be (or at least seem) genuine. That's just my takeaway from that particular scene.
Wow. What a journey. I found your channel only on second video but your reactions is very thoughtful and honest. Hope that after Bo Burhnam's reactions you will move on to something like movies or tv shows/music albums. Wish you all the best :)
You absolutely don't have to finish. There are several other specials of Bo content you could react to (or watch again for the first time in a while maybe?). If you want to react to something just a little more fun and silly, Epic Rap Battles of History are always fun to react to, typically get tons of views, and the people behind it are extremely supportive of reactors.
![[TH] FS vs BME - VCT Ascension Pacific - Lower Bracket Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnygqsR2Fig/mqdefault.jpg)
I cannot say how much I appreciate you talking about nakedness being an allusion to vulnerability. Every other reactor I've seen has either not mentioned it or just said "Lol he's naked that's weird" and moved on. It is genuinely one of the most impactful pieces of visual imagery in the special for me and it was really nice seeing someone pay respect to it. Thanks for all of your amazing reactions!
It's something he does more than once. It's serves more than one purpose, both the vulnerability, but also it gives the viewer an opportunity to see how the quarantine affected him physically. The camera grab at the end of "All Eyes On Me" also does two things, it jars the viewer, but it also reminds them that he's all alone in the room.
So glad more people noticed that, felt like I was all alone in realizing that it was representing our most vulnerable state
One of the things I like about metaphorical nakedness is that it both represents vulnerability and strength depending on the context. You are either exposed and threatened by all the eyes on you, seeing your vulnerability; but in only a slightly different context, being naked and unafraid and/or confident...it's the same thing, showing people that you have nothing to hide and are not intimated. The latter is used less frequently, usually because of the sexual connotations of nakedness.
Sort of similar: somebody else pointed out that in one of the beginning songs, he goofily sings “Robert’s been a little depressed…” I honestly didn’t think about his name _not_ being “Bo” until that line lol. But more importantly, this reviewer pointed out, he believes Bo was drawing a distinction between Bo Burnham: The Performer, The Commodity! vs Robert: the person.
And sure enough, there are several points in the larger special when he solemnly starts to say something very vulnerable, but then suddenly switches to ✨🕺Lights! Overacting! Being silly! Minimizing!😀✨ in order to actually _say the vulnerable thing._
Like Robert can’t fully come to terms with the heavy things yet, and just as much as we consume Bo Burnham’s content as entertainment, Robert both uses and hides behind Bo - sorta the whole “give a man a mask and he’ll show you who he really is.”
@@Onikame I love that point about nakedness being either very scary/bad dream/vulnerable, or very strong/unashamed/confident in oneself.
One of the ways I have interpreted the ending was when he left the house that was him releasing “inside” and once he releases it no matter how much he might want to go back and change it or if he regrets releasing it it’s impossible to take back represented by him struggling to go back inside, but when it shows him watching the ending of it he smiles a little bit showing he is at least content with what he made
This is it exactly. His perfectionism and anxiety make him not want to stop working on Inside, thinking there's always something else that needs to be tweaked or added, removed or expanded, etc. And he knows that once it's out, he can never make it "just his" again, and now it's in the hands of all of the viewers. The thought is obviously terrifying to him, and the smile at the end shows that he has made peace with that and is ready to stop hiding from the world, it is time to re-enter.
For me is a little more bleak. The whole special has been Bo trying to be the voice of reason, to vocalize what we all have been feeling. And when he finally goes "outside" he realizes that no matter where you go, outside is no longer there. We are always in front of an audience through our phones and social media. That smirk at the end makes me feel "Bo gave up" he is going to laugh along with us instead of fighting anymore
@@curicurucuru I could see that, only if he hadn’t mentioned multiple times throughout the special how he wants to never stop working on the special and “never go outside again”. His perfectionism is on display and highlighted multiple times during the show, so him “going outside” at the end pretty clearly shows him letting go of this special as “just his” and giving it to everyone else. And he smiles because he’s content with that choice, and glad to be making people laugh again.
Do I really have to finish? Let me know what other things you'd like me to react to!
Reaction starts at 0:37
Just starting this so cant comment yet but be sure to watch / listen to the credits. It's a different song and he dedicates the project to his serious gf "for lor, for everything."
Watch what dude. It's his first special besides words words words.
It would be fun to watch you react to make happy.
Or:
- we think we know you
- left brain right brain
- can’t handle this
- rant
@@WeaknessorWickedness I mean it’s his fourth but ok. Ironically most people think it’s his third and the one they don’t know is Words Words Words.
The others are what. and Make Happy by the way.
@@bobloblaw7972 they said to watch what. in their comment.
The first person to actually get some context for these songs. GS.
Personally I feel when it comes to the line do returns always diminish... is he ever going to get out what he put in? No. A year... more... of his life is gone. He did what he wanted to do with it, but that time is gone. He's never going to get the same impactful kind of return that he gave us. Mostly because of the genius that is Inside...
All those key changes at once was nuts
One thing you missed that had a huge impact on me was when he said "When im fully irrelevant and totally broke", he actually said "totally broke (ken)" as in "broken" 💔
If you want to understand this song and some of the lyrics to this song, you should listen to the last song he released called "Are You Happy", oddly enough filmed in this same room 5 years earlier and was final song of the make happy special.
Chris is hurting more than we know. Can we all please love him right now 😍😍😍😍
Love the analysis of this.
best person for reactions!!!
I never comment on stuff, but wanted to step out and share support for you. You are really good at this. Your thoughtful and intellectual reactions to these videos have been awesome and id love to see you continue content in the future. If you need any help brainstorming ideas on how to proceed with your channel, I’d love to help. Reach out
Really appreciate that, Casey. Thanks for steppin out
When I'm fully irrelevant and totally brok-en dammit, call me up and tell me a joke
Ever since INSIDE came out I've been obsessed with it. But more so with people's reactions to it and their interpretations of it. I must say that your review has been the most eloquent and insightful and I give you props for it. I'm curious as to what you do next..
I completely agree, Chris has had the best and most insightful reactions, and high quality videos aswell. I was surprised these were his first videos
couldnt phrase it any better
SAAAAME..his brilliance grows..HELL I will admit it..when I clean up my department at work i have his cd on....still cant get enough
I agree I watched inside like 20 times then watched about 20 reactions per popular song and this guy who I don't know has nailed what I also think on what Bo was going for.
First time we've found a reactor thats like us. I spent a lot of time viewing different reactors hoping they'd understand the nuance and depth, many came close. The difference here is that Chris Reacts actually understands and you get to watch him understand and experience as many of us have. Top tier, ez sub. Time to dive into his other reactions.
the heartbreak when I realized he's saying "when i'm fully irrelevant and totally BROKEN, damnit" and not broke :(
Yes! That hurt 😭
It actually took me a while to realize that too. So sad :C
Oh shit i thought he was saying broke then god damnit. Thats tough
Ohhh, that makes a lot more sense
I think it's a bit of both. He's referencing when he's a broken person sure, but the fact that he sings it "BROKE... N," with two syllables and a space between them makes me think there's something else. It has been the case sometimes where someone ends up destitute, completely broke, irrelevent, AND broken.
Another little callback there that's easy to miss is that the melody to "Am I going crazy? Would I even know? Am I right back where I started 14 years ago?" is very similar to the part of "All Eyes On Me" where he sings "Are you feeling nervous? Are you having fun? It's almost over. It's just begun."
Thought it sounded familiar but couldn’t pinpoint it. Nice catch.
"Am I right back to where I started 14 years ago?"
Bo was just a kid making music and writing jokes in his room when he started on TH-cam. With this special, he's back to making music and writing jokes in this room again as his comeback to comedy.
Perfect symmetry. And we've been with him, growing up at the same time.
This is a good bye. Its not a comeback. Its a farewell. This will be bo's last performance
@@christophfinnigan3967 doubt it
@@C.A.D. I hope Bo will make a comeback someday, but it doesn't seem like it'll happen soon, if ever. He hasn't even written anything at all on any kind of social media for a while, with the last posts on Twitter and Instagram ending with "I will never tweet again" and "goodbye" accordingly, which - mind you - is far from a bad thing, but doesn't really suggest any willingness to return to being a social person.
I think the promise to stay inside was rather honest.
One of my favorite details is Bo's subtle smirk at the end. I DESPERATELY wanted him to approve of the final product and enjoy it. To know he considers what he put himself through to be worth it. You can see that he is proud of what he's able to pull out of darkness. What really gets me though is that the approval, that little smirk, starts the whole cycle over again. He'll continue to do things detrimental to his mental health because the end product and the approval validates his existence. It's very sad
That's what he says in art is dead doesn't he? That the attention is his habit and he gets paid for it.
Again, Inside is not ment to portray him only. Yet a lot of comment just talk about Bo's journey
@@brachialtick6539 well as someone who is in creative arts. No matter how much you separate your muse from yourself... You still end up bleeding your issues into your work. Its just a hazard related to the work
@@rheam9391 Of course there's a part of him, but i feel like people don't do "inside" justice when they think it's a representation of bo's feelings alone
I feel the whole song, especially the ending; speaks to Bo's and every artists feelings on not wanting to finish a project. This thing that you've been so passionate about and put so much blood, sweat and tears into is no longer just yours, now it's everybody's, it belongs to the world, and it's open to criticism and mockery.
He's opened the door now and can't go back inside.
"No piece of art is ever finished, it is merely abandoned."
oh gosh, that hit me right in the heart
I took that last scene as Bo releasing the special as him leaving. Once he releases it. He cant take it back. No matter the outcome. He cant go back inside.
That's a nice interpretation :)
don't know if it was intended, but the part which incorporates lyrics from the previous songs reminds me of how previous days and events felt like they were blending together while staying inside at home during lockdown/quarantine
Many musicals have a song at the end that brings out the whole cast practically and has layers of songs throughout the show for a finale. I loved that he treated his show with class in this song, at least that is how I see it.
The thing that saved this special from completely wrecking me (lol as if it didnt already) when II first watched it, is the smile on Bo's face at the end, as he presumably watched the entire special as a whole. He is smiling. He likes what he's done. He is happy with it.
I think the major point of contention with Bo as an artist is his relation to his own fame and talent. He simultaneously jerks away from it, while always being lured back in by it-- that's just how it's gonna be, as an artist. And with the ending here, I can safely assume that Bo has grown into his fame. He has grown into his talent. And I am excited for what he creates next.
man, kinda sad with the end of the outtakes providing more context. though, I think in the outtakes him stopping smiling could be to show he isn't as happy with how it turned out as he presented himself to be, or to show that some of the special really is a partial character or act he puts on for the camera, the distance between Robert and "Bo" the personality
@@Razercool1878 I don't now what you mean. Even in the outtakes, he smirks as if he's laughing at the special, and then it ends. I take the same thing away from Inside Outtakes as I did with Inside itself. Also, Bo is obviously happy with Inside, That's why he put it out and keeps putting out content related to it. It's his masterwork to date. (Also, anyone filmed is always partially a character. The camera is never objective)
I think him stepping out and being stuck on stage retroactively explains that one lyric "Went out to find a reason to hide again ... well well looks like you found it, now come out with your hands up we've got you surrounded"
Now that his hiatus is over and he's performing he knows he might be stuck performing, and if he was wrong about being over his panic attacks, it could be put him back into a bad place. It is probably a scary prospect.
I think it also might have to do with another lyric from "Welcome to the Internet" - that being, "apathy's a tragedy and boredom is a crime". He's stuck being bored in his house (a crime) and now he's surrounded.
I interpret the "how about I sit on the couch and I watch you next time" a little differently, I think he's sort of saying that the vulnerability of being a performer and having others take shallow and almost voyeuristic pleasure in watching his personal fears and problems on display, is starting to take too much of a toll. It would be easier to be the one on the couch, not on display.
The insane thing about Bo is you can see the increasing cynicism and mental health decline from the beginning of his career with out there witty funny songs, to Words words words where he got a little more serious but still generally positive. Then Make Happy where it's a lot darker, more serious, and you can really see the effects on his mental health, and 5 years later Inside happens and it's just a culmination of everything in his career
I wouldn't say that he suggests to joke in difficult situations, that's his job, but with "oh shit, YOU'RE really joking at a time like this" he acknowledges that man, sometimes jokes really do not help, maybe they have an opposite effect
Also I think he meant it as a metaphor for the world being “in smoke” at the time and it’s now saying “oh you took it literally?”
Сначала он поет о том как излечит мир комедией а потом ты досматриваешь inside и весь оставшийся день просто молчишь
The last 40 seconds of this song where he brings the other lyrics in is the best part of this whole song for me. Love it
I always interpretted "inside" as a state of depression, and how awful it is to be stuck there with self doubt feeling so lonely. Stepping away takes so much power. But when depressed people "get outside" things can be scary and people can expect so much from you to the point where going inside feels safer. Him not being able to get inside feels like him saying he got out of that depressed place, and now as much as he wants to go back to the comfort of "inside" people expect the performance from him, even though he originally put himself in that position by stepping out of the door.
About the "meet you on the other side" line, that just sounds like Bo's sense of theater. I'm pretty sure old movies would do something like that, or dramatic productions? Two friends, 10 years separated, one standing on a lonely street corner, the other approaching, dramatic close-up shots as they tearfully rush towards each other. Is it just me?
I think it’s always up to interpretation and he does have that dramatic streak in him, so your take is valid. With the whole special being about anxiety, depression and his struggles coping with the pandemic, I always thought that line was very much touching on the anxiety of finally leaving your home, being paranoid about everything. “The other side” could also just be the other side of the pandemic too. Loads of ways of reading it, IMO.
I took it as like that way that celebrity sightings are like, you'll see them on the other side of the road and be like "Whoa, hey, ____!"
Everything about this special does have to do with COVID tho. So "see you on the other side" is also just literally how people have met up during the lockdowns. Being on other sides of the street. Someone dropping off something on your front door, and you only wave at them from their car on the other side of the street.
I always thought he meant it like "I'll see you when I'm dead", but I hope not lol
@@jade_blax this was my interpretation
Here's my list of suggestions:
Can't handle this(make happy), is the perfect precursor to inside.
Are you happy(make happy)
Country song(make happy)
Repeat stuff(what, stage version/music video version)
Straight white male(make happy)
Kill yourself(make happy)
From God's perspective (what)
Left brain, right brain(what)
Sad (what)
We think we know you(what)
Art is dead(words, words, words)
Those are some of his best work.
But maybe you can watch those two specials, song for song. Just like what you did with this one.
The specials in order:
Words, words, words.
What.
Make happy.
Inside.
Ps: I probably forgot to mention a few things.
This is my suggestion for bo burnham content, I wouldn't know what else I could suggest. Movies/cartoons/anime/music?
You spelled country wrong
he said in a livestream, that he may react to "Make Happy" and "What" in its entirety.
I think "Are you happy?" could probably also fit in here
Found something related to this video:
th-cam.com/video/sXwasx4wHnw/w-d-xo.html
Dude how the hell did you make a 4 to 5 minute song turn into 23 minutes of genuine reaction. Dude I love it
Bo Burnham isn't a comedian, he's a comedic performance artist and needs to be recognized as one of the greatest performers of all time
He's honestly right up there with George Carlin imo. His early youtube songs, Words Words Words, What, Make Happy, and Inside perfectly encapsulates the depression and pressure of millennials, tbh
@@ashketchup9040 Bo is about 3 years older than me and I gained so much comfort from him talking about his struggles in a comedic way. It made me feel like I wasn't alone and I wasn't the only one that thought that way
I’m not super positive but I think when he says do returns always diminish he plays a diminished chord?
You are correct!
Wait a minute. Is that true? Because it's kinda meaningless but also really fucking awesome.
I think that the part where he promises never to go out again is a reference to All Eyes On Me interlude where he says; 'I thought, "You know what? I should start performing again. I've been hiding from the world and I need to re-enter" And then, the funniest thing happened'
As someone who has been through similar issues, I interpreted it as if Bo is telling the universe "I tried going outside and a pandemic happened, so I promise I won't try anymore". As if it wasn't coincidence and instead the whole world changed itself just to make sure he stays "Inside". When you're really deep in a depression valley, it really does feel like the world is out to get you even though you know it's not. Your mind focuses on the negative things and keeps reinforcing the bad thoughts. That's what I took out of those lines at least.
Yeah the room he filmed everything in is like a mother-in-law studio apartment in his back yard. At the very end of his ‘Make Happy’ special there’s a shot of him walking out of that apartment and we can see the back of his actual house.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I absolutely needed to see that little smile of his at the very end. Just knowing that he’s even a little bit okay is very comforting. This special hits so hard, I was a blubbering mess the first time I watched. And several other times after that lol.
Thank you so much for reacting to the whole thing, I’ve had such a blast watching all of these. Now that you’re done with Inside, what other kinds of things do you want us to suggest to watch? I’ve got a huge list of awesome music I could suggest.
THANK YOU for explaining I’ve been trying to figure out this weird ass room.
Also. Him being naked with the spotlight on him, the lyrics at the moment saying "well, well, look who's inside again, went out to look for a reason to hide again. Well, well, buddy you found it, now come out with your hands up, we've got you surrounded"
He put himself out there with the special again, gave people what they wanted, and that made him want to go hide again. But the audience, being the spotlight, are telling him it's not gonna be over like he thinks, we won't let him hide again now that we've got him back, so he's threatened to come out with his hands up, we, the audience, have him surrounded. Like saying he has no choice now, we won't let him go away again.
And after that, the final scene of him fighting to open the door and go inside that room again, but he can't.
I think that also means that once the special is out there, there's no way back, people will see it.
The scene at the end, with him watching his special end, he's satisfied with what he made, he's happy about it, and it also says that even though almost everything in it is true, it's just a special, it's scripted, it's an act. So he likes what he's made and we're don't need to feel so bad for him, for he's ok with it and everything it's act.
Have you seen his special before this one? "Make happy"? Would be great to see your reaction and thoughts on it as well. If not the whole special then AT LEAST "can't handle it".
BTW. Found your channel today and it's great. I've watch all your reactions in one sitting :) it's great to see someone who gets the songs. Keep up the good work :)
This
Totally agree
I think your take that Bo saying he'd like to see us make something and him watch us realise how hard it is is a little cynical. In interviews he did for his directorial debut Eighth Grade, he talks about going on TH-cam and being fascinated by these videos teenagers would make vlogging and performing and doing the standard influencer stuff, while getting around 10 views per video or even less, aka "making jokes when no one's laughing in the background." He never once disparages these teenagers, he understands that they have grown up knowing nothing else, but that those first steps can still be valuable, just as the videos he made when he was 16 led to what he is today. I believe Bo is a proponent of making art no matter what, and when he's telling the audience that they should make something, he's being genuine, he wants art out there to make him feel better too - "I'll panic, call me up and tell me a joke". He's never come across as someone who would get bitter over people criticising his work, and definitely not have it as the closing song of his special. He said he wants "a little bit of everything all of the time", and that's him saying he's the same as the rest of the young people who he was talking about in Welcome to the Internet, he's not some special auteur unlike any other, and that everyone who can make art, should.
And not a reaction request, but just a recommendation to watch in your own time - CJ the X made a great video essay called "Bo Burnham vs Jeff Bezos" that interpreted and then built upon the message of Inside even further, in my opinion.
The only difference is the people who disparage his work. That’s who I feel like that was directed to
@@ChrisReactsToThings again, I don't think Bo cares enough about "haters" to address them. On the contrary, he has repeatedly taken issue with people who adore everything he does. At one point in his Make Happy special he says his biggest problem are the audience, the ones who like him enough to have paid to see him live. In Problematic in this special he's practically begging for someone to hold him accountable for his past mistakes because he thinks people have forgiven him too easily. If anything, artists on the level of success Bo has are going to want to seek criticism to vindicate their own insecurities.
I just think it's easy to hear that line as a petty remark, but I think Bo was being sincere there.
@@ChrisReactsToThings Yeah, I don't think he's actually encouraging anyone to perform - in Inside he villainies social media and in Make Happy he urges his audience to do the exact opposite:
"Social media - it's just the market's answer to a generation that demanded to perform, so the market said, here - perform. *Perform everything to each other, all the time, for no reason.* It's prison - it's horrific. *It's performer and audience melded together.* What do we want more than to lie in our bed at the end of the day and just watch our life as a satisfied audience member. I know very little about anything. But what I do know is that *if you can live your life without an audience, you should do it* ."
@@pixelised I highly, highly recommend that you check out the video essay I mentioned. I think Eighth Grade and Inside show a very specific but also very nuanced change to Bo's interpretation of the internet's role in modern human life from Make Happy that I frankly can't do justice to in a comment. Like, it's easy to say "social media is bad and performance is too" but also, that's the only reality a lot of young people know, and telling them to just log off sometimes isn't constructive, because the internet has affected the way we interact with each other in our real lives even, even when we're not performing at all.
@@ActuallyAnanya Yikes it's 2,5 h long! 🤪 Being eloquent as it is even Inside is more compact than that analysis… I have yet to watch Eighth Grade but between Make Happy and Inside Bo's take on social media doesn't seem to have shifted dramatically (some things he said while addressing the audience in Make Happy are echoed in lyrics from Inside…).🤔
11:05 When I first heard the line "Here's a fun idea: how about I sit on the couch and I watch you next time." I found it very inspiring as an aspiring musician. As if Bo was speaking to folks like me directly and saying encouragingly "Hey, you can do it too." and that he'd love to see anything someone made that took any inspiration from him
same.
yesterday, I started writing a comedy special with a friend :)
The moon makes me think of “that funny feeling” as it was “outdoors” in the “woods” at night. And the theme of that song was the “end of it all” and the lyrics while the moon is out are “so this is how it ends, I promise to never go outside again.”
I interpreted ‘losing power’ as losing control over the audience. He’s able to somewhat control the audience with a narrative during the special, but once it’s over, it’s up to the opinion of the viewer where his art goes and how it’s interpreted
If I had it my way, Bo would never be irrelevant. He's too important to too many of us. I know the thought of that scares him, but that doesn't make it less true. Inside, and Bo himself to a greater extent, is a defining pillar of my childhood and the rest of my life after I first discovered him 14 years ago, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
That is his actual guest house. If you watch the ending to "Make Happy" His final song is "Are You Happy" and at the end of that song, he actually leaves that room and you can see him walk up to his actual house from guest house. Would definitely recommend reacting to "Make Happy" Still has some serious moments, but it's overall more comedic. It would be a cool idea to maybe react to all his specials in reverse order.
The "guest house" that you're referring to is also where he filmed INSIDE, so it's really come full circle.
Bo is incredible, love him so much.
Said it a few videos ago, but I love your reaction style and attention to detail, its really interesting hearing you unpack what you think about the songs, cinematography, etc. Watched every one of your reactions, and I've really enjoyed the journey, and im excited to see where you go from here. Im sure you'll get your fair share of song recommendations and stuff, but considering how much you picked apart the cinematography and symbolism, I feel like TV or movie reactions mixed in with the other stuff you decide to do would be really cool. Id love to hear your opinion on some the great movies and shows out there. Regardless, awesome job on this whole series, looking forward to what comes next 👍
I know you've already seen some of Bo's stuff, since you said that in another video, but you should totally check out some of his others that people are recommending in the comments. The only one I never see mentioned is "Rant". Its one of my favorites, and its very under appreciated. Its more lyric heavy (like a rap song) so there's plenty to unpack, but it is focused around the Catholic Church, so if you dont wanna deal with that sorta topic, that makes sense.
Ahh I didn’t think you were going to react to the bits as well!
Thank you! ❤️
Those lines of "well well look whose inside again, went out to look for a reason to hide again"... So very much relatable to anyone whose been through the cycles of depression and anxiety.
I don't usually leave comments, my English is not great. But I just want to say that your reactions for this special are the best on youtube, and I've watched quite a few!
Greetings from the Black sea coast ;)
The ending of this song blew me away. I really like how you pointed out the vulnerability that's portrayed through being naked in front of a spot light.
I'd take it a step further, and say the next scene is a continuation of that theme. A man earnestly struggling, almost panicked, on stage as the audience laugh and cheer.
Also, that ending shot of him watching himself felt very reminiscent of his message in "white woman's Instagram ", e.g., "remember, this is a carefully curated piece of media, and while it displays genuine emotions and struggles, it does not show the whole story". I'm fairly certain that wasn't the intended message, but that's how it stood out to me.
Love your reactions. You've approached this content with a lot of thought and care and I've loved every minute of it
You missed the single most impactful word in the special. Most of my friends did too so I think he did it on purpose.
If I wake up in a house that’s full of smoke, I’ll panic, so call me up and tell me a joke.
When I’m fully irrelevant and totally broke- damnit, call me up and tell me a joke.
That “-“ seems like kind of a vocal flourish, and it makes sense because he rhymes smoke and broke.
It’s not a flourish. It’s the letter “n”.
When I’m fully irrelevant and totally broken, dammit, call me up and tell me a joke.
Just devastating. He also made a rhyme using the middle of a word. Which I don’t know if I’ve ever heard.
I definitely didn’t miss that one but just coupled into my interpretation of the line before it. Hard to cover every line/word but I’m glad you brought it up. Very sad.
@@ChrisReactsToThings all good and fair. Yeah most everyone I know just heard “broke” but I had the subtitles on and when I saw that it destroyed me.
@@bobloblaw7972 hilarious username, I like Kitboga, too-I agree that subtitles are important to appreciate the meaning, but the Netflix subtitles are NOT always accurate. They mislabeled “heads” for “hands” thrice in All Eyes On Me.
@@ChrisReactsToThings definitely did miss it since you repeated the line incorrectly haha.
Ah you’re right. I guess I was thinking back to when I edited the video I noticed it then.
Not gonna lie when he said "am i going crazy? Would i even know?" That shit hit so deep
This one's my definite favorite and I love it to death. It circles back on a lot from the show, with darker themes and a fantastically sad conclusion.
Goodbye is one of my favorite songs on the album/special. Love how he revisits the previous songs. Honestly this album reminds me of the first 6 months I experienced Kid A. Kept discovering it, reinterpreting it, kept experiencing so much nuance to where now I can’t imagine it not being such a pivotal album haunting my soul. Such honestly in Bo’s work.
Any day now is one of my favorites even though it's just two lines over and over. It's just nice sounding
The end credits say a few things that went over my head
"For lor, for everything" I'm pretty sure lor is his girlfriend dedicating the special to her I think
And of course the s**cide prevention hotline at the end is also a nice touch
But yeah my two favorites the last two
Now THAT is a reaction. Fabtastic analysis. Definitely worth the 29 minutes. All right, you have my subscription. Good luck with the channel!
Damn, I always heard "am I right back where I started 14 years ago?" As him starting to perform again and it's as if he's completely new (after his break), but your interpretation really gives it more and gives a new appreciation for this line. I've seen Inside about 20 times and you still get new stuff every time
It's weird to say that he was standing up for himself when he was saying "I'll watch you next time"... I'm pretty sure he getting at his previous point. He's done. It's finished. He wants a break now. And he can watch us make content and entertain him.
The word lunatic derives from a Latin word meaning "of the moon" or "moonstruck." I interpret the moon being shown within his head as a reinforcement of the lines "Am I going crazy, would I even know?" While when it's displayed large above him as saying the world around him is crazy, so he'll stay inside.
it is a sincere request for you to react to Tim Minchin. (he is very similar to bo just better at the piano lol)
you are one of the very few people who actually understand material like this and i can bet you would really enjoy tim minchin.
a few of his songs you can start with are-
1)prejudice
2)the pope song
and then build up to his other more refined materials like,
thank you god
storm (beat poem)
stockbroker and a mitsubishi colt
the dark side
and many more...
(p.s. i will put this comment on your all bo burnham videos lol so you get to look at it, sorry if it's annoying xD)
also btw, love your reactions, definitely one of my favorite reactions channels of all time, been following you since welcome to the internet and it's been one hell of a ride :)
I've watched countless reactions to this special and yours are significantly above the rest. Just everything about it. So well done and thought out. Keep it up! :)
This whole reactions serie was really nice and enjoyable! Thanks for the great analysis of those songs
i've loved your analysis of this special, can't wait to see where you go from here! backtracking through Bo's specials would put a lot of this special in more context and they're all great in their own rights.
To me, the white outfit and the clean room represented his restored mental state. He mentions in All Eyes on Me that he spent time improving himself mentally and that he did get better. The messy room represented the mental state he was in prior. When your mind is riddled with stress and anxiety, nothing is sorted or in order within yourself. The clean room showed that he had finally sorted out his thoughts and the white outfit was a clean version of him. Untarnished and believing himself free of the dirt (negative thoughts). Then upon stepping outside, he realises that it's still the same. The things that triggered the stress and the anxiety are all still there. Sometimes we want to retreat back inside of ourselves but we can't truly overcome these things unless we force ourselves to face them. My interpretation was that when he stepped out and saw all of the things that made him uncomfortable or anxious, he thought, "I can always just go back inside." However, he had to force himself back into the world and he couldn't stay cooped up and shut off forever which was represented by the door being locked and him unable to go back inside. He was forced to confront these things no matter how awful they may seem.
Thanks for actually sticking with it and finishing the whole special. Across all your reactions you have had some really great insight and talking points and I enjoy listening to what you h ave to say. I look forward to what's up next! :)
Really enjoyed going on this journey with you! Yes that was really Bo’s guest house.
For other artists, I recommend Tim Minchin! Very funny, great musician, also has some moments of unexpected philosophical wisdom. “Storm” is a good place to start with him.
I already liked another comment saying this, but I want to add my own to say I think "Can't Handle This (Kanye Rant)" should be the next reaction. Seeing his last performance before this special really contextualizes this one.
Also, "all eyes on me by Bo Burnham transposed to his original voice" is even more emotionally impactful.
That "transposed to his original voice" version is probably my favorite version. It just hits different.
@@godzillaeyes theyre all transposed too high though
@@loke3684 yeah I thought that might be the case...still love them though.
This song, also, makes me cry every time. The whole end of this special hits me in all of the feels and in the best way.
yep! that's his actual guest house! interestingly, he ends his special, Make Happy, in that same guest house. similar camera angles with the door open and everything. it's really neat
The moon metaphorically meant the end of the day. The moon comes out at night when the day is finally over which is what this song signifies that the special is coming to an end with the ending of this song. Hope this helps!
What to do next? There is one kind of reaction lacking on TH-cam.
React to "Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog" with Neil Patrick Harris. It is three parts, 15 minutes each.
Nailed it.
I love that you show the before/after context for these. They're so important.
I know this is kind of off-topic, but damn he looks like jesus
It's not Jesus, it's Cheez-Its, right?
Most people LOVE Inside. It has been his best work yet, in my opinion, despite it showing his vulnerable side. (What I mean is, I enjoyed it but at the same time, I was worried how this is taking its toll on his mental health.)
Despite all that, they ARE people who just don't get it? I suppose they view this special in a very different lens. Like in their mind, this is supposed to be a comedy then why isn't it funny?
Humor is subjective, I believe. As people(the comment section) pointed out, there are just people who does not know the feeling that Bo is emphasizing in this special.
Idk if anyone’s caught this or said it but that line “you can pick the street, I’ll meet you on the other side”, I believe it’s a callback to one of the songs that made it to the outtakes - the chicken. Which given that context now, sent shivers down my spine. If you haven’t seen outtakes, you must.
Been un-ironically workshopping jokes for a suicide note and 16:21 hit me the hardest.
that shot of his eye in the sunlight with the droning in the background. that to me seems like a clear homage to ari aster and horror in daylight. exposure. that he’s not actually safe outside, and in the sunlight.
There's one line that most people miss in this song because the last syllable is split to the next line... "When I'm fully irrelevant and totally broke--en, damnit, call me up and tell me a joke"
Like holy shit... Yes he worries about losing relevance and money... But more than that he's worried that he's just broken... And that's heartbreaking.
Hot damn if The Chicken had been left in the special "You can pick the street, I'll meet you on the other side" that sentence would have hit much harder.
I always thought Moons signify Loneliness. Like when a lonely character looks up at the moon, cause its all they have.
i can't not hear Socko in "Any Day Now" hahaha
Not me power watching all your videos today after finding one late last night... Just in time it seems
😘👌
been waiting for this one, great videos man!!
Goodbye song: My thoughts when he said "If I wake up in a house full of smoke, call me up and tell me a joke... etc." and ended up with "Are you really joking at the time like this" - time like this being the House full of smoke. I think (my opinion) what Bo meant here is:
1) calling back to Comedy and giving himself the medicine he made with the Comedy song. "How that would help me, if someone just tells me a joke".
2) In Goodbye realizing that it would not help him at all thus, comedy would not make any difference in "Times like this" - meaning as serious situations people can face - realizing by saying "Are you really joking at the time like this?"
Conclusion: He thinks that his special is not going help help or change the world. And hoped people would just take it for what it is - "just piece of entertainment".
For me personally it is not just a piece of entertainment, more like a piece of art. Same as a painting where painter puts their emotions, fear, joy, etc. into a canvas.
Frick dude, I had to find your reactions to realize everyone else has been doing them wrong! Thank you
“I’m slowly losing power” is a nod to the Mars Rover, I think...And at the end, he’s trapped in the performance-the laugh track is so scary. I worry the special is a cry for help. The whole special is a feelings transplant.
You’re review did his work justice. Thanks for taking the time to put yourself out there.
You said that "You can peek the street I'll meet you on the other side" was a vague line, and it is indeed. But maybe it's the most important one in this song.
First we need to ask "meet who?", well, I think that he's talking to us in this song, but it could be also interpreted as the comedy or his career. But in this case it's almost synonyms. So, he's saying goodbye to his audience while asking us for help. And before that line he says "I'll see you when I see you", so he's telling us to not expect another comeback, actually, don't expect anything, maybe he keeps doing netflix specials, maybe he comes back to the theater, we don't know, he doesn't know, it all depends of when he's going OUTSIDE.
And after he says that we don't have to wait for him, he tells us that we can "pick the street", wich I think that it's referring to the platform, the way that we're going to see him, but whichever street we choose, he'll meet us on the OTHER side. So he's telling us that we're together now, but it won't stay like this, it doesn't work for him like this, he needs to be on the other side of the street, or else we're going to hear more all eyes on me's. But still, even if he doesn't comes back, even if we can't meet him on the street, we can't touch him, we can still see him. And in my head it's just that beautiful scene of the audience and him looking at each other, so close but so apart, and just giving a subtle smile.
I always thought "the other side" line is a double meaning of social distancing and the "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side" joke (one of the oldest jokes in history). Between Inside's pessimistic view of society amid the pandemic, social injustice, and climate change inaction, and Bo's personal struggle with depression during lockdown, it sounds like he was basically saying "I'll see you guys when we're all dead (on the other side)."
Heyyy, I was wondering if maybe your could react to Rex Orange County. He's a pretty cool british musician who talks about mental health and important topics. I figure since your at the end of inside, you could react. Thanks for reading!
I'm not sure if anyone else said this. But that last part is "when I'm fully irrelevant and totally -- Broken --, dammit, call me up and tell me a joke. For the longest time, I thought it was broke, as in financially. But no, I think he is saying when he is mentally and emotionally broken. At least, that's how I'm hearing it.
I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but I feel like "you can pick the street, I'll meet you on the other side" is a reference to suicide. Saying he'll be dead, and you can choose which street to throw yourself in front of a car in, and he'll meet you on the "other side"
Man this song makes me cry every time , just this whole special broke my heart in the most beautiful way possible …
I believe the “you pick the street, I’ll meet you on the other side” is a reference from a song from the Inside Outtakes called The Chicken.
a crazy thing to think about is throughout the show he was constantly being followed by a spotlight. Laying in bed there was the spotlight, even naked in his own house they are being followed. No matter where they go or what they do there will always be a spotlight. Even when they are "staying inside" they can never run away from the spotlight. He leaves his house and there it is again. and like the Kanye rant he says he loves them but hates them but needs them but fears them. so he is stuck in this spotlight not seeing a way out. When he's locked out it's like he released this special and there is no going back. It's out there and he will again be in the spotlight again. Being loved, being hated, being judged...something so deep it blows my mind how he has the ability to even explain how he is feeling to people
There is another analysis video, and it says that going out means that the special is out now, and he can't go back inside with it. When the work gets published, the artist loses control over it or has no control over reactions to it.
Huh, I never watched your videos but I have watched a 100 reaction videos so far and your thoughts most line up with my own.
I’m loving your reactions! Other music artists would be cool to see. Maybe some NF, twenty one pilots or other artists with thoughtful lyrics. I’m sure whatever you do will be great!
First of all, nice content! Second of all: I love that in the last scene he's watching his own ending and first looks serious but at the end seems to realize that yes, this is what I love to do - performing. He seems like he almost agrees with the audience at this point. Like, "look at that doofus trying to get inside again". He seemed pleased with either his own content or the fact that the audience liked what he was doing.
..Because he hasn't really been happy through any of the special. And yeah, the smile is probably fake, but right there I think it's supposed to be (or at least seem) genuine. That's just my takeaway from that particular scene.
Does the moon symbolize being alone? Since it kind of makes me think of the saying 'lone wolf'
Wow. What a journey. I found your channel only on second video but your reactions is very thoughtful and honest. Hope that after Bo Burhnam's reactions you will move on to something like movies or tv shows/music albums. Wish you all the best :)
We should breakdown bo burnham lyrics in English class instead of shitty poems
You absolutely don't have to finish. There are several other specials of Bo content you could react to (or watch again for the first time in a while maybe?). If you want to react to something just a little more fun and silly, Epic Rap Battles of History are always fun to react to, typically get tons of views, and the people behind it are extremely supportive of reactors.