I believe it's David Mamet that once said something along the lines of "When you leave the theater wanting to discuss the play, that's a good play. When you leave the theater wanting to discuss your life and the world, that's art." I like that definition, and to me that definitely applies to this song.
And then there are those that send me out, not wanting to talk at all for a time, so that I can absorb and fully appreciate...those that render me speechless in the best way. That's where I'm at right now, having just seen and heard it for the first time.
As @DaveSwart said, perfectly put. So many plays, so few of them achieve this. Incredibly versatile of a song. One of not so many, that truly touch the inner self with such delicacy and yet with such power.
Truth. I left Jesus Crist Superstar. I think is was the 20 or 25th anniv final tour... and hearing Ted Neely hit the high note on "Allright" th-cam.com/video/0rEVwwB3Iw0/w-d-xo.html
To the zero people who will see this comment. Ren's lyrics at 18:58 are pure art. "Face to face with the beast, I will rise in the east and rest on the ocean floor." He's talking about light. How the sunrise is connected to the darkness. It will rise in the east and sink below the horizon, which ultimately ends with the sun sinking below the ocean surface. The darkness is doubt, negativity, and cynicism. The light is hope, confidence, and positivity. A constant cycle. Unavoidable. He's tapping into a portion of humanity that we all feel. A true musician.
you'd love poetry if you think something as simple as this is what makes it "pure art". the entire performance altogether is art but the lyrics themselves are not anything too special in and of themselves.
I like the line too. It bugged me because I didn't get the reference. Psalm 139:9: "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea" (NIV). Psalm 139 has a theme of never being able to leave the spirit of God, fitting in with Ren personifying hope.
Synopsis Guitar teacher starts pulling guitar apart in a video by Ren and falls under Ren's spell no longer able to teach guitar falls into philosophy. Ren your magic works again my friend. I am nobody, watching it work. And grinning.
I was wondering if he'd stop pausing it once he got to the words. So glad he heard the words and not just the melody. He gave input about both the meaning of the words and the brilliant musical choices accompanying the song ❤. Great reaction video.
If you want to hear Ren playing Guitar in an amazing way listen to The Tale of Jenny and Screech (Full ) it’s three songs Jenny’s song , Screeches song and Violets tale in that order all telling one complete story you will be blown away by his storytelling and Rens talent I promise you .
@Dan I just wrote the same above. It’s such an incredible trilogy. Here’s the TH-cam link for those who wish to watch it: th-cam.com/video/TYAnqQ--KX0/w-d-xo.html
@@Guitargate Hey Michael, please reach out to Ren for a interview. I'd love to hear more about his journey. Also please share with Rick Beato etc , Ren deserves all the exposer he can get, Artists like him are few and far between!
@@buddy7467 Ren is unlikely to discuss in interview about the background. He has recorded his own insights on Twitch. Here his own comments on Hi Ren th-cam.com/video/M1Na3nQV_8Q/w-d-xo.html
@@buddy7467 I'd love to see Rick Beato do a 'What makes this song great' on his channel. Perhaps even talk with Ren. I doubt he will but hope to be proven wrong. Hi Ren is shaking the world right now, and deservedly so.❤
This is probably the 20th reaction video I've watched of this now and I will continue watching all the reaction videos. It's honestly the greatest song I've heard in a long, LONG, time and it makes me tear up every time
same here man.^^ In my first time hearing this song, I rather should done a video. I was blown away and my chin dropped down. I am musician too so I can't believe that it is possible to blow me away like what tha hell by a young mans talent.^^ And such a talent.^^ Respect on him. So happy bout him. He deserves any musicians attention. He is the new times single poet and real artist.^^
found this post from Ren Ren 3 days ago (edited) Hi Ren is currently the #91 most popular music video in the world on TH-cam right now (go check!) Saying this isn't to flex, the video is sitting next to songs and videos with tens of thousands of pounds of budget, whole marketing teams, who had teams of people writing one song, and I wrote this myself, shot this with some friends for under a thousand pounds, and mixed and mastered the audio myself. What I'm trying to get at is the tide is shifting, the internet is giving creatives a better platform to take control into their own hands! I think people are so tired of seeing music videos that are essentially just a wealth brag, full of expensive houses or fast cars, or hyper-sexualising attractive people to sell records, and are hungry for substance. My advice to anyone who wants to get into this industry, focus on your truth, your lane, not what is trending, focus on substance, on YOUR story, if your a kid who sits at home playing call of duty 8 hours a day, write a song about that, someones gona relate and connect far more to what you're doing if your just straight up honest about the things you want to express, and its gonna be a lot more interesting to listen to than regurgitating the kinds of things that have been said a thousand times before. If your experience isn't growing up in the hood, why would you rap about growing up in the hood? If you've never been in love, why would you write a love song? I love this journey I'm on because its taught me a lot of things, but the main lesson at the start of this year after being nervous about putting out a 9 minute long self indulgent lunatic rant, was don't be nervous, stop trying to make the music fit into a formula that came before and just write whatever excites me with no limits. Anyway, just a little rant, the more you keep sharing and talking about 'Hi Ren' the higher up it'll push it, and we can prove that you don't have to have a hundred thousand pound budget and massive cooperation behind you to rub shoulders with the best of them!
I'm about sick and tired of the sexualized music videos too! So many " artists", especially in the real genres, can't promote their raps in videos, without non-stop tits n ass crap through the entire video. It's sad. That's how they want people to measure themselves in value....in "attractiveness"....in relationships. That crap is for the insecure, verbally abused, no quality representatives, empty of support and strength folks.....who we need to help in lifting out of that pit. Not join that deseased mentality. This young man has talent that is raw, unique, original, real, beautiful.....and 100% only him. No pathetic showing off of being over paid through videos with expensive cars, jewelry,etc.....not realistically earned or deserved. Hopefully, people like Ren are bringing real music back. Sharing their stories while giving us something to feel. Reciprocating with each other, positively, is what we have been robbed of for awhile now. It's time to take our world back from the assholes who have been running it and destroying humanity.....on purpose. There's an extremely small amount of them and a massive amount of us. We just need to remember that. All we have to do is say NO to the bullshit. Everyone
Like so many people I have fallen deeply into the world, not only of Ren, but of all the talented passionate friends and fellow Arists that seem to surround him. It seems like we are rediscovering that it is these people, and others like them all over the world, that can start to bring us collectively back in touch with real creativity. They are reminding us that we are are withering for lack of creativity, challenge and substance unfiltered by the exploitative industries and soulless corporations that currently control and decide what we are allowed to 'consume' as Art. They are sucking the life blood out of something so integral to us as a species. Ren is giving us the hope, expressed at the end of Hi Ren, that it's not to late to reclaim our power.
Face to face with the beast I will rise in the east and I'll settle on the ocean floor - I'm the same at this point. every.single.time And that line "Some people know me as hope./Some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope..." best line of any song ever.
What’s so valuable about Hi Ren is how he’s enabled sensitivity intelligence and generosity to be celebrated and voiced everywhere. Michael this is very apparent in your response and grounded interpretation. I also love how you work and share your 'can do' understanding of theory to practice. I’m subscribing now. (Martin. Ren’s dad)
This is wonderful to see! I’ve been a fan of REN & his band for several years. I’m so happy to see him taking off. Please tell him how much support he has out here. 💖
I agree, and think you could add honesty and authenticity to that list. Many creative people struggle with these things and hide them, because the culture is all about our profiles these days. On the other hand, the ones who do speak about mental illness openly often glorify it, and this seems to go too far in the other direction. It's rare to see such a well balanced perspective in a performance I'd call nothing short of genius. I watched it three times in a row and then every other video of his afterward. Ren really has something special, and I'm glad he's found a way to bring such an important message as a gift to the world. I look forward to the evolution of where this leads. I'm sure being a parent can be quite difficult in this situation, but I also imagine you couldn't be more proud of this accomplishment and those to come! Cheers
Mr. Gill, I can only imagine the pride you must have in seeing your son succeed through all the pain and struggle. I hope, sincerely, that his treatment is transformational. Also, thank you for raising such a gracious and empathetic individual. I have seen him commenting on nearly every reaction video. That sort of thing is so rare from the general populace, let alone a person going through the pain of healing. It speaks well to him and you.
You know, almost everything he is doing and saying is standard fare from centuries of artistic works expressing our inner struggles. The genius with this is the installation, the sum of all the pieces. It's so much more of an entire performance piece than just a song. While it's content is obvious self reflection for most of us, his delivery of the message feels completely authentic and genuine. And there in lies his massive talent. Anyone can display something completely unseen before and amaze people, but to take a subject that we all live with every day, something that philosophers have dissected since before biblical times, turmoil we have been inundated with by writers and artists and singers, all...to take that and present it in an engaging, captivating, and thoroughly intelligent manner, that's his real genius...kudos....
The task of art is Truth. All it asks of us is to be true to what and who we are and in that we reveal those universal truths. That feeling great art provides is the feeling of connecting to something both intimate and much bigger than you. When artists betray this thats when you get bogus representational or parody art, what Plato called “mimesis.” We all experience tragedy, strife, happiness and hardship but very few articulate it in a way that can be shared and understood which is what Art is… that mutual sharing. Ren is speaking timeless truths and struggles but It in a way authentic and true to him
What i love about this song is he's deliberately adding in imperfect and exaggerated guitar notes to induce a feeling of anxiety in the listener, which you learn through the performance is part of the storytelling process as it precedes the duality of the "Evil" Ren being manic, discordant and unbalanced, in comparison to his "Good" Ren being much more classical and pure in the notes. Really impressive and adds so much to the impact of the song.
discovered Ren through your two videos. I work in the music industry. I love music. but sometimes you cant help but feel jaded. And then along comes an artist and a piece of art that reassures you and gives encouragement and hope. The fact that so many people are so excited about a 9 minute song in 2023 is amazing. thanks for the reactions
I've seen a lot of reactions to this song. It's ones like this, a professional in an area, who starts out reacting to the technical, and who feels this need to abandon the technical analysis to absorb the words, the message, the meaning, because while the technical side of this is amazing to me, a laymen in music, the message is the part that should hit anyone with an honest heart, and the capacity to feel.
I’ve watched this reaction a few times. I love how you went from “oh god, 9 minutes … hit me Ren” to your face lighting up when you hear the intro guitar … to “ok this is going to be a long video” … to “come on, it can’t be over” 20 minutes into the reaction. You were fully captivated, not only by the performance but the message. I’ve watched a ton of reaction videos of “Hi Ren” and this is one of my favorites. I agree, one of my favorite lyrics is “Some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope.” Ren is such a brilliant storyteller and he has a message more people need to hear, especially the closing monologue. Ren is a voice of a generation with such a gift! Would love to see you react to the Tales of Jenny & Screech (full version). It’s another live performance art piece, essentially a one-man 3-act play.
Ever since hearing Hi Ren, I unapologetically judge all TH-cam reactors on how they interpret this song 😅 you got an absolute A+. This is such a profound and intense piece of art beautifully played and sang and you discussed it and interpreted it beautifully to your audience in a way that is relatable and intelligent. I am hitting subscribe and I look forward to your future content!! ❤
You know something is good when your initial reaction is "oh god its 9 minutes" then you're so drawn in and captivated that you don't even realize the 9 minutes have already gone by and you're left wanting more. Also i see a lot of reacts videos where they scoff at the initial "whoo hooo hooo hooo" some even ask if they're being joked. Then after he's taken them through this powerful emotional journey and rises in the end singing his glorious song of victory "whoo hoo hooo hoo" they are practically in tears cheering him on. Such a great masterpiece.
Hi Ren popped up out of the blue on TH-cam one night as I was winding down after work. It shocked and mesmorised me and left me in tears. I've been spreading the word to anyone that'll listen to me since. It's an astounding piece of art. Thanks for revisiting Ren.
I think what Ren has done is created a community of people who feel they've got some of their humanity back. For instance, I've been unable to suffer anything trite or mindless on the TV since discovering Hi Ren. I'm actively looking for things that mean something now. Ren ft Bibi - Crutch & Chinchilla - Fingers (live) floor me every time.
I love watching other musicians react to this. There is a moment when they realize this is special. The eyes light up, then a smile, then a tilt of the head when they connect to the chords. When a master connects to another master of their creed. Magic
Not just other musicians, the clinical psychology reactions have been astounding. Simply watching those emotions on their faces is priceless. His guitar playing is definitely something to aspire to learn
@@justintime1307 I am so glad you called that into the front. I went and watched a lot of them, it is truly magical. The genius of Ren, mixed with his humility and overall good nature, is a rarity.
@jessaguilar4747 Definitely rare these days. I must admit I have been enjoying Dean Lewis at the moment along with Luke Sital-Singh and his acoustic sets. Ren is definitely one to watch from now on
When I heard this for the first time, I found myself tearing up, something I haven't done for 20+ years. Ren hits it on the nail and have managed to release the unspoken.
People like to say it's okay to cry. But really, it's GOOD to cry. I hope you're able to let it out more. You'll find relief and access to more of yourself.
I know Ren doesn't care about the BS industry, but he deserves every accolade and industry wide recognition for this. Seriously, this should be song of the year, video of the year, mental health awareness campaign of the year, and more. Calling on all Ren fans - let's make this happen. Download everywhere, share everywhere, lobby everywhere. Salute. Peace
Ren hit #1 in the UK a week or 2 ago, and he's charting here in the States, too. It's fantastic to see someone like Ren, who has fought so hard just to stay alive, finally get his flowers. We all wait with baited breath to see what he will give us next.
I usually do not comment. I'm here to listen and hopefully learn. This young man truly touched me. Having family members that struggled with mental illness, cousin, uncle, and grandfather. I truly hope that his family, is there for him. I know many with mental illness are abandoned by family and friends. Be it fear, frustration, or being at a total loss of what to do. Ren's family, should be so proud, so proud! That he has a way to express himself. And by doing so, educating others! He is amazing! My grandfather attempted suicide. My uncle died of suicide. And my cousin, died recently in a single car auto accident. I have wondered... I miss them all.! I wish our family had understood. I wish that my uncle had not pushed us all away! I can't go back. But I can learn. It's a hard lesson!! Thank you REN!! GODSPEED! Michael and your huge family of fans and friends, thank you all for bringing this young man some positive and powerful attention! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
Oh we have to hear what Michael has to say about "The Tale of Jenny and Screech (full)! It's the 3 tales (Jenny, Screech and violet) all in one video in the proper order.
@firstbornunicorn I posted exactly the same comment as well. I’d love to see a breakdown to both the music and incredible storytelling. Here’s the TH-cam link to the full video if anyone wants to be blown away: th-cam.com/video/TYAnqQ--KX0/w-d-xo.html
It was really cool to see you go from giggly "I can't turn music theory off" to "holy shit I'm living inside this music" and you were clearly feeling every friggin word and your eyes were gone in that screen. You have a heart and it was beautiful to watch you, my friend. Cheers!
There were two points during this video that you realised that it is more than music. The first time, you tried to resist it. The second time, you truly went inside this piece of art. It was wonderful to watch.
Without knowing a single music note I consider my self to be music expert, this is one of the best things I've heard in my 46 years of music listening!
This song is a "YES" moment for many. It is the frustration of minds wanting to express how we feel, without finding the right words. Ren not only conveys his own battles in the rhyme and reason in words but he does it for us all. The fight is real and the battle is long. Sometimes we need to step away and call a truce for a hope it will last.
Man in a room with a guitar changing lives. After you get over his skill with words, the guitar playing and his crazy good story telling you are left with the biggest thing of all, his courage to share his inner workings with millions of strangers.
I’ve seldom come across a piece of music, art, really, that hits so deep. Chronic illness, pain, is something I’ve dealt with for decades now. Most people don’t truly know what it’s like to lie in bed for days on end. You get to a point where that little voice starts saying is your life really worth it? This is that struggle. I’ve never heard it put so well either. Incredible song.
You started your guitar lesson very nice, then you started to play the vocals and began to smile as you lost yourself for a minute in the moment. You get it.
Ren's genius is that, even in a video... we are still transported into a new "moment"... as if we are there, witnessing the songs moment of creation. It is arresting, visceral, genuine and transcendent. This is more than music, more than entertainment....
it is truly a rare thing, to come across a voice, that transcends genre, style, etc ... and cuts straight to the bone, without hesitation or apology. eloquence through simplicity. genius through insanity. art through shedding the trapping and stylings of art, to reach the core emotion, to only realize that emotion IS the art. these last 2 videos were cold to me as well. someone that i would have never sought out to appreciate on my own. thank you, and more over, thank Ren.
@Michael Getz if you get the chance Michael you should check out his amazing London trilogy “The Tale of Jenny & Screech/Violet’s Tale”. The playing and storytelling are sublime. Here’s a link of you’d care to listen to it. Hope you enjoy it: th-cam.com/video/TYAnqQ--KX0/w-d-xo.html
The "Bohemian Rhapsody of our time" Extroadinary comment +1 Diminished triad... Amazing how soul stirring the notes are especially with the counterpoint of the piercing unusual yodeling-like melody. Reminding perhaps of the "Gallileo Figaro" of Bohemian Rhapsody. From the classical sound, to the oompa to the then the reggae all accentuated by the vocal. Ren has captured my imagination and is very inspiring. For me this year Ren and Jinger have had a profound musical affect on me. Thank you for your amazing and 8nspiring insight!! Diminished triad♥️!
I watched this when it first came out, I think it had a few thousand views , I was blown away, It is sad but beautiful , scary but comforting, I don't think only artists have the struggle , I think it is a part of life. In my 73 years on earth, very few things have made me sit back and say wow, Ren is one of them.
"The more intensely the light shone...the darker the shadow it cast." A profound truth. Not to many can 'see' such things as clearly as that. Reminds me of what Paul Simon said: "You know the nearer your destination...the more you're slip sliding away."
Ren has created something really powerful with this song. On a purely performance level this hit me the same way as the first time I saw Radiohead perform Paranoid Android on Jools Holland. Ren deserves recognition, success and peace
@@SamAndSamuel I wasn't comparing them. They are quite different musically and besides comparing artists isn't very constructive...we like what we like. Just saying the video had a similar impact on me. Had me enraptured in the performance
Really awesome breakdown of the guitar play! My favorite part is how you started out not seeming too excited to see it was 9 minutes long, then later you were glued to the screen and saying, "Come on, it can't be over!"
His music sounds like equal parts classical guitar and hip hop. It’s nice to hear a song on acoustic guitar! He’s very interesting and his lyrics are a gut punch to anyone struggling!
I just love how absolutely no one is ready for this. I caught this at 1:30 am due to the YT algorithm grabbing an early morning W. I was stunned and pleasantly surprised, and I'm so glad everyone is on this now!!
I am 68 and have never in my lifetime heard anything like this. Thank you Michael, it was something I will think about and listen to again and again. You are the best!
Michael, I don’t think you missed a thing. I love that you came to Hi Ren via a different piece by the same artist. It’s true though. This really is a different level of artistic expression. It’s such a significant communication. A significant piece of work. And a statement of and for its time.
Michael, for the past 10 days, I've now watched at least 20 different reactions to "Hi, Ren," and am putting together some blog posts about this whole experience, so just wanted to express gratitude for you "correcting" the mistake that wasn't ("Chalk Outlines" is amazing!), because as a 50 year-old guy still learning my way through the guitar I very much appreciated the guitar lesson in the first half of the video, and as a timeless, eternal Being who is choosing to spend some time as a human complete with all of its ups, downs, lefts, rights and awkward diagonals, I loved how you shared your wise reflections at the end. One of the joys in watching all the reaction videos is seeing how much we humans share and yet how we all have a unique take on things. Anyway, been watching you for a while now, keep up your good work, brother!
A few weeks ago was my first exposure to Ren (this song) and it's probably one of the very few times in my long life that I simply said "wow"... that was absolutely great (and meaningful and raw)... but just great. And who watches a 9 minute song... and then a reaction to a 9 minute song?? Crazy!!!!!
There is such a void of real creativity in modern music. Not only is this song profound in its message and is a complete work of art, I think it scratches and itch that many like myself have been feeling for a long time. Absolutely amazing.
I love that you’re passionately breaking down the guitar then the moment he starts singing it’s all thrown to the side. Ren knows exactly how to capture your attention and keep it.
It’s the pinnacle of performance and it slaps the surface at the same time that it is piercing your insides. I can’t get over his passion, talent, and skill in delivery. It’s an old message and a timeless story but it’s crafted here in such a fresh and next level way. The visual, the lyrical, the musical, the cerebral and the spiritual - all vibing together to deliver something that’s both harrowing and enlightening. This is the kind of performance that leaves people changed and spinning in a new level of awareness. Brilliant. Effing brilliant.
I feel like I just listened to the Mona Lisa of the Art of music. I'm sure many here know that Ren was bitten by a tick and had Lyme disease when he was 17. He saw many Doctors and Therapists for 5 years and they never realized it. Lyme disease presents itself in many ways mentally and physically, so they treated his symptoms but not the cause for 5 years before finding out. The mental and physical pain and confusion during those 5 years had to put him in a bad place. He took another 5 years to reclaim himself. I think this song conveys that fight he was fighting and probably still is. To be able to express it through music is a tribute to the genius and musician he is. You should really listen to Sick Boi, as I think it also addresses this fight. I love your take on the musical aspect of Ren. Thanks Michael.
I like seeing reactions to this song. As a person with chronic disease and mental issues. I was blown away how intimately he discusses his plight. He is not covering it up or seeking pills powders or potions the takes a run at it head on and I believe we are all better for it! His talent is something else altogether! I'll sure you will never see this Ren but thank you.
It seems like it’s the first song I’ve hear in over a decade that’s actually creative and meaningful , it’s tuff as hell to sound good with just a voice and acoustic to .
"I go by many names also; some people know me as Hope, some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope." - That line gives me chills man
I have watched reactions to this song for days and this was hands down the best. Ren is a phenomenal talent and created what could be one of the greatest songs ever written in my opinion. You are a phenomenal talent as well as a teacher and the world needs more of you.
Reminds me of a quote I heard once, it was on a documentary I was watching between my 1st and 2nd deployment to combat and it was extremely accurate “The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.” Too many seize up under fire, it kinda happens to everyone to an extent but some can’t push through it and that quote lays it out.
one the best reactions to this song i've seen. a lot of them ignore the sheer musical talent of how the entire theme/story of the song is perfectly reflected by the way he plays the guitar. the way the darker voice has that menacing, confident rhythm to the guitar, but the positive side has a weaker, almost frail sound to the guitar. i love how this is reflected by the opening part with the singing, the guitar is subdued, afraid almost, and then the ending part is the same but full of confidence and energy. masterful.
Yes, probably one of the best reaction videos I’ve seen as well. He seemed to acknowledge and appreciate the multiple components that make this art beautiful and moving. Very well done.
I was blown away by this reaction. I've listened to a few other reactions of yours first and had a similar feeling, but, my friend, I'm very moved by your reactions. Not only because you speak truths about lyrical breakdowns, and because your music theory knowledge is most impressive. But because you actually use that theory in order to further see the emotional truth of the song, to help your viewer understand how the song speaks in the music alone. It's a rare gift you have my friend. I can't wait to see more. Wonderful video.
The Guitar playing is charismatic, mood evoking and clever, the words are haunting, deep and meaningful, the lighting, the scene, the setting, the arguments between Ren and Ren encapsulate internal wars and struggles, from introduction overlaid with the introduction of 2 selves, the struggle, the discordant Ren and the Ren who will not give up and fights to be positive, the drama of discordant Ren claiming to be the devil and all he stands for and the champion Ren who composes himself like a warrior rising out of the ashes depicting hope, salvation, and a burning desire to never give in, the breaking out in to song toward the end and the short spoken story of his life, all put together perfectly into an Epic masterpiece. WOW
How envious I am that you had those opportunities! I know I am not alone in wishing I could have the opportunity and privilege to see him perform in person!
For some more context on Hi Ren, here is what Ren posted regarding Hi Ren on an earlier video description (this was written before he released Hi Ren in December 2022): "Nina Simone once said that it was an artists duty for their work to fearlessly reflect their life circumstances. In 2016 I had a stem cell transplant that saved my life, this video was taken two year before that. After the transplant I decided to force my past into a little box and hide it from myself. I wouldn't ever watch this video back. There has always been a part of me that's terrified that I'll end up back here and loose myself again. That part of me always gets loudest when I'm on my own with my thoughts. When I got better and my music started becoming successful after years of never thinking it would be possible I almost treated it as a reincarnation. I'd barley talk about where I'd come from with friends, but despite my best efforts my past usually found a way to leak into my music. Here I was convinced I was going to die. I was severely underweight, I had severe bone pain every day, I could barley eat food, I suffered extreme fatigue to the point even standing in a shower was excruciating. I ended up in a state of stress induced psychosis, my minds only rational explanation for the level of suffering I was enduring was that it was some kind of demonic intervention or that i was part of some twisted experiment or study. This had been my life for years. I'd bounced from doctor to doctor full of hope only to have my heart repeatedly stamped on when my condition only worsened. Cut to present day and PTSD from years of my body torturing itself stopped me from doing work that I think is vital. Shedding light on a very under-lit , underfunded, and barley understood area. The plight of the chronically sick. Millions of people all over the world are missing. Trapped inside themselves. Conditions like ME/CFS, ehlers danlos syndrome, POTS, MCAS, lyme disease, M.S. etc. Receive such little funding. To put the lack of funding into perspective, male pattern receives over one thousand times the funding than many of these chronic illnesses do combined. Recent studies found the quality of life of a person with chronic M.E. was significantly worse than someone with HIV or breast cancer. M.E. is currently one of the most underfunded disease at the national institute of health. I was one of the exceptionally few very lucky people to escape before I died after receiving a stem cell transplant and finding a hugely restrictive diet that stopped my autoimmunity flaring to the point where it was disabling but I still suffer a wide array of symptoms every day. To dive deeper into living up to the words of the late and great Nina Simone, who has for a long time been a great source of inspiration for me, I wanted my next piece of work to fearlessly stare my past in the face despite the trauma of doing so. 'Hi Ren' comes out on the 15th December at 7pm."
I have been totally enthralled with this song for the past week and have watched countless reaction videos, which I don't often do. Anyway, I love what you did with this (and all) reaction videos in talking about the guitar and how to take a run at figuring it out, etc. Loved it! Thank you. Your reaction video is unique in that way. This Ren guy is flat out amazing. I have been devouring his material...so awesome. Great song. Great artist. Great reaction video!!
This is a song the truly fills you with awe at it's sheer unbounded artistry and the depth of it's hard-earned wisdom. Michael's exceptional reaction to it made me appreciate it even more.
I enjoyed this reaction very much Michael. I like your theoretical breakdown. Ren is a treasure. He can do it all. Excellent musician, singer, rapper... and actor. He also does his own mixing and digital mastering. Genius. He isn't signed to any label so has a pure and direct relationship with his fans. I bet all the labels are trying to bang down his door. Let's hope he resists them.
@@princekermit0 Their loss. A huge loss, but one i'm kinda thankful for. Though I want the World to know and hear Ren. When I first heard this I felt like I'd been given a gift from an Angel or God himself, though I do hold that faith, it's not something i put into words often.
Thank you Ren, it is rare when literary clarity, perfect performance and delivery, sublime composition and poetry, profound emotional and intellectual insight, unflinching honesty and integrity, zeitgeist, great musicianship, a beautiful voice, opera, cinema, our great theatrical tradition and humour, visual imagination, breathtaking simplicity, luminescent intelligence, and, beauty, combine
Oh my god, I almost choked on my drink at your face when he first starts doing his 'oooo oooo oooo ooooo' That was the most intrigued, confused expression I've ever seen!
Great reaction. I know absolutely nothing about guitar but really enjoyed your explanations. I DO know about Ren though and have watched him busking many times over the last seven years in Brighton (UK). It has been obvious for a long time that Ren was special and I am so glad that everyone is finally waking up to it.
'Hi Ren' gives the same feeling recognized by those of us who heard Nirvana's 'Smells like Teen Spirit' in the 90's for the very first time. Truly magical. This music Poetry is history in the making right before our eyes and ears❤️
This was rough for me to critique and explain myself. Ren straight left me speechless with it because he was singing my own decades long song. Demonstrated ubuntu, that is, showing ourselves we're human through the humanity we show others. Demonstrated jin, "人", a Japanese character that's really a person leaning on another because that's what being human means; We hold one another up. Don't wanna write volumes on this. Just saying this is such a beautifully humanized ...I don't have the words for it.
God bless you Michael and Ren both. If it wasn't for you Michael I would have never been introduced to Ren. Ren? If it wasn't for you, I would have not been able to let go of some of these, demons.
After listening a few times, I realize the voice of hatred has a lot more rhythm and groove with the string strikes and diminished chords, but then the voice of good is a lot calmer and simpler with just playing individual notes. It further reenforces the dichotomy of Ren and his battle for himself. Then at the end, he combines both sounds, as he accepts the side he wants to listen to and shape himself to be. Calm and caring, but with the vigour to fight for what is right for him.
Whats great about this dude, above all else IMO, is that he goes for it! It reminds me of that time when you first start playing music and writing songs and its all unbridled creativity. Theory and preconceptions arent roadblocks you are just using the instrument as a vehicle for self expression. Thats what i get from Ren and its super inspiring, important
IMO that's the mark of a true artist, being able to overcome those instructions and imposed notions of what art means. I studied art and one of the best things my tutor ever said to us was "Whatever you've been taught before, ignore it and start over". There are so many arbitrary constructs and forced "traditions" in every form of art, whether it's how to apply paint to a canvas or how to produce a sound with your voice. All of it is a barrier to free expression. There are no rules when it comes to creating true art, only the notions that other people have inflicted on the process, arbitrary rules that even those who perpetuate them often can't justify or explain.
I believe it's David Mamet that once said something along the lines of "When you leave the theater wanting to discuss the play, that's a good play. When you leave the theater wanting to discuss your life and the world, that's art." I like that definition, and to me that definitely applies to this song.
And then there are those that send me out, not wanting to talk at all for a time, so that I can absorb and fully appreciate...those that render me speechless in the best way. That's where I'm at right now, having just seen and heard it for the first time.
Perfectly put.
As @DaveSwart said, perfectly put.
So many plays, so few of them achieve this.
Incredibly versatile of a song. One of not so many, that truly touch the inner self with such delicacy and yet with such power.
Truth. I left Jesus Crist Superstar. I think is was the 20 or 25th anniv final tour... and hearing Ted Neely hit the high note on "Allright" th-cam.com/video/0rEVwwB3Iw0/w-d-xo.html
Wow! That quote perfectly sums this song up. 🙏
To the zero people who will see this comment.
Ren's lyrics at 18:58 are pure art. "Face to face with the beast, I will rise in the east and rest on the ocean floor." He's talking about light. How the sunrise is connected to the darkness. It will rise in the east and sink below the horizon, which ultimately ends with the sun sinking below the ocean surface. The darkness is doubt, negativity, and cynicism. The light is hope, confidence, and positivity. A constant cycle. Unavoidable. He's tapping into a portion of humanity that we all feel. A true musician.
you'd love poetry if you think something as simple as this is what makes it "pure art".
the entire performance altogether is art but the lyrics themselves are not anything too special in and of themselves.
I like the line too. It bugged me because I didn't get the reference. Psalm 139:9: "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea" (NIV). Psalm 139 has a theme of never being able to leave the spirit of God, fitting in with Ren personifying hope.
@@curtisgoldthorpe6656 ok bucko
Hey 🖐. Just wanted to say hi to another person who has been moved by this. I think a suitable word is masterpiece
Ren said he wrote it while sitting on Brighton Beach one morning thinking about how to end the song, his original idea for this was a lot darker.
Synopsis
Guitar teacher starts pulling guitar apart in a video by Ren and falls under Ren's spell no longer able to teach guitar falls into philosophy. Ren your magic works again my friend. I am nobody, watching it work. And grinning.
That’s pretty much exactly what happened.
Patiently breaks down the guitar, explaining with passion and excitement, teaching...
*Ren starts singing*
... Captivated.
This is exactly what I was hoping for and was not disappointed... i don't understand how people can keep pausing. Michael's response was perfect.
@@danielbeattie9509 exactly!
Nailed it.
I was wondering if he'd stop pausing it once he got to the words. So glad he heard the words and not just the melody. He gave input about both the meaning of the words and the brilliant musical choices accompanying the song ❤. Great reaction video.
Absolutely 👍
If you want to hear Ren playing Guitar in an amazing way listen to The Tale of Jenny and Screech (Full ) it’s three songs Jenny’s song , Screeches song and Violets tale in that order all telling one complete story you will be blown away by his storytelling and Rens talent I promise you .
@Dan I just wrote the same above. It’s such an incredible trilogy. Here’s the TH-cam link for those who wish to watch it:
th-cam.com/video/TYAnqQ--KX0/w-d-xo.html
Hell yes to the nth degree!
Agree 1000%
Can't wait for the guitar breakdown of Violet's tale 🔥🔥🔥 tried learning it but it's really hard
Headed there now
That is more than a song, more than storytelling, more than the music.
It's theatre, art and so powerful that I am in awe!
EXACTLY
@@Guitargate Hey Michael, please reach out to Ren for a interview. I'd love to hear more about his journey. Also please share with Rick Beato etc , Ren deserves all the exposer he can get, Artists like him are few and far between!
Ren doesn't play the instrument, nor sings the song
Ren is the instrument and the song.
@@buddy7467 Ren is unlikely to discuss in interview about the background. He has recorded his own insights on Twitch. Here his own comments on Hi Ren th-cam.com/video/M1Na3nQV_8Q/w-d-xo.html
@@buddy7467 I'd love to see Rick Beato do a 'What makes this song great' on his channel. Perhaps even talk with Ren. I doubt he will but hope to be proven wrong. Hi Ren is shaking the world right now, and deservedly so.❤
This is probably the 20th reaction video I've watched of this now and I will continue watching all the reaction videos. It's honestly the greatest song I've heard in a long, LONG, time and it makes me tear up every time
100%!
IF this is the greatest song you've heard in a long time, you need serious help.
@@gemini6828 No one asked you p155 off
@@officialnucky Why so Triggered, little SJW? 🤣
same here man.^^ In my first time hearing this song, I rather should done a video. I was blown away and my chin dropped down. I am musician too so I can't believe that it is possible to blow me away like what tha hell by a young mans talent.^^ And such a talent.^^ Respect on him. So happy bout him. He deserves any musicians attention. He is the new times single poet and real artist.^^
found this post from Ren
Ren
3 days ago (edited)
Hi Ren is currently the #91 most popular music video in the world on TH-cam right now (go check!)
Saying this isn't to flex, the video is sitting next to songs and videos with tens of thousands of pounds of budget, whole marketing teams, who had teams of people writing one song, and I wrote this myself, shot this with some friends for under a thousand pounds, and mixed and mastered the audio myself.
What I'm trying to get at is the tide is shifting, the internet is giving creatives a better platform to take control into their own hands! I think people are so tired of seeing music videos that are essentially just a wealth brag, full of expensive houses or fast cars, or hyper-sexualising attractive people to sell records, and are hungry for substance.
My advice to anyone who wants to get into this industry, focus on your truth, your lane, not what is trending, focus on substance, on YOUR story, if your a kid who sits at home playing call of duty 8 hours a day, write a song about that, someones gona relate and connect far more to what you're doing if your just straight up honest about the things you want to express, and its gonna be a lot more interesting to listen to than regurgitating the kinds of things that have been said a thousand times before. If your experience isn't growing up in the hood, why would you rap about growing up in the hood? If you've never been in love, why would you write a love song?
I love this journey I'm on because its taught me a lot of things, but the main lesson at the start of this year after being nervous about putting out a 9 minute long self indulgent lunatic rant, was don't be nervous, stop trying to make the music fit into a formula that came before and just write whatever excites me with no limits.
Anyway, just a little rant, the more you keep sharing and talking about 'Hi Ren' the higher up it'll push it, and we can prove that you don't have to have a hundred thousand pound budget and massive cooperation behind you to rub shoulders with the best of them!
I'm about sick and tired of the sexualized music videos too! So many " artists", especially in the real genres, can't promote their raps in videos, without non-stop tits n ass crap through the entire video.
It's sad. That's how they want people to measure themselves in value....in "attractiveness"....in relationships.
That crap is for the insecure, verbally abused, no quality representatives, empty of support and strength folks.....who we need to help in lifting out of that pit.
Not join that deseased mentality.
This young man has talent that is raw, unique, original, real, beautiful.....and 100% only him. No pathetic showing off of being over paid through videos with expensive cars, jewelry,etc.....not realistically earned or deserved.
Hopefully, people like Ren are bringing real music back. Sharing their stories while giving us something to feel. Reciprocating with each other, positively, is what we have been robbed of for awhile now. It's time to take our world back from the assholes who have been running it and destroying humanity.....on purpose.
There's an extremely small amount of them and a massive amount of us. We just need to remember that. All we have to do is say NO to the bullshit. Everyone
Like so many people I have fallen deeply into the world, not only of Ren, but of all the talented passionate friends and fellow Arists that seem to surround him.
It seems like we are rediscovering that it is these people, and others like them all over the world, that can start to bring us collectively back in touch with real creativity.
They are reminding us that we are are withering for lack of creativity, challenge and substance unfiltered by the exploitative industries and soulless corporations that currently control and decide what we are allowed to 'consume' as Art. They are sucking the life blood out of something so integral to us as a species.
Ren is giving us the hope, expressed at the end of Hi Ren, that it's not to late to reclaim our power.
@@lenawayback6413 yes - real music is on the rise! Thank you to all the Ren folks making it happen! 🙌🏼
@@lenawayback6413 bravo!
FUCK yes
I swear to god I break out into tears every damn time during the uplifted soaring verse at the end. It's like pavlovian conditioning at this point.
Face to face with the beast I will rise in the east and I'll settle on the ocean floor - I'm the same at this point. every.single.time
And that line "Some people know me as hope./Some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope..." best line of any song ever.
@@TheRealityleak even reading it made me tear up
You’re definitely not alone 🙌🏼
The shine in your eyes when Ren started singing said more than words ever could.
There is a point in all of these Ren reactions when that look appears. What th. .....
What’s so valuable about Hi Ren is how he’s enabled sensitivity intelligence and generosity to be celebrated and voiced everywhere. Michael this is very apparent in your response and grounded interpretation. I also love how you work and share your 'can do' understanding of theory to practice. I’m subscribing now. (Martin. Ren’s dad)
Thank you Martin, send Ren our appreciation and love
This is wonderful to see! I’ve been a fan of REN & his band for several years. I’m so happy to see him taking off. Please tell him how much support he has out here. 💖
I agree, and think you could add honesty and authenticity to that list.
Many creative people struggle with these things and hide them, because the culture is all about our profiles these days.
On the other hand, the ones who do speak about mental illness openly often glorify it, and this seems to go too far in the other direction.
It's rare to see such a well balanced perspective in a performance I'd call nothing short of genius.
I watched it three times in a row and then every other video of his afterward.
Ren really has something special, and I'm glad he's found a way to bring such an important message as a gift to the world.
I look forward to the evolution of where this leads.
I'm sure being a parent can be quite difficult in this situation, but I also imagine you couldn't be more proud of this accomplishment and those to come!
Cheers
Ren's dad?! I kinda wanna hug you. Thank you for helping create a beautiful human!
Mr. Gill, I can only imagine the pride you must have in seeing your son succeed through all the pain and struggle. I hope, sincerely, that his treatment is transformational.
Also, thank you for raising such a gracious and empathetic individual. I have seen him commenting on nearly every reaction video. That sort of thing is so rare from the general populace, let alone a person going through the pain of healing. It speaks well to him and you.
This is his magnum opus. This is on level with the Sistine Chapel, Mona Lisa, a Beethoven piece, Bohemian Rhapsody- this is art.
and Pink Floyd The Wall
For me, the comparison is to people first hearing Bob Dylan in the 60s.
Amen … It is a beautiful piece of art … a masterpiece!
its an opus for sure
You know, almost everything he is doing and saying is standard fare from centuries of artistic works expressing our inner struggles. The genius with this is the installation, the sum of all the pieces. It's so much more of an entire performance piece than just a song. While it's content is obvious self reflection for most of us, his delivery of the message feels completely authentic and genuine. And there in lies his massive talent. Anyone can display something completely unseen before and amaze people, but to take a subject that we all live with every day, something that philosophers have dissected since before biblical times, turmoil we have been inundated with by writers and artists and singers, all...to take that and present it in an engaging, captivating, and thoroughly intelligent manner, that's his real genius...kudos....
And you just did the same with everyone trying to figure out why this is brilliant. Well said!
The task of art is Truth. All it asks of us is to be true to what and who we are and in that we reveal those universal truths. That feeling great art provides is the feeling of connecting to something both intimate and much bigger than you. When artists betray this thats when you get bogus representational or parody art, what Plato called “mimesis.” We all experience tragedy, strife, happiness and hardship but very few articulate it in a way that can be shared and understood which is what Art is… that mutual sharing. Ren is speaking timeless truths and struggles but
It in a way authentic and true to him
Perfectly put!
This ☝️
@@justinguitarcia Prove it.
What i love about this song is he's deliberately adding in imperfect and exaggerated guitar notes to induce a feeling of anxiety in the listener, which you learn through the performance is part of the storytelling process as it precedes the duality of the "Evil" Ren being manic, discordant and unbalanced, in comparison to his "Good" Ren being much more classical and pure in the notes. Really impressive and adds so much to the impact of the song.
It's the eternal dance
discovered Ren through your two videos. I work in the music industry. I love music. but sometimes you cant help but feel jaded. And then along comes an artist and a piece of art that reassures you and gives encouragement and hope. The fact that so many people are so excited about a 9 minute song in 2023 is amazing. thanks for the reactions
I discovered Michael via Ren’s video. I enjoyed both his and this thread’s delight.
I've seen a lot of reactions to this song. It's ones like this, a professional in an area, who starts out reacting to the technical, and who feels this need to abandon the technical analysis to absorb the words, the message, the meaning, because while the technical side of this is amazing to me, a laymen in music, the message is the part that should hit anyone with an honest heart, and the capacity to feel.
I’ve watched this reaction a few times. I love how you went from “oh god, 9 minutes … hit me Ren” to your face lighting up when you hear the intro guitar … to “ok this is going to be a long video” … to “come on, it can’t be over” 20 minutes into the reaction. You were fully captivated, not only by the performance but the message. I’ve watched a ton of reaction videos of “Hi Ren” and this is one of my favorites.
I agree, one of my favorite lyrics is “Some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope.” Ren is such a brilliant storyteller and he has a message more people need to hear, especially the closing monologue. Ren is a voice of a generation with such a gift!
Would love to see you react to the Tales of Jenny & Screech (full version). It’s another live performance art piece, essentially a one-man 3-act play.
"Holy shit, I'm only 50 seconds in." This is my third viewing of your reaction to this masterpiece, it's one of the best.
2 things;
• Ren did what Sting said: "Suprise the audience."
• Rarely is it ever that another artist becomes a muse.
Got nothing but respect for him.
Ever since hearing Hi Ren, I unapologetically judge all TH-cam reactors on how they interpret this song 😅 you got an absolute A+. This is such a profound and intense piece of art beautifully played and sang and you discussed it and interpreted it beautifully to your audience in a way that is relatable and intelligent. I am hitting subscribe and I look forward to your future content!! ❤
You know something is good when your initial reaction is "oh god its 9 minutes" then you're so drawn in and captivated that you don't even realize the 9 minutes have already gone by and you're left wanting more. Also i see a lot of reacts videos where they scoff at the initial "whoo hooo hooo hooo" some even ask if they're being joked. Then after he's taken them through this powerful emotional journey and rises in the end singing his glorious song of victory "whoo hoo hooo hoo" they are practically in tears cheering him on. Such a great masterpiece.
Hi Ren popped up out of the blue on TH-cam one night as I was winding down after work. It shocked and mesmorised me and left me in tears. I've been spreading the word to anyone that'll listen to me since. It's an astounding piece of art. Thanks for revisiting Ren.
💙🙏
Same. Everybody I've shown his video has been blown away
The kid is special. Real special.
So, I've seen a vocal coach react to this, a filmmaker, a psychologist, now a guitar teacher... I think you can't get anything else outta this song
Fuck me too , this is an amazing piece
I love that it took 10 minutes to cover the first 1:00 😂. Was most excited to see your reaction to this of anyone out there
Trilogy Jenny's, Screech, Violets tale (complete) has to be on your radar.
Yes!
That kid created something amazing... He put our struggles and the light and darkness into music... Unbelievable stuff.
I think what Ren has done is created a community of people who feel they've got some of their humanity back. For instance, I've been unable to suffer anything trite or mindless on the TV since discovering Hi Ren. I'm actively looking for things that mean something now. Ren ft Bibi - Crutch & Chinchilla - Fingers (live) floor me every time.
I love watching other musicians react to this. There is a moment when they realize this is special. The eyes light up, then a smile, then a tilt of the head when they connect to the chords. When a master connects to another master of their creed. Magic
Not just other musicians, the clinical psychology reactions have been astounding.
Simply watching those emotions on their faces is priceless.
His guitar playing is definitely something to aspire to learn
@@justintime1307 I am so glad you called that into the front. I went and watched a lot of them, it is truly magical. The genius of Ren, mixed with his humility and overall good nature, is a rarity.
@jessaguilar4747 Definitely rare these days.
I must admit I have been enjoying Dean Lewis at the moment along with Luke Sital-Singh and his acoustic sets. Ren is definitely one to watch from now on
When I heard this for the first time, I found myself tearing up, something I haven't done for 20+ years. Ren hits it on the nail and have managed to release the unspoken.
I cry (& sometimes weep) every time I view this art. It’s so wise, vulnerable, poignant, etc. It’s beauty strikes a chord (music pun lol).✌️
People like to say it's okay to cry.
But really, it's GOOD to cry. I hope you're able to let it out more. You'll find relief and access to more of yourself.
@@combogalis True. Very wise words. :)
I know Ren doesn't care about the BS industry, but he deserves every accolade and industry wide recognition for this. Seriously, this should be song of the year, video of the year, mental health awareness campaign of the year, and more. Calling on all Ren fans - let's make this happen. Download everywhere, share everywhere, lobby everywhere. Salute. Peace
Ain’t no reason to do that. Fame is torture. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy.
Ren hit #1 in the UK a week or 2 ago, and he's charting here in the States, too. It's fantastic to see someone like Ren, who has fought so hard just to stay alive, finally get his flowers. We all wait with baited breath to see what he will give us next.
I've listened to this song like almost 50 times and seen like 10-15 reactions to it. It is just so good it hits EVERY time. I love it.
I'm an old school Deadhead but this is GENIUS!!
What a long strange trip this is
I think Hi Ren is the most powerful piece of expression I have ever heard.
I usually do not comment. I'm here to listen and hopefully learn.
This young man truly touched me. Having family members that struggled with mental illness, cousin, uncle, and grandfather.
I truly hope that his family, is there for him. I know many with mental illness are abandoned by family and friends. Be it fear, frustration, or being at a total loss of what to do.
Ren's family, should be so proud, so proud! That he has a way to express himself. And by doing so, educating others! He is amazing!
My grandfather attempted suicide. My uncle died of suicide. And my cousin, died recently in a single car auto accident. I have wondered...
I miss them all.! I wish our family had understood. I wish that my uncle had not pushed us all away! I can't go back. But I can learn. It's a hard lesson!!
Thank you REN!! GODSPEED!
Michael and your huge family of fans and friends, thank you all for bringing this young man some positive and powerful attention!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
I'm so sorry for your losses.
You nodded in approval after we all answered diminished correctly and that was great 😂
Oh we have to hear what Michael has to say about "The Tale of Jenny and Screech (full)! It's the 3 tales (Jenny, Screech and violet) all in one video in the proper order.
@firstbornunicorn I posted exactly the same comment as well. I’d love to see a breakdown to both the music and incredible storytelling. Here’s the TH-cam link to the full video if anyone wants to be blown away:
th-cam.com/video/TYAnqQ--KX0/w-d-xo.html
It was really cool to see you go from giggly "I can't turn music theory off" to "holy shit I'm living inside this music" and you were clearly feeling every friggin word and your eyes were gone in that screen. You have a heart and it was beautiful to watch you, my friend. Cheers!
agreed, and both states were endearing. great vid all around
You can see him just get pulled in powerful shit
There were two points during this video that you realised that it is more than music. The first time, you tried to resist it. The second time, you truly went inside this piece of art. It was wonderful to watch.
Without knowing a single music note I consider my self to be music expert, this is one of the best things I've heard in my 46 years of music listening!
This song is a "YES" moment for many. It is the frustration of minds wanting to express how we feel, without finding the right words. Ren not only conveys his own battles in the rhyme and reason in words but he does it for us all. The fight is real and the battle is long. Sometimes we need to step away and call a truce for a hope it will last.
He doesn't speak for me. Everything around the hype appears to be incredibly spooky.
@@matthewlillistone5943 In that case I am pleased for you.
Man in a room with a guitar changing lives.
After you get over his skill with words, the guitar playing and his crazy good story telling you are left with the biggest thing of all, his courage to share his inner workings with millions of strangers.
Yes this
Love the moment in the video where the theory goes out the window and you just sit back and enjoy the song for what it is.
I’ve seldom come across a piece of music, art, really, that hits so deep. Chronic illness, pain, is something I’ve dealt with for decades now. Most people don’t truly know what it’s like to lie in bed for days on end. You get to a point where that little voice starts saying is your life really worth it? This is that struggle. I’ve never heard it put so well either. Incredible song.
This is a one-man play .. kid is ridiculously talented.
So glad that you've found Ren! He's one of the great talents of this age.
You started your guitar lesson very nice, then you started to play the vocals and began to smile as you lost yourself for a minute in the moment. You get it.
Ren's genius is that, even in a video... we are still transported into a new "moment"... as if we are there, witnessing the songs moment of creation. It is arresting, visceral, genuine and transcendent.
This is more than music, more than entertainment....
it is truly a rare thing, to come across a voice, that transcends genre, style, etc ... and cuts straight to the bone, without hesitation or apology. eloquence through simplicity. genius through insanity. art through shedding the trapping and stylings of art, to reach the core emotion, to only realize that emotion IS the art.
these last 2 videos were cold to me as well. someone that i would have never sought out to appreciate on my own.
thank you, and more over, thank Ren.
@Michael Getz if you get the chance Michael you should check out his amazing London trilogy “The Tale of Jenny & Screech/Violet’s Tale”. The playing and storytelling are sublime. Here’s a link of you’d care to listen to it. Hope you enjoy it:
th-cam.com/video/TYAnqQ--KX0/w-d-xo.html
The "Bohemian Rhapsody of our time"
Extroadinary comment +1
Diminished triad... Amazing how soul stirring the notes are especially with the counterpoint of the piercing unusual yodeling-like melody. Reminding perhaps of the "Gallileo Figaro" of Bohemian Rhapsody.
From the classical sound, to the oompa to the then the reggae all accentuated by the vocal.
Ren has captured my imagination and is very inspiring.
For me this year Ren and Jinger have had a profound musical affect on me.
Thank you for your amazing and 8nspiring insight!!
Diminished triad♥️!
I watched this when it first came out, I think it had a few thousand views , I was blown away, It is sad but beautiful , scary but comforting, I don't think only artists have the struggle , I think it is a part of life. In my 73 years on earth, very few things have made me sit back and say wow, Ren is one of them.
well said William
"The more intensely the light shone...the darker the shadow it cast." A profound truth. Not to many can 'see' such things as clearly as that. Reminds me of what Paul Simon said: "You know the nearer your destination...the more you're slip sliding away."
Ren has created something really powerful with this song. On a purely performance level this hit me the same way as the first time I saw Radiohead perform Paranoid Android on Jools Holland. Ren deserves recognition, success and peace
Hello i am Soldesign72 i will be creating a whole new concept video of Paranoid Android (As I did With Hi Ren btw) soon on my channel
Please don’t compare Ren to Radiohead. That’s a pawn to a King.
Exactly that!! I still go back and watch that regularly.
@@SamAndSamuel I wasn't comparing them. They are quite different musically and besides comparing artists isn't very constructive...we like what we like. Just saying the video had a similar impact on me. Had me enraptured in the performance
Exactly! You're the first person to reference Radiohead that I've come across! Thank you. I'd love to hear Thom Yorke's take on Ren.
Really awesome breakdown of the guitar play! My favorite part is how you started out not seeming too excited to see it was 9 minutes long, then later you were glued to the screen and saying, "Come on, it can't be over!"
His music sounds like equal parts classical guitar and hip hop. It’s nice to hear a song on acoustic guitar! He’s very interesting and his lyrics are a gut punch to anyone struggling!
I love how he just freezes when ren starts singing and just let it all sink in
I’m so excited Ren has made it here. He’s an incredible artist, and deserves all the hype he can get. Thank you for sharing him with people!
I just love how absolutely no one is ready for this. I caught this at 1:30 am due to the YT algorithm grabbing an early morning W. I was stunned and pleasantly surprised, and I'm so glad everyone is on this now!!
I am 68 and have never in my lifetime heard anything like this. Thank you Michael, it was something I will think about and listen to again and again. You are the best!
What blew me away was the change up in guitar to symbolise the change of mental state. Was truly incredible.
Michael, I don’t think you missed a thing. I love that you came to Hi Ren via a different piece by the same artist. It’s true though. This really is a different level of artistic expression. It’s such a significant communication. A significant piece of work. And a statement of and for its time.
Do the trilogy next!!!!! The tale of jenny and screech full
You will be amazed
Michael, for the past 10 days, I've now watched at least 20 different reactions to "Hi, Ren," and am putting together some blog posts about this whole experience, so just wanted to express gratitude for you "correcting" the mistake that wasn't ("Chalk Outlines" is amazing!), because as a 50 year-old guy still learning my way through the guitar I very much appreciated the guitar lesson in the first half of the video, and as a timeless, eternal Being who is choosing to spend some time as a human complete with all of its ups, downs, lefts, rights and awkward diagonals, I loved how you shared your wise reflections at the end.
One of the joys in watching all the reaction videos is seeing how much we humans share and yet how we all have a unique take on things. Anyway, been watching you for a while now, keep up your good work, brother!
A few weeks ago was my first exposure to Ren (this song) and it's probably one of the very few times in my long life that I simply said "wow"... that was absolutely great (and meaningful and raw)... but just great. And who watches a 9 minute song... and then a reaction to a 9 minute song?? Crazy!!!!!
There is such a void of real creativity in modern music. Not only is this song profound in its message and is a complete work of art, I think it scratches and itch that many like myself have been feeling for a long time. Absolutely amazing.
So hyped for this reaction. Hi Ren is a masterpiece.
I love that you’re passionately breaking down the guitar then the moment he starts singing it’s all thrown to the side.
Ren knows exactly how to capture your attention and keep it.
It’s the pinnacle of performance and it slaps the surface at the same time that it is piercing your insides. I can’t get over his passion, talent, and skill in delivery. It’s an old message and a timeless story but it’s crafted here in such a fresh and next level way.
The visual, the lyrical, the musical, the cerebral and the spiritual - all vibing together to deliver something that’s both harrowing and enlightening.
This is the kind of performance that leaves people changed and spinning in a new level of awareness. Brilliant. Effing brilliant.
I feel like I just listened to the Mona Lisa of the Art of music. I'm sure many here know that Ren was bitten by a tick and had Lyme disease when he was 17. He saw many Doctors and Therapists for 5 years and they never realized it. Lyme disease presents itself in many ways mentally and physically, so they treated his symptoms but not the cause for 5 years before finding out. The mental and physical pain and confusion during those 5 years had to put him in a bad place. He took another 5 years to reclaim himself. I think this song conveys that fight he was fighting and probably still is. To be able to express it through music is a tribute to the genius and musician he is. You should really listen to Sick Boi, as I think it also addresses this fight. I love your take on the musical aspect of Ren. Thanks Michael.
I just know Ren is going to be buzzing when he see’s this.
I like seeing reactions to this song. As a person with chronic disease and mental issues. I was blown away how intimately he discusses his plight. He is not covering it up or seeking pills powders or potions the takes a run at it head on and I believe we are all better for it! His talent is something else altogether! I'll sure you will never see this Ren but thank you.
It is a masterpiece of our time!
It seems like it’s the first song I’ve hear in over a decade that’s actually creative and meaningful , it’s tuff as hell to sound good with just a voice and acoustic to .
"I go by many names also; some people know me as Hope, some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope." - That line gives me chills man
I have watched reactions to this song for days and this was hands down the best.
Ren is a phenomenal talent and created what could be one of the greatest songs ever written in my opinion.
You are a phenomenal talent as well as a teacher and the world needs more of you.
Reminds me of a quote I heard once, it was on a documentary I was watching between my 1st and 2nd deployment to combat and it was extremely accurate “The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.” Too many seize up under fire, it kinda happens to everyone to an extent but some can’t push through it and that quote lays it out.
one the best reactions to this song i've seen. a lot of them ignore the sheer musical talent of how the entire theme/story of the song is perfectly reflected by the way he plays the guitar. the way the darker voice has that menacing, confident rhythm to the guitar, but the positive side has a weaker, almost frail sound to the guitar. i love how this is reflected by the opening part with the singing, the guitar is subdued, afraid almost, and then the ending part is the same but full of confidence and energy. masterful.
Yes, probably one of the best reaction videos I’ve seen as well. He seemed to acknowledge and appreciate the multiple components that make this art beautiful and moving. Very well done.
Steven Pressfield "The war of art"! It is incredible, that you had a copy at hand to hold up to the camera.
I was blown away by this reaction. I've listened to a few other reactions of yours first and had a similar feeling, but, my friend, I'm very moved by your reactions. Not only because you speak truths about lyrical breakdowns, and because your music theory knowledge is most impressive. But because you actually use that theory in order to further see the emotional truth of the song, to help your viewer understand how the song speaks in the music alone. It's a rare gift you have my friend. I can't wait to see more. Wonderful video.
Don’t trust these telegram messages, they are bullshit.
@@MerlinZuni Thank you for your concern, but yes, I've learned how to recognize most online charlatans. I appreciate your kindness, though.
The Guitar playing is charismatic, mood evoking and clever, the words are haunting, deep and meaningful, the lighting, the scene, the setting, the arguments between Ren and Ren encapsulate internal wars and struggles, from introduction overlaid with the introduction of 2 selves, the struggle, the discordant Ren and the Ren who will not give up and fights to be positive, the drama of discordant Ren claiming to be the devil and all he stands for and the champion Ren who composes himself like a warrior rising out of the ashes depicting hope, salvation, and a burning desire to never give in, the breaking out in to song toward the end and the short spoken story of his life, all put together perfectly into an Epic masterpiece. WOW
Seen Ren out many times busking in our town centre. The talent is obvious.
How envious I am that you had those opportunities! I know I am not alone in wishing I could have the opportunity and privilege to see him perform in person!
"Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage." Ren is an old soul forged through deep pain felt and remembered daily.
Lyric from Pink Floyd's 'wish you were here'
For some more context on Hi Ren, here is what Ren posted regarding Hi Ren on an earlier video description (this was written before he released Hi Ren in December 2022):
"Nina Simone once said that it was an artists duty for their work to fearlessly reflect their life circumstances.
In 2016 I had a stem cell transplant that saved my life, this video was taken two year before that. After the transplant I decided to force my past into a little box and hide it from myself. I wouldn't ever watch this video back. There has always been a part of me that's terrified that I'll end up back here and loose myself again. That part of me always gets loudest when I'm on my own with my thoughts.
When I got better and my music started becoming successful after years of never thinking it would be possible I almost treated it as a reincarnation. I'd barley talk about where I'd come from with friends, but despite my best efforts my past usually found a way to leak into my music.
Here I was convinced I was going to die. I was severely underweight, I had severe bone pain every day, I could barley eat food, I suffered extreme fatigue to the point even standing in a shower was excruciating. I ended up in a state of stress induced psychosis, my minds only rational explanation for the level of suffering I was enduring was that it was some kind of demonic intervention or that i was part of some twisted experiment or study. This had been my life for years. I'd bounced from doctor to doctor full of hope only to have my heart repeatedly stamped on when my condition only worsened.
Cut to present day and PTSD from years of my body torturing itself stopped me from doing work that I think is vital. Shedding light on a very under-lit , underfunded, and barley understood area. The plight of the chronically sick. Millions of people all over the world are missing. Trapped inside themselves. Conditions like ME/CFS, ehlers danlos syndrome, POTS, MCAS, lyme disease, M.S. etc. Receive such little funding. To put the lack of funding into perspective, male pattern receives over one thousand times the funding than many of these chronic illnesses do combined. Recent studies found the quality of life of a person with chronic M.E. was significantly worse than someone with HIV or breast cancer. M.E. is currently one of the most underfunded disease at the national institute of health.
I was one of the exceptionally few very lucky people to escape before I died after receiving a stem cell transplant and finding a hugely restrictive diet that stopped my autoimmunity flaring to the point where it was disabling but I still suffer a wide array of symptoms every day.
To dive deeper into living up to the words of the late and great Nina Simone, who has for a long time been a great source of inspiration for me, I wanted my next piece of work to fearlessly stare my past in the face despite the trauma of doing so.
'Hi Ren' comes out on the 15th December at 7pm."
I have been totally enthralled with this song for the past week and have watched countless reaction videos, which I don't often do.
Anyway, I love what you did with this (and all) reaction videos in talking about the guitar and how to take a run at figuring it out, etc. Loved it! Thank you. Your reaction video is unique in that way.
This Ren guy is flat out amazing. I have been devouring his material...so awesome.
Great song. Great artist. Great reaction video!!
This is a song the truly fills you with awe at it's sheer unbounded artistry and the depth of it's hard-earned wisdom. Michael's exceptional reaction to it made me appreciate it even more.
11:30 is where you can realllly see Mike start to get it. What an absolute treat of an artist.
SO REFRESHING how much you notice the intricate details in this song, love it, THANK YOU.
Clicked on this one so fast ❤️ Hi Ren
I enjoyed this reaction very much Michael. I like your theoretical breakdown. Ren is a treasure. He can do it all. Excellent musician, singer, rapper... and actor. He also does his own mixing and digital mastering. Genius. He isn't signed to any label so has a pure and direct relationship with his fans. I bet all the labels are trying to bang down his door. Let's hope he resists them.
He was signed with Sony, but when he got sick they ended his contract.
@@princekermit0 Their loss. A huge loss, but one i'm kinda thankful for. Though I want the World to know and hear Ren.
When I first heard this I felt like I'd been given a gift from an Angel or God himself, though I do hold that faith, it's not something i put into words often.
@@princekermit0 allegedly
Thank you Ren, it is rare when literary clarity, perfect performance and delivery, sublime composition and poetry, profound emotional and intellectual insight, unflinching honesty and integrity, zeitgeist, great musicianship, a beautiful voice, opera, cinema, our great theatrical tradition and humour, visual imagination, breathtaking simplicity, luminescent intelligence, and, beauty, combine
Oh my god, I almost choked on my drink at your face when he first starts doing his 'oooo oooo oooo ooooo' That was the most intrigued, confused expression I've ever seen!
He did make an epic list of reactors!!!!
Great reaction. I know absolutely nothing about guitar but really enjoyed your explanations. I DO know about Ren though and have watched him busking many times over the last seven years in Brighton (UK). It has been obvious for a long time that Ren was special and I am so glad that everyone is finally waking up to it.
Throw an extra pound in his guitar case for me! Bill me!
'Hi Ren' gives the same feeling recognized by those of us who heard Nirvana's 'Smells like Teen Spirit' in the 90's for the very first time. Truly magical. This music Poetry is history in the making right before our eyes and ears❤️
This was rough for me to critique and explain myself. Ren straight left me speechless with it because he was singing my own decades long song. Demonstrated ubuntu, that is, showing ourselves we're human through the humanity we show others. Demonstrated jin, "人", a Japanese character that's really a person leaning on another because that's what being human means; We hold one another up. Don't wanna write volumes on this. Just saying this is such a beautifully humanized ...I don't have the words for it.
God bless you Michael and Ren both. If it wasn't for you Michael I would have never been introduced to Ren. Ren? If it wasn't for you, I would have not been able to let go of some of these, demons.
Nice work Mr. Palmisano! Thank you! I greatly look forward to your inevitable chat with him.
After listening a few times, I realize the voice of hatred has a lot more rhythm and groove with the string strikes and diminished chords, but then the voice of good is a lot calmer and simpler with just playing individual notes. It further reenforces the dichotomy of Ren and his battle for himself. Then at the end, he combines both sounds, as he accepts the side he wants to listen to and shape himself to be. Calm and caring, but with the vigour to fight for what is right for him.
Thank you for your words. We are human. Yet so much more.
Whats great about this dude, above all else IMO, is that he goes for it! It reminds me of that time when you first start playing music and writing songs and its all unbridled creativity. Theory and preconceptions arent roadblocks you are just using the instrument as a vehicle for self expression. Thats what i get from Ren and its super inspiring, important
IMO that's the mark of a true artist, being able to overcome those instructions and imposed notions of what art means. I studied art and one of the best things my tutor ever said to us was "Whatever you've been taught before, ignore it and start over". There are so many arbitrary constructs and forced "traditions" in every form of art, whether it's how to apply paint to a canvas or how to produce a sound with your voice. All of it is a barrier to free expression. There are no rules when it comes to creating true art, only the notions that other people have inflicted on the process, arbitrary rules that even those who perpetuate them often can't justify or explain.