This is why so many people are hooked on watching reactions of this song. While we can't listen to it again for the first time, we can watch others reacting to it for the first time, a close second. It's just that good.
Good things to know about Ren: 1: this was performed live and audio is a single take…only took 4 tries. Video has a few cuts for closup shots, but the audio is continuous. Ren clearly likes pushing the boundaries of filmed musical performance. Jenny and Screech is 3 single 1-take moving audio and video performances. And before everyone yells at you, do a reaction to the full versions with all 3 tales. 2: Ren has been very sick for a long time. He was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease. He was misdiagnosed for many years and treated for mental disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome instead of the actual disease he had. The combination of the psychiatric drugs he took and years of untreated Lyme disease left him in a state where he would spend 23 hours a day in bed. He was finally properly diagnosed with Lyme disease and related autoimmune problems and got stem cell treatments that made him feel better, but he is still quite ill. He wrote this song, Sick Boi, and a few others that haven’t come out yet, but is currently in Canada receiving intensive daily treatments so he can’t fully enjoy the success he is finally getting…though he has been watching reaction videos and commenting on them, so don’t be shocked if he drops by. 3: He got his start busking in London and Brighton, is talented in just about every facet of making music, and was signed by Sony right before he got sick. He was unable to produce music so Sony dropped him. He’s a staggering talent who writes performs, directs, sings, raps (Ren can Rap Rap), produces, plays most instruments, and and is clearly an incredible actor. Waiting for his first streaming series. 4: he collaborates with lots of other cool artists…you’ll enjoy his collaborations with Chinchilla. He also has a band called The Big Push 5: Go and read his community page…it’s worth it 6: welcome aboard…you’re right, I can never see this for the first time again, so I watch reaction videos so that I can see other people have that experience…it’s magical SUBSCRIBED!
I am an addict. (30 yrs In recovery) I have listened to this song at least 50 times since i first heard it yesterday ! I have listened to at least two dozen people listen to it for their 1st time, and watched their reactions to it, including yours. The first time I heard it, I was thinking of multiple personalities or a schizophrenic mind created this. After listening to many people share their own personal views, I've come to think it speaks to Ren's own inner struggles. I believe everyone, to some degree, on some level, should be able to relate to this powerfully performed statement on the life experience ! Im pretty sure i will listen to it at least 100 more times. I will also recommend it to all of my adult children to listen to ! Thank's Ren, Amazing work !
Yeah, but it was acting. Just really good acting. He's not 'Bad Ren'. I hope he gets some decent acting gigs when he gets a bit better. We can act out lots of things, this can help us understand them. He didn't face demons, he faced illness, and he dramatises it. He's not a theist,so this isn't his life. This is what genius does with reality.
@danielmoore9071 Ren rocks and raps and could easily melt your brain if you had any knowledge of pain. Your words are insignificant, a blemish on the magnificent. I'm sure your tiny little pea brain shall not be able to maintain the insane love, lyrics and maintain the serious not delirious shit your fuckin keyboard tries to explain. Respect Ren for he is my brother, my roommate and FRIEND. Goodbye.
Although I've listened to this song hundreds of times by now, you're right - you can only have the 'first time' experience once. That moment when you sit back speechless wondering what the hell has happened. It's like a wake-up call. Since that first time, it's like my life has diverged - there was the pre-Ren existence (about 4 months ago) and now my life is full of Ren and all this other fantastic music like The Big Push, Chinchilla, Sam Tompkins, Romain Axisa, as well as excellent reactors that I'd never come across either (Knox Hill springs to mind, as well as Chris Liepe!). Great reaction, and love your intro - you need to patent it!
I was already a subscriber to knoxx Hill and seen the thumb nail and was intrigued so went and watched Ren's video first then started on the reactions. I found Chris liepe through the reactions and love his stuff now too.
I'm the same. I found this in February i think after it showed up on Charismatic Voice and Alex Hefner and everywhere else. Into the rabbit hole I went. I don't love everything Ren does, but as he says, i do respect it. He is seriously talented in a lot of things. I also think I have seen 100 new reactor channels pop up since then...all of them hopping aboard the Ren train.
@@dalton642 completely agree - I hadn’t realised /why/ I’m spending hours every day watching strangers react to Ren now, but I think that’s it. I can’t feel that impact again, but I can feel an echo of the moment of revelation (I use that term deliberately) by seeing others experience it.
Knox Hill is so clever, he can see so many things in his lyrics. Ren even did a reaction on Knox Hill reacting on Ren... Black Pegasus had a sound engineer with him reacting, and that gave a whole new perspective on how talented is
I totally get what you’re saying about not listening to it again. It seems that it won’t ever have the same impact it did the first time you watched it. I honestly felt the same way when I first saw it… and then I watched it again, and again, and yet again, ad infinitum… true, it doesn’t hit exactly the same way as the first time, but it does hit, and serves as a reminder that we are all human.
Ren was suffering from Lyme's disease at the time. The day before he filmed this he was barely able to walk. He did this in one take. This video has and still is changing lives. It gives hope to those who feel hopeless.
@@troydruckenmiller1751 what's crazy down here in Central Florida We have this Asian Noles that moved in about 20 years ago and 10% of them are carrying on disease so that literally Lyme disease is dripping in every yard
Not sure where you heard that, but it is not true at all. Ren started receiving the proper treatment in 2016. He recorded this video on 12-15-(22 or 23?). I do not think he ever totally lost his ability to walk, it was extremely painful, tiring, and worse, I am sure. He and his family (I have only seen him and his dad respond), are known to jump into YT comments, and maybe we can hear more.
For me, Ren's "Hi Ren" video is the visual equivalence of some of the hardest hitting masterpieces of painter Jackson Pollack. I'd only ever seen Pollock's works in print form, then one day, in the mid-2000s, I came around a corner in the Guggenheim Museum in NYC and came face to face with 2 of his massive paintings that I'd never seen prints of before. I felt as though I'd been hit by a sledgehammer and stood there dazed-- overwhelmed into silence, stunned beyond measure. I couldn't move and just stared as though in a trance I wanted to move closer, but my legs wouldn't budge. I just stood there and felt swallowed by the inundation of splashes, slashes, waves, curls, and hidden geometrical shapes that had seemingly been made by a passionate mad genius. I knew without having to be told that they were Pollack's works, because the feelings that roiled within me so closely aligned with those that others had shared when faced with his works. Up until that moment, I'd secretly dismissed those reports as being fanciful rubbish. I'd thought, "Paint slapped on canvas can't do that." Well, I was humbled that day. Just as I was humbled and stunned the first time I watched "Hi Ren."
This is the kind of artistry that gives "broken" people hope. Ren, through this performance piece, has become to a lot of people exactly what he stated in the song, "...the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope". So powerful, so impactful. The song structure itself is incredible. It starts off as a battle between his positive (Angel) and negative (Demon) aspects, the negative then makes an overpowering last ditch effort to reign supreme, tearing free and trying to take control, but ultimately fails as the final act, being the "God" aspect, emerges Triumphant, though still acknowledging and accepting that it will ALWAYS be a battle because we are all "a coin with 2 different sides". It's a beautifully cathartic and raw musical masterpiece. Ren is truly special. Welcome to the Ren rabbit-hole, it's a trip worth taking. This was the 4th take he did and yes, it was done live. Wait until you hear some of his other stuff, especially his storytelling ("The Tale of Jenny & Screech"). You haven't even touched the breadth of this young man's talent yet. The pig character (imo) represents the doctors and therapist who have essentially butchered him for years through their misdiagnosis. It's the system that focuses on peddling more pills than on genuinely trying to help to fix broken/ill people, caring more about profit than individual health. The bastardization of the hippocratic oath. He literally thought he was going insane because he was told repeatedly that the pain and symptoms he was experiencing were all in his head (psychosomatic). He had reached a point where he literally resigned himself to dying before he reached 30. Turns out he had Lyme's disease the whole time and it ran rampant through his system for 10 years, even to the point of causing brain damage. Ironically, if Ren hadn't gone through what he has, would he have ever made the art he has? There's no question that his suffering has shaped his music and now he's finally getting the recognition he undoubtedly deserves. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Ren is special.
I did get a vibe like it was played live but the fact that he actually sat down and did it all in one take if that’s what you’re saying absolutely blows my mind
@AnnaDinkov Watch his Jenny and Screech trilogy... that's Mindblowing!!! Again... Live... filmed each of the 3 stories in one shot! He choose the best of them too!!! (If ya do... HIGHLY Recommend... make sure it's the FULL version! It has all 3 in one video, in the right order!)
It's actually recorded live He does it in one take You can tell he is actually singing it live on video, by the tension in his neck when he sings This is absolutely genius! ❤️
No, it is at least two takes, and although you can see 4 different cuts (maybe more I missed), he unbelievably has the talent to literally play the EXACT same each time. His skill is undeniable in MANY different ways, but most never even notice it! If you focus on the background the entire time (hard to do lol), there are slight giggles at the cuts. Then when rewatching you can notice the cuts on Ren himself. THEN, when you watch the cuts on him you notice that his playing is EXACTLY the same each time. It is one of the many things he does that boggle my mind.
Excellent review. I've watched this video close to 50 times to see the reactions of the reactor. I've seen a wide spectrum and your's is one of the best.
Ren genuinely really appreciates everyone reacting to his music. He really is humble and so talented. His lyrics and music is so good. I've watched this over 200 times with Reactors and this has helped so many talk about mental health and illness from guys reacting or people commenting. It was made with little money and has maximum impact. 9 minutes of live performance. They took four takes with close-ups added to the end. Samuel Perry-Falvey filmed it.
Beautifully expressed young lady. The very popular comment below mine saying we enjoy the song now by watching others' reactions now expresses exactly how this song just keeps giving. It's like watching someone open an amazing gift. So, thank you for your reaction. You perfectly validated the uniqueness of this performance and the universal effect it is having on people.
He played this live, not a studio recording, which is even that much more impressive, it’s not a song you play in the car , but it is a song you revisit on a semi regular basis to remind yourself of his message , it’s a positive message, the uncomfortable feeling is the realization that you and everyone have these battles , on whatever level , and that realization can be scary , but it’s a realization that is healthy to confront and accept , so you can understand yourself better , and then those type issues become less scary , because you understand it , and realize you can control it , and that will make things better and easier to deal with. But that first scary uncomfortable feeling is normal , and anything with that much truth and beauty usually is , thanks for sharing
Ren is a great artist. As you go through his catalogue you will realise that he has so much to offer, subbed as I am interested in watching your journey into his music, and his artistry
I would just say there are some benefits to listening to this song multiple times. This song is a masterpiece in many ways. And like a masterpiece, many of the most fascinating bits of the song are subtle and usually not picked up on during the initial listen. For instance, the lighting is very deliberate. You see two shadows on the floor, one significantly darker than the other. Also the lights flash when “Shadow Ren” is talking. During the intro, you can here early indications of the battle between Ren and Shadow Ren in the guitar playing. It’s like Ren is playing and Shadow Ren is attempting to break in, sounding a discordant string periodically. There are lots of subtle details in the camera angles, like when Ren finally does look straight at the camera. Anyway, I love the song. I hear your point about not having it as a daily listen, but there’s lots to gain from listening to it multiple times.
very much agree, as someone who has re-watched the song multiple times i think it gets better every time, even the imperfect starting guitar riff at the start is by design, same for the strange yodelling parts, it's like he's deconstructing the viewers pre-conceived ideas about music and song composition, before taking them on a journey inside themselves, to a place most of us spend pretty much all our waking moments trying to avoid...that awkward place where the inner demons are tearing at our sanity and we are not sure they can be beaten.
_There are lots of subtle details in the camera angles, like when Ren finally does look straight at the camera._ I noticed that too; I've watched many reactions to this song and read many comments, but you're the first I seen to have mentioned it. 👍
Love this song! Thank you for the reaction and your thoughtful words. As an empath, it is wonderful to view the many reactions to Rens music, because it's like I'm hearing it for the first time over and again! I cry on this one every go... The internal struggle is real my friends. Love and bless every one of you.
That's true, that it's not the same as the first time you see this, but you can relive it watching these reaction videos. I love seeing other people appreciating Hi Ren.
I really loved your approach to this masterpiece, perfectly said. This performance was my introduction to Ren and have in the last 3 months been watching continuously his 200 plus videos. The obvious one to blow your mind is The Tale of Jenny and Screech , if you want to hear his voice then the amazing Chalk Outlines Live with Chinchilla ( she is just awesome as well and is an another independent artist and has just hit No.1 in the USA itunes chart ) . His real rapping skills can be heart in so many songs but his latest " Illest of our Time " is a good starting point!
Great reaction. I love your thought of only being able to listen to this once like seeing a painting in a gallery, I'm sure most people commenting have listened to hi Ren multiple times. Ren is an amazing diverse artist and I'm looking forward to watching your take on his art.
im 55, played guitar for over 46 years, and thought I was pretty experienced, yet, I have never heard anything like this.... This Ren has more tallent in his little toe, then I have in all my 55 years of experience. Namaste, and Blessings,, what a Great Reaction!
59 year old and heard this for the first time a little over a month ago, Your title can't listen to this again will not work unfortunately Ren is like a drug for the mind and his absolute brilliance is far above perfection. The song was not recorded in a studio it was a live recording done in one shot as with most of his music. Jump into Ren and The Big Push.
As someone who suffers from addiction this song hits so hard, it’s like that there’s two of us fighting each other! Brilliant musician who writes from the soul!
That’s how I see it it’s the person I am when I was addicted bad and when I’m trying to do good and like he says it’s a pendulum it’ll never be completely gone but we see the light cous we been in the dark for so long
Like a lot of people who discovered Ren recently, I have probably listened to this song 500 times in the last 2 months. When you re-watch it with a reactor (who is watching it for the first time) you can feel like ithat same emotion through their eyes all over again. It's a pretty powerful song, as are many of his other songs. Also, I definteiyl listen to it in the car and probably becausae Ive seen the video so much, I can still get the same out of it. I don't know, it's just fun to sing along to.
I think the other #RENegades have already filled you in on everything. I just want to say that listening to this piece of art was the start of my addiction to Ren's music. I have found out more about myself in the past months than in the past 43 years. It has helped so many people to open up, be honest find others that are hurting and help them to feel better and spread positivity 🫶🏻
I think this Ren performance has redefined the whole reaction video thing. There seems to be 100's of reactions, and viewers now enjoy watching how people react to standard reference. (You did well!) I'm SURE you will watch this again. By the way, his other output is varied and fascinating. For good fun without any trauma try Losing It.
I have watched Hi Ren dozens of times in reaction videos, and besides the reaction itself, I always see or learn something new about the video and his experience every time! The flickering only during his dark side (until the end when he learns to live with it) for one. His complete facial transitions between side is so convincingly two separate personalities... Just amazing! Good reaction! Great summary! Keep it up!
You can never experience this masterpiece for the first time again, but I guarantee you can watch this many times and still get something new out of it every time. It's very, very nuanced.
He is a damn genius. Love him. Every song I've seen by him is either great or on another level. His dad is into artsy stuff I believe like theater etc and is very humble. He won't take credit for Ren's genius.
As someone who has struggled with mental health issues my entire life, this video has made me feel "seen". It gives me hope and comfort. My family and friends have never fully understood the severity of my mental illness. I fully relate to the "dichotomy of self" represented here. I've struggled with schizophrenia, severe ADHD, depression, mild bi-polar, psychosis, and have a genetic pre-disposition to MPD. My mental illness has caused me to want to commit horrible acts of violence and made me live in a state of passive suicidal ideation. The combination of schizophrenia and ADHD has created almost like an alternate personality within my mind...a sort of "evil" version of myself. I actually lived as this version of myself for multiple years without even being aware of it. This song is a masterpiece of modern art and while it is an amazing piece of music for people to enjoy, it means so much more to someone like me. It's something I can go back to when I get lost in the chaos of my mind. When I begin to lose myself, this song helps me stay grounded. People like me need people like Ren who speak out about mental health and aren't afraid to address it's deepest, darkest, intricacies. This song is a gateway to healing.
Congratulations on finding a true multi-genre artist. Dive into his amazing backlog of creative art and you'll be picking your jaw up from the floor with the rest of us😮 Liked & subscribed in anticipation of you reacting to more Ren Cheers 👍🍻
I’m sure this has been said before but this wasn’t recorded in a studio. It was recorded in one. Take live if you look closely Ren has a lapel mike on his night. HOSPITAL gown and another microphone attached to his guitar and his amplifiers plugged in. This is a theme of music that ren does his far surpassed being justice singer he is an artist and a creator in every sense is the lyrics are phenomenally thought out and his visual performance and his immersion into his characters creates a sense of being in the room with him and that is what is happening. This is like a Shakespearean Tale imagine this being performed in an amphitheatre hundreds of years ago people would’ve been in awe. Seeing these two characters brought to life would’ve been mind-boggling because it’s mind-boggling now. This is as close as you’ll ever see into someone’s head to try and understand mental illness and I know this because I said suffered from it since I was five years old. I am now 51 thanks The. It’s great, thank you
I agree. Hi Ren is art that must be consumed in a different way that day-to-day music. Your analogy of paintings in a museum that you consume as a once in a lifetime experience and Hi Ren is spot on. I had seen Van Gogh's Starry Night thousands of times in books and on screens. When I stood in front of it and I could see the actual paint that Van Gogh put on the canvas, its thickness, texture... it desperation and insistence to be painted by that one man... Ren is that level of artist. One love.
the way you listen to this again is vicariously... in our case, by watching reactions of other people listening for the first time. I suggest you give a look at many of his other songs... he moves from one genre to the next flawlessly and has a lot of depth when he writes his own songs. every song is a surprise. and yes, he does have mental issues. he was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease... but it wasn't accurately diagnosed until 8 years later.. meanwhile the disease affected him physically and psychologically. he speaks from experience.
Here is some additional information on Ren's story that I gathered from old newspaper interviews, articles, and Ren's livestreams and posts where he discussed his condition. Ren Erin Gill is a British musician/independent artist; born in Wales on March 29, 1990; he eventually moved to Brighton. Ren pursued a career in music from an early age. In 2009, while studying music performance at Bath Spa University, Ren began to experience health issues and was struggling to attend his lectures. In 2010, he was signed by Sony Records and was working on an album when his health deteriorated to the point where he was unable to continue and subsequently dropped by Sony. Ren's illness often kept him in bed for up to 23 hours daily. Ren was initially misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led him to experience psychosis and develop PTSD. It would take seven years before a doctor in Belgium finally correctly diagnosed Ren with autoimmunity, Lyme disease, and resulting damage to the brain, organs, joints, and PTSD. Ren eventually underwent stem cell therapy in the United States, which improved his health, but it has not been a cure. Ren is currently in Calgary, Canada for more treatments, including surgeries, and will have to be there for at least six months (Summer of 2023) undergoing IV and other interventions five days a week. Ren recently underwent wisdom tooth removal and cavitation surgery. In addition, his Canadian doctor discovered that Ren also developed a condition called Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD), which has affected the myelin sheath in his brain, his thyroid, adrenals as well as his bones/joints. Now, Ren is receiving additional treatments for this previously undiagnosed condition. Let's keep supporting Ren as he undergoes his treatments. Check out and subscribe to his channel, if you are a content creator, ask your audience to subscribe to Ren. Listen to some of his earlier work, like and comment on his performances, and let's lift Ren's spirits. If you are a believer, pray for him. Ren is an artist with something to say to the world, and his work is important in these troubling times. Someone has finally created a Wikipedia page for Ren, so there is additional information available. Here is the link to Ren’s GoFundMe page to raise money for his current treatment. Ren has exceeded his initial goal. However, his goal was very conservative and did not reflect the added costs of unforeseen surgical procedures, and treatment for additional health issues such as MCAD. www.gofundme.com/f/ren-get-better-from-lyme-disease-and-autoimmunity
Great, heartfelt, honest, and "vulnerable" reaction. Thank you for your honesty, respect, and candor in discussing the emotional impact, and empathy for our fellow inhabitants that this performance has the potential to release. Great stuff. 🙂👍
I totally understand your point About watching On repeat. But I have witness this Video over 100 times Through the platform of reaction videos. Every single reaction brings insightful, Meaningful Interaction between the Consumers of this beautiful art. Very good, Reaction new subscriber here! Thank you.
Loved your reaction. Agree with you that this is not just a song, it is much more than that. It is cinematic, it is theatrical, it is a piece of art. Agree with you too that Ren's acting abilities, his story telling abilities, are really good. Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole !
You're right that we can only experience that first time watch once, and that is exactly why there are thousands scouring TH-cam daily for the next reactor to watch see it for their first time! I enjoyed your reaction; I really think Hi Ren needs to be watched multiple times to get the full message and really be able to appreciate all the moving parts. I would love to see more reactions to Ren's music. There's plenty out there!
I watch reaction videos like yours, so I can experience watching this art for the first time again, through you. And I've done this 100's of times. Thank you for the awesome reaction. Subbed
I liked your analogy about the painting in the museum, this song just feels, set apart, elevated, like the art in those museums. Good reaction, I look forward to future Ren reactions. He really runs a musical Gambit, I think your next reaction should be the Tale of Jenny & Screech. Subbed
Wow, I loved your reaction!!! You said something that struck me as so true. You can't listen to this song again and feel like you did the 1st time hearing it. I believe that is exactly why I love watching Ren reaction videos. I get to see your reaction and there have so many good reactions ... it almost takes me back to the 1st time. Thank you for sharing this with me. I was touched.
It really is like going to therapy. And you hear it differently, feel it differently Every time. My daughter is having issues and I watched reactions to this song for a full day. It all hit me different each time.
What an excellent reaction and analysis. Your description of what you heard and felt was absolutely brilliant. I have heard this masterpiece... this work of art... many times now. I STILL experience tears sometimes. Not to sound overly dramatic, but I will treat people (known and strangers) more gently, softer, and with more respect after hearing this.
Well done for a brilliant and perfectly articulated response to this amazing performance. You're so right and said everything I felt when I heard it. I did listen again, to remind myself of how powerful it was and to see other people's reactions to it, though the experience of hearing it a second time or third time was completely different to that first time and the shock it gave my system. Cheers from the UK.
I just want to let you know that your reaction was fantastic and it meant a lot to me. Just like this song has a great power so did your reaction for me. I've watched this at least fifty times on my own. And maybe 75 reactions as well. Every time I feel and see something different. It opens up insight to myself. You had said near the end that it's the kind of thing you could only watch once and it will never affect you the same way again. I agree with you on one hand, however it affects me in a new way every time. And watching reactions is very fulfilling to me. This performance is on a different level than almost anything i've ever seen. I've watched plenty of shakespeare live and other theatre performances. i've always enjoyed the arts. But this is something I can play on my phone and feel like i've been immersed into an exercise that brings something out of mysel and I actually connect with him each time. It is a profound thing that's hard to completely describe. I challenge you to watch it a few more times by yourself. I think you will find that you see and feel and understand things differently each time. I subscribed to your channel because I really loved your reaction.
I have listened to this song over 50 times and it still gives me the feelings I had the first time . Ren is the most creative artist I have heard in my 59 years
You sort of get that feeling again watching reaction videos to it, you can see the reactor feeling what you felt first time hearing it, it never gets old
This was the first reaction of yours I’ve seen, and what you had to say about it at the end was beautifully put. Subscribed and looking forward to hearing what you think about his other pieces of art.
Great reaction! ❤ my favorite part was your speech at the end! You're right tho... you'll only get that feeling once. But I'm able to relive that feeling over and over thru reactors like you 🥰 wonderful job, thanks! 😊
This is a song of coping with chronic illness, particularly mental health. It is ultimately a song of Hope. I've never seen anything like it before, it's so moving I think because I can relate it to some people I know well. It does deserve that Grammy referenced.
really enjoyed your commentary. I have watched a lot of reaction videos to Hi Ren and it hits everyone different based on their life experiences. When I first watched it , it wasnt event a suggestion, it was on autoplay. I was shocked and couldnt understand what I was watching at first and it hit me hard. Ren is an amazing artist. and his diversity blows me away. welcome to the rabbit hole.
Чудесно видео! Емоциите, които се изписват на лицето ти, са очевидно автентични. Искрената ти реакция поражда усещане за съмишленичество, което отсъства от другите. Разгледах и другите ти видеа и с радост разбрах, че си българка. Рен си излива душата в тази песен. Текста е толкова интимен, но тъй красноречиво хвърля светлина върху дяволи, които много от нас познават. Едновременно се чувствам като натрапник и обект на посланието му. Странна работа :) Поздрави от България!
Loved your reaction thank you. You are right that you can only get the feeling of awe when watching it for the first time. This is why I love reaction videos like yours, so I can remember how I felt when I first heard it. Thank you
Class this as an introduction to Ren, he sings Reggae, blues, and jazz, and he raps hard in a totally different way to other rappers, he's a poet, a great musician, and definitely worth a trip down that rabbit hole.
Loved your reaction. His music is amazing , him and NF just amaze me and their music focusing on mental health is SO relevant today, therapeutic as you put it!
You have to listen to this song again! The first time I was blown away. The second time, I cried. Even just now watching your reaction, I got full body chills. Definitely worth rewatching!
From what I read, this wasn't filmed in a studio. It was filmed in an actual basement that they did not have permission to be in. The landlord found them and kicked them out. But Ren and his friend managed to talk the landlord into a half hour more. This was all filmed in one take, live. This was his 4th (and last) attempt before running out of time.
As for the filming process of Hi Ren, the cinematographer Samuel Perry-Falvey talks about it a bit in the comments of Jonathan Hiller's (Filmmaker Reacts) reaction to the song. Audio recorded as a live session and the video a combo of two separate takes with edits along the way. th-cam.com/video/epOakEENUZw/w-d-xo.html
I think you explained your thoughts quite eloquently. The closest we can come to re-experiencing the first listen is by watching others see it for the first time. That's probably why there are SO many reactions to this performance! Great reaction. ❤
Great upload! I like getting real…! (drunk!) and watching emotional reacts. You can see through A LOT of ‘reacts’ on utube, they’ve quite obviously rehearsed their react. I feel like yours is genuine. Which is rare. And should be applauded. Nice one…. (That’s nice English thanks!)
Gal, you are so right! After seing 60 reactions on Hi Ren your reaction is fresh and original! Thank you! Keep thinking your own thoughts, you are good!! Yes, please, see more and react to more. Keep being yourself!
You are very intuitive. This sing has touched so many people in such a short time. And the answer to your very astute assessment of how can you watch this video and get the same feeling after the initial jaw drop from the first time you watch it for me has been to watch reaction videos to it. You get to see the looks on peoples faces and listen to such silence you can here a pin drop because it leaves people so stunned it just leaves a profound thought provoking wtf was that! Your reaction was cool for me because from what you said you just seemed to get it right away. I cant wait to watch more of your reactions to ren songs because hes genius. And every reaction content creator afte hearing this start reacting to one song after anothef by ren. You will see. Hes got way more than you can fathom. Welcome to the rabbit hole that us ren
Ren is a story teller, an artist, a mastermind genius, as well as being stuck in a body that is suffering such agony and I can relate to that. You will LOVE his song Chalk Outlines with Chinchilla, also their song Hot To Be Me, and more of the story telling is the Tale Of Jenny & Screech (Full) I do get what you meant tho, this isn't something you can just have playing in the car because the performance of it, all the things he did in this video makes it what it is. He has hip hop songs like Sick Boi & Illest Of Our Time that you CAN and should listen to every day! Welcome to the RENaissance!
This is the first time I've seen you and language barrier or not your take on this song is on point an more descriptive than most reactions I've seen by English speakers. Good job!!! Subscribed.
I'm completely hooked on watching first time reactions to this song when I first heard it I played it on repeat I went to sleep listening to it it was the most prolific genius artistic thing I'd ever heard it is ultimately my favorite song and I really like seeing other people's reactions because I know what my reaction was especially when he stood up against the forces of evil and they understanding of how to relax
It is real a live recording from the room, 1 take. That's why it feels so intimate and why so many people are amazed, shocked, inspired and in awe. He is one hell of an artist.
thats what it is... they had only about 45 minutes to record this live in old apartment room. notice the mic on his shirt so it's live and only in 1 take. GENIUS love this guys message and strength
I have listened to this song more than a dozen times! It is the first British rap/musician I've heard that I like. It talks to you differently every time. I've not heard my inner voice for more than ten years, and I can already tell he is speechless after being made to listen to half rens songs the same amount of times.
It appears that he’s singing live as he is mic’d which makes this even more amazing. He is a phenomenal artist. This song might be one of the most moving songs I’ve ever heard. Just wow
Great reaction and I agree this is special like an art gallery exhibition. It is a one take live performance and is perfect because of its imperfections. Although written about his health and mental health issues it is so relatable that we can all feel it in our own lives. Ren is a remarkable talent and i love watching people find him.
It's impossible to convey what he conveyed with that performance without having lived it. You're absolutely correct in that re-watching it doesn't have the same effect as when you see it for the first time. That being said, I still get chills during certain parts having seen it dozens of times.
I just started my journey down the Ren rabbit hole, and I love the reaction videos as well. He has more songs coming out soon.. and the first one will be released Monday, August 26th. I hope you react to his new stuff. Gave a like and sub for Ren content!
This is why so many people are hooked on watching reactions of this song. While we can't listen to it again for the first time, we can watch others reacting to it for the first time, a close second. It's just that good.
This is so true. 👌🏻
Exactly this.
Indeed
Soooo accurate.
Cannot agree more!
Good things to know about Ren:
1: this was performed live and audio is a single take…only took 4 tries. Video has a few cuts for closup shots, but the audio is continuous. Ren clearly likes pushing the boundaries of filmed musical performance. Jenny and Screech is 3 single 1-take moving audio and video performances. And before everyone yells at you, do a reaction to the full versions with all 3 tales.
2: Ren has been very sick for a long time. He was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease. He was misdiagnosed for many years and treated for mental disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome instead of the actual disease he had. The combination of the psychiatric drugs he took and years of untreated Lyme disease left him in a state where he would spend 23 hours a day in bed. He was finally properly diagnosed with Lyme disease and related autoimmune problems and got stem cell treatments that made him feel better, but he is still quite ill. He wrote this song, Sick Boi, and a few others that haven’t come out yet, but is currently in Canada receiving intensive daily treatments so he can’t fully enjoy the success he is finally getting…though he has been watching reaction videos and commenting on them, so don’t be shocked if he drops by.
3: He got his start busking in London and Brighton, is talented in just about every facet of making music, and was signed by Sony right before he got sick. He was unable to produce music so Sony dropped him. He’s a staggering talent who writes performs, directs, sings, raps (Ren can Rap Rap), produces, plays most instruments, and and is clearly an incredible actor. Waiting for his first streaming series.
4: he collaborates with lots of other cool artists…you’ll enjoy his collaborations with Chinchilla. He also has a band called The Big Push
5: Go and read his community page…it’s worth it
6: welcome aboard…you’re right, I can never see this for the first time again, so I watch reaction videos so that I can see other people have that experience…it’s magical
SUBSCRIBED!
yeah but it's theater music.
@@GreenLightMe haha
Mr Wilson, your sir, are a true fan. Well explained.
@@mjdagnino eh…there’s a lot to catch up on for folks just discovering Ren…so I wrote it down in the notes app and just copy/paste!
THE AUDIO WAS LIVE???
I am an addict. (30 yrs In recovery)
I have listened to this song at least 50 times since i first heard it yesterday !
I have listened to at least two dozen people listen to it for their 1st time, and watched their reactions to it, including yours. The first time I heard it, I was thinking of multiple personalities or a schizophrenic mind created this. After listening to many people share their own personal views, I've come to think it speaks to Ren's own inner struggles. I believe everyone, to some degree, on some level, should be able to relate to this powerfully performed statement on the life experience !
Im pretty sure i will listen to it at least 100 more times. I will also recommend it to all of my adult children to listen to !
Thank's Ren,
Amazing work !
Only 50?😂
Stay strong mate
If the Grammys had an ounce of integrity, they would have this man play this song live uncut for the world to hear.
fact
Ren was not acting!!!! This is his life!!! He opened up his heart and told us the story of his life and the demons he faced! 😢
Yeah, but it was acting. Just really good acting. He's not 'Bad Ren'. I hope he gets some decent acting gigs when he gets a bit better.
We can act out lots of things, this can help us understand them. He didn't face demons, he faced illness, and he dramatises it. He's not a theist,so this isn't his life. This is what genius does with reality.
@danielmoore9071 Ren rocks and raps and could easily melt your brain if you had any knowledge of pain. Your words are insignificant, a blemish on the magnificent. I'm sure your tiny little pea brain shall not be able to maintain the insane love, lyrics and maintain the serious not delirious shit your fuckin keyboard tries to explain. Respect Ren for he is my brother, my roommate and FRIEND. Goodbye.
Although I've listened to this song hundreds of times by now, you're right - you can only have the 'first time' experience once. That moment when you sit back speechless wondering what the hell has happened. It's like a wake-up call.
Since that first time, it's like my life has diverged - there was the pre-Ren existence (about 4 months ago) and now my life is full of Ren and all this other fantastic music like The Big Push, Chinchilla, Sam Tompkins, Romain Axisa, as well as excellent reactors that I'd never come across either (Knox Hill springs to mind, as well as Chris Liepe!).
Great reaction, and love your intro - you need to patent it!
I was already a subscriber to knoxx Hill and seen the thumb nail and was intrigued so went and watched Ren's video first then started on the reactions.
I found Chris liepe through the reactions and love his stuff now too.
I think that may be why I am so addicted to watching reaction videos, it’s trying to relive that “first time”.
I'm the same. I found this in February i think after it showed up on Charismatic Voice and Alex Hefner and everywhere else.
Into the rabbit hole I went. I don't love everything Ren does, but as he says, i do respect it. He is seriously talented in a lot of things.
I also think I have seen 100 new reactor channels pop up since then...all of them hopping aboard the Ren train.
@@dalton642 completely agree - I hadn’t realised /why/ I’m spending hours every day watching strangers react to Ren now, but I think that’s it. I can’t feel that impact again, but I can feel an echo of the moment of revelation (I use that term deliberately) by seeing others experience it.
Knox Hill is so clever, he can see so many things in his lyrics.
Ren even did a reaction on Knox Hill reacting on Ren...
Black Pegasus had a sound engineer with him reacting, and that gave a whole new perspective on how talented is
I totally get what you’re saying about not listening to it again. It seems that it won’t ever have the same impact it did the first time you watched it. I honestly felt the same way when I first saw it… and then I watched it again, and again, and yet again, ad infinitum… true, it doesn’t hit exactly the same way as the first time, but it does hit, and serves as a reminder that we are all human.
Ren was suffering from Lyme's disease at the time. The day before he filmed this he was barely able to walk. He did this in one take. This video has and still is changing lives. It gives hope to those who feel hopeless.
@@troydruckenmiller1751 what's crazy down here in Central Florida We have this Asian Noles that moved in about 20 years ago and 10% of them are carrying on disease so that literally Lyme disease is dripping in every yard
Lyme disease is from ticks@@BroodingEnt
Not sure where you heard that, but it is not true at all. Ren started receiving the proper treatment in 2016. He recorded this video on 12-15-(22 or 23?). I do not think he ever totally lost his ability to walk, it was extremely painful, tiring, and worse, I am sure. He and his family (I have only seen him and his dad respond), are known to jump into YT comments, and maybe we can hear more.
I absolutely listen to this song at least a 100 times now and it seems to get better and better every time😊
It's special enough to get greater every listen
For me, Ren's "Hi Ren" video is the visual equivalence of some of the hardest hitting masterpieces of painter Jackson Pollack. I'd only ever seen Pollock's works in print form, then one day, in the mid-2000s, I came around a corner in the Guggenheim Museum in NYC and came face to face with 2 of his massive paintings that I'd never seen prints of before. I felt as though I'd been hit by a sledgehammer and stood there dazed-- overwhelmed into silence, stunned beyond measure. I couldn't move and just stared as though in a trance I wanted to move closer, but my legs wouldn't budge. I just stood there and felt swallowed by the inundation of splashes, slashes, waves, curls, and hidden geometrical shapes that had seemingly been made by a passionate mad genius. I knew without having to be told that they were Pollack's works, because the feelings that roiled within me so closely aligned with those that others had shared when faced with his works. Up until that moment, I'd secretly dismissed those reports as being fanciful rubbish. I'd thought, "Paint slapped on canvas can't do that." Well, I was humbled that day. Just as I was humbled and stunned the first time I watched "Hi Ren."
This is the kind of artistry that gives "broken" people hope. Ren, through this performance piece, has become to a lot of people exactly what he stated in the song, "...the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope". So powerful, so impactful. The song structure itself is incredible. It starts off as a battle between his positive (Angel) and negative (Demon) aspects, the negative then makes an overpowering last ditch effort to reign supreme, tearing free and trying to take control, but ultimately fails as the final act, being the "God" aspect, emerges Triumphant, though still acknowledging and accepting that it will ALWAYS be a battle because we are all "a coin with 2 different sides". It's a beautifully cathartic and raw musical masterpiece. Ren is truly special. Welcome to the Ren rabbit-hole, it's a trip worth taking. This was the 4th take he did and yes, it was done live. Wait until you hear some of his other stuff, especially his storytelling ("The Tale of Jenny & Screech"). You haven't even touched the breadth of this young man's talent yet.
The pig character (imo) represents the doctors and therapist who have essentially butchered him for years through their misdiagnosis. It's the system that focuses on peddling more pills than on genuinely trying to help to fix broken/ill people, caring more about profit than individual health. The bastardization of the hippocratic oath. He literally thought he was going insane because he was told repeatedly that the pain and symptoms he was experiencing were all in his head (psychosomatic). He had reached a point where he literally resigned himself to dying before he reached 30. Turns out he had Lyme's disease the whole time and it ran rampant through his system for 10 years, even to the point of causing brain damage. Ironically, if Ren hadn't gone through what he has, would he have ever made the art he has? There's no question that his suffering has shaped his music and now he's finally getting the recognition he undoubtedly deserves. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Ren is special.
I'd love to see Don McClean react to this. His song "Vincent" leads me to believe he would love it.
wrong
So well said!👌👌
The cool thing is this is live recording. A live performance. The tale of Jenny and screech and chalk outlines are other great ones to check out
I did get a vibe like it was played live but the fact that he actually sat down and did it all in one take if that’s what you’re saying absolutely blows my mind
The audio is live from a single take. Ren is known for his live take videos.
There were 4 takes done at recording this
@@ricci8497 yeah it took 4 attempts to do it all right in one go. Which is pretty impressive for a 9 minute long song that is so word dense.
@AnnaDinkov Watch his Jenny and Screech trilogy... that's Mindblowing!!!
Again... Live... filmed each of the 3 stories in one shot! He choose the best of them too!!!
(If ya do... HIGHLY Recommend... make sure it's the FULL version! It has all 3 in one video, in the right order!)
It's actually recorded live
He does it in one take
You can tell he is actually singing it live on video, by the tension in his neck when he sings
This is absolutely genius! ❤️
No, it is at least two takes, and although you can see 4 different cuts (maybe more I missed), he unbelievably has the talent to literally play the EXACT same each time. His skill is undeniable in MANY different ways, but most never even notice it!
If you focus on the background the entire time (hard to do lol), there are slight giggles at the cuts. Then when rewatching you can notice the cuts on Ren himself. THEN, when you watch the cuts on him you notice that his playing is EXACTLY the same each time. It is one of the many things he does that boggle my mind.
Excellent review. I've watched this video close to 50 times to see the reactions of the reactor. I've seen a wide spectrum and your's is one of the best.
Thank you so much!
@@AnnaDinkov I concur
Ren genuinely really appreciates everyone reacting to his music. He really is humble and so talented. His lyrics and music is so good.
I've watched this over 200 times with Reactors and this has helped so many talk about mental health and illness from guys reacting or people commenting.
It was made with little money and has maximum impact. 9 minutes of live performance. They took four takes with close-ups added to the end. Samuel Perry-Falvey filmed it.
Beautifully expressed young lady. The very popular comment below mine saying we enjoy the song now by watching others' reactions now expresses exactly how this song just keeps giving. It's like watching someone open an amazing gift. So, thank you for your reaction. You perfectly validated the uniqueness of this performance and the universal effect it is having on people.
You fucking nailed it! It's not just a song, it's a spiritual experience. So glad you get it. ✌️❤️🔥🤘
It was recorded live. He's mic'd up and guitars plug in. Another level!
this was done live btw! thank you for reacting to him, such a phenomenal artist
He played this live, not a studio recording, which is even that much more impressive, it’s not a song you play in the car , but it is a song you revisit on a semi regular basis to remind yourself of his message , it’s a positive message, the uncomfortable feeling is the realization that you and everyone have these battles , on whatever level , and that realization can be scary , but it’s a realization that is healthy to confront and accept , so you can understand yourself better , and then those type issues become less scary , because you understand it , and realize you can control it , and that will make things better and easier to deal with. But that first scary uncomfortable feeling is normal , and anything with that much truth and beauty usually is , thanks for sharing
Ren is a great artist. As you go through his catalogue you will realise that he has so much to offer, subbed as I am interested in watching your journey into his music, and his artistry
I would just say there are some benefits to listening to this song multiple times. This song is a masterpiece in many ways. And like a masterpiece, many of the most fascinating bits of the song are subtle and usually not picked up on during the initial listen.
For instance, the lighting is very deliberate. You see two shadows on the floor, one significantly darker than the other. Also the lights flash when “Shadow Ren” is talking.
During the intro, you can here early indications of the battle between Ren and Shadow Ren in the guitar playing. It’s like Ren is playing and Shadow Ren is attempting to break in, sounding a discordant string periodically.
There are lots of subtle details in the camera angles, like when Ren finally does look straight at the camera.
Anyway, I love the song. I hear your point about not having it as a daily listen, but there’s lots to gain from listening to it multiple times.
very much agree, as someone who has re-watched the song multiple times i think it gets better every time, even the imperfect starting guitar riff at the start is by design, same for the strange yodelling parts, it's like he's deconstructing the viewers pre-conceived ideas about music and song composition, before taking them on a journey inside themselves, to a place most of us spend pretty much all our waking moments trying to avoid...that awkward place where the inner demons are tearing at our sanity and we are not sure they can be beaten.
_There are lots of subtle details in the camera angles, like when Ren finally does look straight at the camera._
I noticed that too; I've watched many reactions to this song and read many comments, but you're the first I seen to have mentioned it. 👍
Couldn’t even get through it once! It’s utter bollocks 🤣🤣🤣
Love this song! Thank you for the reaction and your thoughtful words.
As an empath, it is wonderful to view the many reactions to Rens music, because it's like I'm hearing it for the first time over and again! I cry on this one every go... The internal struggle is real my friends. Love and bless every one of you.
That's true, that it's not the same as the first time you see this, but you can relive it watching these reaction videos. I love seeing other people appreciating Hi Ren.
I really loved your approach to this masterpiece, perfectly said. This performance was my introduction to Ren and have in the last 3 months been watching continuously his 200 plus videos. The obvious one to blow your mind is The Tale of Jenny and Screech , if you want to hear his voice then the amazing Chalk Outlines Live with Chinchilla ( she is just awesome as well and is an another independent artist and has just hit No.1 in the USA itunes chart ) . His real rapping skills can be heart in so many songs but his latest " Illest of our Time " is a good starting point!
I appreciate your honesty in how the song made you feel perhaps the uncomfortable feelings this song gave you is worthy of looking at yourself too
I subscribed because I am so interested in seeing you discover more of Ren's music and Chinchilla's also!
I think that’s why so many of us watch reactions to this video. Chasing the “high” of that first time. Loved your reaction. Thank you.
Great reaction. I love your thought of only being able to listen to this once like seeing a painting in a gallery, I'm sure most people commenting have listened to hi Ren multiple times. Ren is an amazing diverse artist and I'm looking forward to watching your take on his art.
im 55, played guitar for over 46 years, and thought I was pretty experienced, yet, I have never heard anything like this.... This Ren has more tallent in his little toe, then I have in all my 55 years of experience. Namaste, and Blessings,, what a Great Reaction!
59 year old and heard this for the first time a little over a month ago, Your title can't listen to this again will not work unfortunately Ren is like a drug for the mind and his absolute brilliance is far above perfection. The song was not recorded in a studio it was a live recording done in one shot as with most of his music. Jump into Ren and The Big Push.
As someone who suffers from addiction this song hits so hard, it’s like that there’s two of us fighting each other! Brilliant musician who writes from the soul!
That’s how I see it it’s the person I am when I was addicted bad and when I’m trying to do good and like he says it’s a pendulum it’ll never be completely gone but we see the light cous we been in the dark for so long
Like a lot of people who discovered Ren recently, I have probably listened to this song 500 times in the last 2 months. When you re-watch it with a reactor (who is watching it for the first time) you can feel like ithat same emotion through their eyes all over again. It's a pretty powerful song, as are many of his other songs.
Also, I definteiyl listen to it in the car and probably becausae Ive seen the video so much, I can still get the same out of it.
I don't know, it's just fun to sing along to.
I think the other #RENegades have already filled you in on everything. I just want to say that listening to this piece of art was the start of my addiction to Ren's music. I have found out more about myself in the past months than in the past 43 years. It has helped so many people to open up, be honest find others that are hurting and help them to feel better and spread positivity 🫶🏻
Likewise 🐦.
I think this Ren performance has redefined the whole reaction video thing. There seems to be 100's of reactions, and viewers now enjoy watching how people react to standard reference. (You did well!) I'm SURE you will watch this again. By the way, his other output is varied and fascinating. For good fun without any trauma try Losing It.
its theater music though.
@@GreenLightMe ......you can do better than that....
@@porthmeor1 oh i have lol
@@GreenLightMe well, you have the Trump card… do your worst….
I have watched Hi Ren dozens of times in reaction videos, and besides the reaction itself, I always see or learn something new about the video and his experience every time! The flickering only during his dark side (until the end when he learns to live with it) for one. His complete facial transitions between side is so convincingly two separate personalities... Just amazing! Good reaction! Great summary! Keep it up!
You can never experience this masterpiece for the first time again, but I guarantee you can watch this many times and still get something new out of it every time. It's very, very nuanced.
I genuinely love watching people's reactions to this music video by Ren. ❤
He is a damn genius. Love him. Every song I've seen by him is either great or on another level. His dad is into artsy stuff I believe like theater etc and is very humble. He won't take credit for Ren's genius.
As someone who has struggled with mental health issues my entire life, this video has made me feel "seen". It gives me hope and comfort. My family and friends have never fully understood the severity of my mental illness. I fully relate to the "dichotomy of self" represented here. I've struggled with schizophrenia, severe ADHD, depression, mild bi-polar, psychosis, and have a genetic pre-disposition to MPD. My mental illness has caused me to want to commit horrible acts of violence and made me live in a state of passive suicidal ideation. The combination of schizophrenia and ADHD has created almost like an alternate personality within my mind...a sort of "evil" version of myself. I actually lived as this version of myself for multiple years without even being aware of it. This song is a masterpiece of modern art and while it is an amazing piece of music for people to enjoy, it means so much more to someone like me. It's something I can go back to when I get lost in the chaos of my mind. When I begin to lose myself, this song helps me stay grounded. People like me need people like Ren who speak out about mental health and aren't afraid to address it's deepest, darkest, intricacies. This song is a gateway to healing.
Great Reaction! Keep going down the Ren Music rabbit hole. It's an incredible and rewarding journey. He is so different and brilliant.
Congratulations on finding a true multi-genre artist. Dive into his amazing backlog of creative art and you'll be picking your jaw up from the floor with the rest of us😮
Liked & subscribed in anticipation of you reacting to more Ren
Cheers 👍🍻
I’m sure this has been said before but this wasn’t recorded in a studio. It was recorded in one. Take live if you look closely Ren has a lapel mike on his night. HOSPITAL gown and another microphone attached to his guitar and his amplifiers plugged in. This is a theme of music that ren does his far surpassed being justice singer he is an artist and a creator in every sense is the lyrics are phenomenally thought out and his visual performance and his immersion into his characters creates a sense of being in the room with him and that is what is happening. This is like a Shakespearean Tale imagine this being performed in an amphitheatre hundreds of years ago people would’ve been in awe. Seeing these two characters brought to life would’ve been mind-boggling because it’s mind-boggling now. This is as close as you’ll ever see into someone’s head to try and understand mental illness and I know this because I said suffered from it since I was five years old. I am now 51 thanks The. It’s great, thank you
I agree. Hi Ren is art that must be consumed in a different way that day-to-day music. Your analogy of paintings in a museum that you consume as a once in a lifetime experience and Hi Ren is spot on. I had seen Van Gogh's Starry Night thousands of times in books and on screens. When I stood in front of it and I could see the actual paint that Van Gogh put on the canvas, its thickness, texture... it desperation and insistence to be painted by that one man... Ren is that level of artist. One love.
the way you listen to this again is vicariously... in our case, by watching reactions of other people listening for the first time.
I suggest you give a look at many of his other songs... he moves from one genre to the next flawlessly and has a lot of depth when he writes his own songs.
every song is a surprise.
and yes, he does have mental issues. he was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease... but it wasn't accurately diagnosed until 8 years later.. meanwhile the disease affected him physically and psychologically. he speaks from experience.
Here is some additional information on Ren's story that I gathered from old newspaper interviews, articles, and Ren's livestreams and posts where he discussed his condition. Ren Erin Gill is a British musician/independent artist; born in Wales on March 29, 1990; he eventually moved to Brighton. Ren pursued a career in music from an early age. In 2009, while studying music performance at Bath Spa University, Ren began to experience health issues and was struggling to attend his lectures. In 2010, he was signed by Sony Records and was working on an album when his health deteriorated to the point where he was unable to continue and subsequently dropped by Sony.
Ren's illness often kept him in bed for up to 23 hours daily. Ren was initially misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led him to experience psychosis and develop PTSD. It would take seven years before a doctor in Belgium finally correctly diagnosed Ren with autoimmunity, Lyme disease, and resulting damage to the brain, organs, joints, and PTSD. Ren eventually underwent stem cell therapy in the United States, which improved his health, but it has not been a cure.
Ren is currently in Calgary, Canada for more treatments, including surgeries, and will have to be there for at least six months (Summer of 2023) undergoing IV and other interventions five days a week. Ren recently underwent wisdom tooth removal and cavitation surgery. In addition, his Canadian doctor discovered that Ren also developed a condition called Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD), which has affected the myelin sheath in his brain, his thyroid, adrenals as well as his bones/joints. Now, Ren is receiving additional treatments for this previously undiagnosed condition.
Let's keep supporting Ren as he undergoes his treatments. Check out and subscribe to his channel, if you are a content creator, ask your audience to subscribe to Ren. Listen to some of his earlier work, like and comment on his performances, and let's lift Ren's spirits. If you are a believer, pray for him. Ren is an artist with something to say to the world, and his work is important in these troubling times. Someone has finally created a Wikipedia page for Ren, so there is additional information available.
Here is the link to Ren’s GoFundMe page to raise money for his current treatment. Ren has exceeded his initial goal. However, his goal was very conservative and did not reflect the added costs of unforeseen surgical procedures, and treatment for additional health issues such as MCAD. www.gofundme.com/f/ren-get-better-from-lyme-disease-and-autoimmunity
Well said he is extremely talented and such a nice man❤
Really appreciate your time and effort in sharing this information, thank you.
@@mauricecasey866 Thank you. I hope you found it of some use.
Another round of applause for Jens Randolff
@@BallisticAero Thank you kindly. Lol.
Great, heartfelt, honest, and "vulnerable" reaction. Thank you for your honesty, respect, and candor in discussing the emotional impact, and empathy for our fellow inhabitants that this performance has the potential to release. Great stuff. 🙂👍
I totally understand your point About watching On repeat. But I have witness this Video over 100 times Through the platform of reaction videos. Every single reaction brings insightful, Meaningful Interaction between the Consumers of this beautiful art. Very good, Reaction new subscriber here! Thank you.
Loved your reaction. Agree with you that this is not just a song, it is much more than that. It is cinematic, it is theatrical, it is a piece of art. Agree with you too that Ren's acting abilities, his story telling abilities, are really good. Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole !
You're right that we can only experience that first time watch once, and that is exactly why there are thousands scouring TH-cam daily for the next reactor to watch see it for their first time! I enjoyed your reaction; I really think Hi Ren needs to be watched multiple times to get the full message and really be able to appreciate all the moving parts. I would love to see more reactions to Ren's music. There's plenty out there!
Ren started out as a busker and most of his stuff is live and done in one take. Just different cameras to edit! It is very raw.
...and masterful mixing and production.
I watch reaction videos like yours, so I can experience watching this art for the first time again, through you. And I've done this 100's of times.
Thank you for the awesome reaction. Subbed
I liked your analogy about the painting in the museum, this song just feels, set apart, elevated, like the art in those museums. Good reaction, I look forward to future Ren reactions. He really runs a musical Gambit, I think your next reaction should be the Tale of Jenny & Screech. Subbed
Wow, I loved your reaction!!! You said something that struck me as so true.
You can't listen to this song again and feel like you did the 1st time hearing it. I believe that is exactly why I love watching Ren reaction videos.
I get to see your reaction and there have so many good reactions ... it almost takes me back to the 1st time.
Thank you for sharing this with me. I was touched.
Anna, I've seen hundreds of reactions to this video and I learn something new each time.
57 year-old man. 'Hi Ren' has changed my life. No lie.
It really is like going to therapy. And you hear it differently, feel it differently Every time. My daughter is having issues and I watched reactions to this song for a full day. It all hit me different each time.
What an excellent reaction and analysis. Your description of what you heard and felt was absolutely brilliant. I have heard this masterpiece... this work of art... many times now. I STILL experience tears sometimes. Not to sound overly dramatic, but I will treat people (known and strangers) more gently, softer, and with more respect after hearing this.
Well done for a brilliant and perfectly articulated response to this amazing performance. You're so right and said everything I felt when I heard it. I did listen again, to remind myself of how powerful it was and to see other people's reactions to it, though the experience of hearing it a second time or third time was completely different to that first time and the shock it gave my system. Cheers from the UK.
I just want to let you know that your reaction was fantastic and it meant a lot to me. Just like this song has a great power so did your reaction for me.
I've watched this at least fifty times on my own. And maybe 75 reactions as well. Every time I feel and see something different. It opens up insight to myself. You had said near the end that it's the kind of thing you could only watch once and it will never affect you the same way again. I agree with you on one hand, however it affects me in a new way every time. And watching reactions is very fulfilling to me. This performance is on a different level than almost anything i've ever seen. I've watched plenty of shakespeare live and other theatre performances. i've always enjoyed the arts. But this is something I can play on my phone and feel like i've been immersed into an exercise that brings something out of mysel and I actually connect with him each time. It is a profound thing that's hard to completely describe. I challenge you to watch it a few more times by yourself. I think you will find that you see and feel and understand things differently each time.
I subscribed to your channel because I really loved your reaction.
I've seen a dozen reactions to Hi Ren and yours is one of the best. ❤
Thank you so much!!
I have listened to this song over 50 times and it still gives me the feelings I had the first time . Ren is the most creative artist I have heard in my 59 years
You sort of get that feeling again watching reaction videos to it, you can see the reactor feeling what you felt first time hearing it, it never gets old
@@izzyboot9408 I agree, one of the better ones
This was the first reaction of yours I’ve seen, and what you had to say about it at the end was beautifully put. Subscribed and looking forward to hearing what you think about his other pieces of art.
Great reaction! ❤ my favorite part was your speech at the end! You're right tho... you'll only get that feeling once. But I'm able to relive that feeling over and over thru reactors like you 🥰 wonderful job, thanks! 😊
This is a song of coping with chronic illness, particularly mental health. It is ultimately a song of Hope.
I've never seen anything like it before, it's so moving I think because I can relate it to some people I know well.
It does deserve that Grammy referenced.
really enjoyed your commentary. I have watched a lot of reaction videos to Hi Ren and it hits everyone different based on their life experiences. When I first watched it , it wasnt event a suggestion, it was on autoplay. I was shocked and couldnt understand what I was watching at first and it hit me hard. Ren is an amazing artist. and his diversity blows me away. welcome to the rabbit hole.
Чудесно видео! Емоциите, които се изписват на лицето ти, са очевидно автентични. Искрената ти реакция поражда усещане за съмишленичество, което отсъства от другите.
Разгледах и другите ти видеа и с радост разбрах, че си българка.
Рен си излива душата в тази песен. Текста е толкова интимен, но тъй красноречиво хвърля светлина върху дяволи, които много от нас познават. Едновременно се чувствам като натрапник и обект на посланието му. Странна работа :)
Поздрави от България!
Loved your reaction thank you. You are right that you can only get the feeling of awe when watching it for the first time. This is why I love reaction videos like yours, so I can remember how I felt when I first heard it. Thank you
Class this as an introduction to Ren, he sings Reggae, blues, and jazz, and he raps hard in a totally different way to other rappers, he's a poet, a great musician, and definitely worth a trip down that rabbit hole.
Loved your reaction. His music is amazing , him and NF just amaze me and their music focusing on mental health is SO relevant today, therapeutic as you put it!
You have to listen to this song again! The first time I was blown away. The second time, I cried. Even just now watching your reaction, I got full body chills. Definitely worth rewatching!
From what I read, this wasn't filmed in a studio. It was filmed in an actual basement that they did not have permission to be in. The landlord found them and kicked them out. But Ren and his friend managed to talk the landlord into a half hour more. This was all filmed in one take, live. This was his 4th (and last) attempt before running out of time.
As for the filming process of Hi Ren, the cinematographer Samuel Perry-Falvey talks about it a bit in the comments of Jonathan Hiller's (Filmmaker Reacts) reaction to the song. Audio recorded as a live session and the video a combo of two separate takes with edits along the way. th-cam.com/video/epOakEENUZw/w-d-xo.html
I think you explained your thoughts quite eloquently. The closest we can come to re-experiencing the first listen is by watching others see it for the first time. That's probably why there are SO many reactions to this performance!
Great reaction. ❤
Top 3 Hi Ren reacts right here. Thank you
Thank you!
Great upload!
I like getting real…! (drunk!) and watching emotional reacts. You can see through A LOT of ‘reacts’ on utube, they’ve quite obviously rehearsed their react.
I feel like yours is genuine.
Which is rare. And should be applauded.
Nice one….
(That’s nice English thanks!)
Gal, you are so right! After seing 60 reactions on Hi Ren your reaction is fresh and original! Thank you! Keep thinking your own thoughts, you are good!!
Yes, please, see more and react to more. Keep being yourself!
Art in a museum v home analogy is a really relatable way to describe experiencing this piece
I subscribed and I have tried listening to other reactions and yours is just as honest unique and I will check your other reactions. Thanks again.
I love your reaction.. I feel this in every way you just expanded.
You are very intuitive. This sing has touched so many people in such a short time. And the answer to your very astute assessment of how can you watch this video and get the same feeling after the initial jaw drop from the first time you watch it for me has been to watch reaction videos to it. You get to see the looks on peoples faces and listen to such silence you can here a pin drop because it leaves people so stunned it just leaves a profound thought provoking wtf was that! Your reaction was cool for me because from what you said you just seemed to get it right away. I cant wait to watch more of your reactions to ren songs because hes genius. And every reaction content creator afte hearing this start reacting to one song after anothef by ren. You will see. Hes got way more than you can fathom. Welcome to the rabbit hole that us ren
Ren is a story teller, an artist, a mastermind genius, as well as being stuck in a body that is suffering such agony and I can relate to that. You will LOVE his song Chalk Outlines with Chinchilla, also their song Hot To Be Me, and more of the story telling is the Tale Of Jenny & Screech (Full) I do get what you meant tho, this isn't something you can just have playing in the car because the performance of it, all the things he did in this video makes it what it is. He has hip hop songs like Sick Boi & Illest Of Our Time that you CAN and should listen to every day! Welcome to the RENaissance!
This is the first time I've seen you and language barrier or not your take on this song is on point an more descriptive than most reactions I've seen by English speakers. Good job!!! Subscribed.
Thank you!
Your reaction and analysis was as engaging as this masterpiece. Well done!
Thank you!
I'm completely hooked on watching first time reactions to this song when I first heard it I played it on repeat I went to sleep listening to it it was the most prolific genius artistic thing I'd ever heard it is ultimately my favorite song and I really like seeing other people's reactions because I know what my reaction was especially when he stood up against the forces of evil and they understanding of how to relax
I love this Artist. We are all blessed to be invited to witness a man show us who he is through experiencing his art.
It is real a live recording from the room, 1 take. That's why it feels so intimate and why so many people are amazed, shocked, inspired and in awe. He is one hell of an artist.
It took him 4 or 5 takes to make this one-shot, IIRC. They needed a few tries to figure out the lighting and the camera angels.
thats what it is... they had only about 45 minutes to record this live in old apartment room. notice the mic on his shirt so it's live and only in 1 take. GENIUS love this guys message and strength
I have listened to this song more than a dozen times! It is the first British rap/musician I've heard that I like. It talks to you differently every time. I've not heard my inner voice for more than ten years, and I can already tell he is speechless after being made to listen to half rens songs the same amount of times.
THIS… is my exact reaction when I first heard Ren.
It appears that he’s singing live as he is mic’d which makes this even more amazing. He is a phenomenal artist. This song might be one of the most moving songs I’ve ever heard. Just wow
Great reaction and I agree this is special like an art gallery exhibition.
It is a one take live performance and is perfect because of its imperfections.
Although written about his health and mental health issues it is so relatable that we can all feel it in our own lives.
Ren is a remarkable talent and i love watching people find him.
I have watched the video 5 times today, Its a very strong lyrical piece about personal struggle. Very well executed.
You make a great point. I have heard this song dozens of times but every one has been a reaction video. I will never just pop it on to hear it.
Keep going on the Ren journey. And we'll follow. Beautiful honest reaction.
Chalk Outlines Live would be my recommendation.
❤
This is a live performance, the fourth take... 👏😯
Great reaction welcome to ren some amazing songs to come have fun love and respect from the UK 👍👍👍👍👍👍🌟😀😀 amazing channel 👍
It's impossible to convey what he conveyed with that performance without having lived it. You're absolutely correct in that re-watching it doesn't have the same effect as when you see it for the first time. That being said, I still get chills during certain parts having seen it dozens of times.
Insightful and honest reaction. Really impressed by your initial interpretation from having watched it only once. You have
I just started my journey down the Ren rabbit hole, and I love the reaction videos as well. He has more songs coming out soon.. and the first one will be released Monday, August 26th. I hope you react to his new stuff. Gave a like and sub for Ren content!