Sending all positive energy to Ren and the whole family. His music is affecting so many people. I am a 57 year old mom from Florida and it has connected with me profoundly. So just tell Ren thanks ❤
This all must be quite a strange experience for you all, especially while Ren is struggling with such intrusive medical treatments. He has changed so many lives in these two months. Have you discovered a reactor called Liquor & Woahs? He has just made some major changes in his life and channel, largely triggered by Hi Ren. He went back to a second reaction to Hi Ren to explain just how much he has been affected by Ren, and how. I hope this all will have a similarly good effect on him and those around him.
As someone who’s chronically ill finding Ren’s music has been so inspiring. It’s sometimes hard to explain to people how hard it can be. Ren has captured it perfectly! Sending healing vibes from the US
@@KCsFunHouseI suffer from chronic illness, nothing like Ren, but I've been dealing with it since I was 6 months old, I'm almost 37. This song hit me hard the first like 50 times I've listened to it. I cried several times
I literally have no words. Except that I wish you and your family - and of course, Ren, all the peace and joy. I am speechless. I want to shout to everyone here in Australia that they need to hear this. I feel SO connected with it. ❤
He is really singing this live. NO autotune. This is high art, poetry, rap, dialogue, theater, performance art, incredible acting, and brilliant guitar playing all in one.
@@mikeparker7631 Trolling? Did you watch the same video we did? This was so much more than just a musical performance. It was more like one act in a play. I was left wanting to know what happened next.
Ren is wise beyond his years. I'm 63 and have struggled with depression, anxiety,insomnia etc since I was a child. When I was 7 I saw a man blow his brains out. Growing up in the 60's we had the cold war going on and us kids were being traumatized by "Duck and Cover" drills and air raid sirens etc, nightly news was all about Vietnam and dead bodies led their stories. Lost a lot of friends to auto accidents, 8 just in high school. So I can tell you for a fact that Ren is hitting on all cylinders with this. I lost my wife of 43 yrs a couple of yrs ago and this dance I'm doing now with my health quickly declining with my dark side is quite the struggle. This song helps. it heals. it's not just a song, it's a therapy session, it's a sermon, it's a testimony, it's art at it's highest form.
Hobo... you have never been alone. You are now hearing the call. God's sweet comforting voice is what you have possibly misinterpreted in your youth as a judgment upon your secret fears. You are the same as the rest of us. We all sinned in the exact ways that you have... forgive yourself. CHRIST is waiting to introduce you to his father.
@@kylemiller8220 nah I don't really believe any of that dogma of religion. I think we have a dark side and a light side and free will to choose which to listen to. But I don't believe in eternal damnation. Or an all powerful creator that exists external of us. More of a humanist approach I suppose.
@@kylemiller8220 Wow. Really, stop pushing your beliefs on others. You might believe you're helping, but you're actually doing harm. You're making people feel guilt, like their problems are nothing, that they're actually just weak, that they deserve what's happening to them and that it's their own fault for uncontrollable things happening. Just stop.
Hobo I am SO sorry for what you’ve been through as you’ve obviously been one that as Ren said has been “broken and beat” and I’m sorry for the loss of your wife as I’m approaching your age and that stage haven’t been with my high school sweethearts and 16 and I just can’t imagine what that will be like. Let me at least try to share my heart w you and bring some balance here with these two commentors - yes I think both of you are on extremes (UnGodlyU- your name speaks volumes- you’re actually hurting this poor soul more so than someone trying to give him hope (regardless of his personal beliefs). Hope all is acknowledge. This song has helped you and gives you power. The message of this song ends with hope, and finding some good through the battles and struggles of being “tested and twisted in being “beaten and broke“!! I’ve personally literally experienced a “Lazarus” miracle in my life with my wife, who was on her deathbed with a brain, bleed, coma, paralyzed, deaf, mute in a coma for 2 1/2 months in Neuro ICU - and after being prayed for by a missionary friend, got up and walked out of there a month later, and all the neurosurgeons said there’s no precedent in the entire field of neuroscience that anyone at a grade 4 out of 5 (subarachnoid hemorrhage patient) ever recovered to her level -after a lifetime of therapy - much less GOT up and walked out of Neuro ICU!!! All this to say it changed our entire family and all my daughters lives and well will never understand all the answers of why we’re allowed to go through what we go through until we reach whatever eternity holds for us. The point is we all need to, like Ren, grab onto hope, and grab onto life and others in our life, and find some meaning in at all!! Hobo, please listen to Ren’s song from years ago -in the middle of his illness’s - when he made a decision come Hell or Highwater, to fight his way through this, and hold on to the golden cord of Hope, which is stronger than any thing else in the universe -to keep us going - called -_-__-_- (ugh just escaped me- (possy patience??) -I will link it in next post here so I can go look up the correct name after typing here - I’ve been listening to every REN song he’s ever done since this- and I’ve probably listen to this HI REN song and reactors to the song, at least 200 times myself to keep me going hobo!!! ). Full disclosure well, always believing in God was never so personal and real and alive until my wife got healed -literally miraculously healed while my friend prayed and cleaned her healing “in Christ’s name” - her paralyzed arm twitch like a lightning bolt, and she slowly began to completely regain her entire body and mind! I do now have an undescribable connection that’s tangible with my higher power who in our case is God, the Christian God / Jesus. I am not preaching. I am just sharing some thing I live through that I believe happened because I’m supposed to share it and mostly because I have also lived being twisted and torn and beaten and broke, and I’m still going through hell right now, as we reach this old age, but my hope and faith keeps me going and vibrantly alive hobo!! it’s OK that you don’t believe right now -fit yourself just open up your mind “to the possibility” that there’s a higher power there and you don’t have to prescribe to all the specific religious dogma’s - just consider the possibility that there is a higher power behind all this and you can have a connection there and that connection is, as REN called IT … HOPE!!! my heart is with you and I am going to pray for you, and I hope you can sincerely take a sincere attempt to connect and reach out to you just to help you find some hope and get through this thing called life! Love Jonathan …. (I will post one more comment with the name of that particular song of REN’s that I think will help you a lot !!)
Part 2 / PS - Hobodeluxe960 (hobo sry) I WAS RIGHT - the SONG IS “PATIENCE” - and this time starts with his verbal sharing of what he’s going through and then he goes into the song who wrote about it called Patience! Here ruclips.net/video/284ugnS_ruQ/видео.html
I'm surprised you didn't linger longer on my favorite line in the whole song, "Cause I go by many names also. Some people know me as hope. Some people know me as the voice in their head as they loosen the noose on the rope." Gives me chills every time I hear it.
What I get from the song is this eternal struggle between the positive and negative. We are the only (or at least one of a very few) species that have conscious thought. Consciousness includes self-consiousness. The flip side of the medal is doubt. And self-doubt. It's yin and yang, good and evil, gods and demons. I am absolutely blown away by this performance. Ren is a true grandmaster in his craft, a true artist also. No doubt about that. This song has brought to the surface questions long ago buried deep inside me. Buried because I could not find a satifactory answer. I guess I'll have to try once more.
Same. Tbh, that's the line where my eyes immediately spring an instantaneous surprise leak (assuming they haven't already by that point in the song). Like, I'm sure, a lot of us who enjoy and unfortunately identify with "Hi Ren," I do know what that moment of loosening the noose on the rope feels like (for me, literally; for others, maybe metaphorically). I'm not sure I would've called it "hope" in the moment so much as fear of taking an unrecoverable step prematurely... but then I guess that kind of is a form of hope, yeah? Hope that some other solution will present itself, even if it seems impossible in the moment. Anyway, yeah, that line hits me every time too. That and the whole section where he's mocking himself for not having Grammys, an Oprah interview, etc. and for not being original, just ripping off everything from other artists. As a professional creative, that mental conversation hits way too close to home... Fortunately, as a professional creative *for many years*, I also recognize that that's just part of the creative process and that every artist, no matter the medium, wrestles with some form of that feeling, whether it's straight-up "imposter syndrome" or some toxic form of perfectionism. As I've said to friends in the past, "Why do you think so many artists were alcoholics and drug addicts?"
@@MacSvensson It's not just self-consciousness, it's also that we have a sense of the passage of time, which allows us to anticipate situations and outcomes before they happen. A dog's sense of "the future," e.g., is pretty much relegated to "I'm going to bury this bone in the yard so no one can steal it before I dig it up and enjoy it again." And, heck, that may be more instinct than actual forethought. Humans, though, can worry about things that haven't happened yet (and which may never happen), things that *might* or *could* happen (regardless of how likely or unlikely), and things which *almost* happened but didn't (the number of people I know who still talk about a car accident (or other bad situation) they were ALMOST in years ago is ridiculous). Also, unlike animals -- and this speaks to the self-consciousness you mentioned -- we can make plans, anticipate the possible future we're trying to set up, and then be absolutely devastated when those plans are thwarted or, for whatever reason, don't come to fruition. The disconnect between our imagined future situation and the one in which we actually find ourselves can be a huge source of mental pain. That's another thing an animal doesn't do. My dog, e.g., has no regrets about his career, a failed marriage, or not having written the great American novel. My dog does not care that he hasn't sold as many albums as Rihanna or that he can't even sing in tune. Also, it's worth noting that, biologically, our brains are not wired to pay special attention to good thoughts and good things. The animal part of our biology is still wired for primitive survival and, thus, our brains focus on the negative -- i.e. potential threats -- rather than the good stuff. Why? Because the negative stuff - the dangers - could affect your survival as a primitive person or animal. A nice, lazy summer afternoon where you can just chill by the pond and enjoy the big critter you took down with your spear earlier, though...? Not as important for your brain to pay much attention to because, outside of making sure you eat, there's nothing in a nice, lazy summer afternoon relaxing by a pond that our animal brains see as making a difference to your survival chances. We can sit and enjoy the break but our brains are just scanning and looking out for the next potential threat to raise an alarm about in order to make sure the vessel stays alive. Basically, the evolution of our biology hasn't caught up with the evolution of society and so our kneejerk tendencies are to look for danger rather than happiness. Because we're not living in the wilderness and surviving like cave-people anymore, though, means the "dangers" we encounter on a day-to-day basis are not the same kind our primitive ancestors would've encountered. Because of this change in context but NOT in biology, our brains struggle to tell actual danger apart from "potential discomfort" that we worry *might* happen. This is why many modern people might find themselves going into a "fight or flight" response over something as simple as having to speak in front of a large group, breaking up with someone they're not interested in, or dealing with the IRS over some tax issue. We know intellectually these things are not life-threatening but our dumb animal brains still identify the potential discomfort we anticipate from any of those situations (being embarrassed, being uncomfortable, being vulnerable, etc) in the same way it would've processed an incident of physical danger in primitive times. So, yeah, I think part of the reason so many people are suffering mentally these days is because there's a disconnect between the reflexes of our primitive nature and the reality of the modern context in which we find ourselves. We're tigers who find ourselves working in factories and buying food out of vending machines instead of living and hunting like tigers. Please note: I'm not one of those people who think that this means we should roll society back to some previous historical form so we can live like the animals that we biologically are. And I certainly don't hold up our primitive selves as the "natural" state that we should aspire to. I don't ascribe any special "wisdom" to ancient peoples. I'm simply acknowledging that there's a disconnect between our nature and our society and that disconnect causes mental turbulence. And, to me, the solution is to recognize and accept that fact so we can ride out the transition - with all of its inherent struggles - without stigma, always understanding that the only way we ever catch our biology up with our society is to learn to master the animal parts of ourselves and allow the human part of ourselves to eventually become the instinct rather than the thing we have to struggle to incorporate. I think it's up to us to rise to the occasion, not bring the occasion down to our level. Of course, there are actual physical issues that can lead to lots of these things too - e.g. ADHD is generally a result of underdeveloped or damaged reward systems at the front and/or back of the brain which, in turn, cause impairment of executive function (thus ADHD is not really a "deficit" of attention so much as it's difficulty regulating attention because the level of dopamine and/or serotonin are too low) - and all the positive thinking in the world is not going to change that any more than it's going to grow someone's amputated leg back. Neither are supplements, special diets, or the usual organizational strategies used by neurotypical people. In those situations, just like in the song, the only real answer is to accept the struggles along with the strengths and realize that it's all a part of you. Good or bad, it's the situation in which you find yourself and pretending it isn't does you no good. All you can do is start where you are and try to continually move forward. Really, though, it's levels. We all struggle to some degree.
Ren filmed and recorded this in 1 take. I am more impressed with this track than any other song ever written on nailing mental health issues. Ren you are a genius !
@@jmdeking Ren has done several interviews where he talked about how they made this... it's in the basement of his apartment building done without permission from the landlord. They apparently made 4 takes before they got caught, each one being a 'one take' with multiple cameras that were later editted. One of his room mates is his videographer and this cost about 1000 british pounds to make all inclusive. The audio and guitar are live captures, he's got what is apparently a really good lapel mic, and the guitar is plugged into a wireless setup under his gown. So much of it is amazing because or despite what they were working with. Ren's strugges and personal things make it amazing... upon first watching I was thinking to myself that I hope we aren't watching an amazing artist that will end up dead in a couple of years due to his mental issues. Having seen that someone figured out actual treatment for him (presently in Canada getting daily infusions and surgeries to correct some of the physical damage the Lyme Disease did to his body. He's experienced visual and auditory halucinations since he was about 6 years old and some of that has allowed him to create songs in a day that would take anyone else months or years to get close to, but he saw them in their entirety as visions. There is a video of his that he posted prior to getting diagnosed where he's just about at his end... scary and sad to see a human suffering as much as he was at that point. A long ways from where he's at now... getting healthier, preorders for his new album are in second place worldwide between Ed Sheran and the Rolling Stones... for a kid from Whales that has no label (Sony dropped him when his disease made him bedridden years ago.) Thank you for this reaction, it was my first hearing about Ren and weeks later I've spent a LOT of time down the rabbit hole of his deep catalog of work and just watching people react to this song and "the tale of Jenny and Screech (w/Violet's tale).
@@robdubent Glad you cleared that up, lol. I think they were likely asking for a link or something so they could look it up and read about it/listen to it. As would i. So if you do have any links they would be appreciated.
As I'm scrolling throught the comments, I can't help but notice how many people are openly revealing their own personal struggles to a group of complete strangers. THAT is how powerful music can be! Thank you Elizabeth for making this. And thank you Ren for sharing your video.
I never dreamed Elizabeth would see this. You can't help it. Anyone reading watch the young man's catalog. It's all over the place and all good. I just watched Diazepam.....and he perfectly described living your life on valium....this is .001 % creativity and it does exactly what you said. I had my moment 3 years ago I'm done hiding my crazy but more the merrier all this helps so much
I am a veteran with really bad PTSD and an anxiety disorder. I found this song and IT, was the voice I heard that loosened my noose on the rope ..... I sent it to therapist.... He used it for several other vets who all broke down... Thanks for doing this "Bohemian Rhapsody" for this generation....
Thank you for your service. I hope your journey continues. Ren has more songs about his journey, and the light he found at the end of the tunnel. Best wishes, and many thanks. God bless.
That was such a moving reply. I wouldn't presume to compare my history to yours, but *that* line still hit even me like a ton of bricks. Ren reaches so many people, with an outstretched human hand, to let them know that they are not alone. My heartfelt best wishes to you.
I’m a psychologist, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this performance, or how many tears I’ve shed. Everything is so perfect…or perfectly imperfect might be the best way to describe it. Even if you haven’t gone through what he has, you can identify with the voice of doubt trying to sabotage you. That voice is stronger for some than others, but we all know it…because we ARE all human. We’re flawed. The trick is finding a way to thrive (and sometimes just survive) in spite of it. It IS a pendulum, which means no matter how dark it gets, it’ll swing back. And yes, the reverse is true as well. And yes, it is an eternal dance that we all do. My favorite part is the end of the song where he’s so freely singing, lost in it like you said. He does this in spite of the fact that the lights are constantly flickering. It’s a beautiful message that, in the midst of chaos, you can still find your light to get you through.
That is very well put. I suffer from Tourettes Syndrome and for over 10 years was told my tics were just me looking for attention. I wasn't believed when I said I couldn't help it. It scarred me for life and I'm a shell of what I should have been. Started at 5 years old, diagnosed at 17. I'm now 62. But mental health help wasn't what it is today. Which, to be honest, is still severely inadequate. Congratulations Ren for finding yourself. I never did.
Watching ren reaction videos has become my new hobby … I really liked reading your impression of Hi REN … the thing that I love is the way he was searching, then found hope … but really this song and performance is a piece of art … it hits me differently at different times ❤
Former marine here who has struggled with somethings for many years. Mainly survivor's guilt as i came home and some friends didnt. I had that voice that kept telling me i shouldnt or didnt deserve to come home. Almost gave into that voice a few times. Found this one day and learned his story. It gave me the courage and drive to seek help and im in a better place than i have been in years.
I'm happy you are still with us, I have guilt as well not from war but other struggles, thank you for your service that gives us our freedom brother , thank you very much for your sacrifice and loyalty
Hey brother, former JTAC here, you deserve to be back home just as much as our brothers who didn’t come back. If circumstances were reversed, wouldn’t you want your brothers who embraced the suck and went down range with you to live free of guilt? We owe it to them to live full lives and never forget but the guilt is misplaced on your shoulders.
Elizabeth, I am a 68 year old subscriber. As the years went by, I listened to less and less music. Then, I discovered you. Your enthusiasm for music is contagious, and I have fallen in love with music all over again. Because of you, I have listened to music that I never would have considered. For example, Disturbed. The name was a hard no for me. And then with your help, I listened to "The Sound of Silence." I was blown away. And, I hear "Hi Ren." I have a child (young adult now) who has struggled with very similar issues as Ren. The tears flowed as I gained a better understanding of what my child struggles with. After years of continual therapy, there is amazing improvement and hope for a fullfilling future. I am struck by your fantastic attitude and support of artists. I have watched more than half of your analysis videos and interviews. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. What you are doing matters for so many people, artists, patrons, human beings.
Never stop listening to music. Jim Steinman said. The beat is yours forever, the beat is always new. And when you really, really need it the most, that's when rock and roll dreams come through, for you
Thank you for sharing this Elizabeth. Gives me hope that I myself might be able to find beauty in things later in life since it is so hard for me to find it in my life as it is now.
@@pseudomasobeauty never disappears, we just get worse at looking out for it, or caught up in all the ugliness we see or jaded about how beautiful it really is. Its still there. It will always be there.
I'm definitely late to the party but I've been struggling with a lot recently.. This hit me so damn hard, I've been sitting here in tears for the entire video, both for good and bad reasons. Thank you so much for putting this out there.
This man doesn’t know it but he’s saved my life. I’m a person who deals with severe depression and anxiety. I couldn’t find anything or anyone that understood me. Until ren. He is a musical genius!
yep. until you've been strapped down to a cold slab on the "bad side" of a ward with locked doors... ja don't know quite how dark can get, or how bright the other side really is. There is a brighter side.
Struggling writer here - this song brings me to tears every single time. It's not just brilliant, it's IMPORTANT for so many of us that never feel really understood. Hang in there.
I’m so proud of you, @lisalindsay1410. It’s such a huge step making the decision to continue. I know firsthand as well how hard the struggle is. I hope you’ve also taken the step to seek professional help since then to at least find healthy coping skills.
Actually no, no I don't. I think we know what we need to know, and more importantly felt what we need to feel with his music/performances. His popularity is based on relatability, it tells us we are all connected and as an artist that's the most important message to send, now, and more than ever.
The word isn't distortion, it's dissonance. Ren posted this comment about "Hi Ren" last December. It's very illuminating. "Up until I was 9 years old, I would intermittently hear a voice in my head that was not my own. The voice was distinctly different to mine, and always negative. It would self criticize or urge me to do things I knew to be morally wrong. The most peculiar thing about the voice was that it took no effort on my behalf to produce. My own thoughts always felt like there was a process that required effort to bring them to the forefront of my mind, this voice appeared as though it was spoken by another. The sentences felt predetermined like they had already been constructed. I remember very vividly at 9 years old, becoming very frustrated with the voice. I stood in my back yard, internally screaming at the voice to be silent again and again, and it did. In a flash there was silence, to the point where my head felt like an empty room. I wasn’t used to the quiet and that voice never returned. It almost felt lonely in my head. When I got older I had intermittent bouts with auditory hallucinations where I would hear perfect symphonies, usually at night when drifting off to sleep. They were so clear that they sounded like they were emanating from a radio in the corner of my room. I knew they weren’t there, but for some reason they never came with the feeling of fear. I also recall sitting on a bus at the age of 15, and hearing the sound of a crowded room, with about 100 voices chattering away, I was the only person apart from the driver on the bus. These experiences were always very brief, and few and far between. My last hallucination was during an intense bout of psychosis in 2015, and was my first visual hallucination. I was walking down a pavement after jumping out my mums car in a crossroads in a moment of frustration and distress with my condition. I was trying to run from myself. What appeared to be a homeless man with a dark complexion approached me, and asked me what was wrong. I explained that I had been sick most my life, and I wasn’t sure I had the strength to continue. He looked at me, and smiled and told me ‘everything is going to be okay in the end Ren.’ I had not told him my name. There was something so overpoweringly sincere about this simple message, which brought with it an overwhelming feeling of inner peace, and in a flash, he vanished. My rational brain always linked these experiences to what the doctors have told me, that there are parts of my brain compromised by the autoimmunity in my body. That the myelin sheaths surrounding the complex electrical system that conduct my thoughts were damaged and compromised, causing these lucid experiences that I knew did not exist inside the physical world. The part of me that edges away from logical and rational thought always attributed these thoughts to some kind of otherworldly intervention, that made my thoughts the battleground of some spiritual tug of war. For a long time I never really acknowledged this part of myself, for with it brought the danger and stigma of sounding like a crazy person. I decided with my latest release, to the best of my ability, to capture and express this chess match of thought."
Thanks for posting this. I love the fact that he's not afraid to write at length in expressing whatever he wants to say, because he has such a great facility with language - there's going to be a book of some kind, maybe more than one book, and a really good book at that, I just know it. Not just some ghosted biography or album of photographs, but something literary, for want of a better word, which is relatively rare for a musician. 'Hi Ren' makes me think of Shakespeare, so no pressure. I wouldn't disagree with dissonance, but I hear distortion as well, in the way he bends the note, or deliberately over-plucks his strings so the note starts to disintegrate. There are plenty of places in the song where he makes you feel that he is falling apart, or has done so in the past, so it seems quite apposite.
If you believe in angels/demons (they are the same thing) this is not far fetched. Some are stronger than others in perceiving these communications. Those like Ren have a much greater challenge due to thier sensitivity. The stronger you are the greater the opponent you are given. I applaud his expression. The first time I saw this video my expression was "Holy Shit that's Deep" Current professional can only analyze the physical aspects of this process because they can't interact with the true mental and spiritual dimensions of a person's existence. Those can only be analyzed second hand. Ren has found a way to express those dimensional interactions in a way that others can resonate with. Truly a legendary work of art. Thank you for reacting to this.
At 70 years old I spend everyday and night with my wife who’s on a ventilator totally aware of everything. I see the emotions in this song in her eyes everyday. Every dr and every nurse should hear this. Thank you for playing this song
Have you seen his Sick Boi video. It is far more desperate and aggressive in tone but so powerful and raw. He is truly first and foremost a storyteller. I am sorry about your wife, I can never know your story, but my wife was diagnosed with a genetic condition 15 years ago that is slowly, day by day destroying her and inflicting horrendous pain and disability on her. Because of the way it acts, I don't know whether I will have her with me for 30 years or whether I will lose her tomorrow. Ren speaks to me in a way not many have.
Im a 32 year old man with Chronic Crohns Disease, Damaged spine (from an accident), Arthritis, multiple big hernias from previous abdominal surgeries, chronic pain and depression. This video gave me so much hope for the future. Its a true masterpiece! It's touched and inspired soo many people and will continue to for many years more. ❤️
I'm so happy Ren is getting the recognition he deserves. He's such a talented, inspiring, and incredible artist! It would be awesome to see more of his songs here.
Oh my god I only discovered him today and I've been listening to all his stuff the last couple hours, it's almost too much all at once, this man is something else... I've seen a comment saying "if you merged Eminem, Beethoven, and Shakespeare" and yeah, that's a good description... if pain could talk.
I'm happy for Ren, but sad for those of us that now, have to share him with the rest of the world. That's o.k though. At least I got to have him all to myself for as long as I did. I'm actually surprised that it didn't happen a long, long time ago. His label put him on a shelf for too long when he was battling his demons, but you can't shelf something like this forever.😂😂❤
I’ve watched about 50 of these reaction videos and I think this is the best I’ve heard. It was the most interesting, educational and considered one. I applaud you. 👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾🔥
As somebody who has attempted to commit suicide *multiple* times in my life, the "You've got to kill you if you want to kill me" made me just breakdown in tears, it's so raw and real and I relate so fucking hard man; this song is tragically beautiful.
I was the same when I noticed that line, realised where that thought had been coming from. Glad you're still here though. 🤘 We've all got each others backs in this fight 🤘
I hear you, brother. I made some noises during this that I didn't expect, and looking back to them, I see they were equally horror, pain, recognition, and surprisingly, relief and gentle peace. This song hits me right where I live, coming from a lifetime of fighting my darkness. Im having a growing realization that it ISN'T a fight! Fighting doesn't work. It's a dance, like he says. Two sides of the coin. It isn't a good side and a bad side. It's just me. It's all me. My wife showed this to me through her love. She has dementia now and lives in an adult family home. From the start, she loved me. She loved ME, whole and unadorned, and only last night did I finally begin to understand why. She didn't love me in spite of my darkness and chaos. She didn't love the "good" bits. She loved me, comlete and whole. It's been 17 years of me trying to be worthy of that incredible love, and now I see that I have been worthy all along. At my most broken, I'm worthy. All my suffering, all my darkness, all my struggles to exist in society, all my awkwardness, all my complaining, all my everything, every bit of it is me. Just like the wonder I felt earlier this morning when I was standing by the bird feeders out back and a little black and white bird flew down and perched on a feeder and stared at me before flying away. Then he came back and perched sideways on a sunflower. The the nearby branch of the lilac tree. Each time staring at me intently as I spoke softly to it, praising its beauty and courage and grace. That's me too. All of it is me. What is the dance he speaks of? How will I find a way to dance? I really don't know, and I'm really looking forward to finding my way to it. I have hope I didn't have yesterday. My friend, I wish you all the wonder and joy and peace I wish for myself. May your last attempt truly be the last. Good fortune, my friend.
I watched a reaction from a classical musician. He echoed your words that #HiRen is a complete opera and should be performed on a stage. I totally agree ❤❤
I used to think that the reason you were so good at this was your background as a classically-trained opera singer and your level of understanding of vocal abilities and techniques, but with every subsequent video I realize more and more that it's actually because you're such a strong empath. The training and knowledge certainly help you explain the technical side but what makes your videos so special is how strongly you feel the music. It's what makes us watch the video of you listening to our favorite songs and why it makes us appreciate those songs so much more. Thank you for sharing that with us.
That's a good take. And it's why I have been wanting this particular reaction to happen for a very long time, I knew it would, and I knew it would be good!
Man, that's so well picked up. Just in the first minute or two Elisabeth physically leans in and in, is pushed back, like a piece of paper blown by the wind, she's so open, so receptive to the experience in front of her.
Totally agree seeing the way she just falls into the music the lyrics and the stories they tell experiencing it all helps show that no matter the genre songs are ways of telling stories in a way to make you feel the emotions behind them and these videos show it all in a way we can all understand and feel validated
The monologue is brilliant. One of the hardest lessons to learn with bad mental health struggles is that there is no cure. When the bad times come you have to accept it and get through it because the good times will come again.
as a person who takes care of another with some mental health struggles, you may not believe but Ren songs made me understand exactly what you wrote 🥰 i love him, he is a genious 😁
I'm soo happy to see you finally check this masterpiece out!!! This song has really had an impact on me and it's amazing to see soo many people connecting with it. I really hope you do "Jenny/Screech/Violet's Tale", I heard that song for the first time 2 weeks ago and I was even more blown away. This kid is the most creative artist I've ever heard, he needs to be promoted EVERYWHERE!! 🤘🤘🤙🤙
Violet's tale is a grim story, it's the song that made me dig deep into this guy as I'd only heard one album before that. I fully admit to being a simp for this guy's art.
@@danielc-s8056 exactly. Unless the big machine is making money out of him, they aren’t interested! The Grammys has nothing to do with art and Ren is a true artist.
Elizabeth... I'm sitting here with tears streaming down cheeks as I type these words. I'm a 48 year old Marine that sees this struggle every day in my fellow Marines and always try to speak some words of encouragement on how to dance with your inner demons through the battle field of life. Ren embodies this battle that only the greatest warriors soldier through. God bless you and him for coming together for this wonderful message, and know I've sent it to my entire battalion who will forward it on to all their loved ones. Much respect, Semper Fi... Live free... or die.
As a fellow human, thankyou for your service, and enduring the horrors of war for your country. It can feel like a thankless endeavour I'm sure, not enough care is taken of our VET's, worldwide (I'm originally from UK and now an Australian). Peace, love and appreciation. Just wish politicians/big business could fight their own manufactured wars.
28:26 Elizabeth: "What an incredible gift to give people" That comment, right there, lanced me right through my heart! It's hard to think of a such an intense personal struggle as anything like an authentic gift to give, but if you do reach that point then you've reached such an important milestone in terms of wisdom.
I've known Ren for about 4 years now. Seeing what he's been throught, with his diseases, semi-coma and almost losing his career due to all of it, it pleases me greatly seeing him finally getting the recognition he deserves. He's truly a music genius and the way he's open about his struggles connects a lot with me and a lot of other people also. I just gotta fuckin' love this man
Fernando, do you know how he is doing with his treatment in Canada? He hasn't posted an update on his channel since his cavitation surgery and subsequent infection nearly 10 days ago. I'm sure I'm not the only fan who is concerned. Thanks.
please tell ren...thank you. thank you for putting my unspoken feelings into words. so many have hurt and struggled as i have. he/i/we are not alone. and we are one in strength. we will rise, we will rise and celebrate, to live life as we do our best to survive
Everyone needs to loose something to appreciate what they have. Someone who never lost has never won. Art is there, as it emphasizes both. And only those who regognize the pain, understands the beauty. We couldn't understand beauty, if we never felt pain.
I lost my daughter -- we all lost our sweet, talented young woman, sister, friend, January 26, 2023. I wish she could have found and listened to "Hi, Ren." I wish she would have believed she was not alone, and that there is hope. I believe Ren's words would have spoken to her in a way mine could not because one must live with these conditions to truly understand them. I broke when my daughter lost her struggle with her "Bad Ren." I cried and cried while listening to this. She was unique -- started showing creative talent when she was 3 years old. But when she was 7, she first mentioned her "heart was half black." I remember the exact moment, the exact place she stood, the tone of her voice. Her teachers told me she was different, but I believed her different was beautiful. She sought therapy when she was 20. Too little too late? Did they not understand? Could they not help? I loved everything about her, and told her so often, she needed more than my words. In the months before she took her life, I would hug her, but she felt limp. We lost her when she was only 25. I am so, so, so sorry you suffered my beautiful girl. I miss you every moment of every day. May you know peace now. Elizabeth Charais, aka Jett, forever 25.
Fare well, Jett. I recently lost a very good friend to mental illness, I can't imagine how it must be to lose a daughter. I'm struggling with words right now, as I am not only communicating in my third language, but I am also trying to make sense of the senseless. You are not alone, Jett was not alone and I am not alone, no matter how much it may feel so...stay strong.
May Jett know peace now. Maybe her heart was too bright, not half black. Sometimes the those with the most light feel the darkness most intensely. I’m so sorry for your loss. 🤍
Elisabeth, you were the first to get me in contact with Ren on your lovely channel. Since then I am listening to all his songs. I am SO impressed by his talent, his ability to blend so many ideas and styles into incredible music, his poetry, his acting. But most of all his authenticity and the fact that he has something meaningful to say. BIG Thank you for this video that started it all for me! Your analysis is so precious! Greetings from a guy from Dresden, living in Sydney right now.
_So cower at the man I've become When I sing from the top of my lungs That I won't retire I'll stand in your fire Inspire the meek to be strong_ These lyrics give me chills every time I hear them!
My favorite part for sure! Although, i love the whole song. Artistic, inspiring, emotional, theatrical, vulnerable. Just wonderful music and a nice change of pace from what you're used to hearing.
@@AndyUK-Corrival Same, I can't even count how many times I've listened to this song and reactions I've watched and that part brings me to tears every time.
At 38 years old having struggled massively with suicide since the age of around 13, this song resonated with me in ways I can’t bring to words. With this song he took the literal rope from my literal neck and saved my life. I am forever grateful to him for sharing his story.
I hear you Brook.. I know what the barrel of a gun tastes like.. in that moment, I knew that wasn't the way.. I've struggled with the thought ever since, but I fight it continuously. This song, puts it into words (Art really) thay I can't do, but I'm glad he was able to speak for me, and people like us.
Yeah, right? And everyone has identical reactions, from a slight "wtf?" in the beginning to surprise of the concept and his delivery and everyone understands why the beginning made so much sense in the end, and after his speech everyone is kinda speechless battling with tears. To me Ren has written in such deep honesty the words came directly from his soul, and every soul immediately responds and helps us feel that we are all connected, but stuck in our heads feeling separated and different from each other while craving to be loved just for being ourself and also craving to love other humans, but we focus on superstitious bullshit and everyone feels more lonely because even our social networks are full of dishonesty and greed for money. I love the line of sick boi, asking himself:"don't you wanna be a rich boy?" and Rena answer is "FUCK NO!", and he means it, because money is worth shit, just as almost everything it can buy. Nothing you can buy gives you the real happiness of loving and being loved. We all can spend as much love as we want, and the more you spread love, the more you get of it. So why running after money and selling your soul when it's within that soul what you need to be happier than Bezos and Musk together.
I just found REN. And as a47 year old man that has struggled to remain outwardly strong, while screaming in pain inside, I completely relate to this song. Thanks for covering it, and thank you ren for making it.
45... and pretty fucked up with many life's obstacles. I'm obsessed with Ren since i heard this song. Please check out his song SUIC!DE.......another masterpiece !!!!!
My dad actually introduced me to this song. And in 32 years this is only the 3rd time I've ever seen him compliment any music made after 1980. I'm still baffled
William that is truly beautiful. Reading comments on RENs videos I can see his appeal is massive & diverse…I think he’s a lightworker & heals all sorts of things with his music.
@Dj O.B Fiona Apple and Trent Reznor come to mind as well. Amazing lyricist, emotional vocal performance, implacable genre, multi-talented instrumentalist, self-produced.
@Dj O.B It has been said by many others and I agree that Prince is the artist who Ren reminds them of regarding pure musical talent and diversity. If you watch Ren's live busking performance with Chinchilla singing Sexual Healing you can hear the Prince like falsetto vocals. Also, their mash up version of One Dance/Drunk in love is off the charts good in front of a crowd of about 20 people in the early evening!
@@anakein 666 is associated with "the beast". I believe my former church taught that it referred to the anti-christ, not Satan, but it's definitely something bad and Christian-themed. I'm not sure it's the sort of thing all churches agree on.
This song hit me like a ton of bricks because I’ve been chronically ill for almost 20 years now, almost half my life too. I had cancer, then became disabled due to severe chronic pain in 2006. I know what it’s like to spend days, weeks, in bed, missing out on pretty much everything. It destroyed my life. For me the internal struggle was is it worth it to fight on. There were a couple of times that the answer was no, so that line ‘And 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’ stunned me. It’s the best line in the entire song, IMO. He’s created a piece of performance art that’s so important, so powerful. He’s a bard. Music is so powerful. It’s literally saved my life at times, given me that hope.
Thank you for that. I have the same situation. Both of us deal with long term depression (Natural with chronic pain) and I have Ren's bad side inside me as well, always taunting me and telling me I'm worthless, while my good side knows I can play 13 instruments and every style of music out there. Can compete with some of the best musicians in the world, but I'm not good enough at the end of the day. We know our light side is right, but it gets hard to ignore the other person inside.
Me too! I've had 31 year untreated Lyme Disease that WRECKED my body and MIND. As a 50 yr old man never into rap or hip hop 5his STUNN3D me and captivated me that I rewatched it at least 10 times! Kid is a genius. The chills, goosebumps and even the tear he brought to this angry, grizzled old before my time man, says it all.
As someone who’s struggled with mental disorder and addiction for half my life, this song feels like recognition. I have been clean and happy since 2014, but it leaves a mark on your soul.
Same. I’ve dealt with both and have been sober since 2014. I’m also a musician and artist. I’ve suffered from server depression for over 30 years. Hope lives in all of us. It took me a long time to realize I had to forgive everyone that hurt me, but most of all I had to forgive myself for allowing people to hurt me and for sabotaging myself. Once I realized that it’s me that controls my life and how I react to others. God bless you, keep faith and hope alive.
Can I ask what the addiction was? I've got some heavy mental health issues and I use a lot of illicit drugs, but I feel I use them in a medicinal way; got off my antidepressants with speed to mitigate withdrawal. I used benzos to avoid being in my head when events have happened that caused panic attack flare ups. Cocaine has helped me with the alcohol/depression combo.
@@TiesSaalmink I think Ronnie and Falling in Reverse are amazing, the sheer variety in their music, and everything so beautiful in it's own way. If you like slower stuff I'd start with Carry on and their Coming Home album as well as their two reimaginings of their old songs The drug in me is reimagined (The drug in me is you redone) and I'm not a vampire revamped (I'm not a vampire) If you like more hard hitting music I would suggest Popular Monster, Watch the world burn and "The trilogy" (Losing my mind, Losing my life and Drugs), as well as Zombified and Voices in my head.
I agree 100%, I just happened upon Ren on Saturday, I can't stop listening to him. All of his other stuff is great as well. About a month ago I watched a reaction video that popped up for a band named Sleep Token for a song called 'The Summoning'. I'm completely hooked on Sleep Token now, they are amazing!!!
Ren might be the single most talented musician i've encountered. from his storytelling to his vocals, i don't ever remember being this enamored by an artist ever
@Chris Plante good shot, these are all great artists as well. One thing that gets me with Ren is he can play bass/guitar/piano/drums/cello, does all his own mixing, producing, instrumentals and beatboxing, and sings like a male Adele
@Chris Plante "I graduated with a guy that was good at singing and could play the piano, cello, violin, guitar, bass, drums, and trombone. He picked them all up insanely fast but didn't choose music as a career" Talent in defined areas needn't dictate your chosen vocation. A reverse Icarus complex (or a variant of Daedalus complex) is only really perceived as a loss from the outside. A maestro might be happier within themselves working as a dishwasher.
I've lived with an autoimmune illness called Systemic Scleroderma since I was 17yo, and I've struggled with depression and anxiety as well because of it and other life circumstances. That's why I connect with this song soo much, it's very relatable to just about everybody who has struggled in life. This isn't just a song, this song is one of the best pieces of art I've ever seen and it cuts right down to the soul!!
bECAUSE IT COMES FROM A HUMAN ,NOT AN"EXPERT" someone ,who has [and still does ] feel it ,not just know about it ,he is such a cool guy ,not bitter,and so versatile,too. heres to giving all those without a voice ,the strength ,and self belief ,PEACE to you .
I think that’s what it hits extra hard for me. I also have an autoimmune disorder that my doctor and insurance still give very little attention to and instead encourage psychiatric “help” and medication that has detrimental effects on my brain and body. Working to get better help, but it’s so discouraging to feel like your body and brain have turned on you, and you know there’s real help, but you can’t get it.
@@verukaward sO MANY PEOPLE are not getting the treatment they need government cuts ,and outdated ideas[meds,when other therapies would be a better long term solution ,depression,has sky rocketed over the past decade and more ,yet they never change their approach to it ,same with so many other conditions ,there are more modern,effective treatments ,which arent even offerred ,seems ,anything to do with the mind ,is taboo,THATS why REN ,has opened up discussion about these things ,which is vital.
When the "good" Ren rise to react to "bad" Ren's provocation, and says "I am a genius". His voice starts to crack and he starts to sound like his other self. They merge more and more. So amazing
I found him from a Lyme disease group I’m on on Facebook. Im 17 and was misdiagnosed MAMY times for 3 years. Because of it I deal with auditory hallucinations and depression plus all the physical and neurological symptoms Lyme disease has. It’s taken so much from me that I will grieve forever. I will never get to be a public school student and have to watch my class graduate without me.. it’s taken friendships away and opportunities.. and it really is a difficult journey to be on. I’m so happy he makes music that I can relate and connect to. He is an inspiration and the world NEEDS his music!! 💚
“I realised there were no real winners and no real losers in psychological warfare, only victims, and students “. Ren. That punches me in my everywhere, every time.
A fantastic analysis. I love how incredibly creatively thought out this is. From the bending notes and the subtle two voices in the beginning falsetto to the ending falsetto part after the battle when now the notes are spot on thee voices are together and it continues for longer. Beautifully done.
I can’t experience this song again for the first time. So I come and watch people’s reaction videos, just to see the raw emotion and feelings Ren brings out in people!
If you think this is a thetrical masterpiece you should listen to The Tale of Jenny and Screech (Triolgy: Jenny, Screech & Violets tales). It is no joke a breath taking performance with the best strory telling any artist can create! And if you are looking for a more emotionally evoking song, you should listen to Ren X Chinchilla: Chalk Outlines. It is also one of many masterpieces Ren has created... So far!
There are many channels that have picked up on Ren now. Ones I've never even heard of before. So he's done a lot for other reaction channel's too. It's interesting to see how they react & everyone I've seen have the same sort of reaction. Not just this one but all his music. If Ren doesn't move you then you must be dead inside.
It really increased my emotions at the line "ive spent half my life jll" by how much that said to you. In one year ive spent half my life ill. If i live to 60 ill have spent over 2/3rds of my life ill. Ive been in some dark places too. And i loved his line "ive stood in the flames that cremated my brain and i didnt ONCE FLINCH OR SHAKE" coz it makes me feel so much stronger and more powerful....like maybe even if i'm physically stood in the hottest parts of the fire i can still be strong. Its a beautiful song and this is beautiful commentary that also speaks to me so much and has really increased my enjoyment of this video and i watch your video often ❤
I can't hear the line "I have stood in the flames that cremated my brain and didn't once flinch or shake." without tearing up. I have heard this song literally hundreds of times at this point and it ALWAYS gets me.
Followed by "So cower at the man I've become" hit me in an emotional place I can't access on my own. It makes me lose control in such a cathartic way. I got sober 16 years ago and had undiagnosed clinical depression, anxiety, ADHD and only recently realized I also suffer from childhood PTSD. The "other" voice is my father and I've heard and fought it as long as I can recall. I used to think some people are just broken and I was one of them. Turns out I'm actually a "hyper sensitive empath" and that's why the world has always felt "wrong" to me. Growing up "Irish Catholic" in Brooklyn (with the requisite Cop father, grandfather's and uncles) I was taught that men don't cry or feel, it's a weakness and something women and babies do. It was incompatible with who I am and I became very aggressive and competitive and sports became my "outlet" and once I was ineligible academically spring of my sophomore year I dropped out of college and I found alcohol! I thought I had found the cure to my "disease" and quickly lost control of my life. My father passed in 2007 and I got sober and clean and diagnosed with several of my mental illnesses about 8 months later. I still struggle with the lack of closure and the possible reconciliation that could have followed, I feel robbed. But my wife and son have never seen me anything other than sober and I am able to at least find a type of closure in being the father I wish I had had. Sorry for the long reply "stranger", this song just makes my emotional and these feelings just come out. Thank you if you read this.
I have been there. Or similar instances. Some of it for me was my dad, some my ex husband. That I was married to for 17 years. Undiagnosed adhd and feelings of inferiority because of it. The struggles with intelligence while simultaneously having such difficulty with my working memory and processing speed. Anxiety, depression, some of what would be termed chronic childhood ptsd and similar chronic from my marriage. Getting out of that and finally able to feel something beyond my own pain. Finally able to recognize what might be feelings of real love in myself. Just. I have my children but have never had a healthy romantic partnership. Maybe one day. I am much healthier now. But I remember those feelings and still experience them some. Thought I don't think my struggles have been as hard as Ren's, this pain speaks to me.@@Johnnylowfive
he's a modern day bard / minstrel / story teller. just keep digging deeper into his work and you'll find it not only highly fascinating but his artistic vision and execution is absolutely amazing and truly moving & captivating. he's a special talent & artist.
Absolutely, the medieval storytelling start is so fire. You can imagine someone back then talking of conquests of war and the spoils. Its truly a unique modern day version
That's exactly how I describe him to people, modern day bard. Somehow stumbled on Money Game a while back been following and showing him yo people. I introduced my father to Ren, he's been playing folk/blues for over 40 years and isn't a fan of rap (granted Ren isn't exclusively that, he's a bit of everything) but I don't think I've ever heard him talk about and compliment an artist more
I usually listen for your vocal insight but as someone who has struggled myself I really enjoyed/appreciated the care with which you talked about mental health. ❤
You're going to absolutely love Ren when you find out that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the artistic talent this young man possesses,
Oh my. Oh my oh my. There I was trying to make waffles for supper for my kids and I’m weeping! A middle aged man standing in his kitchen trying to hide his tears so his kids wouldn’t ask questions he still feels compelled to evade…from them. Weeping over the power of this song and his performance, and reliving my own darkness. And the catharsis of watching Elizabeth so aptly echo my own reaction with words I wouldn’t be able to come up with. Truly this is art, from someone I’d never heard of before. My new favourite video and reaction on this channel. (Sorry Will Ramos). 🙏 Peace and blessings.
I truly and genuinely hope you don’t hide your emotions on this song or especially the song itself from your kids. They do and will continue to go through things you’ll never have any idea of and something like sharing your experience and emotions around this topic/song could save their lives someday. Real men cry. I’m a mom, but real men do cry and have emotions.
Man, nothing is more healing than childrens innocense and simplicity and they'll propably come up some simple and cute solution! Share it, if for nothing else, just to teach them that it's fine to share fears and what ever feelings! Bottling up emotions only creates timebombs!
My son has been struggling with his emotions and has started engaging in negative self talk. I sat down with him and listened to this song and we discussed his feelings as well as my own. An incredibly good conversation came from it. BTW, I'm a 48 year old father of six and I fucking UGLY CRIED the first time I saw this masterpiece.
Never in my life would I have listened to this song if not for this channel. I listen to metal and rock genres, and as a musician I do appreciate other genres most simply are not my thing. This song is brilliant and I'm glad you've covered it.
I have listened to this song many times and every time I listen, I love the part towards the end where he just belts it out with his singing voice...it feels like a relief to his inner pain and that he has risen above some of that deep darkness he experienced.
I've watched this video probably 20x in the last 4 days. It's one of the most raw, and amazing performances I think I have ever seen. Genius, when you consider it was live, single take. The irony is that while he is blowing up around the planet, he is in Canada right now in the middle of a 6 month intensive treatment for the damage that Lime disease created in his body and his brain. This is next level talent and art.
The song is incredible, but no idea why people keep saying 'one take'. It's pretty clear it's not just from the camera cuts that would be impossible if it was. The vocal is made up from at least 3 different studio takes - some of the cuts are obvious, others not.
@@Gainn You can also see that sometimes the vocal performance from one take is dubbed over a different video take as the vocal delivery doesn't always sync to his lips.
They come around a lot more often than you may think, far more often than we realize, the problem is a vast majority of them get swept up by the industry machine and only shreds come out the other side. The talent and skill exists in abundance, there are 7-8 billion people on this earth, it's just weather or not they make it out the other side or Self-make themselves into the spot-light and hold onto it for dear life.
Oh my gosh!! I am so excited for this. You should for sure check out his live recording of Chalk outlines with Chinchilla. It is a GREAT showcase of his singing abilities. And I would LOVE to hear your analysis of it.
I have listened to this song a million times before seeing your video. You just said everything better on how I talk about this song. Thank you. Too many ads
Thanks for turning me on to this Elizabeth! I've struggled with mental health and addiction my whole life since I was 12. I'm 53 now, and have been clean for 2 years now. I live in sober living currently. Ren describes perfectly the war that goes on in my mind sometimes. I haven't had a song blow me away like this in a long long time. Just remember, there is hope out there! For me, I had to want it bad enough to make that change. I can say I like myself today, but not love myself. I'm finally getting comfortable in my own skin. Thanks once again, and God Bless!🙏❤️❤️🙏
I isolate myself a lot from everything on media because there's so much stuff I don't care about, but right now I'm really mad that it took me so long to find this... thank you to everyone who told her to react to it, you made me discover it as well, and I've never heard anything so painfully gnawing at me, I can't even begin to describe what it makes me feel cause it's so many things, and they're so deep, and so raw, it's just... my god. Thank you people.
It's been 5 days and I've watched almost everything on his channel, and about 50 reactions, first all to this, then to the Trilogy (my god, Shakespeare's got nothing on him!), then Chalk Outlines, and eventually just everything. I am completely obsessed with his messages, his voice, his words, his playing skills, his acting, the way in a 3 minute video he manages to make me care so much about a fictional character... I am glad he is finally getting the right help, even though it's a hard and long process. And I'm glad that he's spreading on youtube like a wildfire, because the industry did him dirty enough, and I really hope we as people can make him soar every statistic, that he will reach an insane level of fame without any label sucking off his profits and telling him what to do.
I just noticed how he uses the guitar as a shield when he's in his kind voice, and holds it like a weapon when in his dark voice. This video is so powerful...
if theres such a thing as perfection, this is it. i didnt know Ren before this, and im nearly speechless. was this the best thing a human being has ever made?
I discovered Ren two days ago and I am completely obsessed with him...never ever has an artist touched me so deeply!! As someone who also suffers from mental illness I feel this is my soul!!
I'm right there with yiu! Just found this and I went through all the therapist and psychiatrist shit, ptsd and bipolar 2. All the kills, all the problems from the pills. Then figuring it out and finding my way out. It's amazing 🙏
Very few reviewers mention notice how hard Ren is picking the strings. That is the one thing that makes the start so special and gives a hint to what is coming.
I'm glad someone else noticed this. Being so aggressive on the strings is so out of place on a classical guitar and it's a fascinating intentional thing he's doing.
I noticed it the first time I heard it only because I used to play classical guitar this way and was really fascinated with the tonal qualities of a classical guitar when you play it so aggressively.
Glad you pointed it out. Admittedly, that picking of the strings was something I almost frowned upon as if it was "badly played" when I heard the beginning of the song for the first time, it confused me along with his unexpected falsetto singing. But once I recognized what the song was about and what the story told in it was heading to, it made so much sense and was so justified and brilliant.
Yes exactly! The duality of the God nature because we was made in his image in likeness, and the nature of our accuser. What’s interesting is people believe they have to kill this dark nature, but God wants to speak into it by writing upon our heart even the dark part, saying let their be light, is the contrast of light and dark that brings purpose out of struggle bringing forth creation. You have to learn to rest.
This is a double treat for me. I've lost track of how many reaction videos I've seen regarding this song because I love it and its meaning so much. But I also love watching YOU react to music videos, not only because you are so knowledgeable but because you get into a performance like a child with a new toy and it's infectious.
This inner dialogue isn’t normal!? 😮 this is so genius and amazing. Took literally less than 30 seconds and I’m in tears. It’s like he’s laying down a welcome mat to my brain as well. It’s so…. Damn dude. I always wonder if I’m weird. Then someone like this shows me I’m not alone. Thanks Ren.
An average of 40% of people have a strong internal dialog from various factors that impact the epigenome be they environmental (like trauma or serious accident) or biological (like autoimmunities, blood pressure, or neurochemical imbalances) these factors ripple off eachother, directing the dialog.
If you mean part of your monologue that's adversarial, I don't think it's uncommon, but I also don't think it's most people. I used to get it a lot myself. In my case, after looking at the words it used my wife figured out that when my inner monologue was being nasty it had my mom's speech patterns. That was fun to unpack.
i am shit at music, no idea what you are talking about half the time but your engagement, your enthusiasm and your clear and genuine love and respect for the genre is fab and keeps me coming back when i need a boost, that's it, just thought it worth saying out loud.
He's also (per the intro- I've watched your video and many of his songs by now)-- He intentionally picks vs strums the guitar hard/harshly so. He knows this guitar and strings. He's intentionally picking the intro harshly. Which further encapsulates the song's missive in the end...but he introduces us to this from the get go!! I love this song to no end, personally. (The music itself without word explains so much of my feelings -- and for him to have concocted this through his perseverance -- I'm speechless...he is such a gem!)
I should say- I don't mean he picks harsh via tone quality, I mean the physical sense. Not a slap of the strings, but a snap vs a general pick. His strings sound staccato with the force of picking. But they're not totally staccato - it's intentionally forceful plucking. Angry picking (minus the anger- he just....had a message to send ...it's beautiful and "haunting"- as you stated per his vocals.)
You're also correct - many people struggle to find reasons to connect or find a purpose. I personally struggle to find my purpose. I'm a visual artist struggling to digitalize my work for a purpose. I have ideas but don't think it's a "high enough purpose". We all need to step back and breathe, find ourselves and ask the tough questions Which...I think I'll be surrendering to a therapist for a pretty penny. I want a purpose beyond myself to live for and dedicate to. I'm amiss right now...but I'll find it. Or it will find me.
"bad Ren" and the biblical sense is pride. To find a non blasphemous version of pride - of expression, which holds basic artistic pride .....that must have been so hard .. Though I am so so SO invested in Ren's biblical sense ( the "better Ren" who layed in oceans and rose to slay a beast and layed on an ocean floor...and who was bad Ren birthed from/inspired off?) I've spent (now,) half of my life time ill but invisibly so (mental health - bipolar.) I've never felt such a song so deeply... I so badly want to know. Had he sought an angel, or perhaps strength within solely.... I've gotten this far solely on will and discomfort but understanding myself. I'm slowly growing to deities or angels now, since losing my father (whom I found on the date...failed resuscitation) after working 12 hours..... Then to wonder "why" My only "number one fan" taken from me. My favourite human taken from me-- why. This song gives me such strength...like... God or someone out there had better plans To lose someone so needed in life-- for why. This song simply nurtures me to continue being strong for myself and others... I dunno why or how but... Here we are. Thank you again for your beautiful music. I hope I can one day make art inspired by this piece...moving forward from devastation. .
As a recovering alcoholic (1 month down woo!) and also someone who has struggled with anxiety/depression for nearly 20 (diagnosed) years at this point it hits hard. The dark side of ourselves is so difficult to fight. This song triggered something in me the first time i heard it that I just can't explain.
I liked how the inner voice also had the arguably more catchy beat and tune making it easy to slide in and listen to the lies. Lovely song and hits deep.
@@TrulyNamaste it also means you have to pay more attention to the sane voice and as each of the calm/sane sections come after the bad side, means each sane part is teed up to get you to listen carefully to the balance.
Thank you. This is the first video of yours I've seen, as I'm not an avid music lover. I was recommended this because "Hi Ren" is one of the videos I return to in my darker hours. Mine isn't a story to tell here, or possibly anywhere, but know that you've seen the benefits that I have. The swelling of emotion, the souring of notes and the clear truth behind the lyrics are why it makes me happy. Thank you again for noticing.
I found him yesterday, I've listened to him for a solid 5 hours but only 3 songs so far, I tried another song but I couldn't handle handle it, had to go back and continue dissecting hi ren.
FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY! My favorite reactionist reacts to my new favorite artist! As usual, your insight has been fascinating! I think you would love Chalk Outlines! The vocals are, I think, amazing! I can’t wait to see your reaction to it! Ren is a high talent; I hope you enjoy him as much as I do! He has so much depth and width in him. It’s crazy! Thank you!
I am SO with you on both counts: Ren's the first new artist I've seriously gotten into in awhile, and Chalk Outlines is truly amazing. So is the fact his strongest songs are shot in one take.
@@TheCharismaticVoice Please, do a reaction video for Chalk Outlines Featuring Chinchilla. It is another cinematic and musical masterpiece played live in one take. Cheers and thank you for your sublime work.
As an addict who has been clean for 23 years in recovery I truly appreciate REN’s ability to help others cope with their internal struggles. Plus he’s just so damn musically gifted. ❤
The half my life ill line hits me pretty damn hard. I’m turning 20 this year and I’ve been sick since I was 11, almost lost the battle by starvation a handful of times, Crohn’s disease almost got me by almost bursting my intestines and I spent 3 weeks in the ICU w emergency surgery so I now have an ostomy bag, the year after that a new type of medicine gave me a crazy seizure that could possibly have taken me out and this year I’ll be going into major surgery again which will put me on more than half my life essentially bed ridden. I’ve just now started picking up music cus it’s something I can do from my bed or couch easily, one day I’ll be the guy being reacted to in videos like this. That’s where my goal is
This song had me in tears. As a former addict I know this struggle all too well, that voice inside is real. It’s a constant battle. I see it in my son who is on the autistic spectrum as well. My job as his father is to show him how to not let it win. Never let the bad side win
As another father in a similar situation, (clean and sober, multiple mental health diagnoses, and a son that hasn't been fully tested but is likely to have Asbergers and possibly ODD) I'm sending you all the Dad Strength and love I can spare. Not only CAN you be there for your son but because of your sobriety you WILL be there and he will KNOW how loved and important he is. I'm ND as well and understand the feeling of helplessness that we can't take away all their pain and possible addictions. If I had a father like you who knows how things could have went, I do firmly believe EVERYTHING I've endured makes me a better "Duh Duh" and husband and wouldn't change anything for fear of changing my current life. 90%+ of addicts don't get sober, only about 10% of the 10% live a life that doesn't include many significant relapses. I was blessed/lucky/strong enough to be in that small group and I believe with all my being that if you love and cherish your son and take care of yourself as well, things will work out. That doesn't mean our kids won't suffer from the disease, but if you are always there for him, explain its not a weakness of character, and love, and support him as long as he's on the right path he will actually have greatly improved odds over most. I was a licensed Alcohol and substance abuse counselor and I KNOW my mother is why I'm here today so I also know YOU can do that for your son. Staying sober and being there are the two most important things you can do. You can't protect him from the world but you can prepare him for it. My son is 11 and I've already started very gently explaining addiction and the genetic components and he swears he's just not gonna drink ever! I wish/hope that happens, but I try to focus on what I can control. I've sworn to him that I can be called 24/7 for a ride or can be an excuse to avoid a situation that's possibly dangerous, basically I decided that if he doesn't drive or ride with someone who is drunk, if he knows that I'm available to talk to and not only as his Father but also as a Confidant or even simply a sober guy then we are ahead of the game. When it comes to drugs, alcohol, women, puberty, our bodies, or any of the myriad of things that a young boy has curiosity about, I've sworn to never lie to him. I've said that to him and made that promise to myself. If he's too young I will tell him that and if possible give a broad age appropriate answer. My father would have "killed me" and we didn't really talk anyway but I never called for a ride because I was more afraid of my father than basically anything else. Funny upbeat ending, we were watching The Matrix trilogy and during the "rave in the 3rd? one we growled and said "I'm missing the movie, why do grownups have to be naked in all the "good" movies?" MY father would have said something blunt and not really even explain it, or talk to me as if I was a grown up that understands attraction and sex. Something like "men like boobs" would be his answer. So now that I'm the father I told my son, when you get a little older and start to become a "man" you will start to be attracted to the opposite sex and that can include their physical looks, that it's part of our "animal side" and ensures that their are more Mom's and Dad's that want to start their own families and keep the species alive. So movies sometimes have naked people because real life does too. He responded with, "that's dumb, you're supposed to marry the woman you fall in love with and it doesn't matter what she looks like and you can't talk to the people in the movie anyway". Just a little reminder of how lucky we are and just how much we can really shape our children's view of the world. Congrats on sobriety and not that you need it but best of luck fellow Father.
I cried so much listening to this... The struggle is real, my battle rages on.. I'm 54, I've been "ill" half my life as well... I sit here and try to find joy in RUclips videos, some lead me astray, others, like this, shine so brightly for me....... I wish I had his strength. Thank you
I'm 60, and was diagnosed with depression shortly before I turned 30, although I now realise that I was a depressive since childhood. I have "walked the fine line" most of my life, and got dangerously close to stepping across that line more times than I can count. Trust me, friend, if you've made it to 54, you're already strong. Like all warriors. (And don't for a moment think you're not, or let anyone - including the liar in your mind - tell you that you aren't.) In my experience, those of us who have walked through hell are the strongest, kindest, most supportive human beings on the planet. That includes you. Keep marching, heroic warrior. The world needs you!
I love the pieces taken from Christianity. It really spells things out. The things a human being faces.. the fact he brings out the demonic .. but then .. the other side of us that recognizes out of struggle we were made to be more and made to endure. By his hands we were formed .. so much more than just our physicality. The soul. An eternal dance.. it’s beautiful to show the ugly … and show the weak rising from the dust.
This is why I watch reaction videos: to find new, interesting stuff that I would never discover otherwise. This is a really remarkable song. It seems so authentic.
As a neurodivergent growing up in a time where very little was known or understood about the various conditions that fall into that category, I can affirm with utmost conviction that this is one of the most real and raw perspectives ever submitted for review in musical form. I have fought against myself for nearly forty years, living through suicide attempts, intentionally self-destructive choices, and the willful ignorance of family members and former friends who wouldn't take the time to learn or relate. I am now at a point where I have very little friends at all and I don't speak with my family so much anymore - but I am unstoppable. I cannot be defeated by my mind. I still love my family dearly, and the couple of friends I have are some of the best I could ask for even if they're often busy and we don't get as many opportunities to talk as we used to. It's not about winning against yourself. It's about elevating yourself to the point where that other voice is either quiet and enjoying the ride, or encouraging you instead of trying to crush you. I believe in everyone and love you all.
As always, wonderful reaction. “Hi Ren" is the song that put Ren on everyone's radar since December; it went viral and has garnered more than 6 million views since its debut, but he has been creating great music for more than ten years. Ren’s music videos are generally recorded live, often in a single take, although not necessarily the first take, and from various camera angles. His release, "Sick Boi," is almost another chapter to "Hi Ren." Many of Ren’s songs resonate with people because he addresses struggles that many others face every day. Ren plays multiple instruments (acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, drums), has impressive vocals, is an excellent storyteller, and is quite the philosopher and poet. He is considered by many a modern bard; he calls his music “bardcore.” Ren’s earliest recordings on RUclips are from his time in a band called “Trick The Fox,” consisting of Ren and his buddies Charlie and Tommy. Unfortunately, the band performed only briefly due to Ren’s onset of health issues. They are very talented. A fun clip to watch is “The Mash Up.” Ren’s trilogy "The Tale of Jenny/Screech/Violet" has been likened to a Shakespearean tragedy and is a prime example of his genius; it is a master’s class in storytelling. The three acts are haunting, and the conclusion will catch you off guard. The trilogy needs to be watched in the order given, as this is the flow of the storyline and is best watched as a whole rather than piecemeal. Ren’s collaborations with Chinchilla (“Chalk Outlines,” “How to Be Me,” “Sexual Healing,” “One Dance/Drunk in Love”) are beautiful and showcase his singing voice. His live music videos are especially impressive. Ren's personal reflections are threaded through many of his songs; "Insomnia," "Depression," “Diazepam," “Penitence,” “Dear God,” “Heretic,” “Dominos,” his "Freckled Angels" album, just to name a few, all deserve a listen. His song "Money Game" (Part I & II) is another recommendation, although it is less of a personal song than it is an indictment of greed and the resulting injustices in this world. Ren’s Hip Hop/Rap style songs are all worth checking out if you enjoy this genre; they are pretty amazing. Check out “The Hunger,” “Genesis,” “What You Want,” “Losing it (FISHER rap retake),” “Right here, right now (Fatboy Slim one shot retake),” "Life is Funny," “Love Music (Parts 1, 2, and 3),” “Crucify Your Culture,” “Power,” and his latest release, “Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake).” As I recently discovered, Ren also recorded a cover of “Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Cover),” that is simply beautiful. Then there are his performances with Sam Tompkins (“Blind Eyed,” “Earned it /Mans World / Falling,” “Walking on the moon/No Diggity”), Eden Nash (“Humble,” “Ocean”), Bibi (“Crutch,” “Ahiahiaoha”), Molly McKinna (“Penitence”), his former bandmate, Romain Axisa (“French Song”), which are all great. "The Big Push" busking sessions, concerts, and live recordings all are awesome and well worth checking out. Their covers of "I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop," "Wade in the Water/Nina Simone/Trouble so Hard," "An Englishman in New York," “Bongo Bong,” “War Pigs,” the songs "Oh My Woman," “Swan Song,” “Sweet Little Lady," "It's Alright," "Watch Out," “Dignity,” and so many others are equally impressive. In anticipation of his stay in Canada for more treatments, Ren prepared some music ahead of time to be released over the next six months that he expects to be gone. He released “Sick Boi” and “Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve retake),” which is another masterful work.
Thank you for all this information. And also thank you for making me feel so bad about the way I can't refrain so badly from judging the book by its cover (the hat/flag, the military stuff, the bible stuff etc in your bio).
I can’t really think how to word it, but the fact that the two voices kind of evolve into/reveal themselves to be such human staples is amazing. Yes, it’s the voice that sits in the dark and criticizes vs the voice that we think of as us, but it becomes just the Concept of Darkness and Fear vs the Concept of Light and Hope. Even if it’s “just” the battle of our perceptions of ourself, it’s so much more. It’s everything it’s ever meant to be human.
It’s the inherent fear of being a thinking, feeling person, and the hope and pride of that same exact thing. It’s these primal forces that make up the core of being human.
Lovely analysis and authentic care for your listeners. Martin Ren’s dad ❤
Sending all positive energy to Ren and the whole family. His music is affecting so many people. I am a 57 year old mom from Florida and it has connected with me profoundly. So just tell Ren thanks ❤
This all must be quite a strange experience for you all, especially while Ren is struggling with such intrusive medical treatments. He has changed so many lives in these two months. Have you discovered a reactor called Liquor & Woahs? He has just made some major changes in his life and channel, largely triggered by Hi Ren. He went back to a second reaction to Hi Ren to explain just how much he has been affected by Ren, and how. I hope this all will have a similarly good effect on him and those around him.
As someone who’s chronically ill finding Ren’s music has been so inspiring. It’s sometimes hard to explain to people how hard it can be. Ren has captured it perfectly! Sending healing vibes from the US
@@KCsFunHouseI suffer from chronic illness, nothing like Ren, but I've been dealing with it since I was 6 months old, I'm almost 37. This song hit me hard the first like 50 times I've listened to it. I cried several times
I literally have no words. Except that I wish you and your family - and of course, Ren, all the peace and joy.
I am speechless. I want to shout to everyone here in Australia that they need to hear this. I feel SO connected with it. ❤
He is really singing this live. NO autotune. This is high art, poetry, rap, dialogue, theater, performance art, incredible acting, and brilliant guitar playing all in one.
ummm...are you trolling?
@@mikeparker7631 Trolling? Did you watch the same video we did? This was so much more than just a musical performance. It was more like one act in a play. I was left wanting to know what happened next.
@@mikeparker7631 fuck off man, this kid is on fire...and yes, he's a one take artist
@@mikeparker7631 Trolling? No. Why would you even ask?
@@lamusiclover2264 I think they thought you were being sarcastic...
Ren is wise beyond his years. I'm 63 and have struggled with depression, anxiety,insomnia etc since I was a child. When I was 7 I saw a man blow his brains out. Growing up in the 60's we had the cold war going on and us kids were being traumatized by "Duck and Cover" drills and air raid sirens etc, nightly news was all about Vietnam and dead bodies led their stories. Lost a lot of friends to auto accidents, 8 just in high school. So I can tell you for a fact that Ren is hitting on all cylinders with this. I lost my wife of 43 yrs a couple of yrs ago and this dance I'm doing now with my health quickly declining with my dark side is quite the struggle. This song helps. it heals. it's not just a song, it's a therapy session, it's a sermon, it's a testimony, it's art at it's highest form.
Hobo... you have never been alone.
You are now hearing the call. God's sweet comforting voice is what you have possibly misinterpreted in your youth as a judgment upon your secret fears.
You are the same as the rest of us. We all sinned in the exact ways that you have... forgive yourself. CHRIST is waiting to introduce you to his father.
@@kylemiller8220 nah I don't really believe any of that dogma of religion. I think we have a dark side and a light side and free will to choose which to listen to. But I don't believe in eternal damnation. Or an all powerful creator that exists external of us. More of a humanist approach I suppose.
@@kylemiller8220 Wow. Really, stop pushing your beliefs on others. You might believe you're helping, but you're actually doing harm. You're making people feel guilt, like their problems are nothing, that they're actually just weak, that they deserve what's happening to them and that it's their own fault for uncontrollable things happening. Just stop.
Hobo I am SO sorry for what you’ve been through as you’ve obviously been one that as Ren said has been “broken and beat” and I’m sorry for the loss of your wife as I’m approaching your age and that stage haven’t been with my high school sweethearts and 16 and I just can’t imagine what that will be like. Let me at least try to share my heart w you and bring some balance here with these two commentors - yes I think both of you are on extremes (UnGodlyU- your name speaks volumes- you’re actually hurting this poor soul more so than someone trying to give him hope (regardless of his personal beliefs). Hope all is acknowledge. This song has helped you and gives you power. The message of this song ends with hope, and finding some good through the battles and struggles of being “tested and twisted in being “beaten and broke“!! I’ve personally literally experienced a “Lazarus” miracle in my life with my wife, who was on her deathbed with a brain, bleed, coma, paralyzed, deaf, mute in a coma for 2 1/2 months in Neuro ICU - and after being prayed for by a missionary friend, got up and walked out of there a month later, and all the neurosurgeons said there’s no precedent in the entire field of neuroscience that anyone at a grade 4 out of 5 (subarachnoid hemorrhage patient) ever recovered to her level -after a lifetime of therapy - much less GOT up and walked out of Neuro ICU!!! All this to say it changed our entire family and all my daughters lives and well will never understand all the answers of why we’re allowed to go through what we go through until we reach whatever eternity holds for us. The point is we all need to, like Ren, grab onto hope, and grab onto life and others in our life, and find some meaning in at all!! Hobo, please listen to Ren’s song from years ago -in the middle of his illness’s - when he made a decision come Hell or Highwater, to fight his way through this, and hold on to the golden cord of Hope, which is stronger than any thing else in the universe -to keep us going - called -_-__-_- (ugh just escaped me- (possy patience??) -I will link it in next post here so I can go look up the correct name after typing here - I’ve been listening to every REN song he’s ever done since this- and I’ve probably listen to this HI REN song and reactors to the song, at least 200 times myself to keep me going hobo!!! ). Full disclosure well, always believing in God was never so personal and real and alive until my wife got healed -literally miraculously healed while my friend prayed and cleaned her healing “in Christ’s name” - her paralyzed arm twitch like a lightning bolt, and she slowly began to completely regain her entire body and mind! I do now have an undescribable connection that’s tangible with my higher power who in our case is God, the Christian God / Jesus. I am not preaching. I am just sharing some thing I live through that I believe happened because I’m supposed to share it and mostly because I have also lived being twisted and torn and beaten and broke, and I’m still going through hell right now, as we reach this old age, but my hope and faith keeps me going and vibrantly alive hobo!! it’s OK that you don’t believe right now -fit yourself just open up your mind “to the possibility” that there’s a higher power there and you don’t have to prescribe to all the specific religious dogma’s - just consider the possibility that there is a higher power behind all this and you can have a connection there and that connection is, as REN called IT … HOPE!!! my heart is with you and I am going to pray for you, and I hope you can sincerely take a sincere attempt to connect and reach out to you just to help you find some hope and get through this thing called life! Love Jonathan …. (I will post one more comment with the name of that particular song of REN’s that I think will help you a lot !!)
Part 2 / PS - Hobodeluxe960 (hobo sry) I WAS RIGHT - the SONG IS “PATIENCE” - and this time starts with his verbal sharing of what he’s going through and then he goes into the song who wrote about it called Patience! Here
ruclips.net/video/284ugnS_ruQ/видео.html
Im a heavy metal guy and I think this is one of the best videos/songs ever put together
Feel this.
🔥🤘👹🤘🔥
❄️🖕🥸🖕❄️
Same
me too man. Its dope
I'm surprised you didn't linger longer on my favorite line in the whole song, "Cause I go by many names also. Some people know me as hope. Some people know me as the voice in their head as they loosen the noose on the rope." Gives me chills every time I hear it.
What I get from the song is this eternal struggle between the positive and negative. We are the only (or at least one of a very few) species that have conscious thought. Consciousness includes self-consiousness. The flip side of the medal is doubt. And self-doubt. It's yin and yang, good and evil, gods and demons.
I am absolutely blown away by this performance. Ren is a true grandmaster in his craft, a true artist also. No doubt about that.
This song has brought to the surface questions long ago buried deep inside me. Buried because I could not find a satifactory answer. I guess I'll have to try once more.
@Zansi This is also the line that resonates with me most. I hope you find peace, friend. I hope we all do. 💚
@@MacSvenssonnot only is this well said...exact same feeling on the end of your well written thoughts.
Same. Tbh, that's the line where my eyes immediately spring an instantaneous surprise leak (assuming they haven't already by that point in the song). Like, I'm sure, a lot of us who enjoy and unfortunately identify with "Hi Ren," I do know what that moment of loosening the noose on the rope feels like (for me, literally; for others, maybe metaphorically). I'm not sure I would've called it "hope" in the moment so much as fear of taking an unrecoverable step prematurely... but then I guess that kind of is a form of hope, yeah? Hope that some other solution will present itself, even if it seems impossible in the moment.
Anyway, yeah, that line hits me every time too. That and the whole section where he's mocking himself for not having Grammys, an Oprah interview, etc. and for not being original, just ripping off everything from other artists. As a professional creative, that mental conversation hits way too close to home... Fortunately, as a professional creative *for many years*, I also recognize that that's just part of the creative process and that every artist, no matter the medium, wrestles with some form of that feeling, whether it's straight-up "imposter syndrome" or some toxic form of perfectionism. As I've said to friends in the past, "Why do you think so many artists were alcoholics and drug addicts?"
@@MacSvensson It's not just self-consciousness, it's also that we have a sense of the passage of time, which allows us to anticipate situations and outcomes before they happen. A dog's sense of "the future," e.g., is pretty much relegated to "I'm going to bury this bone in the yard so no one can steal it before I dig it up and enjoy it again." And, heck, that may be more instinct than actual forethought. Humans, though, can worry about things that haven't happened yet (and which may never happen), things that *might* or *could* happen (regardless of how likely or unlikely), and things which *almost* happened but didn't (the number of people I know who still talk about a car accident (or other bad situation) they were ALMOST in years ago is ridiculous).
Also, unlike animals -- and this speaks to the self-consciousness you mentioned -- we can make plans, anticipate the possible future we're trying to set up, and then be absolutely devastated when those plans are thwarted or, for whatever reason, don't come to fruition. The disconnect between our imagined future situation and the one in which we actually find ourselves can be a huge source of mental pain. That's another thing an animal doesn't do. My dog, e.g., has no regrets about his career, a failed marriage, or not having written the great American novel. My dog does not care that he hasn't sold as many albums as Rihanna or that he can't even sing in tune.
Also, it's worth noting that, biologically, our brains are not wired to pay special attention to good thoughts and good things. The animal part of our biology is still wired for primitive survival and, thus, our brains focus on the negative -- i.e. potential threats -- rather than the good stuff. Why? Because the negative stuff - the dangers - could affect your survival as a primitive person or animal. A nice, lazy summer afternoon where you can just chill by the pond and enjoy the big critter you took down with your spear earlier, though...? Not as important for your brain to pay much attention to because, outside of making sure you eat, there's nothing in a nice, lazy summer afternoon relaxing by a pond that our animal brains see as making a difference to your survival chances. We can sit and enjoy the break but our brains are just scanning and looking out for the next potential threat to raise an alarm about in order to make sure the vessel stays alive.
Basically, the evolution of our biology hasn't caught up with the evolution of society and so our kneejerk tendencies are to look for danger rather than happiness. Because we're not living in the wilderness and surviving like cave-people anymore, though, means the "dangers" we encounter on a day-to-day basis are not the same kind our primitive ancestors would've encountered. Because of this change in context but NOT in biology, our brains struggle to tell actual danger apart from "potential discomfort" that we worry *might* happen. This is why many modern people might find themselves going into a "fight or flight" response over something as simple as having to speak in front of a large group, breaking up with someone they're not interested in, or dealing with the IRS over some tax issue.
We know intellectually these things are not life-threatening but our dumb animal brains still identify the potential discomfort we anticipate from any of those situations (being embarrassed, being uncomfortable, being vulnerable, etc) in the same way it would've processed an incident of physical danger in primitive times. So, yeah, I think part of the reason so many people are suffering mentally these days is because there's a disconnect between the reflexes of our primitive nature and the reality of the modern context in which we find ourselves. We're tigers who find ourselves working in factories and buying food out of vending machines instead of living and hunting like tigers.
Please note: I'm not one of those people who think that this means we should roll society back to some previous historical form so we can live like the animals that we biologically are. And I certainly don't hold up our primitive selves as the "natural" state that we should aspire to. I don't ascribe any special "wisdom" to ancient peoples. I'm simply acknowledging that there's a disconnect between our nature and our society and that disconnect causes mental turbulence. And, to me, the solution is to recognize and accept that fact so we can ride out the transition - with all of its inherent struggles - without stigma, always understanding that the only way we ever catch our biology up with our society is to learn to master the animal parts of ourselves and allow the human part of ourselves to eventually become the instinct rather than the thing we have to struggle to incorporate. I think it's up to us to rise to the occasion, not bring the occasion down to our level.
Of course, there are actual physical issues that can lead to lots of these things too - e.g. ADHD is generally a result of underdeveloped or damaged reward systems at the front and/or back of the brain which, in turn, cause impairment of executive function (thus ADHD is not really a "deficit" of attention so much as it's difficulty regulating attention because the level of dopamine and/or serotonin are too low) - and all the positive thinking in the world is not going to change that any more than it's going to grow someone's amputated leg back. Neither are supplements, special diets, or the usual organizational strategies used by neurotypical people. In those situations, just like in the song, the only real answer is to accept the struggles along with the strengths and realize that it's all a part of you. Good or bad, it's the situation in which you find yourself and pretending it isn't does you no good. All you can do is start where you are and try to continually move forward.
Really, though, it's levels. We all struggle to some degree.
Ren filmed and recorded this in 1 take. I am more impressed with this track than any other song ever written on nailing mental health issues.
Ren you are a genius !
Where can i find this information..? If thats true itse even more impressive.
@@jmdeking Ren has done several interviews where he talked about how they made this... it's in the basement of his apartment building done without permission from the landlord. They apparently made 4 takes before they got caught, each one being a 'one take' with multiple cameras that were later editted. One of his room mates is his videographer and this cost about 1000 british pounds to make all inclusive. The audio and guitar are live captures, he's got what is apparently a really good lapel mic, and the guitar is plugged into a wireless setup under his gown. So much of it is amazing because or despite what they were working with. Ren's strugges and personal things make it amazing... upon first watching I was thinking to myself that I hope we aren't watching an amazing artist that will end up dead in a couple of years due to his mental issues. Having seen that someone figured out actual treatment for him (presently in Canada getting daily infusions and surgeries to correct some of the physical damage the Lyme Disease did to his body. He's experienced visual and auditory halucinations since he was about 6 years old and some of that has allowed him to create songs in a day that would take anyone else months or years to get close to, but he saw them in their entirety as visions. There is a video of his that he posted prior to getting diagnosed where he's just about at his end... scary and sad to see a human suffering as much as he was at that point. A long ways from where he's at now... getting healthier, preorders for his new album are in second place worldwide between Ed Sheran and the Rolling Stones... for a kid from Whales that has no label (Sony dropped him when his disease made him bedridden years ago.)
Thank you for this reaction, it was my first hearing about Ren and weeks later I've spent a LOT of time down the rabbit hole of his deep catalog of work and just watching people react to this song and "the tale of Jenny and Screech (w/Violet's tale).
How you know that?
@@kellyahealey4324it’s known fact
@@robdubent Glad you cleared that up, lol.
I think they were likely asking for a link or something so they could look it up and read about it/listen to it. As would i. So if you do have any links they would be appreciated.
As I'm scrolling throught the comments, I can't help but notice how many people are openly revealing their own personal struggles to a group of complete strangers. THAT is how powerful music can be! Thank you Elizabeth for making this. And thank you Ren for sharing your video.
He did something incredible.
I never dreamed Elizabeth would see this. You can't help it. Anyone reading watch the young man's catalog. It's all over the place and all good. I just watched Diazepam.....and he perfectly described living your life on valium....this is .001 % creativity and it does exactly what you said. I had my moment 3 years ago I'm done hiding my crazy but more the merrier all this helps so much
@Zombie Frogg And yet, that does not minimize the effect this song is having on people here on RUclips
Isn't that called group therapy? There's only one difference, here the group is waaaaaay bigger!
I'm with you I just tend to be careful not to fall back down the rabbit hole. It's up with a hole day of going dark. I just dip my toes and exit.
I am a veteran with really bad PTSD and an anxiety disorder. I found this song and IT, was the voice I heard that loosened my noose on the rope ..... I sent it to therapist.... He used it for several other vets who all broke down...
Thanks for doing this "Bohemian Rhapsody" for this generation....
Thank you for your service. I hope your journey continues. Ren has more songs about his journey, and the light he found at the end of the tunnel. Best wishes, and many thanks. God bless.
That was such a moving reply.
I wouldn't presume to compare my history to yours, but *that* line still hit even me like a ton of bricks.
Ren reaches so many people, with an outstretched human hand, to let them know that they are not alone.
My heartfelt best wishes to you.
I’m a psychologist, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this performance, or how many tears I’ve shed. Everything is so perfect…or perfectly imperfect might be the best way to describe it. Even if you haven’t gone through what he has, you can identify with the voice of doubt trying to sabotage you. That voice is stronger for some than others, but we all know it…because we ARE all human. We’re flawed. The trick is finding a way to thrive (and sometimes just survive) in spite of it. It IS a pendulum, which means no matter how dark it gets, it’ll swing back. And yes, the reverse is true as well. And yes, it is an eternal dance that we all do.
My favorite part is the end of the song where he’s so freely singing, lost in it like you said. He does this in spite of the fact that the lights are constantly flickering. It’s a beautiful message that, in the midst of chaos, you can still find your light to get you through.
I've listened to Hi Ren dozens of times now. There are tears throughout, every time.
That is very well put. I suffer from Tourettes Syndrome and for over 10 years was told my tics were just me looking for attention. I wasn't believed when I said I couldn't help it. It scarred me for life and I'm a shell of what I should have been. Started at 5 years old, diagnosed at 17. I'm now 62. But mental health help wasn't what it is today. Which, to be honest, is still severely inadequate.
Congratulations Ren for finding yourself. I never did.
Beautifully put.
Oh...is the Devil just our inner doubt?
Watching ren reaction videos has become my new hobby … I really liked reading your impression of Hi REN … the thing that I love is the way he was searching, then found hope … but really this song and performance is a piece of art … it hits me differently at different times ❤
Former marine here who has struggled with somethings for many years. Mainly survivor's guilt as i came home and some friends didnt. I had that voice that kept telling me i shouldnt or didnt deserve to come home. Almost gave into that voice a few times. Found this one day and learned his story. It gave me the courage and drive to seek help and im in a better place than i have been in years.
Good! Please stay on that path of healing and forgiveness. Peace and love brother.
I'm happy you are still with us, I have guilt as well not from war but other struggles, thank you for your service that gives us our freedom brother , thank you very much for your sacrifice and loyalty
Thank you so much for your sacrifice and bravery. I hope you find peace
Hey brother, former JTAC here, you deserve to be back home just as much as our brothers who didn’t come back. If circumstances were reversed, wouldn’t you want your brothers who embraced the suck and went down range with you to live free of guilt? We owe it to them to live full lives and never forget but the guilt is misplaced on your shoulders.
War ends when the pawns stop playing the game
Elizabeth, I am a 68 year old subscriber. As the years went by, I listened to less and less music. Then, I discovered you. Your enthusiasm for music is contagious, and I have fallen in love with music all over again. Because of you, I have listened to music that I never would have considered. For example, Disturbed. The name was a hard no for me. And then with your help, I listened to "The Sound of Silence." I was blown away. And, I hear "Hi Ren." I have a child (young adult now) who has struggled with very similar issues as Ren. The tears flowed as I gained a better understanding of what my child struggles with. After years of continual therapy, there is amazing improvement and hope for a fullfilling future. I am struck by your fantastic attitude and support of artists. I have watched more than half of your analysis videos and interviews. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. What you are doing matters for so many people, artists, patrons, human beings.
Never stop listening to music. Jim Steinman said. The beat is yours forever, the beat is always new. And when you really, really need it the most, that's when rock and roll dreams come through, for you
Thank you for sharing this Elizabeth. Gives me hope that I myself might be able to find beauty in things later in life since it is so hard for me to find it in my life as it is now.
I think you just gave the greatest compliment to her channel ever. Hat's off Sir. I agree with you.
@@pseudomasobeauty never disappears, we just get worse at looking out for it, or caught up in all the ugliness we see or jaded about how beautiful it really is. Its still there. It will always be there.
@@harpoon308 Thank you!
I'm definitely late to the party but I've been struggling with a lot recently.. This hit me so damn hard, I've been sitting here in tears for the entire video, both for good and bad reasons. Thank you so much for putting this out there.
This man doesn’t know it but he’s saved my life. I’m a person who deals with severe depression and anxiety. I couldn’t find anything or anyone that understood me. Until ren. He is a musical genius!
Peace and Love to You. It's a hard walk. We are here for ja Love.
Really proud of you. This song hit a lot harder than anything else. Truly the empath of our times
yep. until you've been strapped down to a cold slab on the "bad side" of a ward with locked doors... ja don't know quite how dark can get, or how bright the other side really is. There is a brighter side.
Struggling writer here - this song brings me to tears every single time. It's not just brilliant, it's IMPORTANT for so many of us that never feel really understood. Hang in there.
I’m so proud of you, @lisalindsay1410. It’s such a huge step making the decision to continue. I know firsthand as well how hard the struggle is. I hope you’ve also taken the step to seek professional help since then to at least find healthy coping skills.
Anyone else really hoping Ren is the next interview subject? 😍
He probably would, he interacts with fans all the time...really down to earth guy
Oh, that would be beautiful!
Actually no, no I don't.
I think we know what we need to know, and more importantly felt what we need to feel with his music/performances.
His popularity is based on relatability, it tells us we are all connected and as an artist that's the most important message to send, now, and more than ever.
1 hundo
Yes!
The word isn't distortion, it's dissonance. Ren posted this comment about "Hi Ren" last December. It's very illuminating. "Up until I was 9 years old, I would intermittently hear a voice in my head that was not my own. The voice was distinctly different to mine, and always negative. It would self criticize or urge me to do things I knew to be morally wrong. The most peculiar thing about the voice was that it took no effort on my behalf to produce. My own thoughts always felt like there was a process that required effort to bring them to the forefront of my mind, this voice appeared as though it was spoken by another. The sentences felt predetermined like they had already been constructed.
I remember very vividly at 9 years old, becoming very frustrated with the voice. I stood in my back yard, internally screaming at the voice to be silent again and again, and it did. In a flash there was silence, to the point where my head felt like an empty room. I wasn’t used to the quiet and that voice never returned. It almost felt lonely in my head.
When I got older I had intermittent bouts with auditory hallucinations where I would hear perfect symphonies, usually at night when drifting off to sleep. They were so clear that they sounded like they were emanating from a radio in the corner of my room. I knew they weren’t there, but for some reason they never came with the feeling of fear. I also recall sitting on a bus at the age of 15, and hearing the sound of a crowded room, with about 100 voices chattering away, I was the only person apart from the driver on the bus.
These experiences were always very brief, and few and far between.
My last hallucination was during an intense bout of psychosis in 2015, and was my first visual hallucination. I was walking down a pavement after jumping out my mums car in a crossroads in a moment of frustration and distress with my condition. I was trying to run from myself. What appeared to be a homeless man with a dark complexion approached me, and asked me what was wrong. I explained that I had been sick most my life, and I wasn’t sure I had the strength to continue. He looked at me, and smiled and told me ‘everything is going to be okay in the end Ren.’ I had not told him my name. There was something so overpoweringly sincere about this simple message, which brought with it an overwhelming feeling of inner peace, and in a flash, he vanished.
My rational brain always linked these experiences to what the doctors have told me, that there are parts of my brain compromised by the autoimmunity in my body. That the myelin sheaths surrounding the complex electrical system that conduct my thoughts were damaged and compromised, causing these lucid experiences that I knew did not exist inside the physical world.
The part of me that edges away from logical and rational thought always attributed these thoughts to some kind of otherworldly intervention, that made my thoughts the battleground of some spiritual tug of war.
For a long time I never really acknowledged this part of myself, for with it brought the danger and stigma of sounding like a crazy person.
I decided with my latest release, to the best of my ability, to capture and express this chess match of thought."
Thanks for posting this. I love the fact that he's not afraid to write at length in expressing whatever he wants to say, because he has such a great facility with language - there's going to be a book of some kind, maybe more than one book, and a really good book at that, I just know it. Not just some ghosted biography or album of photographs, but something literary, for want of a better word, which is relatively rare for a musician. 'Hi Ren' makes me think of Shakespeare, so no pressure.
I wouldn't disagree with dissonance, but I hear distortion as well, in the way he bends the note, or deliberately over-plucks his strings so the note starts to disintegrate. There are plenty of places in the song where he makes you feel that he is falling apart, or has done so in the past, so it seems quite apposite.
Damn... I love his honesty. Being honest, especially with myself, is scary and seemingly unintuitive. Thank you for sharing this insight.
takes cajones to attempt to "correct" a top tier professional like her. lol..
@@nomchompsky2883 classic internet move
If you believe in angels/demons (they are the same thing) this is not far fetched. Some are stronger than others in perceiving these communications. Those like Ren have a much greater challenge due to thier sensitivity. The stronger you are the greater the opponent you are given. I applaud his expression. The first time I saw this video my expression was "Holy Shit that's Deep"
Current professional can only analyze the physical aspects of this process because they can't interact with the true mental and spiritual dimensions of a person's existence. Those can only be analyzed second hand.
Ren has found a way to express those dimensional interactions in a way that others can resonate with. Truly a legendary work of art.
Thank you for reacting to this.
I agree. He captures the struggle with mental health perfectly. As a sufferer it really hits home.
At 70 years old I spend everyday and night with my wife who’s on a ventilator totally aware of everything. I see the emotions in this song in her eyes everyday. Every dr and every nurse should hear this. Thank you for playing this song
Have you seen his Sick Boi video.
It is far more desperate and aggressive in tone but so powerful and raw.
He is truly first and foremost a storyteller.
I am sorry about your wife, I can never know your story, but my wife was diagnosed with a genetic condition 15 years ago that is slowly, day by day destroying her and inflicting horrendous pain and disability on her.
Because of the way it acts, I don't know whether I will have her with me for 30 years or whether I will lose her tomorrow.
Ren speaks to me in a way not many have.
i went through this with my wife. she never made it out. she was only 25. its a helpless feeling. I hope it works out for you.
hey bud you care to step off my name please
@@JohnDoeRL You're joking, right?
@@brand-EE Ofcourse I am. Did you notice we have the same name?
Im a 32 year old man with Chronic Crohns Disease, Damaged spine (from an accident), Arthritis, multiple big hernias from previous abdominal surgeries, chronic pain and depression.
This video gave me so much hope for the future. Its a true masterpiece! It's touched and inspired soo many people and will continue to for many years more. ❤️
This is a real man's fight: fighting to resist your inner demons and not give in to them and break! 🤘
STAY STRONG,YOU DESERVE IT.
from one Les Paul player to another, I truly wish you well and hope you can heal.
May God's Light Bless You.
You fight!!
I'm so happy Ren is getting the recognition he deserves. He's such a talented, inspiring, and incredible artist! It would be awesome to see more of his songs here.
Couldn’t agree more!
Yes please
Oh my god I only discovered him today and I've been listening to all his stuff the last couple hours, it's almost too much all at once, this man is something else... I've seen a comment saying "if you merged Eminem, Beethoven, and Shakespeare" and yeah, that's a good description... if pain could talk.
He’s taken over RUclips and I’m here for it all! 🫶🏻
I'm happy for Ren, but sad for those of us that now, have to share him with the rest of the world. That's o.k though. At least I got to have him all to myself for as long as I did. I'm actually surprised that it didn't happen a long, long time ago. His label put him on a shelf for too long when he was battling his demons, but you can't shelf something like this forever.😂😂❤
I’ve watched about 50 of these reaction videos and I think this is the best I’ve heard. It was the most interesting, educational and considered one. I applaud you. 👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾🔥
As somebody who has attempted to commit suicide *multiple* times in my life, the "You've got to kill you if you want to kill me" made me just breakdown in tears, it's so raw and real and I relate so fucking hard man; this song is tragically beautiful.
May you always find a reason to stand up and shout not today.
Please stay here with us.
Agreed. I was not prepared for this song when I first heard it and that part really got me. I'm grateful that you're here to share this. Thank you.
I was the same when I noticed that line, realised where that thought had been coming from.
Glad you're still here though. 🤘 We've all got each others backs in this fight 🤘
I hear you, brother. I made some noises during this that I didn't expect, and looking back to them, I see they were equally horror, pain, recognition, and surprisingly, relief and gentle peace.
This song hits me right where I live, coming from a lifetime of fighting my darkness. Im having a growing realization that it ISN'T a fight! Fighting doesn't work. It's a dance, like he says. Two sides of the coin. It isn't a good side and a bad side. It's just me. It's all me.
My wife showed this to me through her love. She has dementia now and lives in an adult family home. From the start, she loved me. She loved ME, whole and unadorned, and only last night did I finally begin to understand why. She didn't love me in spite of my darkness and chaos. She didn't love the "good" bits. She loved me, comlete and whole. It's been 17 years of me trying to be worthy of that incredible love, and now I see that I have been worthy all along. At my most broken, I'm worthy.
All my suffering, all my darkness, all my struggles to exist in society, all my awkwardness, all my complaining, all my everything, every bit of it is me. Just like the wonder I felt earlier this morning when I was standing by the bird feeders out back and a little black and white bird flew down and perched on a feeder and stared at me before flying away. Then he came back and perched sideways on a sunflower. The the nearby branch of the lilac tree. Each time staring at me intently as I spoke softly to it, praising its beauty and courage and grace. That's me too. All of it is me.
What is the dance he speaks of? How will I find a way to dance? I really don't know, and I'm really looking forward to finding my way to it. I have hope I didn't have yesterday.
My friend, I wish you all the wonder and joy and peace I wish for myself. May your last attempt truly be the last. Good fortune, my friend.
This is basically an epic 1-man opera, with Ren playing ALL the characters, PLUS the orchestra, and even the audience, himself.
What about the Pig-man. He did all the heavy lifting. Or at least pushing
This song ripped me apart😢
I watched a reaction from a classical musician. He echoed your words that #HiRen is a complete opera and should be performed on a stage. I totally agree ❤❤
I mean. It's not a new thing. But he did it pretty bloody well.
I used to think that the reason you were so good at this was your background as a classically-trained opera singer and your level of understanding of vocal abilities and techniques, but with every subsequent video I realize more and more that it's actually because you're such a strong empath. The training and knowledge certainly help you explain the technical side but what makes your videos so special is how strongly you feel the music. It's what makes us watch the video of you listening to our favorite songs and why it makes us appreciate those songs so much more. Thank you for sharing that with us.
That's a good take. And it's why I have been wanting this particular reaction to happen for a very long time, I knew it would, and I knew it would be good!
Man, that's so well picked up. Just in the first minute or two Elisabeth physically leans in and in, is pushed back, like a piece of paper blown by the wind, she's so open, so receptive to the experience in front of her.
Definitely
Totally agree seeing the way she just falls into the music the lyrics and the stories they tell experiencing it all helps show that no matter the genre songs are ways of telling stories in a way to make you feel the emotions behind them and these videos show it all in a way we can all understand and feel validated
The monologue is brilliant. One of the hardest lessons to learn with bad mental health struggles is that there is no cure. When the bad times come you have to accept it and get through it because the good times will come again.
as a person who takes care of another with some mental health struggles, you may not believe but Ren songs made me understand exactly what you wrote 🥰 i love him, he is a genious 😁
I'm soo happy to see you finally check this masterpiece out!!! This song has really had an impact on me and it's amazing to see soo many people connecting with it. I really hope you do "Jenny/Screech/Violet's Tale", I heard that song for the first time 2 weeks ago and I was even more blown away. This kid is the most creative artist I've ever heard, he needs to be promoted EVERYWHERE!! 🤘🤘🤙🤙
Violet's tale is a grim story, it's the song that made me dig deep into this guy as I'd only heard one album before that. I fully admit to being a simp for this guy's art.
I think the trilogy should come with a trigger warning though, especially for Violet’s Tale.
This fella right here is something I think a lot of us has been waiting for.
@@IronRaspberry lmfao, you people want trigger warnings for everything.
@@IronRaspberry Yeah, you're not wrong. It's pretty damn dark.
If you were to ask me, this should be an immediate selection for a Grammy! We haven’t seen something like this before and it’s amazing!
Agreed
I agree and I would absolutely love to see the reactions if he were to perform it at the grammys.
@MrBeetsGaming considering what gets played at the Grammys I don't think they'd understand Ren
Why would he want a Grammy? That’s not what he’s about. You clearly don’t get it.
@@danielc-s8056 exactly. Unless the big machine is making money out of him, they aren’t interested! The Grammys has nothing to do with art and Ren is a true artist.
Elizabeth... I'm sitting here with tears streaming down cheeks as I type these words. I'm a 48 year old Marine that sees this struggle every day in my fellow Marines and always try to speak some words of encouragement on how to dance with your inner demons through the battle field of life. Ren embodies this battle that only the greatest warriors soldier through. God bless you and him for coming together for this wonderful message, and know I've sent it to my entire battalion who will forward it on to all their loved ones. Much respect, Semper Fi... Live free... or die.
As a fellow human, thankyou for your service, and enduring the horrors of war for your country. It can feel like a thankless endeavour I'm sure, not enough care is taken of our VET's, worldwide (I'm originally from UK and now an Australian).
Peace, love and appreciation.
Just wish politicians/big business could fight their own manufactured wars.
Semper Fi, my friend.
Semper FI my dude. Thanks for speaking for us.
This hit hard. Not a marine. But an army grunt. The ending monolog hit heavy. But it loved it. Semper fi brother
yut
28:26 Elizabeth: "What an incredible gift to give people"
That comment, right there, lanced me right through my heart! It's hard to think of a such an intense personal struggle as anything like an authentic gift to give, but if you do reach that point then you've reached such an important milestone in terms of wisdom.
I've known Ren for about 4 years now. Seeing what he's been throught, with his diseases, semi-coma and almost losing his career due to all of it, it pleases me greatly seeing him finally getting the recognition he deserves. He's truly a music genius and the way he's open about his struggles connects a lot with me and a lot of other people also.
I just gotta fuckin' love this man
say Hi Ren to Ren for me
Give him a hug for me and have one yourself x
Fernando, do you know how he is doing with his treatment in Canada? He hasn't posted an update on his channel since his cavitation surgery and subsequent infection nearly 10 days ago. I'm sure I'm not the only fan who is concerned. Thanks.
please tell ren...thank you. thank you for putting my unspoken feelings into words. so many have hurt and struggled as i have. he/i/we are not alone. and we are one in strength. we will rise, we will rise and celebrate, to live life as we do our best to survive
I wish art like this didn’t require so much pain.
In a way I think it's pain who gives value to it
Yes!
and not only the pain of artist but the pain of those who relate as well
and then there is the associated question, where people in such pain DO NOT create great art. I have no idea how to answer either one.
Everyone needs to loose something to appreciate what they have. Someone who never lost has never won. Art is there, as it emphasizes both. And only those who regognize the pain, understands the beauty. We couldn't understand beauty, if we never felt pain.
I lost my daughter -- we all lost our sweet, talented young woman, sister, friend, January 26, 2023. I wish she could have found and listened to "Hi, Ren." I wish she would have believed she was not alone, and that there is hope. I believe Ren's words would have spoken to her in a way mine could not because one must live with these conditions to truly understand them. I broke when my daughter lost her struggle with her "Bad Ren." I cried and cried while listening to this. She was unique -- started showing creative talent when she was 3 years old. But when she was 7, she first mentioned her "heart was half black." I remember the exact moment, the exact place she stood, the tone of her voice. Her teachers told me she was different, but I believed her different was beautiful. She sought therapy when she was 20. Too little too late? Did they not understand? Could they not help? I loved everything about her, and told her so often, she needed more than my words. In the months before she took her life, I would hug her, but she felt limp. We lost her when she was only 25. I am so, so, so sorry you suffered my beautiful girl. I miss you every moment of every day. May you know peace now. Elizabeth Charais, aka Jett, forever 25.
Fare well, Jett.
I recently lost a very good friend to mental illness, I can't imagine how it must be to lose a daughter.
I'm struggling with words right now, as I am not only communicating in my third language, but I am also trying to make sense of the senseless.
You are not alone, Jett was not alone and I am not alone, no matter how much it may feel so...stay strong.
May Jett know peace now. Maybe her heart was too bright, not half black. Sometimes the those with the most light feel the darkness most intensely. I’m so sorry for your loss. 🤍
So sorry for your loss of beautiful Jett
❤❤❤❤
Rest in greatness Jet. I am sorry that you have to deal with everything through all that has come your way. ❤
Elisabeth, you were the first to get me in contact with Ren on your lovely channel. Since then I am listening to all his songs. I am SO impressed by his talent, his ability to blend so many ideas and styles into incredible music, his poetry, his acting. But most of all his authenticity and the fact that he has something meaningful to say.
BIG Thank you for this video that started it all for me! Your analysis is so precious!
Greetings from a guy from Dresden, living in Sydney right now.
_So cower at the man I've become
When I sing from the top of my lungs
That I won't retire
I'll stand in your fire
Inspire the meek to be strong_
These lyrics give me chills every time I hear them!
Same here, that part really affects me physically. I’ve watched it many times too but still the same.
I was already blown away by this point, but that crescendo was a whole 'nother level. 🤘
My favorite part for sure! Although, i love the whole song. Artistic, inspiring, emotional, theatrical, vulnerable. Just wonderful music and a nice change of pace from what you're used to hearing.
@@AndyUK-Corrival Same, I can't even count how many times I've listened to this song and reactions I've watched and that part brings me to tears every time.
Just reading this gives me chills, I can hear it.
At 38 years old having struggled massively with suicide since the age of around 13, this song resonated with me in ways I can’t bring to words. With this song he took the literal rope from my literal neck and saved my life. I am forever grateful to him for sharing his story.
Stay strong
Each and every life is worth saving . ❤
I hear you Brook.. I know what the barrel of a gun tastes like.. in that moment, I knew that wasn't the way.. I've struggled with the thought ever since, but I fight it continuously.
This song, puts it into words (Art really) thay I can't do, but I'm glad he was able to speak for me, and people like us.
@@theTaxIsTheft : I second that !
I’m here with you buddy.
You know an artist is genre-defying and impactful when metal, hip hop, and eclectic reaction channels ALL are being requested to cover him.
Yeah, right? And everyone has identical reactions, from a slight "wtf?" in the beginning to surprise of the concept and his delivery and everyone understands why the beginning made so much sense in the end, and after his speech everyone is kinda speechless battling with tears. To me Ren has written in such deep honesty the words came directly from his soul, and every soul immediately responds and helps us feel that we are all connected, but stuck in our heads feeling separated and different from each other while craving to be loved just for being ourself and also craving to love other humans, but we focus on superstitious bullshit and everyone feels more lonely because even our social networks are full of dishonesty and greed for money. I love the line of sick boi, asking himself:"don't you wanna be a rich boy?" and Rena answer is "FUCK NO!", and he means it, because money is worth shit, just as almost everything it can buy. Nothing you can buy gives you the real happiness of loving and being loved. We all can spend as much love as we want, and the more you spread love, the more you get of it. So why running after money and selling your soul when it's within that soul what you need to be happier than Bezos and Musk together.
He has his own genre, which someone else aptly named "Bardcore"
I thunk that's perfect.
Amen
@@neilandfihe really is
This could only be possible without record companies. It’s exactly what he feels and how he wants it said. Executives would not understand the art
So true !
I just found REN. And as a47 year old man that has struggled to remain outwardly strong, while screaming in pain inside, I completely relate to this song. Thanks for covering it, and thank you ren for making it.
I recognize the pain you carry my friend. I can't help with the load, but know I'm walking right beside you while carrying my own. You are not alone.
Right there with you mate, at 53.
45... and pretty fucked up with many life's obstacles. I'm obsessed with Ren since i heard this song. Please check out his song SUIC!DE.......another masterpiece !!!!!
My dad actually introduced me to this song. And in 32 years this is only the 3rd time I've ever seen him compliment any music made after 1980. I'm still baffled
What are the others two ?
@@gaimbz great question!
William that is truly beautiful.
Reading comments on RENs videos I can see his appeal is massive & diverse…I think he’s a lightworker & heals all sorts of things with his music.
This is both awesome and understandable😃
Might want to check your stash...dad's gotten into it.
What baffles me is that he can do it all.... He can sing, rap, play instruments, write lyrics and is an amazing storyteller. He is so damn creative.
@Dj O.B Fiona Apple and Trent Reznor come to mind as well. Amazing lyricist, emotional vocal performance, implacable genre, multi-talented instrumentalist, self-produced.
@Dj O.B It has been said by many others and I agree that Prince is the artist who Ren reminds them of regarding pure musical talent and diversity.
If you watch Ren's live busking performance with Chinchilla singing Sexual Healing you can hear the Prince like falsetto vocals.
Also, their mash up version of One Dance/Drunk in love is off the charts good in front of a crowd of about 20 people in the early evening!
It’s annoying isn’t it!? Took me 3 attempts to put my shirt on the right way this morning!
And sadly, we can not separate the creative from the beast. We only try to tame the beast as much as possible.
This was incredible and I wouldn’t have found it if I didn’t follow your channel - thanks for the review 🙏🏻
There is no lip-syncing. He's basically performing the track live in the video. It's astounding art.
Ya some one said this was like the 5th take it's incredible though.
@@sean2549 It truly is. Amazing when you think about it.
Azrael is the angel of death, isn't it? 666 is Satan. What's up with ethereal in there?
Dude is a genius, a modern renaissance man.
@@anakein 666 is associated with "the beast". I believe my former church taught that it referred to the anti-christ, not Satan, but it's definitely something bad and Christian-themed. I'm not sure it's the sort of thing all churches agree on.
This song hit me like a ton of bricks because I’ve been chronically ill for almost 20 years now, almost half my life too. I had cancer, then became disabled due to severe chronic pain in 2006. I know what it’s like to spend days, weeks, in bed, missing out on pretty much everything. It destroyed my life. For me the internal struggle was is it worth it to fight on. There were a couple of times that the answer was no, so that line ‘And 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’ stunned me. It’s the best line in the entire song, IMO. He’s created a piece of performance art that’s so important, so powerful. He’s a bard. Music is so powerful. It’s literally saved my life at times, given me that hope.
Thank you for that. I have the same situation. Both of us deal with long term depression (Natural with chronic pain) and I have Ren's bad side inside me as well, always taunting me and telling me I'm worthless, while my good side knows I can play 13 instruments and every style of music out there. Can compete with some of the best musicians in the world, but I'm not good enough at the end of the day.
We know our light side is right, but it gets hard to ignore the other person inside.
I hope people like us will one day win. I hope there's a good God out there too, that can do more than just suffer, a powerful, warrior good God.
Me too! I've had 31 year untreated Lyme Disease that WRECKED my body and MIND. As a 50 yr old man never into rap or hip hop 5his STUNN3D me and captivated me that I rewatched it at least 10 times! Kid is a genius. The chills, goosebumps and even the tear he brought to this angry, grizzled old before my time man, says it all.
Sending hugs to you. ❤️ We got this!
As someone who’s struggled with mental disorder and addiction for half my life, this song feels like recognition. I have been clean and happy since 2014, but it leaves a mark on your soul.
Same. I’ve dealt with both and have been sober since 2014. I’m also a musician and artist. I’ve suffered from server depression for over 30 years. Hope lives in all of us. It took me a long time to realize I had to forgive everyone that hurt me, but most of all I had to forgive myself for allowing people to hurt me and for sabotaging myself. Once I realized that it’s me that controls my life and how I react to others. God bless you, keep faith and hope alive.
Life just sucks sometimes...then it wont...labels, searches, reasons, excuses...not needed when you just know it's always just gonna flip flop
Can I ask what the addiction was?
I've got some heavy mental health issues and I use a lot of illicit drugs, but I feel I use them in a medicinal way; got off my antidepressants with speed to mitigate withdrawal. I used benzos to avoid being in my head when events have happened that caused panic attack flare ups. Cocaine has helped me with the alcohol/depression combo.
This was the most raw and real I’ve seen you and I thank you for being so open. This song is very important and Ren has changed lives.
Can't believe I only discovered Ren in December 2022. Makes you wonder what other talented artist we're all missing out on
Exactly! There is sooo much wonderful talent out there...Ren is certainly among them.
@@DigitalJeremy Do you have any sugestions? I recommend Navarone and their album Oscillation.
@@TiesSaalmink I think Ronnie and Falling in Reverse are amazing, the sheer variety in their music, and everything so beautiful in it's own way.
If you like slower stuff I'd start with Carry on and their Coming Home album as well as their two reimaginings of their old songs The drug in me is reimagined (The drug in me is you redone) and I'm not a vampire revamped (I'm not a vampire)
If you like more hard hitting music I would suggest Popular Monster, Watch the world burn and "The trilogy" (Losing my mind, Losing my life and Drugs), as well as Zombified and Voices in my head.
i absolutely love discovering new bands and falling into them
I agree 100%, I just happened upon Ren on Saturday, I can't stop listening to him. All of his other stuff is great as well. About a month ago I watched a reaction video that popped up for a band named Sleep Token for a song called 'The Summoning'. I'm completely hooked on Sleep Token now, they are amazing!!!
Ren might be the single most talented musician i've encountered. from his storytelling to his vocals, i don't ever remember being this enamored by an artist ever
@Chris Plante good shot, these are all great artists as well. One thing that gets me with Ren is he can play bass/guitar/piano/drums/cello, does all his own mixing, producing, instrumentals and beatboxing, and sings like a male Adele
Well said!
@Chris Plante "I graduated with a guy that was good at singing and could play the piano, cello, violin, guitar, bass, drums, and trombone. He picked them all up insanely fast but didn't choose music as a career"
Talent in defined areas needn't dictate your chosen vocation. A reverse Icarus complex (or a variant of Daedalus complex) is only really perceived as a loss from the outside. A maestro might be happier within themselves working as a dishwasher.
I've lived with an autoimmune illness called Systemic Scleroderma since I was 17yo, and I've struggled with depression and anxiety as well because of it and other life circumstances. That's why I connect with this song soo much, it's very relatable to just about everybody who has struggled in life. This isn't just a song, this song is one of the best pieces of art I've ever seen and it cuts right down to the soul!!
bECAUSE IT COMES FROM A HUMAN ,NOT AN"EXPERT" someone ,who has [and still does ] feel it ,not just know about it ,he is such a cool guy ,not bitter,and so versatile,too. heres to giving all those without a voice ,the strength ,and self belief ,PEACE to you .
I think that’s what it hits extra hard for me. I also have an autoimmune disorder that my doctor and insurance still give very little attention to and instead encourage psychiatric “help” and medication that has detrimental effects on my brain and body. Working to get better help, but it’s so discouraging to feel like your body and brain have turned on you, and you know there’s real help, but you can’t get it.
@@verukaward sO MANY PEOPLE are not getting the treatment they need government cuts ,and outdated ideas[meds,when other therapies would be a better long term solution ,depression,has sky rocketed over the past decade and more ,yet they never change their approach to it ,same with so many other conditions ,there are more modern,effective treatments ,which arent even offerred ,seems ,anything to do with the mind ,is taboo,THATS why REN ,has opened up discussion about these things ,which is vital.
That demon is more real than most think. Your description is amazing!
When the "good" Ren rise to react to "bad" Ren's provocation, and says "I am a genius". His voice starts to crack and he starts to sound like his other self. They merge more and more. So amazing
Brilliant!
I cry starting then lol
I keep flipping between thinking it's him telling himself he's worth the praise he gets, but on the flip side its just another swing of the pendulum
It's genius. Absolutely.
Especially on the guitar. Right up to the point where both sides of the instrumental "dance" together at the end
I found him from a Lyme disease group I’m on on Facebook. Im 17 and was misdiagnosed MAMY times for 3 years. Because of it I deal with auditory hallucinations and depression plus all the physical and neurological symptoms Lyme disease has. It’s taken so much from me that I will grieve forever. I will never get to be a public school student and have to watch my class graduate without me.. it’s taken friendships away and opportunities.. and it really is a difficult journey to be on. I’m so happy he makes music that I can relate and connect to. He is an inspiration and the world NEEDS his music!! 💚
Woahh I need a link for this group because I too am CURRENTLY going through this 😩
@@xANGRYSHOCK
I hope you find the help you need....
Hang in there, it will get better..... Some day.
Much love,
~Jonny5🥁
Best wishes to you Terra Elizabeth ❤
@@stiksandstones thank you so much! 🙏❤️
@@xANGRYSHOCK the group is called Lyme Disease Support and Wellness! hope you are doing okay! 💚
“I realised there were no real winners and no real losers in psychological warfare, only victims, and students “. Ren. That punches me in my everywhere, every time.
A fantastic analysis. I love how incredibly creatively thought out this is. From the bending notes and the subtle two voices in the beginning falsetto to the ending falsetto part after the battle when now the notes are spot on thee voices are together and it continues for longer. Beautifully done.
I can’t experience this song again for the first time. So I come and watch people’s reaction videos, just to see the raw emotion and feelings Ren brings out in people!
Many of us do. Welcome to the Ren Brigade
Perfect explanation
Hi friend. Now I don't feel creepy. This song broke me down and I love seeing others experience it.
Not creepy at all, it’s a bonding experience and there is no where near enough human bonding going on these days
Guilty😬
If you think this is a thetrical masterpiece you should listen to The Tale of Jenny and Screech (Triolgy: Jenny, Screech & Violets tales). It is no joke a breath taking performance with the best strory telling any artist can create!
And if you are looking for a more emotionally evoking song, you should listen to Ren X Chinchilla: Chalk Outlines. It is also one of many masterpieces Ren has created... So far!
The trioligy is great, but I think for next she should react Chalk Outlines to really capture is singing voice first!
The trilogy is tough in its topic, but so important. It does need a trigger warning though.
@@cas9065 the trilogy confronts how hard life can be, and life does not need trigger warnings.
Just want to add: Chalk Outlines *(live)*
The live version is far better than the studio one.
@@aditsu yes, the live version of Chalk Outlines for sure!
Without you, I would’ve never found this. Thank you. He’s a genius.
You're welcome! Indeed, he is a genius! ❤️
There are many channels that have picked up on Ren now.
Ones I've never even heard of before. So he's done a lot for other reaction channel's too. It's interesting to see how they react & everyone I've seen have the same sort of reaction.
Not just this one but all his music.
If Ren doesn't move you then you must be dead inside.
It really increased my emotions at the line "ive spent half my life jll" by how much that said to you. In one year ive spent half my life ill. If i live to 60 ill have spent over 2/3rds of my life ill. Ive been in some dark places too. And i loved his line "ive stood in the flames that cremated my brain and i didnt ONCE FLINCH OR SHAKE" coz it makes me feel so much stronger and more powerful....like maybe even if i'm physically stood in the hottest parts of the fire i can still be strong. Its a beautiful song and this is beautiful commentary that also speaks to me so much and has really increased my enjoyment of this video and i watch your video often ❤
I can't hear the line "I have stood in the flames that cremated my brain and didn't once flinch or shake." without tearing up. I have heard this song literally hundreds of times at this point and it ALWAYS gets me.
Followed by "So cower at the man I've become" hit me in an emotional place I can't access on my own. It makes me lose control in such a cathartic way.
I got sober 16 years ago and had undiagnosed clinical depression, anxiety, ADHD and only recently realized I also suffer from childhood PTSD.
The "other" voice is my father and I've heard and fought it as long as I can recall. I used to think some people are just broken and I was one of them.
Turns out I'm actually a "hyper sensitive empath" and that's why the world has always felt "wrong" to me. Growing up "Irish Catholic" in Brooklyn (with the requisite Cop father, grandfather's and uncles) I was taught that men don't cry or feel, it's a weakness and something women and babies do. It was incompatible with who I am and I became very aggressive and competitive and sports became my "outlet" and once I was ineligible academically spring of my sophomore year I dropped out of college and I found alcohol!
I thought I had found the cure to my "disease" and quickly lost control of my life. My father passed in 2007 and I got sober and clean and diagnosed with several of my mental illnesses about 8 months later.
I still struggle with the lack of closure and the possible reconciliation that could have followed, I feel robbed. But my wife and son have never seen me anything other than sober and I am able to at least find a type of closure in being the father I wish I had had.
Sorry for the long reply "stranger", this song just makes my emotional and these feelings just come out.
Thank you if you read this.
read it. I'm rambling typer as well lol... usually- thanks for sharing, @@Johnnylowfive
@@hobbsmakescomics Thank you for listening. Truly appreciate it.
I have been there. Or similar instances. Some of it for me was my dad, some my ex husband. That I was married to for 17 years. Undiagnosed adhd and feelings of inferiority because of it. The struggles with intelligence while simultaneously having such difficulty with my working memory and processing speed. Anxiety, depression, some of what would be termed chronic childhood ptsd and similar chronic from my marriage. Getting out of that and finally able to feel something beyond my own pain. Finally able to recognize what might be feelings of real love in myself. Just. I have my children but have never had a healthy romantic partnership. Maybe one day. I am much healthier now. But I remember those feelings and still experience them some. Thought I don't think my struggles have been as hard as Ren's, this pain speaks to me.@@Johnnylowfive
he's a modern day bard / minstrel / story teller. just keep digging deeper into his work and you'll find it not only highly fascinating but his artistic vision and execution is absolutely amazing and truly moving & captivating. he's a special talent & artist.
Absolutely, the medieval storytelling start is so fire. You can imagine someone back then talking of conquests of war and the spoils. Its truly a unique modern day version
That's exactly how I describe him to people, modern day bard. Somehow stumbled on Money Game a while back been following and showing him yo people. I introduced my father to Ren, he's been playing folk/blues for over 40 years and isn't a fan of rap (granted Ren isn't exclusively that, he's a bit of everything) but I don't think I've ever heard him talk about and compliment an artist more
The tale of Jenny and screech is a journey..!! Nobody in modern music tells a story like ren
I usually listen for your vocal insight but as someone who has struggled myself I really enjoyed/appreciated the care with which you talked about mental health. ❤
You're going to absolutely love Ren when you find out that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the artistic talent this young man possesses,
Oh my. Oh my oh my. There I was trying to make waffles for supper for my kids and I’m weeping! A middle aged man standing in his kitchen trying to hide his tears so his kids wouldn’t ask questions he still feels compelled to evade…from them. Weeping over the power of this song and his performance, and reliving my own darkness. And the catharsis of watching Elizabeth so aptly echo my own reaction with words I wouldn’t be able to come up with. Truly this is art, from someone I’d never heard of before. My new favourite video and reaction on this channel. (Sorry Will Ramos). 🙏 Peace and blessings.
Apart from making waffles this is what happened to me (and still happens everytime I watch the video or any of the thousand reactions to this)
I truly and genuinely hope you don’t hide your emotions on this song or especially the song itself from your kids. They do and will continue to go through things you’ll never have any idea of and something like sharing your experience and emotions around this topic/song could save their lives someday. Real men cry. I’m a mom, but real men do cry and have emotions.
Man, nothing is more healing than childrens innocense and simplicity and they'll propably come up some simple and cute solution! Share it, if for nothing else, just to teach them that it's fine to share fears and what ever feelings! Bottling up emotions only creates timebombs!
My son has been struggling with his emotions and has started engaging in negative self talk. I sat down with him and listened to this song and we discussed his feelings as well as my own. An incredibly good conversation came from it.
BTW, I'm a 48 year old father of six and I fucking UGLY CRIED the first time I saw this masterpiece.
@@DavidSmith-cc5hk Well spotted, good caring.
Never in my life would I have listened to this song if not for this channel. I listen to metal and rock genres, and as a musician I do appreciate other genres most simply are not my thing. This song is brilliant and I'm glad you've covered it.
Ren got no genres.
This is a masterpiece that all mankind should examine themselves with.
I have listened to this song many times and every time I listen, I love the part towards the end where he just belts it out with his singing voice...it feels like a relief to his inner pain and that he has risen above some of that deep darkness he experienced.
Same here. The part where he stands and sings about hope gives me shivers and makes me tear up …
@@Mac_04 exactly! so cool.
Oh my god when he finally chooses to open his lungs it's so powerful. Full body goosebumps. This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
I've watched this video probably 20x in the last 4 days. It's one of the most raw, and amazing performances I think I have ever seen. Genius, when you consider it was live, single take. The irony is that while he is blowing up around the planet, he is in Canada right now in the middle of a 6 month intensive treatment for the damage that Lime disease created in his body and his brain. This is next level talent and art.
The song is incredible, but no idea why people keep saying 'one take'.
It's pretty clear it's not just from the camera cuts that would be impossible if it was.
The vocal is made up from at least 3 different studio takes - some of the cuts are obvious, others not.
@@Gainn yeah ren commented himself it was 3 preformances ..he has commented on about 40 reaction vids so far
@@Gainn You can also see that sometimes the vocal performance from one take is dubbed over a different video take as the vocal delivery doesn't always sync to his lips.
@@thebathuman and same with the guitar
Wow, i felt like it was one take, then i thought, nah, nobody could handle that. But it really was one take? Dear gods
Really love how you see and hear things. Thank you so much for this video I love this song
Artists like Ren don't come around very often... This man is solid gold.
They come around a lot more often than you may think, far more often than we realize, the problem is a vast majority of them get swept up by the industry machine and only shreds come out the other side. The talent and skill exists in abundance, there are 7-8 billion people on this earth, it's just weather or not they make it out the other side or Self-make themselves into the spot-light and hold onto it for dear life.
Thank God.
Many lose this fight. Nothing people want to hear but this is the reality.
just now learned of him.
HE. IS. INSANELY. GOOD.
His storytelling is on point.
Same, 30 minutes ago 🙋♂️
Same, 1 hour ago.
Oh my gosh!! I am so excited for this. You should for sure check out his live recording of Chalk outlines with Chinchilla. It is a GREAT showcase of his singing abilities. And I would LOVE to hear your analysis of it.
I think Chalk Outlines definitely shows off his singing chops well and would be perfect for Elizabeth to experience.
Yes! Chalk Outlines! Next level ability and beauty beyond words.
Yes! Definitely Chalk Outlines live!
I have listened to this song a million times before seeing your video. You just said everything better on how I talk about this song. Thank you. Too many ads
Thanks for turning me on to this Elizabeth! I've struggled with mental health and addiction my whole life since I was 12. I'm 53 now, and have been clean for 2 years now. I live in sober living currently. Ren describes perfectly the war that goes on in my mind sometimes. I haven't had a song blow me away like this in a long long time. Just remember, there is hope out there! For me, I had to want it bad enough to make that change. I can say I like myself today, but not love myself. I'm finally getting comfortable in my own skin. Thanks once again, and God Bless!🙏❤️❤️🙏
I isolate myself a lot from everything on media because there's so much stuff I don't care about, but right now I'm really mad that it took me so long to find this... thank you to everyone who told her to react to it, you made me discover it as well, and I've never heard anything so painfully gnawing at me, I can't even begin to describe what it makes me feel cause it's so many things, and they're so deep, and so raw, it's just... my god. Thank you people.
It's been 5 days and I've watched almost everything on his channel, and about 50 reactions, first all to this, then to the Trilogy (my god, Shakespeare's got nothing on him!), then Chalk Outlines, and eventually just everything. I am completely obsessed with his messages, his voice, his words, his playing skills, his acting, the way in a 3 minute video he manages to make me care so much about a fictional character... I am glad he is finally getting the right help, even though it's a hard and long process. And I'm glad that he's spreading on youtube like a wildfire, because the industry did him dirty enough, and I really hope we as people can make him soar every statistic, that he will reach an insane level of fame without any label sucking off his profits and telling him what to do.
I just noticed how he uses the guitar as a shield when he's in his kind voice, and holds it like a weapon when in his dark voice.
This video is so powerful...
Great point!
if theres such a thing as perfection, this is it. i didnt know Ren before this, and im nearly speechless. was this the best thing a human being has ever made?
This is totally live recorded.. Astounding. I can’t listen to it without welling up. REN has a story to tell and I can’t wait to hear more of it.
It's incredible.
I discovered Ren two days ago and I am completely obsessed with him...never ever has an artist touched me so deeply!! As someone who also suffers from mental illness I feel this is my soul!!
I'm right there with yiu! Just found this and I went through all the therapist and psychiatrist shit, ptsd and bipolar 2. All the kills, all the problems from the pills. Then figuring it out and finding my way out. It's amazing 🙏
Very few reviewers mention notice how hard Ren is picking the strings. That is the one thing that makes the start so special and gives a hint to what is coming.
I'm glad someone else noticed this. Being so aggressive on the strings is so out of place on a classical guitar and it's a fascinating intentional thing he's doing.
I noticed it the first time I heard it only because I used to play classical guitar this way and was really fascinated with the tonal qualities of a classical guitar when you play it so aggressively.
Glad you pointed it out. Admittedly, that picking of the strings was something I almost frowned upon as if it was "badly played" when I heard the beginning of the song for the first time, it confused me along with his unexpected falsetto singing. But once I recognized what the song was about and what the story told in it was heading to, it made so much sense and was so justified and brilliant.
I'm a guitarist and also noticed that big time, massively sets up the vocals
He knows that 'mental health' depends much on the health of his spirit; the truth can be found through the psychology, not really in it. ❤
Yes exactly! The duality of the God nature because we was made in his image in likeness, and the nature of our accuser. What’s interesting is people believe they have to kill this dark nature, but God wants to speak into it by writing upon our heart even the dark part, saying let their be light, is the contrast of light and dark that brings purpose out of struggle bringing forth creation. You have to learn to rest.
This is a double treat for me. I've lost track of how many reaction videos I've seen regarding this song because I love it and its meaning so much. But I also love watching YOU react to music videos, not only because you are so knowledgeable but because you get into a performance like a child with a new toy and it's infectious.
This inner dialogue isn’t normal!? 😮 this is so genius and amazing. Took literally less than 30 seconds and I’m in tears. It’s like he’s laying down a welcome mat to my brain as well. It’s so…. Damn dude. I always wonder if I’m weird. Then someone like this shows me I’m not alone. Thanks Ren.
it's normal. healthy people are abnormal. I cannot even conceive of thought which isn't inner dialog
An average of 40% of people have a strong internal dialog from various factors that impact the epigenome be they environmental (like trauma or serious accident) or biological (like autoimmunities, blood pressure, or neurochemical imbalances) these factors ripple off eachother, directing the dialog.
I think its because of how common it is that is why it has resonated so widely with so many people
If you mean part of your monologue that's adversarial, I don't think it's uncommon, but I also don't think it's most people. I used to get it a lot myself. In my case, after looking at the words it used my wife figured out that when my inner monologue was being nasty it had my mom's speech patterns. That was fun to unpack.
He made me feel this way too. I actually just told a friend that I think this song actually CHANGED me. Like I don't feel the same since listening.
i am shit at music, no idea what you are talking about half the time but your engagement, your enthusiasm and your clear and genuine love and respect for the genre is fab and keeps me coming back when i need a boost, that's it, just thought it worth saying out loud.
He's also (per the intro- I've watched your video and many of his songs by now)--
He intentionally picks vs strums the guitar hard/harshly so. He knows this guitar and strings. He's intentionally picking the intro harshly. Which further encapsulates the song's missive in the end...but he introduces us to this from the get go!! I love this song to no end, personally. (The music itself without word explains so much of my feelings -- and for him to have concocted this through his perseverance -- I'm speechless...he is such a gem!)
I should say- I don't mean he picks harsh via tone quality, I mean the physical sense. Not a slap of the strings, but a snap vs a general pick. His strings sound staccato with the force of picking. But they're not totally staccato - it's intentionally forceful plucking. Angry picking (minus the anger- he just....had a message to send ...it's beautiful and "haunting"- as you stated per his vocals.)
You're also correct - many people struggle to find reasons to connect or find a purpose. I personally struggle to find my purpose. I'm a visual artist struggling to digitalize my work for a purpose. I have ideas but don't think it's a "high enough purpose". We all need to step back and breathe, find ourselves and ask the tough questions
Which...I think I'll be surrendering to a therapist for a pretty penny. I want a purpose beyond myself to live for and dedicate to. I'm amiss right now...but I'll find it. Or it will find me.
I want to hear all of Ren's music and drabbles haha! Hope he sees this. I'm sure we're not alone in wanting to hear his pieces and processes!
"bad Ren" and the biblical sense is pride. To find a non blasphemous version of pride - of expression, which holds basic artistic pride .....that must have been so hard ..
Though I am so so SO invested in Ren's biblical sense ( the "better Ren" who layed in oceans and rose to slay a beast and layed on an ocean floor...and who was bad Ren birthed from/inspired off?)
I've spent (now,) half of my life time ill but invisibly so (mental health - bipolar.) I've never felt such a song so deeply...
I so badly want to know. Had he sought an angel, or perhaps strength within solely....
I've gotten this far solely on will and discomfort but understanding myself. I'm slowly growing to deities or angels now, since losing my father (whom I found on the date...failed resuscitation) after working 12 hours..... Then to wonder "why"
My only "number one fan" taken from me. My favourite human taken from me-- why.
This song gives me such strength...like... God or someone out there had better plans
To lose someone so needed in life-- for why.
This song simply nurtures me to continue being strong for myself and others... I dunno why or how but... Here we are.
Thank you again for your beautiful music. I hope I can one day make art inspired by this piece...moving forward from devastation.
.
As a recovering alcoholic (1 month down woo!) and also someone who has struggled with anxiety/depression for nearly 20 (diagnosed) years at this point it hits hard. The dark side of ourselves is so difficult to fight. This song triggered something in me the first time i heard it that I just can't explain.
I hope you're still sticking with it brother
i hope you keep going with the recovery!! you are doing great!!
How are you holding up?
Hopefully, here's to 2 months, friend.
one day at a time.
I liked how the inner voice also had the arguably more catchy beat and tune making it easy to slide in and listen to the lies.
Lovely song and hits deep.
No one has mentioned this, nice x
TRU I find myself singing the saboteur’s lines way more than the empowered ren’s responses
@@cakesatellite Definitely!
@@TrulyNamaste it also means you have to pay more attention to the sane voice and as each of the calm/sane sections come after the bad side, means each sane part is teed up to get you to listen carefully to the balance.
This is one I've been waiting for from you, Elizabeth! Such a talented individual that deserves all the recognition he's getting
Thank you.
This is the first video of yours I've seen, as I'm not an avid music lover. I was recommended this because "Hi Ren" is one of the videos I return to in my darker hours. Mine isn't a story to tell here, or possibly anywhere, but know that you've seen the benefits that I have. The swelling of emotion, the souring of notes and the clear truth behind the lyrics are why it makes me happy.
Thank you again for noticing.
I've just found him and I am completely in shock with his artistry, genius.
I found him yesterday, I've listened to him for a solid 5 hours but only 3 songs so far, I tried another song but I couldn't handle handle it, had to go back and continue dissecting hi ren.
Same. Found this guy last night. I’m in awe
Hey, check out his song SUIC!DE.......another masterpiece!!!
The live version of "Chalk Outlines " is a must!
Chalk Outlines is a masterpiece in it's own right.
FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!
My favorite reactionist reacts to my new favorite artist! As usual, your insight has been fascinating! I think you would love Chalk Outlines! The vocals are, I think, amazing! I can’t wait to see your reaction to it! Ren is a high talent; I hope you enjoy him as much as I do! He has so much depth and width in him. It’s crazy! Thank you!
More to come!
I am SO with you on both counts: Ren's the first new artist I've seriously gotten into in awhile, and Chalk Outlines is truly amazing. So is the fact his strongest songs are shot in one take.
@@TheCharismaticVoice Please, do a reaction video for Chalk Outlines Featuring Chinchilla. It is another cinematic and musical masterpiece played live in one take. Cheers and thank you for your sublime work.
As an addict who has been clean for 23 years in recovery I truly appreciate REN’s ability to help others cope with their internal struggles. Plus he’s just so damn musically gifted. ❤
congratulations on your 23 years!!! Amazing!!!!
The half my life ill line hits me pretty damn hard. I’m turning 20 this year and I’ve been sick since I was 11, almost lost the battle by starvation a handful of times, Crohn’s disease almost got me by almost bursting my intestines and I spent 3 weeks in the ICU w emergency surgery so I now have an ostomy bag, the year after that a new type of medicine gave me a crazy seizure that could possibly have taken me out and this year I’ll be going into major surgery again which will put me on more than half my life essentially bed ridden.
I’ve just now started picking up music cus it’s something I can do from my bed or couch easily, one day I’ll be the guy being reacted to in videos like this.
That’s where my goal is
Good luck on your surgery and never stop creating - it's a medicine:)
I believe in you!
More than that, I know you will create great things. I read dedication in your lines. You got this.
You can do it man
This song had me in tears. As a former addict I know this struggle all too well, that voice inside is real. It’s a constant battle. I see it in my son who is on the autistic spectrum as well. My job as his father is to show him how to not let it win. Never let the bad side win
As another father in a similar situation, (clean and sober, multiple mental health diagnoses, and a son that hasn't been fully tested but is likely to have Asbergers and possibly ODD) I'm sending you all the Dad Strength and love I can spare.
Not only CAN you be there for your son but because of your sobriety you WILL be there and he will KNOW how loved and important he is.
I'm ND as well and understand the feeling of helplessness that we can't take away all their pain and possible addictions. If I had a father like you who knows how things could have went, I do firmly believe EVERYTHING I've endured makes me a better "Duh Duh" and husband and wouldn't change anything for fear of changing my current life. 90%+ of addicts don't get sober, only about 10% of the 10% live a life that doesn't include many significant relapses. I was blessed/lucky/strong enough to be in that small group and I believe with all my being that if you love and cherish your son and take care of yourself as well, things will work out.
That doesn't mean our kids won't suffer from the disease, but if you are always there for him, explain its not a weakness of character, and love, and support him as long as he's on the right path he will actually have greatly improved odds over most.
I was a licensed Alcohol and substance abuse counselor and I KNOW my mother is why I'm here today so I also know YOU can do that for your son.
Staying sober and being there are the two most important things you can do. You can't protect him from the world but you can prepare him for it.
My son is 11 and I've already started very gently explaining addiction and the genetic components and he swears he's just not gonna drink ever! I wish/hope that happens, but I try to focus on what I can control.
I've sworn to him that I can be called 24/7 for a ride or can be an excuse to avoid a situation that's possibly dangerous, basically I decided that if he doesn't drive or ride with someone who is drunk, if he knows that I'm available to talk to and not only as his Father but also as a Confidant or even simply a sober guy then we are ahead of the game. When it comes to drugs, alcohol, women, puberty, our bodies, or any of the myriad of things that a young boy has curiosity about, I've sworn to never lie to him. I've said that to him and made that promise to myself. If he's too young I will tell him that and if possible give a broad age appropriate answer.
My father would have "killed me" and we didn't really talk anyway but I never called for a ride because I was more afraid of my father than basically anything else.
Funny upbeat ending, we were watching The Matrix trilogy and during the "rave in the 3rd? one we growled and said "I'm missing the movie, why do grownups have to be naked in all the "good" movies?"
MY father would have said something blunt and not really even explain it, or talk to me as if I was a grown up that understands attraction and sex. Something like "men like boobs" would be his answer.
So now that I'm the father I told my son, when you get a little older and start to become a "man" you will start to be attracted to the opposite sex and that can include their physical looks, that it's part of our "animal side" and ensures that their are more Mom's and Dad's that want to start their own families and keep the species alive. So movies sometimes have naked people because real life does too.
He responded with, "that's dumb, you're supposed to marry the woman you fall in love with and it doesn't matter what she looks like and you can't talk to the people in the movie anyway". Just a little reminder of how lucky we are and just how much we can really shape our children's view of the world.
Congrats on sobriety and not that you need it but best of luck fellow Father.
I cried so much listening to this... The struggle is real, my battle rages on.. I'm 54, I've been "ill" half my life as well... I sit here and try to find joy in RUclips videos, some lead me astray, others, like this, shine so brightly for me....... I wish I had his strength. Thank you
I know about the battle. If I made it, so can you. I'm very old. God bless you.
I'm 60, and was diagnosed with depression shortly before I turned 30, although I now realise that I was a depressive since childhood. I have "walked the fine line" most of my life, and got dangerously close to stepping across that line more times than I can count. Trust me, friend, if you've made it to 54, you're already strong. Like all warriors. (And don't for a moment think you're not, or let anyone - including the liar in your mind - tell you that you aren't.)
In my experience, those of us who have walked through hell are the strongest, kindest, most supportive human beings on the planet. That includes you. Keep marching, heroic warrior. The world needs you!
I love the pieces taken from Christianity. It really spells things out. The things a human being faces.. the fact he brings out the demonic .. but then .. the other side of us that recognizes out of struggle we were made to be more and made to endure. By his hands we were formed .. so much more than just our physicality. The soul. An eternal dance.. it’s beautiful to show the ugly … and show the weak rising from the dust.
This is why I watch reaction videos: to find new, interesting stuff that I would never discover otherwise. This is a really remarkable song. It seems so authentic.
As a neurodivergent growing up in a time where very little was known or understood about the various conditions that fall into that category, I can affirm with utmost conviction that this is one of the most real and raw perspectives ever submitted for review in musical form. I have fought against myself for nearly forty years, living through suicide attempts, intentionally self-destructive choices, and the willful ignorance of family members and former friends who wouldn't take the time to learn or relate. I am now at a point where I have very little friends at all and I don't speak with my family so much anymore - but I am unstoppable. I cannot be defeated by my mind. I still love my family dearly, and the couple of friends I have are some of the best I could ask for even if they're often busy and we don't get as many opportunities to talk as we used to. It's not about winning against yourself. It's about elevating yourself to the point where that other voice is either quiet and enjoying the ride, or encouraging you instead of trying to crush you. I believe in everyone and love you all.
As always, wonderful reaction. “Hi Ren" is the song that put Ren on everyone's radar since December; it went viral and has garnered more than 6 million views since its debut, but he has been creating great music for more than ten years. Ren’s music videos are generally recorded live, often in a single take, although not necessarily the first take, and from various camera angles. His release, "Sick Boi," is almost another chapter to "Hi Ren." Many of Ren’s songs resonate with people because he addresses struggles that many others face every day.
Ren plays multiple instruments (acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, drums), has impressive vocals, is an excellent storyteller, and is quite the philosopher and poet. He is considered by many a modern bard; he calls his music “bardcore.” Ren’s earliest recordings on RUclips are from his time in a band called “Trick The Fox,” consisting of Ren and his buddies Charlie and Tommy. Unfortunately, the band performed only briefly due to Ren’s onset of health issues. They are very talented. A fun clip to watch is “The Mash Up.”
Ren’s trilogy "The Tale of Jenny/Screech/Violet" has been likened to a Shakespearean tragedy and is a prime example of his genius; it is a master’s class in storytelling. The three acts are haunting, and the conclusion will catch you off guard. The trilogy needs to be watched in the order given, as this is the flow of the storyline and is best watched as a whole rather than piecemeal.
Ren’s collaborations with Chinchilla (“Chalk Outlines,” “How to Be Me,” “Sexual Healing,” “One Dance/Drunk in Love”) are beautiful and showcase his singing voice. His live music videos are especially impressive. Ren's personal reflections are threaded through many of his songs; "Insomnia," "Depression," “Diazepam," “Penitence,” “Dear God,” “Heretic,” “Dominos,” his "Freckled Angels" album, just to name a few, all deserve a listen. His song "Money Game" (Part I & II) is another recommendation, although it is less of a personal song than it is an indictment of greed and the resulting injustices in this world.
Ren’s Hip Hop/Rap style songs are all worth checking out if you enjoy this genre; they are pretty amazing. Check out “The Hunger,” “Genesis,” “What You Want,” “Losing it (FISHER rap retake),” “Right here, right now (Fatboy Slim one shot retake),” "Life is Funny," “Love Music (Parts 1, 2, and 3),” “Crucify Your Culture,” “Power,” and his latest release, “Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake).”
As I recently discovered, Ren also recorded a cover of “Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Cover),” that is simply beautiful. Then there are his performances with Sam Tompkins (“Blind Eyed,” “Earned it /Mans World / Falling,” “Walking on the moon/No Diggity”), Eden Nash (“Humble,” “Ocean”), Bibi (“Crutch,” “Ahiahiaoha”), Molly McKinna (“Penitence”), his former bandmate, Romain Axisa (“French Song”), which are all great.
"The Big Push" busking sessions, concerts, and live recordings all are awesome and well worth checking out. Their covers of "I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop," "Wade in the Water/Nina Simone/Trouble so Hard," "An Englishman in New York," “Bongo Bong,” “War Pigs,” the songs "Oh My Woman," “Swan Song,” “Sweet Little Lady," "It's Alright," "Watch Out," “Dignity,” and so many others are equally impressive.
In anticipation of his stay in Canada for more treatments, Ren prepared some music ahead of time to be released over the next six months that he expects to be gone. He released “Sick Boi” and “Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve retake),” which is another masterful work.
What an extraordinary breakdown. Thank you for this
Thank you for this. 👋
Brilliant synopsis ... and now I have so many more Ren performances to experience!
@@lisamaggart952 Thank you. My list is by no means complete, but it gives you a starting point.
Thank you for all this information. And also thank you for making me feel so bad about the way I can't refrain so badly from judging the book by its cover (the hat/flag, the military stuff, the bible stuff etc in your bio).
I can’t really think how to word it, but the fact that the two voices kind of evolve into/reveal themselves to be such human staples is amazing. Yes, it’s the voice that sits in the dark and criticizes vs the voice that we think of as us, but it becomes just the Concept of Darkness and Fear vs the Concept of Light and Hope. Even if it’s “just” the battle of our perceptions of ourself, it’s so much more. It’s everything it’s ever meant to be human.
It’s the inherent fear of being a thinking, feeling person, and the hope and pride of that same exact thing. It’s these primal forces that make up the core of being human.