METALHEAD REACTS to "Hi Ren" by Ren

[@sdkdmd9072]

70 year old metal head and I’m listing REN as the most influential artist of my time

[@spkrash]

I'm a simple man, I see fresh Hi Ren reaction - I watch, I like :)

[@dmcclelland37]

Same. :D

[@9908snapper]

me too😁

[@andrewsears16]

I like to describe this song as "nothing you expect to hear, and everything you didn't know you needed to hear"

[@ginjamutha]

That’s great ❤ I might be borrowing that. I feel like I found Ren at the moment I really needed to hear his music. What a beautiful gift he gave to the world

[@Alkimmic]

Done in ONE take, it’s one of the greatest pieces of performance art ever created

[@iamlpinthe312]

We are the Renegades and there is ALWAYS room for more. Thank you for your reaction and WELCOME!

[@nicolejordan3270]

Friend of Ren ❤ Thanks for reacting. He's pretty special & cares about people.

[@salishseamermaid]

This video actually understates the severity of his illness. What he's accomplished is remarkable.

[@dreamwalklady5805]

For a song that says a lot about his health struggle, watch Trouble.

[@salishseamermaid]

@dreamwalklady5805 yes, it's exceptional. Or watch his Chapters.

[@Nix_P]

Renegade reporting for duty 🫡 Thank you for your reaction ❤ Subbed & liked ❤️🌊⛵ A rising tide lifts all ships

[@johndugger1028]

Ren to me, is a book with a blank cover. Open the book and the pages transport you to a time, place and emotion of Rens choosing. I'm just an old fart, but Ren has touched and helped me these last couple years. God bless and keep Ren among us, we need him

[@charleenk71]

That reminds me of a Big Push video with the turning pages. Someone will know

[@Shaggy_McPot_Reacts]

Perfectly said

[@iamlpinthe312]

@@charleenk71I want to say DIGNITY

[@meganjones1184]

It's important that you know that ren was misdiagnosed for many years. He actually had Lyme disease that has ravaged his body. He spent up to 23 hours in bed. That is why ren is such an inspiration to others. The frustration and the pain resulted in psychosis. Around 7-10 years of screaming at the health system for them to tell him it was in his head. You will find that every single son from ren is a different genre. He is the pinnacle of chameleon. You will adore either of his Bitter Sweet Symphony videos. Also he is known as the , one take man. He does things live or in one take. Most of the time.

[@MetalHeadReacts]

@@meganjones1184 good to know. Thank you for that.

[@9madness9]

Agreed on verve and would add big push War Pigs as a metal head.

[@chiefaberach]

Welcome to the RENegades! There are nearly 1500 KZbin videos reacting to Hi Ren, but the reaction fans still can't get enough. I love that you take time to discuss the lyrics, themes & music and consider their impact on you and others. You'll have a lot to chew on with The Tales & the Money Game trilogy, but there are loads of lighter, uplifting songs to choose, which have fun references & wordplay too.

[@CorgiDude-12]

FYI: You'll never have to worry about a copyright strike by Ren. He's extremely supportive of the Reactor community. Ren is the most important artist of my lifetime and I've been here more than a few decades.

[@steveknutson5617]

two lamps from goodwill, a wheelchair from the dump. a can of spray paint, a guitar and a genius, and together they make the most important video of our life. music industry- take a cue

[@charleenk71]

And @renmakesmusic was very disheartened after the shoot and thought they didn’t get what they needed!! Let that sink in! 🎉

[@joshb2866]

I don't think I've seen anyone do a 30-minute post video reaction to this. Very well done and thank you for taking the time. Looking forward to your journey down the rabbit hole! This is the tip of a very good and diverse iceberg.

[@Mark-m5l7h]

Brain squeeze reactions is fantastic for reactions

[@RockPowerUSA]

After a good mind squeezing, I like to see a good mind-blowing. Good lyrics always help. I don't think he's done Dimash for a back-to-back mind-blowing session. I could listen to those two fabulous artists all day long ​@@Mark-m5l7h

[@JeremyMckay-b7k]

30 minutes yet he still whiffed and completely missed the existential theme and message of Hi Ren.

[@VictoriaDuncan-mq7zu]

Ha 30+ minutes is a warmup in the reactions (and Lives) I have been watching. 😂I do have a Ren addiction problem though…

[@Jason_xofilos]

Don't we all.😅​

[@francesdoll4039]

What a nice reaction! Renegade here akways supporting the reactors who showcase our Boi, Ren. He is indeed still very ill, just pulling himself from a serious relapse of Lyme and co-infection Bartonella. After 18 months of 5 day a week treatments, it was devestating for him. Realizes he can not tour as his health is such a fragile thing. He is a warrior and had chosen to be the voice of the chronically ill. He was mostly bedridden from 19 to 26, when a stem cell transplant helped him gain some health back. Think he is going to attempt another stem cell transplant in the new year. This man is a volcano of erupting creativity and as Renegades, we are his promotion and admire him greatly. ❤🎉 i have subbed for more Ren, please. The Tales will be lovely 13 minute version, then Fred Again Mashup for pure vocals and guitar .He has taken 5 FredAgain edm songs and joined them in to his own emotional creation.

[@debthecpn]

Hi Francis perfectly put.

[@andrewsears16]

Just a reminder...it IS the new year 😂🤣 Very well said though fam

[@angelaphillips7970]

Beautifully said! ❤❤❤

[@MegsD79]

Ren has become one of the most important artists I've found in my 45 years of life. Maybe because I connect to his music, maybe cuz of his talent, maybe cuz of his versatility, maybe it's a combo of things.... He has definitely impacted my life over the past 2 years.... This is just a scratch in the surface of Ren..... His album, Sick Boi, debuted at #1 on the UK charts October 2023 and cracked the top 200 here in the US. He's currently completing a new project called Slaughterhouse (the title track has recently released) and we are trying to patiently wait for more from him - he has well over 200 videos on YT... 💙 If you like Metal maybe check out his band The Big Push "War Pigs"- not the typical cover and it's a busking video. Definitely check out The Tales of Jenny and Screech (full version, 13 minutes long,) Sick Boi, and Troubles (OMV and the acoustic - this tells the story of his illness.)

[@greendream1908]

We RENegades, welcome you to RENiverse. Have a nice ride to the rabbithole Alice...

[@TraceE-j1p]

I was going to say the same thing. I have only met one person who doesn’t like REN (my husband but he doesn’t like anything newer then 90’s 😂).

[@teejaydiscombobulated2724]

@@TraceE-j1p My daughter doesn't like Ren, but in all honestly I think it's because I do! Lol I'm addicted to Ren currently, he's my new habit/crutch so I'm streaming him and Big Push a LOT - I expect that it's my love of Ren that she hates rather than Ren's music. I mean, how can anyone NOT love 'Back on 74'? or 'I'm losing it' or... Genesis/Dominoes/It's Alright/Dignity/BongBong etc etc etc ROFL

[@TraceE-j1p]

@ all my kids love ren caught my 13 year old working out to (murderer) my toddler loves the music side of his songs she turns it into a dance party. Ren is not just for adults.

[@Kelli-v4y]

You will find that the "Renegades" will be here for you. We are a loyal group who feel a connection to Ren who has touched us in a way no other artist has. Hope you too become a Renegade!!

[@terriebartholomew7871]

Great reaction! Subbed. Excited to follow your journey into the world of Ren. There is so much more to discover. Enjoy! ☮️💙😎

[@cultivatinggrace]

Great reaction! You’ll love his incredibly versatile catalogue. Definitely recommend the Tales of Jenny and Screech (full version, which includes Violet’s Tale) next. The one thing to expect when listening to his songs is that you can’t expect anything.

[@KittyInTheGarden]

Hello! Better late than never 🙃Yes, this is Ren's personal story. He lived with un/misdiagnosed Lyme disease for 8 years before he was finally correctly diagnosed and started to get some treatment that actually helped him. It has left him with a lot of chronic health issues that he is still living with. Ren has an older song called Depression (and another called Insomnia) that I think you might appreciate. He mentions a lobotomy in my favourite song of his, Genesis. He's done some collaborations with fantastic artists. He did a song called Chalk Outlines with an English singer called Chinchilla. The live version is perfection. Ren's music is prolific and diverse, spanning multiple genres. Another work in a somewhat similar stripped-back guitar and vocals style is the Tale of Jenny and Screech. It's very dark, compelling storytelling. There is a 13 minute video with all three tales in the correct order - together they make up a bigger story. His most recent song, Slaughter House, is much more highly produced, and incredible in a very different way. Yes, Ren has a sense of humour. You'll find it sprinkled throughout his work, despite him dealing with some heavy themes.

[@Vmcf1968]

when i first found this i was like...is this a one off. then i looked deeper and found out its not a one off. his lyrics truly are brilliant

[@helenajrgensen3157]

What an amazing breakdown! Thank you ❤

[@Dr.Brummel]

Thanks man. Really great reaction 👍❤ And welcome to the world of Ren. A roller coaster ride through emotions, wisdom, musical genius and genres. Ren Eryn Gill is a multi-instrumentalist and producer. He sings, raps and writes his songs, lyrics and video scripts himself. He was born in Wales in 1990. He moved to Brighton in 2013 and did a lot of busking. He studied music performance at Bath Spa University. In 2009 he became seriously ill and had difficulty attending lectures. In 2010, he was signed to Sony Records. However, as his health continued to deteriorate, he had to terminate the contract. Today he is an independent artist. In October 2023, his album "Sick Boi" was number one in the British album charts. Ren was initially misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to him suffering from psychosis. It was not until seven years later end of 2015 that a doctor in Belgium finally diagnosed him with autoimmunity and Lyme disease, which led to brain, organ and joint damage as well as PTSD. After stem cell therapy in the United States, his health improved considerably. However, he continues to suffer from his illnesses. In early 2023, he went to Canada for about a year and a half for treatment. In July 2024 he came back to the UK to play hist first concert after five years (look for The Secret Garden Party). At the end of September 2024, Ren posted that the treatment for Lyme disease co-infection Bartonella had not worked. Eight months of grueling treatment with various antibiotics had not led to success. Then the symptoms of Bartonella came back and even worse, during a video shoot he got an autoimmune flare and experienced severe pain so he had to be taken to the emergency room. He lost vision in one eye for three days. He started recovering in the UK, went back to Canada for further treatment in October 2024. A few weeks later he returned to the UK. The treatments in Canada were too much for his body to cope with. He is doing a bit better and tries natural remedies including an oxygen chamber. Nonetheless he released the title track of his new album Slaughter House in November 2024. In December 2024 he posted that he is reattempting to film Vincents tale. The first time was the shoot he ended up in hospital. On his RenMakesStuff channel you can find an autobiographical reading about his story in eight chapters. From the end of his best friend Joe, over becoming ill, getting and losing the contract with Sony, via his odyssey through various diagnosis and attempts of treatments to becoming at least better after his stem cell treatment. Absolutely worth watching. You will understand his songs even better afterwards and they become even more intense. Very personal and emotional videos. His song Troubles is a kind of condensation of these readings.

[@Potato_Bug]

Gotta love the irony of drinking from a cup saying “HOPE NOT TODAY” while you watch this video/song 😂😂😂😂

[@Iliyena87]

Metalhead here, mostly listen to power metal, folk metal, older In Flames, Queen and such... Ren is my first rapper, but it is something about his way of putting songs together that is special even being deeeep into a genre (all hiphop, rap) I simply otherwise don't like to listen to. (Tried a few big artists and also recommendations by yt music after going down this rabbit hole a month or so) He uses LotR-references in at least 3 other songs so calling it a Gollum-related way of depicting it is for sure a valid thought :) I guess what I often fight is doubt, doubt that the reality is what I want, in the end I always want the reality I have created. There are loads of things I want to change but it will shake out fine... or will it... doubt even sneaking its way into a comment on YT. Keep rockin'! Up the irons! :)

[@dunny2000]

Thank you for taking the time to react to Hi Ren. It’s one of the most difficult songs to react to that I can think of. It leaves many reactors at a loss for words but you rose to the task with great intelligent commentary. Bravo for having the lyrics handy because it’s easy to miss key words or lines that are important to the song. Ren has a huge back catalog of songs to react to and should you decide to react to more you will find out why he has producer and director credits to his name. Take a look at Sic Boi his 9 million views song next to get a deeper dive into Ren the artist.

[@JeremyMckay-b7k]

He missed the lyrics that most matter, about His plan and His hand. He missed the message of Hi Ren. Most miss it.

[@sistermoon1970]

I think your understanding of this is spot on, and you articulated your thoughts very well

[@JeremyMckay-b7k]

He missed the message. He made no recognition of the existential theme, of the lyrics “made by His hand, all part of His plan”. He interpreted it only as about mental health and struggles of Individual. All the Bibilical references and lyrics about a Maker who is why we have Hope were lost on him.

[@sistermoon1970]

@ no disrespect but I disagree, I think he got it. The biblical references are there yes, but the message is about the dark and light of life’s journey. But of course music is for your own interpretation x

[@MooniacOnTheBeat]

Great video keep up the good work handsome man!

[@perfectkismet]

Yes... to basically all your questions 😅 Most of Ren's work is this deep, regardless of genre. Don't get it twisted, he does also have flex tracks and other things he just does for fun, to be cheeky or just to see if he can. But he has a huge catalogue and a great deal of it touches on mental and physical illness (he represents the chronically ill as a point of pride) or is commentary on systemic wrongs with the medical field, politics and power structures and greed. Ren is adamently anti-greed (not necessarily anti-money or anti-capitalist). Bittersweet Symphony *is* the one you're thinking of... mostly. Ren does "retakes" of songs he likes as a tribute to his influences. In them, he usually takes the music/beat and raps over it. The Verve's bassist liked his retake so much he sent him a limited edition guitar, some motivational books and things and offered some mentoring on how to deal with success and the industry. There are actually a handful of "famous" people who have reached out with advice and stories to try to help him navigate all the new attention, including Russell Crowe. Ren's completely independent. After his success, he was approached by all the major labels and he turned them down. Instead, he hired friends (all he'd known 5+ years and had been helping him for free anyway) to be his team... manager, cinematographer, art director, social media contact... all of it. He said one of the best things to come out of his success has been the ability to raise friends out of poverty. As the article said, Ren plays multiple instruments, sings and raps (rap rap as well as this storytelling). All in multiple genres - which is part of why he stayed independent. No label would let him write and perform with a punk/ska band while putting out a hip hop album to be followed up by a "timeless" singing album. Anyway, his main instruments are the acoustic, electric and bass guitars and piano. All largely self-taught. He dabbles with things like drums, cello, kimbala and melodica. He also actually started out with producing... while there are exceptions to all, he does most of his own beat production, mixing, mastering, directing and video editing. Ren is, indeed, sick. To this day. Around 2010 he contracted Lyme disease, which wasn't properly diagnosed and treated until 2016. He was misdiagnosed through the years with mostly mental illnesses, the treatments causing problems on top of the permanent nerve, muscle and brain damage left by untreated Lyme. He was bedridden and deteriorating for many years and nearly died. A stem cell treatment saved him and made him able to function in society again in a limited capacity. In 2022 he went to Canada to try to reclaim more of his life with specialized treatment - a 3 month stay turned into 18 months. He was feeling good and looking forward to performing, unfortunately, he'd only been back to Brighton for a couple of months when he suffered a catastrophic relapse. He tried going back to Canada, but his body couldn't handle the more potent round of antibiotics and he had to quit. Now, for the past two months or so he's been working on health maintenance while looking at options. He has decided to do a third round of stem cells in the next month or so. Some achievements you didn't get to in the article you were reading - where Hi Ren was nominated for some awards, Money Game 3 actually won some pretty big ones. Also, in Oct 23 he released the Sick Boy album to #1 in the UK and something around #130 in the US. The first i dependent artist to do so. While in Canada in treatment, with no tours or traditional PR. One more thing to note - Ren loves the KZbin community. He is very pro-reactor, crediting them with a lot of his success. He lets y'all fully monetize his videos. If you have a contact method available (YT blocks outside links) any number of his fans can pass on the link to the form his YT guy Ethan gave us to request whitelisting. Aaaanyway. Welcome to Ren. You'll find he has a very loyal and engaged... very non-traditional... fanbase that spans all ages and walks of life. We hope you become as enamored with him - as an artist *and* a person - as we do. He's wonderful and deserving of everything.

[@JeremyMckay-b7k]

“ has a huge catalogue and a great deal of it touches on mental and physical illness (he represents the chronically ill as a point of pride) or is commentary on systemic wrongs with the medical field, politics and power structures and greed” And “Dear God”? “Lost all Faith”, “Meaning”, “Hold On”? The biggest theme in his catalog, rather, the most profound, is existential one- the meaning of Life.

[@perfectkismet]

​@JeremyMckay-b7k​That's an opinion stated as a fact. I see you also left a comment that he missed the "biggest theme" which I also disagree with. Ren, himself, has said he uses the biblical metaphorically because he likes the stories we tell. We can obviously trace his spiritual journey through some songs, and it is definitely an evolution, but there's only one song where he's completely literal. To the contrary, the song *called* "meaning" has no religion or spirituality in it at all. Ren's theme of meaning and struggling with spirituality has a *lot* more to do with justifying his pain than justifying his life. As he said in the Zach Sang interview, if we're going to say that his music justifies his journey - what would that say about the people who suffer without art? But none of that is present here. In this song in particular, it's *nice* that the religious themes are left open to interpretation - his interpretation being different than yours doesn't mean he missed something. Personally, I prefer the psychological interpretation to anything actually divine. The negative side is called "the *devil* on your shoulder" after all. And his monologue was to say that people aren't perfect and shouldn't fault themselves for being imperfect. That's not existential, it's giving onesself grace in making mistakes.

[@adamreece761]

Welcome to the RENERVERSE .... pick any song they are all fire 🔥 everything he does shows off how talented he is .... if he did a greatest hits album ... there would be 3 of them .... great reaction 👍👍👍 no hesitation subbed 👏 👍

[@janettapohlman7711]

Nice reaction! And I have a feeling your subscription ratio is about to go up when the rest of the RENegades show up. I'm here for the party! LFG!😊

[@iamsquatty]

Welcome to the wonderful world of ren, where you can always expect the unexpected 😊 for me and for many others hes a once in a lifetime type artist, and such a very fun and philosophical rabbit hole to fall down. Shared your reaction and subbed in hopes of more ren reactions! 😁🥹💜

[@kaynesheldon4905]

You have a huge catalog to go down my man! It’s beautiful and I hope you enjoy every bit of it!! Much love.

[@brendabromley5528]

Nice Reaction🎉 have subbed for your Ren journey. Cheers from a Canadian RENegade!🍁🇨🇦

[@lylepatterson3755]

Thank you so much for such an in depth reaction and welcome to the Ren rabbit hole, I'm sure it will be a journey unlike anything you have experienced before, it definitely has been for me that's for sure and has been life changing for me also and I'm 46 this year. I've subbed and I'm very much looking forward to seeing you go down the Ren Rabbit Hole with your'e reactions, you really are in for a treat my friend, Enjoy! 👍

[@lizelledeoliveira8434]

I really like your reaction. It is different in a good way. People should go watch it. If you had to do a full deep dive only into the lyrics, not to mention the guitar, the fact that it was recorded in one live take, the room setting (SO many symbols there) please don’t forget the pig and look into Ren’s history, this would many hour’s long. There is a reputable reactor, I forget the name, who said this song and video should be studied at university level. I agree. I am looking forward to your next REN reaction.

[@analisasmith7927]

Really good, detailed reaction to the song 👍. Thank you for helping to spread the word about this phenomenal independent artist. However, I strongly recommend you watch it again, without also reading the lyrics, to catch the subtleties of the visuals - the opposing shadows, the use of lighting, the way each side of him is slightly differently dressed (including his earrings) as well as his performance (all his facial expressions and gestures were practised). As you mentioned at the start, Ren is also a director and the words and visuals are designed to complement each other. I’ve subbed and look forward to your next Ren reaction. Best wishes 😁 x

[@ChristaEnrietta]

❤ Thank you for your reaction ❤

[@katram343]

Thank you ❤

[@ceciliablackburn2827]

Every song is different. Studio versions and live versions are very different but not at the same time. You'll find that out. The tale of Jenny and Screech is 13 minutes of genius in 3 linked, live one take videos. His collaborations with others like Sam Tompkins or Chinchilla and others are just amazing. He fits in no genre. There's 2 versions of Bitter Sweet Symphony, go for the newer live version you'll love it 😀

[@jeffwarden3013]

Thank you! Ren is either all genres or no genre. For stories, the Tale of Jenny & Screech and the Money game trilogy. You might appreciate the big push busking version of War Pigs. For fun crooning, Back on 74. For rapping, The Hunger and Losing it. And a buch of songs that make me cry like For Joe, Crutch and many others. Welcome to the Reniverse!

[@midnightleafpool3622]

Thank you for the review, I appreciate when reactors actually discuss the music afterwards and share their thoughts. If you go further down the Ren rabbit hole I definitely recommend paying more attention to the video itself. He is extremely detail orientated and every aspect is planned out, the visuals say just as much as the vocals. I really like the lyric breakdown you do, maybe a way to watch the video and still catch the lyrics would be to read them at the end and rewatch some of the video if needed. Don't worry about rewinding the video, the Renegades are here for it. 😉

[@samanthazwickel]

I agree, it was distracting and frustrating to me. I ended up not actually watching the reaction (just listened to the song) but stuck around for the end discussion. Subbed for more, rising tide, baby. Might have to reconsider if I can’t actually watch. lol

[@michel5856]

Ren fan here. At 61 , I would never would have known about Ren if my daughter hadn't begged me to listen to this song . Now, I've listened to almost everything in his catalog. Please react to the tale of Jenny and Screech the 13 minutes long video with all three parts. Spoiler each part is shot live in one take.

[@louisemyles4971]

I’ve been a follower of Ren since Hi Ren came out on KZbin, and got hooked by his unique works as he posted new performances. Extremely refreshing in this musical time of sameness. Enjoyed that you watched it all the way through, then shared your in depth reflection. Subscribed and look forward to your Ren reactions and others👌☺️. I see you’ve watched Jenny n Screetch n Violet. I’ll check it out. The Money Game Trilogy is powerful! He’s such a prolific writer, producer, director, actor, singer, and ‘course impressive self-taught musician. Excited for you to experience the ride!

[@moniavedder1933]

Renegade here, new suscriber here!!!! amazing reaction, so many thanks for taking so much time to analyse it. I hope you continue reaction to Ren´s music, i can tell you, im not a rap fan, but Ren is.......something UNIC in everything what he do!!! you will be surprise!!!!

[@SandraP3796]

Welcome to the wonderful world of REN, our lyrical genius and beautiful soul. Good reaction to this masterpiece and subbed for more Ren ❤ The Big Push are fantastic 😅

[@PoliticallyPink]

Here are my suggestions for your next Ren songs. This sampling includes songs from different genres, showcases his many musical and lyrical strengths: Tales of Jenny & Screech (a trilogy: the 13-minute video is the full version with all three songs combined) Slaughter House, Seven Sins, Illest of Our Time are rappy Losing , 1990's and What You Want are a lot of light-hearted fun. Ren & Friends hits include Ocean, with Eden Nash, How to be me, with Chinchilla, Blind-Eyed with Sam Thompkins, and of course various songs with the The Big Push. Can't wait for your next!

[@abbymathews5088]

Excellent reaction! Ren is special. Ive been chronically ill for twenty years. Home bound for the last five. Ren is my best medicine. He keeps me fighting for the little life that I have. I don’t want to miss out on what he has coming next. Plus, his humor and loving nature warms my soul! Welcome. 😉❤️

[@andrewsears16]

I have to suggest "ready for you" its not popularly suggested but it is popularly considered one of his hidden gems. Its a few years prior to hi ren. Also he produces his own tracks for the large majority of his catalogue. Really love the angle you approach reactions btw. Much love and respect ❤

[@tjh5716]

First time here. Huge fan or ren and he is the only artist I regularly listen who is not metal. New sub. Please go down a ren journey.

[@Grace-jr2tv]

Thank you for sharing with us what the song was saying to you! I love listening to how it affects people differently ❤

[@Breyguhn857]

Good job; thanks for sharing your thoughts. Give us another Ren reaction and you’ll get comments and subscribers. You have a very good style and substance. Join the cause 😂; be a Renegade…the community will direct you on what to look at from REN’s bibliography. ❤❤❤❤

[@Joe-Dadjokes]

Lovely reaction. Wonderfully reasoned post-op, as well. Welcome to the Renegades, friend. Ren's music is a deep rabbit hole to go down, but an infinitely rewarding one. Can't wait to go on that journey with you.

[@Joe-Dadjokes]

As for recommendations, any of the following will be worth it: -MACKAY, an all piano tribute to a friend of his who died kzbin.info/www/bejne/inXVd5tvh9Ojh5Ysi=GdRQlnGBqxRQ1Mfe -THE TALES OF JENNY & SCREECH, a trilogy of old school wandering minstrel stories linked by the awfulness of poverty (warning, there's some heavy domestic abuse in the 3rd tale) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioqkn6SHYpJ-jpIsi=Ezot5GEO1Mui-L4- -SICK BOI, a rap about how the medical industry destroyed his life. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYKZpnaopd-Vhrssi=RWDforISYp0l2HvN -SU!C!DE, about his friend Joe who jumped from a bridge kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGStf6ecnpmJmJIsi=ZlZuztD5Jf7LBsNI -CHALK OUTLINES, a collab with the unearthly Chinchilla, exploring a fear of being okay amidst addiction kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWbccn-olNSjm8ksi=nesAVVlSnWYNAw1o -HOW TO BE ME, another Chinchilla collab about forgetting yourself when drowning in grief kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXW1aKarpZh3qbcsi=SatQQ6Z3ZFD-E6_- -CRUTCH, collab with an ex girlfriend who was with him through the worst of his medical stuff, about how being the healthy support person to a suffering loved one can break you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZimY56na6pog9Esi=V0-6CQyx0PTadRSI -MONEY GAME PART 1, 2, & 3, trilogy of raps about how capitalism sucks. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZprZgqqtnLxnhbssi=wUjzYiZypg2gqcMA kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6DRhGyVhq-Vpposi=uN684rnE6rSvHtOA kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKq6k6iklLWVisUsi=4C896Zaxo54LZPr8 There are LOTS more, including more upbeat stuff with his old busking band Big Push, but any of these will be enjoyable.

[@stevekeale4395]

Great reaction, looking forward to you seeing the vast talent that Ren is.

[@cherylwitter5038]

Nice reaction! Ren is sooo talented!🔥❤️✌️

[@Rad_Radster_Experience]

Conflict, self worth, self doubt the human experience brilliantly brought to light.

[@LiannaBabeli]

Hello and welcome to the RENiverse. Let me introduce you to... Ren Gill, he is a 34 year old Welsh native (Wales from the United Kingdom, specifically from the Island of Anglesey off the northwestern coast of Wales) and currently resides in Brighton, England (a southern English Channel beach town with an insanely active busking [live street performing] scene). He has been performing since he was 12 years old. He is entirely self-trained. He speaks native Welsh, English, French, and I do believe a bit of Italian, IIRC? He is exceptional at the guitar, piano, and vocalisation. He is a totally independent artist who has no record label to represent him or, more importantly, control him. He is a rapper, a multi-instrumentalist, a producer, a singer-songwriter, a composer, and truly the definition of genre-less. He can do any genre, produce any sound or beat, and he can do it all for nothing. No song is like another, no beat is the same, no way to judge anything based on what each song is. Again, it must be repeated: he is SELF-trained and has had very little formal training for his music or productions. Everything Ren does is intentional. Every aspect of every piece is thoroughly scrutinized, studied, considered, composed, and dismantled before anything comes out and that perfection comes through during recording or filming. He is a Master of live one takes and his team is one of the best in the world, despite how small, even tiny or non-existent, his budgets are. Almost all the money he makes either goes to his ongoing Lyme Disease treatments (of which his medications cost literally thousands of quids/dollars) or to the projects he has in mind. I will state that Ren is not religious. He is spiritually agnostic, though does come from a Catholic background. He considers religion important to at least acknowledge and utilise as part of his imagery because of its representation within humanity. At the age of 19, he contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite he received while on a trip with his friends. He was misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to severe psychosis, for several years until he was properly diagnosed by a Swiss physician. Due to not receiving the appropriate treatment for Lyme Disease within the very short time frame after contraction, the disease has ravaged his body and mind, causing permanent brain damage, severe issues with digestion, sleep, nerves, and various other health problems. It caused him horrendous, chronic, violent pain to the point of being bedridden for years. Music is the reason he has survived. He had originally signed to Sony Records prior to contracting the disease, then when his condition became severe, he lapsed in his ability to complete his contract and both Sony and Ren agreed to end his contract. He has been independent ever since. I'd like to provide some cultural context for this artist from another extremely talented artist: This is what the Irish folk rock artist Sinead O’Connor posted on social media after watching Hi Ren: “Holy motherfuckin SHIT! Someone just showed me this at the weekend. This Archangel from like, twelfth heaven or somewhere, has only gone and made the entire history of songwriting and performing look like a three year old's birthday party at Burger King. Every song and or artist in history even Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, NWA, Ice Cube, and even Bob Dylan, is officially relegated to class B. As are every actor in history or legend: living or dead, male or female. We all are now defunct." Posted on May 17th, 2023, 2 months before self-deletion in July 2023. Another massive compliment to Ren was when Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the most creative minds of the last 200 years, finally saw Money Game Part 3 and stated on Instagram: "@RenMakesMusic is one of the most unique songwriters and storytellers I've seen in recent times. Hope to see this album at number one -ALW" Several other massive creatives have expressed their appreciation, experiences, and joy for Ren's music: Tom Hardy (major hollywood actor and one of Ren's favorite actors), Robbie Williams (fellow musician and Brit), Simon Jones (fellow musician and bassist for the Verve), Russell Crowe (major hollywood actor and an impassioned activist like Ren), Amanda Palmer (major hollywood actress). I recommend watching Sick Boi, Troubles, and the 'Chapters' from his RenMakesStuff (BTS channel for Ren) for a much deeper comprehension of his journey. Hi Ren was recorded live in the basement of an apartment building in Brighton, England. It was literally a crew of five people, cost 50 quid (~$62) to make, and the audio is entirely one take. The video is spliced across four one takes. It is recorded live with a lavalier lapel microphone, a portable guitar amp and recording device, three cameras, and Ren's laptop. He rehearsed this piece literally thousands of times before he even recorded the music video to provide certainty that he would get the guitar notes perfectly and his delivery as perfect as possible. This piece is a very personal one for Ren and was the first time in his musicianship to properly acknowledge his ailment, his journey, and his issues musically. He has hinted at it in all of his previous works prior to it, but this was the first time it was out in the open, purposefully. The 'Pig' from the beginning is an essential symbol in the RENiverse and appears in many, if not most, of his other music videos and media. It represents the corrupted and abused systems of the world that take and take and take and never give back to the people they are supposed to support: medicine, music, finances, trade, commerce, government, etc… There are actually four characters in this piece: the yodeller at the beginning and end (representing a call to aspirations), self (the calm and soft one on the 'right'), doubt (the 'evil' one on the 'left'), and hope (the one in the 'centre' near the end of the piece). The written poetry at the end of the piece is a very simplified summary of his real journey and represents his most primary belief system. Hi Ren is a continuation of Sick Boi, which is recorded live (though not a one take) in the same basement a few weeks prior to Hi Ren. It was also produced for practically no money and it represents his feelings on commoditization, greed, the healthcare industry, and the music industry in a generalised yet very specific manner. Hi Ren has received multiple nominations or wins for awards, has over 40 million views, and he has several million followers worldwide. He has other videos and songs with multiple awards, especially Money Game Part 3 of the Money Game trilogy, which has won several dozen awards. A fellow RENegade really summed up the experience of Ren in a, imo, perfect way. From KMac70-Rex on KZbin: "You are among the special ones whose life has been profoundly changed-there's no going back. While many reactors recognize Ren as a remarkable artist, for some, he’s just one of many they react to before moving on. But for others, Ren's music resonates on a much deeper, profoundly intimate level. His songs feel like conversations with a close friend-raw, honest, and cathartic. It’s this rare ability to touch the core of human experience that makes his artistry so impactful. Ren's willingness to bare his soul fosters an authentic connection, allowing us to relate to his music on a deeply personal level. Through his lyrics, he captures the nuances of life in ways that make us feel seen, understood, and, most importantly, not alone." There is life before Ren and then there is life after Ren. Welcome to your life after Ren. Have fun! Welcome to the RENegades and the RENiverse. Much peace and love to you. ^^

[@Heyboo66]

Love this, well done, but I would add just one thing. Despite everything Ren is a funny guy, it's one of the things that make me admire him so much.

[@LiannaBabeli]

@ Sure! I can add that.

[@charleenk71]

Life is a dichotomy basically sums up Ren!! 😂😂❤❤

[@K8TDidToo]

Very thoughtful reaction. Subscribed hoping you'll dive into the Reniverse. Every track will surprise you. His story telling is epic, his rapping is crazy and his singing is beautiful. He writes his own lyrics and composes and produces his own music. Makes most of his own beats. He was part of The Big Push, which did both original music and retakes/covers that they made their own.

[@angelluhman9006]

He was also in the band trick the fox

[@K8TDidToo]

@angelluhman9006 there's another one that he mentioned in one of the interviews but I can't find the reference. Going to have to listen to all of them again

[@marifrancille520]

Renengade here pulling up for the journey. I hope you explore more Ren. Lots to discover.

[@Lemonbees]

Renegade here... enjoy the ride, its bumpy and glorious.

[@przemekkusmierczuk2194]

Oh man. If all your reactions are like that one, Ren will provide you with loads of wow moments. The poetry in Ren's songs is amazong. Braking them will give you and us plenty to think of. Give it a try. Pick any really. Great reactiion mate. Thanks.

[@Oitsugina93]

Congrats on 10,000. Enjoy the Ren ride!❤❤❤

[@strover76]

Ren is a breath of fresh air.

[@anthonyainsworth142]

Alreat sir, I'm a new sub, and Ren is my jam and has been for the last year or so... there is an amazing amount of art he has given and i just want to share a few of my favourites Genesis, fire, Losing it, Blind eyed, Humble, Oceans, All the love music tracks (in order) All money game tracks (in order) Domino's Illest of our time & last last but not least 1990's There's so much more but I'm sure you will find your away down the Ren rabbit hole but these are just a few of my favourite and I can't wait until you find them!! Cheers and keep up the good work m8y

[@MarsTheDogOfWar666]

The "oooh's" at the beginning and end are the storm of them both having to co-exist inside the same mind. I think that gets missed so much. Its the maelstrom of having no option but to reside within the same skull as your counterpart. It's the storm.

[@jenniferboe]

He has a very intelligent catalog. I think your interest will be with Ren for a while. I look forward to more! Congrats on 10k! Thank you!

[@d_a_hizzle1309]

You forgot to mention his independenty released "Sick Boi" hit #1 on the UK charts

[@confusedpenguin6933]

I like this reaction. Much like you, the negative thoughts in my head are always louder. I notice this in society, too, though. The negative people shout louder than those working toward helping people. Making that comparison and hearing Mr. Rogers tell me, during a crisis, to "look for the helpers" has made it easier for me to pause. Calamity sells, it grabs our attention, and we miss the helpers. Why not look for the helpers in our own minds along with in society? This mindset has helped me through a few dark times. Thank you for the reaction.

[@chrisparti]

I call my negative voice, 'Frank'... because he's very frank with negative opinions of me or my situation... I found it helpful giving him a name, because I can say his name when I say 'not now Frank'... he's persistent and I often tell him to f@ck off and leave me alone.. It also mocks him and takes away his power by making it ridiculous that he now has a daft name. (if that makes sense). It also lets him know that I have recognised that he's made an appearance again in my head, because he doesn't always announce his arrival, he sneaks in, and suddenly my head says 'that bastard Frank is here again', and once I've identified that he's there it helps me deal with more effectively... I hope I don't sound too crazy 😂

[@sunshineerdman7625]

@chrisparti Not crazy, brilliant! I’m adopting your trick, thanks so much 👏🙏

[@freddiebillings5264]

The video was done live and in one take. There are a lot of symbols in the video. The lights, the lighting, the wall behind him, etc.

[@emmanx011]

New Subscriber here. Since I LOVE REN and LOVE METAL, this should be a "match made in heaven" lol Ps: You don't really need to watch the Lyrics whilst he's singing/ telling the stories; because Ren is VERY good at pronunciate his lyrics. If you like stories, check out his "Jenny And Screech ' trilogy. AAAAMAZING!! And another thing...Ren is ABSOLUTELY AUTHENTIC!; in all he does. He's always a perfectionist and honesty is VERY MUCH who Ren is. So this is all true! He was misdiagnosed for YEARS and all the different psychotic s he had to take; (eventho he "only" had Lyme disease!!); and other pills he had to take; has affected his brain and his physical body. And to go years and years NOT being treated for his Lyme; but instead been given more higher doses of a medicine for a disease he DID NOT HAVE; the Lyme has now become permanent...unfortunately for Ren. Lyme if not treated, travels around in your body and can eventually fester in the brain; destroying brain cells! Once in the brain, the condition becomes permanent. When it travels around in your body, you'll experience HORRIBLE PAIN!! ; and the PAIN can become PERMANENT!! This is what Ren's experience!! (I'm guessing, that the humid climate of Great Britain, doesn't help either) I'm sure someone else here at this thread, has already told you this; 😘 but having permanent Lyme myself, I relate to Ren ALOT. He's so young!! 😢 Ps...I'm sure Ren also at one point thought he HAD schizofreni !! But he's not diagnosed with Schizofreni.

[@Paramedic794]

Enjoyed your breakdown, much Respect!! Renegades!!!!! Peace!

[@garysherwin3316]

There is life before hi ren and life afterwards , and im older than your good self new sub 🇬🇧

[@ratmackay]

Well, this reaction already pushed you over the 10K mark and you're likely to see a lot more if you keep going with Ren. We RENegades are many and actively support those who help get his music out there in front of more potential fans.

[@jujugar9442]

Subbed for your Ren journey. You will have lots of material to discover and many topics to discuss ❤

[@PoliticallyPink]

What an insightful, intelligent reaction to this masterpiece! This was the song that pushed Ren towards the success he has attained, although it's mystifying to us why he wasn't more prominent before then because he has years of musical excellence behind this 2022 release. When I discovered Hi Ren of course I immediately went to see what else this guy has done, and was thrilled to find that he's done A LOT, all of it good, huge variety of style and moods. I'm guessing your experience will be similar, I subbed to watch your journey. MORE REN!

[@andrewsears16]

Congrats on 10k my good sir. 🎉

[@RockPowerUSA]

Yes, you'll enjoy this rabbit hole. It's a good way to start off your New Year. I think a mind-blowing, brain squeezing, fascinating rap song is LOSING IT. Ren didn't write this song, but it legitimately has "Beast Mode". Another one is Animal House. The production is amazing, as well as his performances. Definitely unique. Definitely fun. We wiill enjoy your lyrics analytics, just like the ones today. I will have to admit that when I saw 40 plus minutes....WTF? As it turned out, I watched the whole thing, subscribed, and just want to tell you how much I enjoyed it. ❤😊

[@MetalHeadReacts]

@@RockPowerUSA Thank you so much, you have no idea just how much that means to me.

[@RockPowerUSA]

@@MetalHeadReacts no problem. I don't see that you have had the artist Dimash??? These are the two artists I watch everyday for reactions. Each are GOATS. I'm a 60 year old man in Middle Missouri, USA and I still get tear it up watching the first timers everyday to these AMAZING artists. I also like the fact that you allowed us to hear the song completely, and you waited to the very end. That hardly ever happens. That's almost dangerous because most of us are looking for facial reactions with astonishment coming from their comments. However with you, you get uninterrupted. Your analyzation was on spot and it was unique. We felt connected, which is what works in this KZbin business. Good job. 😎🥳🎁

[@CreativePhotoWS]

Ren wrote the lyrics for Losing It but not the beat. Also the song is Animal Flow not Animal House but I’d like to see a musical version of that! 😂😂😂

[@RockPowerUSA]

@CreativePhotoWS you're right. I know that too. Had a brain fart. 🧠💨 I'll leave it up uncorrected though. I am getting old, THC does apparently affect me, and I've watched many first reactions to the fabulous artistic production of....Animal House (I was sophomore in HS when this awesome irreverent movie came out 🤓) by these young, sometimes older, KZbin...Whippersnappers. 😆 I'm going to leave my incorrection and wait to be lambasted so I can learn better. You are very nice. You might be Canadian. Lol

[@CreativePhotoWS]

@ I’m from the Canada of the Southern Hemisphere (Australia) and also a long fan of Animal House. :)

[@belindamelville2270]

Ren❤❤❤❤

[@TheDoctorFlay]

Welcome to a world you never expected. You will be happy to find that Ren has a background in many types of music so what you get to hear only represents that phase of his journey (much like Bowie). As a child his hippy parents took him to many folk and music festivals. His biggest love is the Police and Sting, which overlaps his love for reggae and ska, which slightly overlaps his love for hip-hop. You will hear snippets of reggae spattered all though his music, as well as unexpected classical references.

[@dashaku2246]

I just _love_ how your first heard him out. That's something I actually miss with may music reactors. WTF not listen to the whole to begin with, and then put it into pieces? Thank you!

[@teejaydiscombobulated2724]

Posted 10 hours ago and seen 3K times...451 likes/10K subs currently. I reckon you'll get a lot more likes and subs really soon - a great reaction thanks, loving your breakdown afterwards. I feel you'll enjoy the ride down the Ren genre defying rabbit hole. Have fun! Ren is the best addiction I've had ever, been really positive for me to follow Ren and absorb his performances. Subbed to see your reactions on other Ren works.

[@reeserenity]

Thanks for your pretty thorough breakdown. You will be bombarded by renegades suggesting songs and giving our two cents. It can be a little overwhelming but we have good hearts and support your Ren journey. Welcome❤

[@DamonDroop]

Spot on analogy with the comparison to the compliments and, what I agree, are most people’s responses to them. Great job analyzing the entirety of the lyrics as a matter of fact. Subscription and 👍well earned. I look forward to more in the future.

[@JeremyMckay-b7k]

He did not analyze “Made by His hand” or any of the existential / spiritual theme. He failed miserably.

[@DamonDroop]

@ I have an admittedly pathetic addiction to watching reaction videos on KZbin. As such; I’ve seen at least a couple of hundred reactions to this particular music video by Ren starting with the one I was recommended by the algorithm after I watched “Hi Ren” for the first time within an hour of him posting it. That being said, I’ve never heard a single reactor (after a first time single viewing)come up with an analogy on the spot that was fitting, deftly thoughtful, and poignant. Just sayin’🤨

[@rveino2978]

Great reaction REN is a love of music peace

[@FOCUS_Rin]

I am so excited to watch this. I don't know if other RENegades do this, but I was surfing YT around Christmas to find thoughtful reactors to introduce to Ren. I was in a 'ship lifting' mood. As we know, if you react, they will come. I found your channel and subscribed and watched a few. I really liked your Pearl Jam reaction and how you broke down the lyrics. I subscribed but saw you said no more until 2025, so I was biding my time and was going to come back and suggest so that. It's not surprising that you were already targeted by the RENegades lol. I am glad someone beat me to my suggestion! Also, RENegades will eat up your type of reaction. And we subscribe!!

[@WildwoodSon]

A very good reaction, thanks! Ren's old busking band, Big Push, does a cover of Black Sabbath that you might like; also, the Jenny / Screech / Violet's Tale is extraordinary. Ren is a really talented story teller, as Hi Ren demonstrates.

[@WitchyDebs]

With the Renegades, your subs are going to rocket! 😊❤

[@seancallahan6661]

Good job,my man. Only the beginning.

[@Gamerone64]

And here come us Renegades. Welcome.

[@agatopol]

Great reaction, thank you!

[@AShadowHawk-fx2cl]

Really enjoyed your reaction…….as I am sure many other RENegades did & will. Loved your breakdown & your taking the time to do so. Buckle up………he is a once in a generation artist……there seems to be no genre he can’t do…….not one song that isn’t amazing…….honestly, you are in for a ride. Subbed for more Ren (and the peeps he collabs with……as you will see, if you go down this rabbit hole, more amazing artists you will need to check out). And will also be checking out your previous reacts, as I am sure they will be as thought provoking as this was…….much appreciated. 💯 As I am a Metalhead also, who just loves great music 🤘🏻

[@michaelwalsh7359]

Sub’d for more Ren! Great react! Ren uses a different style / genre in every track! So much so it will blow your mind! The only constant is the deep meanings.

[@momstin58]

Great reaction. Subbed for more Ren. Since you're a metal guy you might like his rock(ier) songs Fire and Crutch. The busking band he was in, The Big Push, covers War Pigs, Paint it Black, I Shot the Sheriff and their original Watch Out (the videos where he's wearing the red suspenders). They're 🔥 and well worth a reaction. 💜💜

[@robingayle68]

Renegade here ❤ Liked and Subscribed for more Ren 🐇🕳️❤️

[@catherinewiseman3997]

Subscribed for more Ren. I personally like Animal Flow and Murder. But anything by Ren is worth listening to 😊

[@bentracey4939]

What a nuanced and intricate breakdown of hi ren. Brilliant. Watch the renegades comig flooding to support your channel and enjoy the ride..

[@daphneparkin6869]

Subscribed before watching - it's Ren! Hope you do more Ren but thanks for this one anyway.