Musician Reacts to Ren - Animal Flow

[@thehazelinthejane]

His influences for this were a little bit of Willy Wonka, a little bit of A Clockwork Orange, and a lot of Animal Farm by George Orwell. They're actually a great number of animal farm references in this video. And that list in the beginning of seven rules on the wall were directly from Animal farm.

[@mcflyjp]

I don't remember Animal Farm enough. I guess I should've prepared haha

[@woodywoodman2319]

@@mcflyjp One cannot be prepared for Ren!

[@mcflyjp]

@@woodywoodman2319 he always surprises.

[@ali50n]

Watch Dead Prez interpretation of Animal Farm, its short,to the point,and will help explain Animal Flow!

[@Steve_P_B]

Also right at the beginning, the dogs playing poker like the classic picture.

[@Hexenkind1]

Ren wrote a comment under another reaction and said about the video creation process, and I quote: "I direct and conceptualise my videos, usually by having base ideas, and then talking about them over and over again with my friends until they grow and develop, I always think feedback helps the creative process a lot!" Also: Video was recorded in february 2022 in brighton. All with his friends as actors of this video.

[@tafinzer]

Thanks for sharing that. I saw him respond to another reactor where he said his next song will be a singing one.

[@mcflyjp]

I knew it was an earlier recording but that's really cool he's able to bounce ideas off others.

[@Hexenkind1]

@@tafinzer All those nuggets he gives out in comments. Now I have to check out every reaction for more informations. xD

[@tafinzer]

@@Hexenkind1 It was Ren's comment to ThatSingerReactions yesterday. He is a vocalist and truly appreciates other vocalists. 👍🏼

[@Hexenkind1]

@@tafinzer Okay. Yeah I saw some reactions from him. Also great. But not looked in every comment section.^^

[@robmarar]

Breeaking News: Animal flow is #1 UK itunes chart, #8 Australian itunes chart, #16 US itune charts. 💣 🔥🔥💣

[@mcflyjp]

Let's gooooo!!! Well deserved 👑

[@rachaddle6581]

Ya'll def should check out the album "Animals" by Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd, like Ren, reference Animal Farm. I have been a Pink Floyd for over 40yrs. I have zero doubt that Ren is familiar with Pink Floyd especially for the fact that Ren is a sophisticated musician just as Pink Floyd is.👍💓💓

[@mcflyjp]

I've heard every Pink Floyd song multiple times. Truly talented individuals and smart as hell!

[@aimeekeel]

Love the imagery of leading the lambs to slaughter, and then having the young lamb walk up the stairs to the party either not noticing or not caring that the older sheep being lead to slaughter.

[@mcflyjp]

He's an artist in so many different ways. I enjoyed it too.

[@tafinzer]

You're understanding without having known the references of the imagery were really great. I enjoy your musical understanding as well. You have amazing observation abillity. Something everybody else seems to be missing is the flex that he's making throughout the lyrics. Self awareness and confidence. Very Inspiring to me. He has a gift for putting messages in all of his work that slowly creep upon you with each experience. The amazing part is that it is truly intentional and planned I believe. No other artist in my entire life has captivated me this way. And I am a huge consumer of all kinds of art not just music. In animal farm, as I recall, George orwell was making making an allegory against communism. It seemed he really hated Stalin. Democratic government was not left unscathed either. There was also many humanitarian references and deep philosophical meanings.

[@mcflyjp]

Per usual there is way too much stuff to catch it all. But it makes it rewatchable.

[@tafinzer]

@@mcflyjp You did a fantastic job that's probably all I really needed to say. 👍🏼

[@belinda35]

I love your break-downs of the videoes. You do a fantastic job! Thanks for the great reaction.

[@mcflyjp]

Thank you so much! I appreciate that!

[@Shiroar]

I love this so much. Dum dah dum dah, the little dance, yumyumyumyum, drowning his foes in a paddling pool… the mind of Ren is a special place. The track is pure fire and the video is an absolute masterpiece. Ren is bringing all the animals and bloody madness down his rabbit hole and I am here for it 🐐 🐷 🐸 🐱 🐰 🕳️

[@mcflyjp]

He's stepping up his visual game and his metaphorical rap game.

[@heistakes]

A lot of reactors miss the human head swinging in a cage where the pig is chopping up the meat 😂 It’s a lion that jumps out on him in the corridor too..if you listen it’s accompanied by a roar! 😊

[@davideastham]

Yesterday, it was one of the first things I saw after they panned the camera to the Pig Butcher 🤣 You can definitely see the shape in the shadow on the wall.

[@mcflyjp]

I missed that. Too many things to catch in only a couple watches.

[@sybrown8559]

Ren creating his own FSociety. #Renemyofthestate

[@noorieiversen]

❤

[@mcflyjp]

I mean this aggressive Ren is what I like to see!

[@sybrown8559]

@@mcflyjp For sure. He shows a Boss walk at the end of the video which is just so cool. 😎 I’m fanboying but his acting is so on point. He looks like a Boss in this video and he is the Boss on the music scene right now. The Boss does what he wants, everyone else be damned!!

[@davideastham]

Glad to see you in the premier yesterday. Sorry you had so many issues getting this posted. Another great reaction !! The apartment they came out of is right in front of the church where they filmed the 'Earned It / Man's World' video with Sam Tompkins and so many other busking videos.

[@mcflyjp]

There is still so much Ren content to go over. And yeah! Glad seeing you there too!

[@karahgarrison3218]

This was awesome! I was at work during the premier but managed to catch the video at least, wasn't able to participate in chat though 😒. Great reaction and breakdown! Ren is an Animal ❤

[@mcflyjp]

Ren is an animal and he's got that Animal Flow

[@aimeekeel]

Great reaction. Love this song. Animal Farm for 2023. Definitely gets people talking.

[@mcflyjp]

Thank you. Unfortunately I haven't read that book in almost 30 years so most of the references were lost on me :( I guess I should've read it before the video came out.

[@simplysimon9868]

Great reaction!! So much to see and hear with Ren. Love how friends and friends of friends helped make the video. George Orwell meets Ren and his mind 😄

[@mcflyjp]

Awesome he's got friends to help him out!

[@NothingOnEvents]

Great reaction again. Little nugget for those not familiar with Brighton, this apartment is directly opposite the church that a lot of the Ren and Sam busking videos were filmed, like the Alisha Keys one, which you can see on the right of the end shot

[@mcflyjp]

He mentioned that in his twitch stream. That's really cool! I've yet to see any busking videos and I need to get on it.

[@VideosbyLisaLisa]

Love it when you ran the song through the program so you can isolate the different elements. Ive never seen that before. Very cool.

[@mcflyjp]

Thanks! I do that usually with studio sessions or live sessions that are very well recorded. It's become a staple of the channel so I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@chrisparti]

Have a read of the info under the video, Ren explains the challenges of filming this and how they set it up... all done with his friends, and friends of friends. He said that every time something went wrong in a take, it was right back the very beginning and start again, they started filming at 7pm and didn't get the final single take until 4am, that's dedication.

[@mcflyjp]

Yeah he had a community post a few days before the video dropped talking about how he's been wanting to challenge himself and his team. Very cool how he wants to keep improving.

[@keithsowerby8179]

Everyone is talking about beat boxing in the Hunger and Animal Flow. To me it is konnakol - South Indian vocal notation found in Carnatic musics, made famous in the West by Shakti. Ren is certainly blotting paper for all matter of influences

[@mcflyjp]

Thats what beat boxing is though. Just like everything else we in the west take something that has been around for years, rename it and pretend its new.

[@darthgardner]

no one in the reactors world has picked up on the black and white imagery as far as i know,its amazing seeing these disections and some do miss a lot, i missed the human head swinging as the pig chopped at first, just shows how you need to delve into it..they were natural drums as he said he did play them and record them.

[@Steve_P_B]

I'm surprised that nobody yet has mentioned those two girls first doing that little hand dance have puppet strings attached to their arms.

[@mcflyjp]

I noticed that like 10th watch haha. This video has so much going on!

[@mrdarengilbert3907]

Awesome react, I love your breakdown of the parts of the music, I haven’t seen anyone else do it like that… thank you

[@mcflyjp]

I appreciate you. Trying to do my best to point out every aspect of the music.

[@CyndeLooWho]

The last verse, starting when he picks up the glass of champagne, is 100% perfect

[@mcflyjp]

This video was definitely one of his more off-the-cuff videos. That sort is definitely catchy.

[@dtshark7]

Ha, i thought i saw your name in the live chat before the premier but couldn't be sure as it was going so fast. I went over to watch his live stream on twitch when the premier finished and we were all treated to an impromptu jam session from Ren and it was cool asf (would have paid good money to see him jam but we got it for free lol). I'm sure there will be plenty of videos in the coming weeks of that jam. Loved your complete break down of the whole video, you are so on point bro.

[@mcflyjp]

I was in the twitch stream as well. Was great to see him perform for the chat.

[@frankensteinfpv]

As always bro! Great breakdown and reaction man! Keep being you 🤌👌👏🔥❤️

[@mcflyjp]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@RonNL70]

The live chat was absolutely insane 😅🤣 A tribal banger 🔥🔥🔥🤘

[@mcflyjp]

Definitely had a popping chat.

[@mcflyjp]

But the video was ridiculous.

[@laurencemayshroom5940]

Just on a music nerd level. I believe what he is doing for the hook is indian vocal bols. Very much an indian form of beatboxing. But it consists of certain sounds that are quite distinct in the language of the technique. Certain vowels in a way. Look it up if you dont know! Its very cool!

[@laurencemayshroom5940]

Also a throw back to the hunger. He does it at the end which I guess could correlate to being an animal

[@mcflyjp]

I don't know enough about beat boxing to have a knowledgable comment on this. But it's pretty cool the talents Ren has in his repertoire.

[@peterveste6976]

thank you for reacting to my favourite artist ever ❤❤❤

[@mcflyjp]

Of course! I think he's become a lot of people's favorite artist.

[@Tessimistic420]

🔥🔥❤️🔥🔥 #Ren

[@brigittemainella6412]

Thank you for your detailed breakdown of Ren's new song! It was a big help! I had to put my human side on hold and unleash my animal side to get into character! I really loved this one! The drum beat was great and added to the pace and tension! I got Animal Farm vibes, Clockwork Orange vibes and Willy Wonka vibes all packed into one! I love how Ren keeps the movement going till the end! It seemed like he was using his cane as a third leg at the end (he's a different species) I imagined this could be what a wild party on Noah's ark would resemble! Ren did it again, he created another amazing artistic production! Kudos to the camera man also!

[@mcflyjp]

The art isn't just in the music but in the presentation too. I find myself when wanting to listen to a Ren track that I end up just watching the music video. It's all encompassing.

[@nondetection8882]

Not Sam this time, the video was shot by Luke Flegg.

[@mcflyjp]

He pulled a fast one on me!

[@bosbornefischer]

Buki/booky is a primarily UK slang term meaning weird/wild/crazy in a sense of hyperbole.

[@mcflyjp]

Thank you for that! I'm just a dumb American LOL

[@bosbornefischer]

@mcflyjp I'm American, too. The important thing is that we're learning. 😉

[@mcflyjp]

I'm always trying to learn!

[@alexiaspaedt-mcintosh5311]

Great reaction and had fun hanging in the chat with you! I didnt get to watch any till today since I was at Godsmack and I Prevail last night.

[@cherylrobbins715]

Great analysis. Subbed.

[@mcflyjp]

Thank you so much!

[@deborahcarson8310]

Ok so..nerdy non musical me loves the voice isolation etc very interesting to listen to.

[@mcflyjp]

I'm glad you enjoy that, It will be a staple on the channel moving forward.

[@pirada74]

🔥❤

[@redzwestisbest]

kendrick lamar does the high low multi-vocal bars too.

[@mcflyjp]

100%. Lamar should be on people's top 10 list.

[@gcarap]

Ren still has 11 or 12 unreleased songs recorded before he left for Canada, though I am not sure how many of those songs have videos already done.

[@mcflyjp]

It's all for the rap album I'm sure

[@gcarap]

@@mcflyjp Yes, for Sick Boi album. Sounds like album will have 16 or 17 songs, 4 already released (Sick Boi, Hi Ren, Illest and Animal). 11 or 12 done and awaiting release and 1 last one he is finishing in Canada.

[@noorieiversen]

King Arthur bro!! ❤😅

[@rebeccaburnell9319]

Sometimes his lyrics have spelling mistakes (or he purposefully misspells a word here and there) but it's written "capital" in his lyrics, not "capitol" so... I mean, I wouldnt put it past him to intend *both* meanings at the same time, but as written, he's just talking about taking a capital city (followed by burning the house of parliament, leaving the impression the capital city he referred to is probably London).

[@mcflyjp]

Its very easy to over analyze and make assumptions because of everything going on. But I agree that I think that's not a misspell.

[@rebeccaburnell9319]

@@mcflyjp Like, "in defense of" it also being a reference to the events of early 2020 in America, I don't think he could *possibly* be unaware that LOTS of people listening would take that interpretation away from his lyrics, so. There's that!

[@TheLeedsBoyz]

Capital is also a reference to money/capitalism which Ren touches on in a lot of his songs

[@IanElkins]

Mad that you didn’t once mention Animal Farm 🤔

[@mcflyjp]

Read that thing like near 30 years ago. But yes, I missed the clear references. Was focused on so many other things.

[@saltydroog854]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this is a song from "Dark Ren's" perspective. It seems to me that Ren has given context clues in previous videos, where his "Dark Ren" alter ego sees his therapist and medical caregivers as the Pig Butcher character. And this video is an unmitigated, zero juxtaposition, viewpoint solely from the Dark Ren alter ego. It's all cynicism, all power hungry. Maybe I'm reading to much into it, but I feel like nothing he does is accidental, it all means something.

[@mcflyjp]

I feel like you're right in that with how artistic and diligent he is, that anything is possible. As for that, maybe? It does follow a different kind of rap theme than most of his others. But then again, The Hunger is about him being a monster. So idk.

[@saltydroog854]

@@mcflyjp yeah. But I kinda feel like that early stuff is different, maybe even before he had as sophisticated understanding of himself. He may not have even been aware of his alter ego. He was just doing what rappers do, and talking about how bad ass he is. This new stuff is addressing that Jungian dichotomy. And I think the use of those animal masks is a clue to a theme that connects them all in the same stream of consciousness. Again, I may be reading too much into it. But I doubt it’s just that he likes using the animal mask

[@vanburger]

I'm surprised you missed the Animal Farm manifesto. You read it.. I don't think sporadic is the word you were looking for?

[@mcflyjp]

I haven't read that book in like 25 years lol. In doing remember it very much at all

[@mcflyjp]

What was the context for sporadic that I used?

[@vanburger]

@McFly JP you said his rap flow was sporadic. That sorta means a bit here and there to me. Is that what you meant?

[@mcflyjp]

It means its all over the place; in this case the subject matter.

[@vanburger]

@@mcflyjp sporadic means intermittent.

[@noorieiversen]

England is about to coronate King Charles. 🤴

[@mcflyjp]

Does he even deserve it though?

[@noorieiversen]

@@mcflyjp I'm anti royalist. CHARLES is a piece of shit, born with a silver spoon 🥄 up his arse.

[@mickyp9844]

No,he’s a globalist

[@renemeier5037]

have seen the video a couple of dozens of time on its own and on react channels. All missed the black and white... incl. me. Kudos Very good reaction throughout

[@mcflyjp]

Thanks. I thought that it was a nice subliminal touch. And follows suit with Hi Ren.