Ren - Hi Ren REACTION & REVIEW! FIRST TIME HEARING!

[@MadisonCarter]

Gotta be honest, I winced slightly when I saw this video pop up on my subscription feed because while I absolutely adore Ren and his work, I had a feeling it wasn't going to be anything near your wheelhouse. Glad to see you did find a good bit of positive from it. His rap work may not be of interest to you, but I do recommend you at least check out the live cover performance of War Pigs he did with his old band The Big Push. Nothing world-changing, but something you might get a kick or two out of.

[@petrilampela]

Same. I didn't know if I wanted to see this reaction at all, because David Heretic's reactions are quite clinical and this piece is all about emotions. Every since I saw this video for the first time I've shed tears on the "Some people know me as hope, some people know me as the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope" part and I kinda knew this will be the first time it won't happen 😅

[@joannewilson2395]

I'm a Ren fan and I really appreciated your musical breakdown. It's interesting to see different aspects of this performance.

[@BrianYates-ct9db]

Thx for being so respectful ..It's much appreciated ✌️

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Brian beat me to it. Yes thank you very much, FEELIN' YOU Joanne!!!

[@THEDavidHeretic]

@@BrianYates-ct9db FEELIN' YOU Brian!!!

[@michaelgrabner8977]

Well ...even if the song itself didn´t "touch" you as you said...it still made you to think about the topic..and you got a bit emotional in the aftermath when you was speaking about your father, about narcicists and about human beings in general...so at the end the song actually did something, didn´t it.

[@philproffitt8363]

I must not forget...WE must not forget...he gave an 8.6 😁

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Which by definition is not a good score, it's a GREAT score. I lot of people don't understand that, probably because they didn't watch the entire video.

[@philproffitt8363]

@@THEDavidHeretic A bloody great score...and decent musical insights as usual David 👍👌

[@yiepie]

Those of us who have been watching you before the renaissance know really well 8.6 is a damn good score don't remember too many that go above 9 but my fave band Muse has a few 😄

[@cybrgrl9203]

😂

[@douglasg.9271]

The point of remembering that we are all human, is that we’re all struggling with the light/dark choices of life.

[@lk-music]

The light/dark statement is about _balance_ - "And the more intensely that the light shone, the darker the shadow it cast".

[@philproffitt8363]

His back-story does elevate this because he's lucky to be alive to have made it...such a skillful one-take too. The theatre of it grabbed me rather than relating to his illness. I confidently say, from what I've seen (and I gotta support this guy from my part of the planet) he is a surperb human being. One of his accomplishments is getting so many metal-heads, who didnt like rap, to listen to his hip-hop style stuff. Produces his own tracks and beats as well as guitar and piano.

[@jessietucker9342]

This being a one-take video impressed me. I'm not surprised that you didn't really connect with this particular arrangement, I'm sure this would not normally be the style that you would choose, and his UK accent not the norm. If nothing else you would find Ren's story compelling, also, he is 100% genuine, the classic story of overcoming adversity despite very difficult circumstance. It is his love for the craft that pulls the listener in. If nothing else, you can rest assured that he deserves any success he gains. Ren uses his technique as a healing tool, this man would not be alive today without his music. So fire to me.✌

[@philproffitt8363]

@@jessietucker9342 hopefully your comment is seen by Dave...or you can paste it in the main section.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

I saw it and read it.

[@ShaunHensley]

Technically he hasn't 'made it' his fight is real.

[@seagull01-cp8pb]

I am actually a long term listener of your channel but only lately realised it was a support thing to both like the video and comment so you won’t know me at all. I was thrilled to see you doing Ren but knew enough of your interests and your subscribers interest that this isn’t in your area of interest. I am a big Ren fan and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated you doing this one. I think you might enjoy The Big Push band Ren was in which has some very impressive musicianship. 💕👍🦇

[@THEDavidHeretic]

FEELIN' YOU seagull!!!

[@JensRandolff]

Here is some additional information on Ren's story that I gathered from old newspaper interviews, articles, and Ren's public livestreams and posts. A handful of people frequently post an earlier version of my comment to various reactions that they copied and pasted verbatim, so if this is a repeat just ignore this comment. I keep editing the information, as needed, and have removed details about Ren that some found to be too personal, such as his full name and D.O.B. All the information here was gathered exclusively from sources Ren personally approved for public release. Ren is a Welsh musician/independent artist/producer, self-taught multi-instrumentalist. He pursued a career in music from an early age. In 2009, while studying music performance at Bath Spa University, Ren began to experience health issues and was struggling to attend his lectures, which eventually caused him to discontinue his studies and return home. In addition, Ren was signed by Sony Records in 2010 and was working on an album when his health deteriorated to the point that he was unable to go on; consequently, his contract with Sony was dissolved. Ren would later relocate to Brighton. Ren's illness often kept him in bed for up to 23 hours daily. Ren was initially misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led him to experience psychosis and develop PTSD. It would take seven years before a doctor in Belgium finally correctly diagnosed Ren with autoimmunity, Lyme disease, and resulting damage to the brain, organs, joints, and PTSD. Ren eventually underwent stem cell therapy in the United States, which improved his health, but it has not been a cure. Ren is in Calgary, Canada for at least six months (Summer of 2023), undergoing treatments such as IV therapy and other interventions five days a week, as well as surgeries (wisdom tooth removal and cavitation surgery). His Canadian doctor discovered that Ren also developed a condition called Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD), which has affected the myelin sheath in his brain, his thyroid, and adrenals as well as his bones/joints. Hence, Ren is receiving additional treatments for this previously undiagnosed condition. He recently took a break from treatments and returned to the UK to visit family and friends, and to produce some very ambitious musical projects to be released soon. Let's keep supporting Ren as he undergoes his treatments. Check out and subscribe to his channel; if you are a content creator, ask your audience to subscribe to Ren. Ren's YT channel just surpassed 1 million subscribers. and his videos have garnered millions and millions of views. Listen to some of his earlier work, like and comment on his performances, and let's lift Ren's spirits. If you are a believer, pray for him. Ren is an artist with something to say to the world, and his work is important in these troubling times. Someone has finally created a Wikipedia page for Ren, so there is additional information available.

[@zerofox3d]

Where HI REN goes, Jens is not far behind… 😉

[@JensRandolff]

@@zerofox3d Lol

[@ClearTheRubble7]

Jens is the official Ren archivist/historian. 🤠

[@NativeNYerChicHK]

I think you should give his and Chinchilla’s Chalk Outlines (live version) a listen if you want to hear more of his singing voice & guitar playing. I do think you might enjoy that. It’s live again, and really showcases his singing voice. He writes, produces, composes, performs all his own stuff, even beat boxes on his own rap tracks. Really all around talented dude.

[@aliciawooz8417]

That is my favorite song of his(and made me check out Chinchilla ).Their connection is electric!

[@1empyrean]

Your statement about humanity is similar to the message of Ren's song "Sick Boi", so Ren's fan's are probably going to understand you sentiment. Only a handful of people reacting to this song dig into the guitar playing, and I'm glad someone made sure to prioritize this song, even if their expectations of a reaction to the lyrics weren't met.

[@kevint.184]

When people say you "need to" that means they're trying to do you a favor and let you know that this is something big that you are missing that will help your Channel... it would seem to me

[@THEDavidHeretic]

I wish that were true. Most people could care less about the channel. They just want to see their favorite artist get as much exposure as possible, and see them on as many KZbin channels as possible.

[@stephaniegeer1691]

I 100%agree...its only to help you and your channel benefit. Not to try and force you into anything...we only know how AMAZING Ren is and how good it would be for you...

[@brightsideeventsandmedia7245]

As Ren says a rising tide lifts all boats. Of course we want to see Ren in as many channels as possible but we love seeing those channels rise. I was sure I would hate your review by the start of your video. Yet I loved it. You spoke only about the music(which I’ve not seen before) but I do feel you missed the significance of the lyrics.

[@emelless5365]

Wow you are so negative@@THEDavidHeretic

[@yssanne24601]

I have to admit, I had my doubts when I read the comments before watching your reaction. But now, after watching the complete video, I am wondering if anyone who's hating on you bc of this reaction has even watched it until the end? Bc you gave a great score (by the comments I expected like 6 or something) and most of your comments were really positive. As for getting touched by the lyrics, people should know that you don't pay a lot (if any) attention to that, you state that regularly... Anyway, I actually really enjoyed your reaction to Ren, thanks for doing it.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

They're probably not watching the whole video, and going off on me half-cocked. I knew I was going to get some negative comments, but I wasn't expecting as many as I received. I had to remove over half of them due to the name calling, insulting, and getting personal nature of the negativity. But I kept the others up. So keep in mind, the negative comments you can see are only about 40% of the total negative comments. Like I said in the review....humans can be terrible.

[@analisasmith7927]

@@THEDavidHereticThey can also be good - or try to be (!) - you have a lot of lovely comments too - and you ain’t so bad either! X

[@alantattersall3190]

As a huge Ren fan i thoroughly enjoyed your reaction. I look forward to you checking out more of his work. I am 74 and a veteran of watching the Beatles in the Cavern in 1962 and I honestly believe that he is a one in a genetation artist.

[@analisasmith7927]

No I don’t hate you - 8.6 is pretty good for someone who doesn’t get it (emotionally) 😁 Btw he is a self taught guitarist

[@seagull01-cp8pb]

He! he! The song made you reveal aspects of yourself I hadn’t heard before. Welcome to the world of Ren reactions😁👍🦇

[@nubien9]

🔥🔥🔥 Reaction My G! Yep, We're all different, hence reaction channels, also not all of us suck😎❤️💛💚🖤✊🏿🇯🇲

[@bajalajolla]

🤘🏼🖤

[@distractjen]

Huge Ren fan here, and I loved your reaction. Frankly, I didn’t understand much of the technical musical aspect, but I got the gist. I feel like I learned a bit and also appreciated the perspective of a musician who wasn’t familiar with his work. I watched you progress from annoyance to mildly intrigued to somewhat begrudgingly respectful of his choices and technique. And to be fair, that was pretty much how I felt towards the reaction, although I may have ended up more impressed by you than you were by him. It felt fair and balanced which I respect. You were honest all around. I’ve subbed and hope eventually I’ll understand more as we go.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

FEELIN' YOU distractjen!!!

[@woodywoodman2319]

Hes a multi-instrumentalist, mostly self taught! Who crosses Genres with ease!! Enjoyed your break down! Ren is my favorite artist of 55 years. Solely cause his style shown me its okay to Not be perfect! That a little experimentation and even going way outta the box is a good thing!

[@Proud.American58]

Great breakdown. I actually think the 8.6 is a very good score for a song that didn’t move you. Imagine if it did. Anyway, listening to your opinion of the human race, I think Ren’s song “Sick Boi” may support that opinion.

[@Proud.American58]

@@Mr.Ekshin 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheIamtheoneandonly1]

@@Mr.Ekshin10 / 10 😉

[@ignoblesavage5559]

Very surprised DH would give a score that high when it didn't seem to actually connect with him, and because it is not a complex song, musically speaking. Considering DH's habit of leaning in the opposite direction of big fans of artists (unless the MUSIC really grabs you...& in this case, the music takes a back seat to the point). I feel like something was speaking to him in spite of himself, which may have influenced him to give the high score. Realistically, I expected about a 6.5-7.0, as Hi Ren does NOT feature much of Ren's musical abilities.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

@Mr.Ekshin If you don't like what I do, I have a very simple solution for you. Don't watch the channel. There, see? Easy solution, yeah?

[@THEDavidHeretic]

@@Mr.Ekshin You're still here? I'm not butthurt at all, I'm glad to hear you're leaving. Just in case you have second thoughts though, I'll help you out the door. Welcome to the blocked list.

[@DogDocKat]

I am a huge Ren fan and I really valued your breakdown. The most impressive parts of this video for me are that it was performed and filmed in one take with multiple cameras. The talent it takes to play guitar that skillfully while performing multiple characters is impressive to me. The other impressive fact is that Ren is mostly self-taught in his guitar playing. He taught himself using KZbin videos. To have this level of skill in playing amazes me. I love that you recognized his guitar skills. Thanks for you honest and insightful reaction.

[@jaypalmer7349]

I love everything you’ve done with your channel. This one was interesting. I feel like you did a fair job considering you seemed to go in already annoyed at Ren’s fans. I think this song is good for reasons other than musicality. It’s a truthful, open, and brave to put your life out there. I think this review proved to me that you are a real pro by not buying into the hype and reviewing it using the standards you have already set. Great job sir

[@785boats]

Absolutely man.

[@christelsegbars1630]

Dear beautiful human, why would I hate you while your honoust in your review... thank you. I did enjoy Ren, but he's not everybody's cup of tea, that allright .... warm hug from a stranger from the Netherlands ❤

[@inatcacenco3006]

I enjoyed your reaction. Don't understand why someone will hate your reactions - you do you and that's why we are your subscribers

[@THEDavidHeretic]

You would be amaaaaaaazed. Just read the comments, and keep in mind that's not all of them. I had to remove about 60% of the negative ones that got personal with me with the insults and the name calling.

[@inatcacenco3006]

@@THEDavidHeretic That's immature and not cool. I myself am a big fun of Ren, but hey, we all are different and should respect different opinions. Love your content, Mr. David

[@THEDavidHeretic]

@@inatcacenco3006 FEELIN' YOU!!!

[@corsa180]

Very fair review. Interestingly, some of things you said near the end of the review - about humans tearing each other down and destroying the earth - are things that Ren touches on in some of his other songs.

[@colonelbasic9736]

The genius of this song is in the lyrics not to music although he uses the guitar in a clever way to support the story

[@colonelbasic9736]

@@johnsmith_1942 nobody said it was mate

[@johnsmith_1942]

@@colonelbasic9736 Sorry, I read your comment completely wrong. Then mansplained on top of it. Jeez. Well, have a good day, sir.

[@colonelbasic9736]

@@johnsmith_1942 no problem, it's refreshing to see somebody apologize on the internet 👍

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

Great reaction David - and IMHO a fair score - especially as I'm not sure it was 100% to your taste . Ren is a seriously talented AND versatile artist and musician - both in the work he writes himself and the covers he does from Bob Marley to Black Sabbath to The Police ( and almost everything in between ! )

[@HansStoroy]

Can't fault your reaction. I connected to the music, but also lyrics and theater of the whole thing. Also with this being a live performed 1-take performance. That said, you've had one of the better musical breakdowns of this song I've seen....and i've seen quite a few. Great reaction.

[@CreativePhotoWS]

Except it is not a one take but a mash up of at least two of the live performances (four were shot) plus some additional hand held camera work. Doesn’t detract from the performance not being a one take.

[@debrashrider4062]

Was done start to finish with multiple cameras set up around the room. The only part not from this take was the spoken word at the end. They were discovered by rhe building owner and evicted. Not that Ren would ever just find a place with the correct atmophere and accustics and not get permission and file all appropreate forms. Cackle! Cough cough.

[@CreativePhotoWS]

@@debrashrider4062 incorrect.

[@peekaboosue]

I was wondering when you were going to be reacting to this song...I myself like Ren and some of his music and messages are very inspiring. I however don't believe all his songs are a 10 or even a 9 . Why would you get any hate? Your score was actually a bit higher than my prediction....I thought ok lowest score you would give is 8.0 highest 8.5 your score 8.6 and I was oh wow that was a bit higher than my prediction which is great! Glad it got a higher score so for me as someone who likes some of Rens Songs (but not all) the score was on point and I really appreciate your no nonsense honest opinion and reviews.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

You would be amazed at how much hate I've gotten. I was expecting some hate, I even said so in the review. But I wasn't expecting as much as I've received. I had to remove over half of them due to the name calling, insulting, and getting personal nature of the negativity. But I kept the others up. So keep in mind, the negative comments you can see are only about 40% of the total negative comments. Like I said in the review....humans can be terrible.

[@boxicuk1620]

Huge Ren fan here,i didnt think this would be your bag and i dont think you will get the negativity that you anticipate coming ,you explained your reaction well ,you gave your reasons the things you liked the things not so much ,the lyrics and the message is the most important thing about this track and it goes along with rens backstory ,anyway have a great day us ren fans are not too bad ya know hahahaha

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Actually, there's been quite a bit of negativity in the comments. I've kept some of them up, the ones who didn't insult me or use name calling, so you can see for yourself. I expected some negativity, but I've seen more negative comments than I anticipated.

[@boxicuk1620]

@@THEDavidHeretic you'll always get negative comments on any reaction David and 95% of the comments I've just read seem to be pretty positive about your reaction even tho it wasn't quite for you, obviously I can't comment on what I did not see so I don't know what the negativity was for but you'll always get people who are over protective of their favourite artists and ren is slightly different because he interacts so much with his fans so it's a closer type of relationship,but like I say I personally think in what I've read here people have been very fair with your assessment and reaction ,have a great day and appreciate the reply

[@annebiebrich9155]

Ren also has ADHD and severe....he is able to concentrate on his creations because he finds it therapeutic

[@timjefferson3191]

Ren fans are very protective of him. I thought you gave your opinion and that's what a reaction is. To me you almost started out asking for negative comments and finished with that also. I've seen reactors do that to get more views on their channel. Not saying that is what you did, only you know that. As I said it's your opinion and you didn't give him a bad score. Maybe playing both sides? Dunno. Just my opinion.

[@maktub8669]

Great reaction!!! If you liked this PLEASEEEEE do tales of Jenny and screech next!!! It’s the best show of guitar skills and story telling. He’s a genius.

[@kimmchenry4383]

I agree

[@mothermaclean]

I appreciate your review but you may wish to hear more of his stuff as this is an introduction song art but he bends all genres and he had done a lot of original and covers with his band the big push. He done covers of i shot the sheriff/road to zion/hiphop in one mash up and also they covered black sabbath war pigs and in the name of which is amazing to

[@kanalnamn]

I have yet to see a reaction that understand that it trancends into Paranoid. That has made me a bit disapponted.

[@kanalnamn]

I've seen in Devids earlier reactions that lyrics doesn't mean much to him, and that make this song a bit unnecessary to react to so as it's 75% about the lyrics. Me myself know more or less nothing about music or music theory and lyrics are more important than the actual music - that sets a song like this in a different light. On the other hand that make pieces like Metallica's "Orion" difficult for me to appreciate as it's an instrumental.

[@gordonbarton8440]

Oh. This I’m keen to hear. I’m a bit of an 80’s 90’s metal fan and reactions have reignited my love of music and I discovered Ren a few months ago. I’m now looking forward to your take on what I think is one of the best artists of the decade.

[@renejensen7799]

As Ren says we need to know we are human, and thats a line said taking back to mistakes he made himself, beliving he was something else, so basicly what is said is, to stay alive, and work as a human, know your human..

[@celticwolf1896]

Good reaction David, different reactors have different approaches and may focus on the visuals or the lyrics whereas you normally pick up on the actual music. You've picked up on a lot of the musical aspects that maybe others don't notice or go into as much detail as you do. I think the main selling point of this video is the lyrics and the message which as you probably would admit isn't what you focus on as much. The beauty about music is it can hit different people in different ways and sometimes it doesn't hit someone as much as it does others. But there's other songs by other artists that may affect you but not other people, and all of that is cool as it would be boring if we all enjoyed the same thing. I like some of Ren's stuff and appreciate what he's done as an independent artist and hopefully he'll inspire others to put themselves out there without signing to a label. As always your reaction and honest opinion is appreciated as a different view can help others see things differently.

[@dannymartin208]

Check out REN’s money game parts 1&2, I think you might get more of an emotional connection, humans being shit n all

[@melissatopham4018]

Please react to his masterpiece that is 3 songs woven together to make a mind blowing story..The Tale Of Jenny and Screech (FULL)..which includes the 3rd one Violets Tale...MUST be watched together...and in order to get the story.

[@PoliticallyPink]

You weren't letting yourself experience it as a complete thing, but listening so closely to the guitar instead. It was really neat to hear this perspective -- it's so important, and often overlooked. These "parts" make up the whole thing and you could appreciate the tiny choices that went into making this amazing piece! Something I noticed with Ren is that he really knows his instruments - voice and guitar. He utilizes them in some unusual and effective ways sometimes. (Like grunting! you don't often hear a *grunt* in a song, but it works in Sick Boi! [which you virtually quote from in your review.]) I didn't understand your score, though. Listen to Ren with his band The Big Push busking "War Pigs," or "Paint it Black," they're a ton of fun.

[@wintermoonomen]

Wow! I really appreciated your breakdowns. Very technical and insightful. Many suggestions and request will definitely come. My two sense would be to suggest the full version of "Tale of Jenny & Screech" if you'd like to see more great guitar techniques. Like many others have said 'Chalk Outlines' live if you wish to hear more of his vocal techniques. This song resonates with so many because it acknowledges the internal struggles we ALL have with self doubt, self worth. I'll have to disagree about being reminded about what we are. Angelic life was envious and even jealous of us human creatures. Would you rather be a worm? A single cell organism, a hyena? Despite all the negative attributes you mentioned our human species experiences great joys such as the experience of listening to/creating music, writing poetry and stories, dance, the awesome feeling of hugging someone tightly that you care about, how we come together as a species to help others in need especially in great disasters situations across this globe. Glass is either half empty or half filled.

[@melissatomlin13]

I appreciate your score. You gave a good explanation of where your score comes from. You gave me as a viewer insight into some of the technical aspects. As a Ren fan, I think he would not be upset about what you said.

[@yonahgrossman7319]

Big Ren fan. I'd rather hear a good analysis of a song that doesn't "hit you" than a lousy analysis of a song that does. Been bored by A LOT of those. 8.6 works for me.

[@karlbecker8775]

I'm sure its already been mentioned, but this is a one take live performance, which makes it more impressive. Thanks for the reaction!

[@debrashrider4062]

I too am a Ren follower. I think your reaction was very very good! You should never apologize for being yourself, or defend your likes and dislikes. Honesty is what I enjoy from reactors. Ren fans found you because of HI REN, but Ren fans will sub to you because of you! Yes, "sìck boi" has a message you voice!

[@strover76]

Hi there. Huge Ren fan here! I found your reaction refreshing. I connected with this song deeply, on the message side so it was really great to get more insight into how technical his guitar playing really is 🙏 8.6 is a truly fantastic score factoring in its based on his musical talent! I commend you gor not just jumping on the Ren train and i can tell you, he would too! "We must not forget, that We are human beings" is directly to do with the mental health correlation to angels being all "good" demons being all "bad" As humans, we have to deal with the internal struggles that they dont have. (In a metaphor way as hes not religious) As mentioned by others, you may gel more with Sic Boi, or even more so with Miney game pt 1 & 2. (Pt 3 is his next eagerly anticipated release!) Thank you David, for your honest, informative reaction. Peace to you from the UK 🙏

[@THEDavidHeretic]

FEELIN' YOU Strover!!!

[@francesdoll4039]

The significant part about being human is that every day in everyway we have to decide how we are going to function in this world. We have both evil and good within, and we need to choose. Ren speaks from a place of broken dreams and years and years of misdiagnosed illness/total pain and disability. He now speaks and sings for those who live in the darkness of isloation. He creates a place of hope and companionship for a lot of people. I understand you aren't touched by that. I'm just a bit sad you missed out on the richness of that connection. I loved you analysis and reaction.

[@ssvr3dl1n38]

Kudos for a respectful review based on your opinion. That's the ultimate beauty of music - there's no such thing as right or wrong, just what's right for you!

[@busterbell871n]

The comment section will be proof of how vile humans can be......... Appreciate your commentary and unbiased opinion. Many people have difficulty accepting an opposing view.

[@philproffitt8363]

I must not forget...WE must not forget...he gave an 8.6 😁

[@andrewmulligan1381]

Exactly. I'm sure Ren would be really happy that his 'fans' can be absolutely ridiculous and abusive to some reactors that weren't wanting to go down the 'ren rabbit hole' People don't need to like his songs. 8.6 is still a good rating.

[@debrashrider4062]

​@@andrewmulligan1381 comfort to you. Ren fans are not abusive. A review/reaction could tear Ren limb from limb and we would be just fine with it. Sucking up, would not encourage improvement.

[@andrewmulligan1381]

@@debrashrider4062 it's why I put 'fans' - I can only say I've seen a few reactors getting some very negative/abusive/harsh comments when someone doesn't like his songs - or understand them and even saw someone say they weren't a fan of his rapping skills and the comment section blew up. Thing is every artist has fans that will do this, not just in the music scene, some people are just like that. You may claim fellow fans won't do this....but it's impossible to speak for them all.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

@busterbell871n Yup, you are not wrong.

[@markchasse8992]

It takes severa listens to capture everything in this performance masterpiece.

[@DianeLFC]

There are great human beings, who will rush into burning buildings to help a child. There are really fucking nasty humans and there's everything in between. We as a collective should be ashamed at the lack of action to save our planet but we should be proud of our response to human tragedy (mostly). I am one that connects with most of Rens music. Some of his music deals with human greed and gov systems. Money Game 1 and 2, but they are more Rap, so not sure if it'll be your bag. I really enjoyed your honest reaction and appreciated your knowledge on the guitar side. Thank you.

[@danielfinsberg2639]

"Who in the world wants to be human" cracked me up 🤣 God i love you David ❤️

[@baskazezulova8404]

I respect that it doesn’t resonates. And I agree, 8.6 is a great result for a song which has a message that doesn’t hit you. Thanks for the reaction :)

[@im2yz4u17]

Ren is not perfect. His music has a rough edge. He does not try to sugar coat his music and use a great deal of post production or autotune. It is the message that resonates in 'Hi Ren'. So Yes, 8.6 score is probably appropriate from a professional standpoint. Your review of his guitar skills was amazing to me; had not heard that kind of breakdown at all. Love your analysis David. Oh and yes, humans suck.

[@BrianYates-ct9db]

I think its about finding a more personal connection with yourself and deling with the human condition 🧐✌️🤘

[@Manul-Pallas]

Thank you, it is a fair and argumented reaction. What Ren meant is, we should not forget that we are neither angels nor demons nor gods.

[@rivernuri]

Thank you for your authenticity. I saw your comment response elsewhere, where you said you felt people were here only to raise Ren and dont care about the reactors themselves. I'm sorry youve had experiences that led you to feel that way. In my experience, RENegades by and large really buy into the idea that "a rising tide lifts all boats" and are also invested in the idea of community. I hope that the positivity can counteract some of the negativity for you.

[@marielleklimsop]

And the mash up with I shot the sherif. Also live with his band. You can see he’s very skilled on guitar

[@ScottyRosencrance-dq4pj]

I’ve just started the reaction but can tell your understanding of music is top of the line, and I’m excited to finish your take

[@jameslitzinger6932]

Great breakdown and review, and great that you made it a point to say the song didn't hit you on an emotional level, but you could still appreciate all the aspects of the combined work as impressive (sic.) As for the Epilogue, I appreciate your wince at the reminder "that we are human beings", although Ren has said it's his favorite part of the song. I just need to say that, nah mate, humans don't suck--they are amazing beings. True, they can create or destroy, but that is the choice each individual makes of their own volition by choosing to be (or by NOT committing to a choice.) The great thing about Ren, is that he works to create; not destroy. To lift others up, as he reaches another rung on the latter; not stepping on others to get there. That is in the power of every human being.

[@MegaArchiebald]

You discount all of the good that humans do by focusing on the bad. There are some great people doing a lot of good. Pushing boundaries, making discoveries, saving lives. Even writing/performing music which gives us such joy. Don’t let the negatives of society outweigh the good.

[@emelless5365]

Agree totally.

[@user-from-Arkaim]

For the first time I hear this guy, a kind of Gollum with a guitar. He is undoubtedly talented, but his particular video refers to the world of hip-hop, where I feel out of place. The last monologue without sound accompaniment reminded me of the nature of the narration of another speech of Zarathustra from Nietzsche's work, which was cool.

[@thisistheyear99]

"Yeah but humans suck" 😂😂 You made me spit out my coffee 😂 Couldn't agree more, humans are awful. Cheers David. Have a great Sunday ✌🏻

[@francesdoll4039]

Humans are also wonderful. Best to see both side and strive to be better, isn't it?❤

[@Spudeaux]

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals" Agent K in Men in Black - I definitely don't agree that human beings are just the worst. For every evil person out there, there are a dozen with pure hearts. When we put ourselves into our own little groups and forget about things outside of us, that's where we err. But on the other hand we can accomplish a lot of good when we come together, whether for ourselves, or even for the planet we live on. I think part of the message of this song is to remind people that while the bad part of humanity exists and can dominate us, it's not the only part of us, and it's not what makes us uniquely human. What makes us uniquely human is the power that we have - power that can used for both evil and for good. When we know we're all the same, that's when it's harder for the evil side to win.

[@animalsoul444]

all humans are bad in one way or another, sorry..

[@Spudeaux]

@@animalsoul444 There's no contradiction between my statement and yours.

[@johnekare8376]

Good reaction mate! I think the assessment that most people has to deal with some sort of emotional challenge throughout there lifetime, be it a temporary or chronic one, is apt. I think it's part of the human condition, but some has it worse than others. So I agree that it is not special; but it's less common for people to put themselves out there and speak openly about it. By being open and putting words to struggles that many times only exist as vague internal self-judgement he shows that those of us that go through or has gone through that are not alone. I think that is why this song speaks to so many people. I also think that the notion that 'humans suck' is a defeatist attitude. We all have the capacity to do good and evil actions. We can embrace that and make a conscious decision to strive towards the former and stay clear of the latter. It puts the onus back on each individual to do their part, instead of throwing ones hands in the air and say "what's the point!" #sorryforranting; but it's an interesting topic, and an important one. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to react to this one. Be well!

[@jasonoverman9679]

Listening to your thoughts on the human race has me laughing right now as the song he put out after this called 'Sick Boi' talks about the same thing. His songs 'Money Game' parts 1 and 2 goes even deeper. As for the people that are going to trash you for your rating, they are the same ones that praise the reaction channels giving 10's across the board while giving empty praises behind false smiles in an attempt to play their viewers.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

FEELIN' YOU Jason!!! I appreciate your comments man, thank you for lifting me up a little bit out of the pool of hate I've been sinking in. Yeah man I hear you, and in all honesty if those people don't like what I do, then they can stick to those other "reactors" that you mentioned. Thank you for your support and the comments, it really helped me come up for air while I go through these comments.

[@KylieIsOverIt]

Oh man. Seeing this pop up made me as nervous as every Nirvana reaction does. Generally, I don't give an ish what anyone thinks of my musical taste but I care about David's opinion. Much of Ren's power of connection is in the lyrics so it may never be tuned to your reaction style. (8.6 is an epic score in light of this.) That said, his talents as an all-around (self-taught) INDEPENDENT instrumentalist, vocalist and the person who produces his own music and videos from top to bottom...well, those talents make him worth your time. Appreciate you taking this time, David, and hope you do so in future.

[@brockjansen1617]

I was fascinated by your review. You provided insightful commentary about exactly why you didn't fall over sideways from the impact of this song on your life. I had a different experience, but I can respect yours. The last set of comments about what a terrible species we are made me chuckle a little. You and Ren aren't so different-minded as you might believe. Even if you don't review it on the channel, you should have a listen to Sick Boi, or Dominoes, or Money Game Part 2.

[@MrBurnout22]

I think 8.6 is a respectable score for sure, and his review on the technical skills of Ren were very respectful and well said. The only thing I would offer to provoke more thought into what he spoke about in the end with the "dont forget we are human beings" that was not to say dont forget we are the greatest species in the known universe no but it was to remember that we are all human and we all have this eternal struggle within us! As you said 90% of us have admitted our mental faults and the 10% that say they dont are just in denial or narcissists which would be their mental faults. Which is exactly his point 100% of humans are not perfect we all have this yin and yang a light and dark 2 poles a positive and negative side to us thats been here since the creation of time! We cant escape it no matter how hard we fight against it we will all have ups and downs. Or as he put it a pendulum that never stops swinging back and forth. So the harder to try to fight against this eternally swinging pendulum from going back down on the back swing you are only making things more difficult for yourself, so as humans we must learn to relax and go with the flow and not struggle to fight the inevitable back swings! And what he was saying about its what separates us from Angels and demons is the fact that humans are the only ones that will experience both sides! We experience the positive and negatives of life where Demons ONLY experience the negative side or the Dark side of yin and yang and Angels would only experience the positive side or the light side of yin and yang! Humans are tangled in both sides constantly which is what makes us different so by remembering we are human beings he is just saying to recognize that we have no choice but to experience both sides the light and dark.

[@davidrodenkirk5561]

Humans suck because they think they are gods,demons,angels. Not just a part of the human race. Good job from your unique ear and knowlege. His next abum is pre-ordered at the top of the charts 2nd i believe at this point. People are looking for something they can relate to i think this is doing so well because people relate to it. If you care to hear his story it's deep. He touches most everyone that i have seen watch it me included,it's realy opened a dialog all over you tube to be able to stand and share and reach out. I'm glad your who you are.😎

[@JensRandolff]

I wrote this introduction to Ren as well as some background information when I first discovered him earlier this year, as there wasn't a Wikipedia entry for people to look him up prior to March 2023. I have posted this info to every "Hi Ren" reaction I have come across since, and I hope it will be of some use to the uninitiated. Ren is a Welsh independent artist/singer/songwriter/busker/producer, living in Brighton, UK. He plays multiple instruments (acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, melodica, drums), has impressive vocals, beatboxes, produces all his own beats, is an excellent storyteller, and is quite the philosopher and poet. He is considered by many a modern-day bard; he calls his music "bardcore." Ren's music videos are frequently recorded live, often in a single take, although not necessarily the first take, and from various camera angles. In the case of "Hi Ren," it took four takes, all live in the room, to get the footage he wanted. Someone commented that Samuel Perry-Falvey who filmed "Hi Ren," talks about the production of the video in the comments of Jonathan Hiller's (Filmmaker Reacts) reaction to the song. According to him, this video footage is not a one-take per se, but the audio was recorded live in a single take. Ren's release, "Sick Boi," is almost another chapter to "Hi Ren" and appears to have been filmed in the same room. "Hi Ren" is the song that put Ren on everyone's radar since December; it went viral and has garnered over 18 million views since its debut. Ren recently released a video of an older live stage performance of “Hi Ren;” it is worth checking out. However, Ren has been creating great music for more than ten years. Many of Ren's songs resonate with people because he addresses struggles that many others face every day. Ren's earliest recordings on KZbin 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." Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJDcc4OheL5phc0 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 and also showcases his guitar skills. 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 Hip Hop/Rap style songs are worth checking out if you enjoy this genre; unfortunately, sexual innuendos are pervasive in hip-hop and rap, and Ren makes such references in several of his songs. 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, 3, and 4)," "Crucify Your Culture," "Power," "Hold On," his recent release, “Down On The Beat (feat. Viktus),” and his latest song, “Masochist,” just to name a few. 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, in particular his song "Fire," 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 is about to shoot "Money Game Part III." Ren's performances with Sam Tompkins ("Blind Eyed," "Earned It /Mans World / Falling," "Walking on the Moon/No Diggity," "Feeling Good/Trouble So High/Masterblaster (Jammin')," "Latch," "Wild Thoughts/Crazy in love (Live Session)," "Same Old Situation (Live, feat. Ren)," "Improvising Around Stevie Wonder," "Live in the Streets of Brighton, UK," "What Went Wrong" Part I&II) are definitely a must. Also, his collaborations with Eden Nash ("Humble," "Ocean"), Bibi ("Crutch," "Ahiahiaoha"), Molly McKinna ("Penitence"), Orlean ("Jessica"), his former bandmate Romain Axisa ("French Song"), are all great. Last but not least, Ren's busking sessions with Liv Sangster are awesome. I recently discovered that Ren also recorded a cover of "Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Cover)," which is simply beautiful. "The Big Push" (Ren Gill, Gorran Kendall, Romain Axisa, and Glen Chambers) busking sessions, concerts, and live recordings all are amazing and well worth checking out. All but the drummer sing lead vocals at times. Ren, Gorran, and Romain all play multiple instruments. Ren plays acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, and drums. Gorran plays acoustic, electric, bass guitar, and harmonica. Romain plays acoustic, electric, bass guitar, ukulele, and piano. They are each incredibly gifted artists, and their solo work is completely different from each other. 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," "War Pigs," "Roadhouse Blues," "My Generation," "Paint It Black," "An Englishman in New York," "Bongo Bong" are excellent. On "These Boots Are Made For Walking'/Satisfaction/Everybody," "Praise You" (Fatboy Slim Cover), and "What Kind Of Woman Is This," all three take a turn singing. The songs "Oh My Woman," "Swan Song," "Sweet Little Lady," "It's Alright," "Dignity," "Watch Out," and so many others are equally impressive. The band, at least for the time being, performed their last official busking session and gave their last concert in September of last year (2022) due to the fact that Ren was leaving for Canada to undergo specialized medical care and surgeries for his multiple health issues. In anticipation of his stay in Canada, Ren prepared some music ahead of time to be released during the time he expects to be gone. He released "Sick Boi," "Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve retake)," which is another masterful work, "Illest Of Our Time," and "Animal Flow," which is out now in two versions, a full-production music video, and a live, one-take acoustic version. Ren also premiered the official music video of his song “Murderer,” and followed it up with a newly recorded acoustic live version that is phenomenal and my favorite of the two versions. His release, “Love Music Part 4” and “Masochist” recently came out, and his newest release, “Lost All Faith,” just premiered. Ren’s “Money Game Part 3” will be released soon, and his new album is due out October 13th, if I am not mistaken. Ren's recent release, "Su!cIde," was difficult to watch for me to the point that I was not able to watch or listen to it again for a long time. I was not even able to watch a single reaction to it. It is a sad, haunting, gut-wrenching tribute to Ren's friend Joe who took his own life. Ren’s follow-up to “Su!cIde,” "For Joe," is also sad and emotional, but strangely enough, it has had a healing effect on me and has given me a sense of closure. Even the lyrics that "gutted" me in "Su!cIde" that are repeated in “For Joe” impacted me differently this time around, and I am now able to listen to both songs without completely breaking down.

[@devilsadvocate3364]

As much as I love Ren and this song, I think your 8.6 is a very fair score

[@TheEverydayPoet]

You and Ren show me how sadly I've ignored the language of music throughout my life, as compared to words. Click or no click, I liked you from the beginning of this video, then throughout. Thanks, David, for your expertise and authenticity.

[@nthsum5509]

Great review. I watch a lot of your reactions, and I'm also a Ren fan. I was hoping for an 8.5. 8.6 is awesome. The song may not have emotionally touched you, and that's fine. But it DID get you to do a 10 minute review with two rants about society. I would say that the song did it's job.

[@zhalcome]

In line with what you were saying at the end of the video about human beings being parasitic, I'd suggest Ren - Sick Boi

[@Vicky61407]

Really cannot understand why you’ve had so many negative messages. I thought this was a really interesting reaction and certainly don’t expect everyone to feel it deserves a 10 even if I think it does. I look forward to hearing any more reaction you do by Ren . Have a good day.

[@Codex7777]

If you rewind a little, after pausing, you won't miss anything. :)

[@ClearTheRubble7]

Big Ren fan here, and I thought your reaction was honest and pretty damn good! 8.6 is a high rating! Appreciated your musical breakdown, too. Edit: One of my favorite songs by him is Heretic, another piece that doesn't seem to fit any one genre. That's the first thing I thought of when I saw your channel name. 😂

[@stevewebster775]

Loved your reaction , especially your breakdown of his guitar playing very informative, keep it up , ps my favourite guitarist is Tony Iommi, love Sabbath 🤘

[@aprilabbatoy]

Ren fan here. I enjoyed your review. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@ricci8497]

If anyone starts hating on you then I doubt they've seen much of your channel and how you break down your reactions and the areas you focus on when you do them. Loved hearing your technical breaking down of the playing and the performing of this and fully get how much intent Ren played with in doing this.

[@THEDavidHeretic]

FEELIN' YOU ricci!!! Yeah I've been getting some hate, it's sad that I've come to expect that on every video I do. The funny thing to me is not the amount I'm getting, it's the reasoning. They're all upset because I didn't focus on the lyrics like everyone else does. Oh well, they can go watch another channel if they're gonna be all butthurt over it, I could honestly care less. I'm gonna keep being me, and keep doing what I do and how I do it.

[@barefootalien]

Bro... knowing you and your channel pretty well, an 8.6 is a great score! Anyone who's pissed about that needs to watch more of your videos. I don't even know what it would take to get a 10/10 from you. Some absolute powerhouse songs and bands usually peak in the lower 9's at best.

[@rodennis418]

Solid run-down on the song musically and can see the score as fair...especially if PURELY looking at the song. I think when you pull the full performance (LIVE one take) and all the visual items that connect to your points of the use of the guitar could slide this up in the 9's when grading the whole thing. But...Ren fan new to your stuff...I like the grading scale and you supported your scoring well. Look forward to checking out some more and hope to see you hit a few others by Ren (there's a few I would only give a 4-5 to but totally get your comments on some say 10 to everything lol)

[@tgk3624]

Whats amazing is Ren taught himself how to play guitar from youtube videos.

[@tigg1972]

8.6 is an awesome score from Heretic. Im a massive REN fan, and I enjoyed this immensely. 😊

[@slowfud]

Not hating you, each one is entitled to his opinion and it was a very interesting analysis. Thank you!

[@lauriep2018]

Gggrrr I usually watch your The Warning reactions (I saw your at the Troubadour show a couple years ago) but I redirect Ren so much. He will ashtrays chat any blocks on his videos that you may get BTW. Also, he's known for watching reactions to his videos and responding. I've seen many deep dives into the lyrics but this is the deepest that I've seen going into his guitar work and arranging. I bet he'd find it fascinating. ❤

[@THEDavidHeretic]

Well hopefully if you see us at another show in the future, you'll come over to us and say hi. We'd love to meet you.

[@lauriep2018]

@@THEDavidHeretic I actually did meet you and your wife at the Troubador. Got a Pic that you posted. I felt famous! Jk

[@chriskasowski4743]

Great reaction. I appreciate your honesty.

[@petehutcheon5186]

Make sure you check out more. Very curious to see how it goes. Also, you’re going to have a ton of Ren fans on your channel. Lol. I just subbed.

[@CeIinky]

I can't say I understood a lot of what you were saying about the technical playing, but i enjoyed hearing it anyways

[@DrVegtable]

30 Helens agree... Honesty is the best policy.

[@carmenfringer4740]

First of all....everyone has the right to there own opinion . World would be utterly boring if everyone would agree. Thank you for your in depth musical analysis. Glad I found this. Makes me wanna peek at what else you have looked at.

[@whisperinthewind3633]

I find this a very unique video cause you do analyze the song and don't stay at lyrics like most reactors do. I like what Ren does and I totally accept your opinion. If anyone from Patreon see this and is a fan of Amon Amarth, if you can, request to David something from them😁

[@musicismyfriend7919]

I think Ren is a wonderful breath of fresh air, especially in this day and age of mostly crappy music. That being said, his fans need to relax. He's a musician, not the messiah.

[@rockyroad64]

Thanks for you honest opinion.

[@jonmoore873]

I think as a stand alone song, your rating is fair. I think that as an overall performance piece, it scores higher for me but asking a music bore (no offense intended, it’s just how it is), you are looking at it from a different standpoint and it’s like asking you if you like a play or a dance routine. The best part of the ‘piece’ for me is his acting and execution. I also think he’d be a great peaky blinder! Good work. Fair, balanced and structured review from your perspective. And not playing to the crowd!

[@JoFa876]

Good solid review. I agree with most of what you said. Ren's very versatile, and is a decent guitarist as well as a songwriter and vocalist. he does some really good stuff with his old band The Big Push, if you want to check that out some time. Keep up the good reviews!

[@simplyawful3420]

Your opinion is valid and i mean no hate, and i do agree people suck, like really suck, we destroy, we kill, we're fucking parasites to this planet and deserve to be wiped out. ...but every once in a while its good to hear we're not all bad, some are just living, just trying our best to survive. The world sucks out there, its good to hear we're not alone. Again, no hate, just my opinion.

[@wembley636]

Hi David, thank you for your honest reaction, and you are correct, this is YOUR Opinion and I appreciate you keeping to it. Did you know this was a Live performance? You should check some more of Ren, "The Tale of Jenny & Screech [Full Version] is another live video, 3 songs in one video.

[@TheStratpicker]

Very good analysis of the musical side of this mini-opera. For a better idea of Ren’s skill on the guitar, his now defunct group The Big Push have an excellent version of Englishman in New York by Sting/The Police.

[@mary.e645]

I appreciate your honesty David, maybe it will cheer you to know I for one meet many kind people. I hope one day you will meet a good human being ❤🙏❤

[@THEDavidHeretic]

FEELIN' YOU Mary!!! Well I met my wife....and she's about the best human being I've ever met. She makes me want to be better, so that's definitely saying something about her.

[@johndiestler6127]

Well, you did mention that my comments don't really matter. It's brutally honest and tells me something about your perspective. It also reflects on me as I spend 5 to ten minutes writing something that might not change anything. Ha! What's even more interesting is that I won't ever know your reaction or non-reaction because I don't plan to subscribe to your channel or check the comment history. So, what's the point? We are who we are. I was genuinely impressed by your in-depth technical knowledge of REN's guitar playing. Your consistent comment was "smart," and even though I'm not a musician, I could appreciate the complexity in it. There were a few other impressive aspects that you didn't mention. I noticed the guitar was plugged in, and there was a small mic on the collar, suggesting it was a live session with multiple cameras but one complete take. Later, I found out it was the fourth take. What struck me the most was the lyrics and songwriting. I was a bit surprised that lyrics didn't seem important to you, or maybe it was just for this particular song. Maybe being a human is a trigger. Now, I understand better why you didn't mention certain things. And in your own words, “I'm not moved” by your reaction. To make a comparison using a different medium, it's like critiquing a painting by focusing on the number of colors used and the brushwork in the background versus the foreground, while the content is somewhat secondary. Or perhaps it's just a matter of personal preference and what resonates with us. Well, as i said earlier, we are who we are.