Ren THANK YOU | Ren - For Joe | Psych Nurse Reacts

[@krisprepolec5616]

This was filmed on a hill overlooking the Saddledome in Calgary (Scotsman’s Hill). I have watched fireworks from there many times. What a beautiful tribute to his friend ❤️‍🩹

[@nickforell1]

Thanks for the info! Such a beautiful song in a wonderful place

[@PeteAxeShields]

I relate so much to everything about this song of Ren's, and all he has gone / is going through. My best friend ( we worked together as coal miners and socialised together through our mutual love of music ) Mark, took his own life. It is a long story but he always called me " Rabbit " ( after Peter Rabbit of Enid Blyton fame ) When he would call me up ( way before the days of the internet ) he would always leave me a voice message on my old answer phone, which always began " Hey Rabbit .... " One day, I got a message on my answer machine and he said, in a serious tone ( he was usually jovial ) " Pete, it's Mark. Call me back as soon as you can brother " ..... I had a lot of work on at the time ( I have been a freelance caricaturist / portrait artist since I left the coal mining industry ) and I forgot to get right back to him. I was at my parents house, a few days later, talking to my Dad on his front lawn when a mutual friend, ex miner, said " So sorry to hear about Mark, Pete " I said " Mark Hunter ? " he said " Yes, such a shame " I said " Why, what has he done now ? " ( Mark was a Union activist for the N.U.M during the 1984 Miners Strike ) " Oh dear " replied my friend " I thought you would know, Mark took his own life yesterday " It was as though someone had smashed me in the face with a 14 pound hammer. All I could hear was the message Mark had left me a few days earlier. I should have known something was badly wrong because of his tone. I had all the inevitable " What if .... " moments and for ages blamed myself for not getting straight back to Mark. It is something we never heal from, but as Ren states, it definitely makes us stronger and appreciative of every second of every day for all our true friends. Sadly, I had two more friends through the years commit suicide ( one was the drummer from the band I played in for years ) Mental health is a massively important part of the human experience and we all need to remember; whilst things may seem ok on the surface, with a lot of people, they may well be suffering intolerable pain inwardly. We are not here for a very long time so we need to be as kind and compassionate with everyone, especially those we profess not to like. 🙏 Lovely reaction video Nick. God Bless you brother x

[@AshedotBob]

The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. It’s a charity, staffed entirely by volunteers, who are on call 24/7, 365 days a year. They do search and rescue at sea and around the coast. They turn out in all weathers to rescue people, boats, ships in distress. The RNLI do a phenomenal job and exist through charitable donations and the tireless efforts of their crews.

[@AlexMH1991]

Freckled angels is indeed Joe, Ren also has a song (and album) with that name, another of his beautiful tributes to his friend. He sang the song in front of Joe's family and friends. There is a video of him performing the song live that never fails to bring me to tears. Thank you for your reaction, this is one of my fav songs by Ren but it's so hard to just pick one

[@Peacetrain66]

I think he said he sang Freckled Angels at Joe’s memorial and it was really hard😢

[@AlexMH1991]

@@Peacetrain66 yes he did! Not sure if that's the live performance I've seen, it's on Ren's channel. I can't begin to imagine how hard that must've been, honestly. All my admiration to him

[@nickforell1]

Such a touching tribute. Thank you Alex I’ll have to check out that performance

[@AlexMH1991]

@@nickforell1 I'm sure you'll love the song! The last part of this one are original lyrics from Freckled Angels so you can get an idea. It's another really honest and vulnerable song where you can feel Ren's pain, but as usual with a positive/hopeful note

[@MCP920]

He combined suicide and freckled angels. Built upon them to boot. His piano playing left me breathless. I’ve yet to find myself less than feeling I’ve been delivered a gift every time I hear him.

[@nickforell1]

well said! He has a way with words

[@MCP920]

@@nickforell1 No doubt about it. His vocabulary is remarkable as well. A complete package.

[@greglecig5549]

Once he hits those Freckled Angels notes my eyes start welling up immediately…. Every single time

[@Silkytoaster]

Yeah me too.

[@AmaBrigitte]

A beautiful tribute for Joe RIP! I feel blessed to be a part of the healing vibes this song is sending to everyone who has lost someone! I get a sense that Ren can turn the page now and continue his amazing journey of life! So grateful to have someone like Ren take the lead in the music industry ❤ thank you for your reaction ❤

[@nickforell1]

We are lucky to have Ren here

[@amandacollins2854]

Freckled Angels is the first song Ren wrote for Joe, the middle is from Dominoes and the start is from Su*cide .so he has kind of worked backward and consolidated his feelings into a uniform continuum with this song. I'm sure there will be other songs for Joe .because with the inclusion of Dominoes you get the feeling ,that what happened to Joe ,has altered Rens world view . Ren is creating a unique opportunity for therapists to study how we heal from grief ,because of ,and through creativity . Thank you for your empathetic and kind reaction, and the guidance you offer to our communal healing .

[@nickforell1]

Well said. I love your insight!

[@0Onyx13]

Came to the comments also to recommend Nick to listen to Freckled Angels, it's so beautiful. Dominoes too, it makes me cry even more than any other song, it really hooks claws in my insecurities and I feel so vulnerable, every single time I listen to it.

[@Jason_xofilos]

I know Ren could play piano/keyboards but I had no idea… If you watch the Knox interview Ren intellectually and logically knows there wasn’t anything he could have done that night but emotionally is another thing… the empty cup. But notice there is a bottle of light (lights) to fill the empty cup. The previous produced video was dark and filled with pain and frustration. This starts with that pain but continues with what Joe and all his actions has taught and given Ren. That bottle of light to fill the empty cup. Not only a crafted masterpiece but preformed extremely well with the help from Sam. Edit: I think you misunderstood or misheard that wasn’t the end of that that was the beginning of his grief and how with grief which never ends… it may ebb but it flows from memories revisited and emotions remembered.

[@MissMeKate]

This song makes up such an important part of the conversation. His last song sat with others in their pain, and shared his own. This one feels very much like Ren pulling himself back up onto his feet, and letting a little of that pain go, because life has to go on. He will carry Joe with him, always, that's very clear. But he is finding ways for them to move forward together, and is showing everyone else that it is possible to do that, too.

[@Lynnie_14]

"Poignant" A perfect word to describe Ren ❤

[@MikeyPea72]

Thank you for being you and for understanding Ren's importance to us all.

[@nickforell1]

You are so welcome! Ren is incredible

[@dorkette_chicky]

This one is just stunningly beautiful. Appreciate your words and your time. Peace friend.

[@nickforell1]

You too ❤️

[@shirazzza]

I just know Joe is so proud of Ren & is watching all he's doing

[@crystalfire5564]

I always forget to check the descriptions to find out more about the video. Thank you for reading that and reminding me to look at it.

[@nickforell1]

Happy to help!

[@Jonz808]

As both a survivor (1993) and losing a friend and relatives, Ren's music always feels like he's sharing our stories as well.

[@Ginaarceci]

I relate to this so much. My brother left his house april 21st 2015 and told his wife he was a failure And he was ending it all. My mom asked me to go and look for him. I assumed i wouldn't find him, that he was just driving aimlessly or he was parked somewhere listening to music in his vehicle. I could never be prepared for what i would find and ultimately see. My brother, Aaron, was gone......forever 😢😢😢😢 all i wanted to do was hold him and tell him It would all be okay, how much he was loved, but i was too late. My life was forever changed from that fateful day, and i not only lost my brother, i lost myself as well. I then became a shell of a human being, going through the emotions, broken inside. This is one of the hardest things I've ever watched. So eloquently and beautifully written and sung. My heart goes out to Ren, and anyone who's lost someone to Su1c1de bcuz its a soul splicing pain that latches onto you. For all who think, su1c1de is selfish I'm here, to tell you, first hand, that it's not. All rational thinking is gone and they no longer see "choices" and they believe, that it'll end their pain and everyone else's. Sadly, they couldn't be more wrong because the pain from losing, a loved one to su1c1de, is so immense that it can consume you, with the Why's, and what ifs. Do you really think, they want to leave their children, spouses, mom's, siblings, friends etc? The answer to this question, is NO! I believe those that have taken their lives or attempted to are some of the bravest people on earth. They, battle themselves, their demons every day, all day and find the courage to keep fighting. Some, sadly , lose their fight. That doesn't make them, a coward. It makes them a soldier, in my eyes. Depression, is a disease just like cancer, it isn't something that you can just "get over" (this next part i wrote for my brother in his birthday 5 yrs ago) Love, it never ends, not through life, and certainly not through death. Love is strange that way. You have a deep, immense feeling of affection, unexplainable to some. From the day your little brother or sister is born, you love them. You vow to protect them from all harm and want nothing but the best for them. You help them learn to walk, read, teach them right from wrong, you're best friend's, and partners in crime. As you both become older you become each other's everything. You go everywhere with one another, attached at the hip, tell each other your deepest, darkest secrets, and you think nothing can tear you apart. Then, something comes along, dark and ominous. It invades your relationship, they become distant, detached so to speak. But, You won't stop fighting for everything to return to the way they were before. Before you know it everything has changed, right before your eyes. Then one day you get a call that your best friend, your sibling, is no longer here. They're gone. Dead. You become numb, the bodies way of protecting itself is to go into shock. You become nauseated, horrified, and outraged. You want answers, God, do you want answers. Your life from that day forward becomes a blur of emotion's, finding it difficult to even do the simplest of tasks. Minutes turn into hour's and then into day's, week's, and year's. You don't know how you got where you are, and everything's still as jumbled as they were the first day you heard the life changing news. But, no matter how many year's have passed you never forget, you never stop missing them and loving them. We hold you close to our heart's and the heartache is still as sharp as day 1. Today, you would be turning 38, but instead you're forever 34. I wish I could call you and wish you a happy birthday, tease you about catching up with me, but instead I'm blowing kisses up to heaven and hoping you get them. Happy birthday, little brother. I know you're celebrating with Pa, Lisa and all of our angels. You're missed more than I could ever write with word's, Aaron. It has been the hardest few year's of all of our lives. Until we meet again.

[@nthebushes]

This song feels like a healing journey through the five stages of grief. It's a beautiful tribute.

[@stevenlemons2602]

I'm a 58-year-old metal-head and Ren punches me right in the heart. I've joked that a good day never ends without tears from one of Ren's songs.

[@rebeccaburnell9319]

Freckled Angels was written in the immediate aftermath of Joe's death; Ren sang it at the funeral. He changed some of the lyrics up when he spliced it together with Suicide, this spring. The interlude between the spoken word part from Suicide and the Freckled Angels lyrics seems inspired by another of his earlier songs, Dominoes (although the metaphor of people as dominoes being set up to fall down is really the only link, as far as I can tell - he takes the lyrics elsewhere in this song). I cant recall if you've looked at any of Ren's band The Big Push's videos yet (apologies if you have) - they're masterful at song mashup/medleys. With For Joe, Ren's showing us the breadth of his own catalogue, that he can do that with his own material (obviously Joe's life - and the circumstances of his departure - have played such a massive influence on Ren that he has material that can be fit together, lyrically, for this subject... )

[@nickforell1]

Rebecca! Thank you again for your thoughts. I haven’t done any of the big push’s work yet. On my list!

[@rebeccaburnell9319]

@@nickforell1 You'll love it when you get to it. Don't be dissuaded by the fact that the videos almost everyone will suggest are covers - the band is UNREAL and I guarantee that you'll be excited to watch them. Always remember - in order to avoid the "wrath" of the fans (I mean, some of them who have very strong opinions about things that is), the "Red Suspenders Ren" version of a song is ALWAYS the right version to pick, if The Big Push has more than one video of them doing a song. ;D I've seen people in the comments say Red Suspenders Ren is a cheat code (as in, when the band's filmed while Ren's wearing his red suspenders, the band is ON FIRE). Anyway. I can't imagine how tough it must be to try to juggle shooting videos for a reaction channel! Who knows when you'll get to The Big Push's stuff... hopefully you'll remember about Red Suspenders Ren now, though!

[@peterveste6976]

thank you for reacting and supporting my favourite artist ever ❤ R.I.P Joe Hughes ❤❤❤

[@nickforell1]

Yes, well said Peter

[@tjh5716]

Appreciate the reaction. I’m enthralled with his art. Daily. Hourly.

[@jeannewolfe4489]

I love that your heart is so open. It’s evident.

[@ranahooke1907]

This still hits hard.. even though I’ve seen it many times. ❤❤❤

[@jeffstumpf9129]

I wonder how performance artists, like Ren, can reveal their emotional selves as much as they do.

[@dannyalderslowe3886]

Ren describing music as an international language and also an internal healing, is how you come across Nick from when i first tuned into you. Many of us are knitting/weaving parts together in ourselves from and all Ren and your good self share. Thanks Nick, truly appreciated 🎶💚🌎

[@nickforell1]

Thank you so much Danny, really appreciate your words!

[@ashleyking3961]

RNLI (Royal Nation Live Boat Institute) is a volunteer organisation where unpaid vollenters help people in the water/coast. Wherever it's looking for bodies, stranded boats or people stranded on the shore line by tides. Effectively a water based search and rescue team. The helped look for Joe and comfort the friends and family.

[@karrettthewise]

loved your reaction, Nick. Thank you for covering this and for lifting 'our' Ren up. Let's be honest, Ren is more than a man. He is a part of all of us.

[@nickforell1]

My pleasure! Ren has been a real gift to us all

[@TobiiRheaStarr]

Such a heartbreaking but beautiful tribute for Joe 🖤

[@jeanwyenberg2774]

Beautiful reaction. Thank you NIck.

[@nickforell1]

Glad you enjoyed it Jean

[@kizunadragon9]

Ren needed this. He needed to talk to Joe one last time.

[@lorriredmon8212]

A top notch review of Ren's tribute song. Thank you.

[@nickforell1]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@snoozie787]

I love the shining light on the piano .lighting up the night sky right onto Ren ❤

[@nickforell1]

It’s a very nice touch!

[@mldkenny]

So moving and beautiful. Appreciate the reaction as well.

[@nickforell1]

Thank you too!

[@Danny_On_Wheels44]

Ren is incredible, writes great songs, Can do any kind of music as well, would love to see him live. Sometimes just asking if someone is OK goes a long way and reaching out. All his songs are from his heart and they hit hard. RIP Joe!

[@Vmcf1968]

im happy he made this. it shows us that there is hope after the most devastating events in life.

[@taylormartin107]

This is painfully beautiful

[@TobiiRheaStarr]

I had to come watch your reaction to this a second time as I love your reactions especially to Ren so had to come show the love again 🖤

[@judithkroening3257]

Thanks for your commentary. Your message and his needs to be heard and heard and heard.

[@nickforell1]

Thank you Judith!

[@annmonica2253]

Joe Hughes had quite a few freckles 😊

[@FlaVapALLet77]

I could be wrong but I feel like maybe he finally got to say goodbye. Hopefully this help lift some of the weight off his heart. ❤️👊🏻✌🏻

[@kazpwright]

Love this. Love Ren.

[@grahamthetraveller]

Your next stop has to be Sam Tomkins song you were right to see how great a person Ren was even as a youngster

[@nickforell1]

Definitely need to hit some Sam. I saw one of their duets and it was 🔥

[@Silkytoaster]

Yes the story of how Ren entered Sam’s life speaks to his integrity and kindness. He was walking down a street in Brighton after doing some busking and saw a 14 yr old Sam standing on the side walk singing - no mike or anything and as he passed and heard him he recognized this kid had talent. So he stops and tell Sam how great he is and offers to let him use his microphone and amp and promises him that will bring a crowd and it did . People suddenly were stopping to hear Sam sing and dropped money . They then became friends. Sam just released a song called Time Will Fly and in it you see footage of Ren and him at the first meeting .

[@Rockerlita]

Love it so much

[@lindasalaki9404]

Beautiful ❤️

[@nickforell1]

Thank you Linda! 😊

[@lindasalaki9404]

@@nickforell1 no Nick Thank You for talking about a subject that happens every day,yet we don't talk about it,or don't know how to help someone. Lost my best friend 15 years ago and not a day that goes by that I don't think about her. The pain of loosing her is still in my heart.

[@nickforell1]

@@lindasalaki9404 I am so sorry to hear that. Its such an amazing thing to keep remembering a friend. Much love to you

[@lindasalaki9404]

@@nickforell1 Thank You Nick ✌️

[@jolewis4382]

I see where it really got you at 11:12. Welcome to the RENegades 🥹💜🫂

[@paulsmith-xt6sh]

We need ren, nice reaction

[@mama_nez]

Missed the premiere this time

[@nickforell1]

Sorry 😞

[@mama_nez]

@@nickforell1 I'm struggling this week

[@nickforell1]

@@mama_nez I’m sorry Nez :(

[@SkaterWillsy]

🕯

[@pirada74]

❤❤❤

[@Сергейнемид]

Please listen to what a wonderful world by Diana and 👍🌟

[@martinrobinson936]

Is the opening piano Bach?

[@nickforell1]

Hmm it could be 💭

[@martinrobinson936]

@@nickforell1 I asked a pianist/opera singer he said definitely not Bach, more contemporary “Very reminiscent of Australian composers Sally Whitwell and Elena Kats- Chernin”

[@UKmarlee]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@belindamelville2270]

❤😢😢😢😢

[@ellavarnes2392]

Hi! I just binge watched your Ren reations for about an hour or more (I know I should be asleep, It's 330, lol) and you have a new sub from me. One of the songs by him that's on the back burner is "The Hunger" If you think his other rapping skills are food, this one will blow you out of the water! His triples are ick as hell...check it out, you won't be dissapointed!

[@nickforell1]

Aw thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed! More to come :)