Ren contracted Lyme disease as a teen but went through 10 years of misdiagnosis of both physical and mental illnesses. He was therefore being given medication that was not suitable, causing even more side effects and damage to his body that was already attacking itself. There were a couple of years where he spent around 23 hours a day bedridden due to the pain. After finally getting the correct diagnosis, he is currently in Canada receiving treatment for his Lyme disease & therapy for the PTSD & depression that the whole ordeal ultimately caused. His music is widely varied and you’ll find yourselves listening to something completely different each time. For more acoustic storytelling, that will blow your minds, try the Tales of Jenny, Screech & Violet (in that order). He has a video of all three in one. For rap try: Sick Boi, Genesis, The Hunger, Illest of our Time and Animal Flow He also has an amazing singing voice: Chalk Outlines ft. Chinchilla (Live version) is a stunning performance from them both. There’s often a lot of hidden meaning, double entendres & poetry in his lyrics, as well as callbacks to other songs (listen to Money game pt 1&2 to understand the “sea shells” lyric in Hi Ren) & cultural references. Listen carefully and pay close attention to music videos too! Seriously, strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride!
Thank you for your insight on Ren's background! This song was incredible and we'll have to take a look at more of his stuff. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more! - A
Thoroughly enjoyed ur reactions! ❤️🔥 Ren is unique with varying styles all his own-you never know what to expect, other than you Know whatever it is, it's gonna be fire! From ballad to triple-time rap to regee to old made new, to new made old, to, to, to.... His colabs with Sam Thompkins & Chinchilla are amazing. His basking sessions are unreal. He was also in a band called, The Big Push-incredible! Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole-ure in Great company! ;-) New sub from Tn ❤
You're exactly right about that song makes you want to dig deeper into Ren. He's clearly talented but then there's this whole other thing going on. Not enough people have reacted to Ren - Dominoes, so that might be a worthy song to listen to. My new personal favourite piece of his work
Welcome to the Renaissance. All songs are different and radically so unless they are numbered, and even then they are quite distinct. You can’t miss whichever way you look and choose. Just be ready to jump into his collaborations and into his work with band, The Big Push. Loved your reactions! Later!
Loved your reaction. Really intelligent. Ren has Lyme's disease but was misdiagnosed for years. He was treated for bipolar, psychosis ME and depression and untold damage was done to his immune system. After finally being correctly diagnosed he had 2 stem cell transplants that helped but didn't cure and he's in Canada having treatment to try and alleviate his ongoing symptoms which are pain, mind fog and the fact that he can only eat a handful of foods, to name but a few. Throughout this he has made music when he was able, and the necessity to create has kept him going. Check out the Tales next but don't make the mistake of linking Ren to one genre of music, just fall down the rabbit hole that is Rens back catalogue and be prepared for your life to change 😁😁😁. Enjoy
A great contrast to this is Losing it(Fischer retake). Absolutely have to do the duets with Chinchilla Chalk Outlines and How to be me, live versions! Ren has no genre, he does it all! Then there is his band The Big Push and all there street busking. Phenomenal!!!
Liked and subbed for sure! Can't wait to see you explore Ren's catalogue, he genre bends like crazy and it's all so well done! Seriously, his fandom spans age groups, cultures, and nations! Also, if you follow his socials he is really just an awesome guy! Welcome to the Ren train!
Hi two and a half bros!!! I’m so excited to meet you and absolutely enjoyed your reaction! Excited to see more! Please, please dig into Ren’s work. You will be amazed and even more surprised! He is a freaking SAVAGE artist and musician. Excited to go on this journey with you! Next up should probably be the Tale of Jenny and Screech Full. 3 incredible stories twisted into an unbelievable performance, also shot as one takes live! ❤🎉
everything is different and pure genious: sick boy, bittersweet symphony, animal flow (acoustic), genesis. then hos collabs: x chinchilla - chalk outlines, x eden nash - humble, and with his band the big push - I shot the sherrif/road to zion/hip hop, bongo bong, englishman in ny
First time watching you three give a reaction. Ten is multi talented and his fan base goes from teens to people in their 90’s. The guy is real as real gets. His story is fascinating and his music is a reflection of his life.
This was a very enjoyable reaction and commentary. You earned yourself a new subscriber. I wrote this introduction to Ren 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. “Hi Ren” is the song that put Ren on everyone's radar since December; it went viral and has garnered over 13 million views since its debut, but he has been creating great music for more than ten years. Ren’s music videos are generally recorded live, often in a single take, although not necessarily the first take, and from various camera angles. His release, "Sick Boi," is almost another chapter to "Hi Ren." Many of Ren’s songs resonate with people because he addresses struggles that many others face every day. Ren is an independent artist/singer/songwriter/busker from Brighton, UK. He plays multiple instruments (acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, drums), has impressive vocals, is an excellent storyteller, and is quite the philosopher and poet. He is considered by many a modern-day bard; he calls his music “bardcore.” Ren’s earliest recordings on UA-cam are from his time in a band called “Trick The Fox,” consisting of Ren and his buddies Charlie and Tommy. Unfortunately, the band performed only briefly due to Ren’s onset of health issues. They are very talented. A fun clip to watch is “The Mash Up.” Ren’s trilogy "The Tale of Jenny/Screech/Violet" has been likened to a Shakespearean tragedy and is a prime example of his genius; it is a master’s class in storytelling 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 collaborations with Chinchilla (“Chalk Outlines,” “How to Be Me,” “Sexual Healing,” “One Dance/Drunk in Love”) are beautiful and showcase his singing voice. His live music videos are especially impressive. Ren's personal reflections are threaded through many of his songs; "Insomnia," "Depression," “Diazepam," “Penitence,” “Dear God,” “Heretic,” “Dominos,” his "Freckled Angels" album, just to name a few, all deserve a listen. His song "Money Game" (Part I & II) is another recommendation, although it is less of a personal song than it is an indictment of greed and the resulting injustices in this world. Ren’s Hip Hop/Rap style songs are all worth checking out if you enjoy this genre; they are pretty amazing. Check out “The Hunger,” “Genesis,” “What You Want,” “Losing it (FISHER rap retake),” “Right Here, Right Now (Fatboy Slim one shot retake),” "Life is Funny," “Love Music (Parts 1, 2, and 3),” “Crucify Your Culture,” “Power,” "Hold On," “Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake),” his recent release "The Illest Of Our Time," and his latest song “Animal Flow,” both the full production and the live acoustic version, just to name a few. 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,” “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),” that 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," "Watch Out," “War Pigs,” “Roadhouse Blues,” "My Generation," “Paint It Black,” "An Englishman in New York," “Bongo Bong” are awesome. On “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” “Praise You” (Fatboy Slim Cover), “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,” 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 over the next six months that he expects to be gone. He released “Sick Boi” and “Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve retake),” which is another masterful work. Ren released his song, “Illest Of Our Time,” on his birthday, March 29. His newest release, "Animal Flow," is out now in two versions, a full production music video, and a live, one-take acoustic version. I still fail to understand how Ren's YT channel has less than 900K subscribers while his videos have garnered millions of views!?! What is wrong with people? I guess it is a sign of our times; this is a "me, me, me" society, and people just want to consume, unwilling to give back even as little as giving a video a "like" and subscribing to an artist's channel.
Thank you so much for the support! Wow! Thank you for sharing your insight into Ren and providing us with a thorough background on him! We'll have to keep listening to more of his music. Stay tuned for more! - A
@@TAHBofficial I am glad to know that you found my comments and the info of some use. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to future reaction.
@@AlSnoopsReid Hey Al. How are you feeling? I hope your health is improving and your treatments are bearing fruit. You and yours are in my prayers. As you can see, I am still spreading the word, trying to share Ren's background and music catalog. Although, I am on YT less frequently now. As you said, some people simply don't recognize genius, even if it straes them in the face. Their loss. Take care of yourself, my friend. God bless.
That was a cool reaction by you guys..I enjoyed witnessing you all become RENegades before my very eyeballs 😮 Hip Hoppity down The Ren Rabbit Hole No two song's of his will sound alike .
This is the kind of artistry that gives "broken" people hope. My hope is that you guys listen to it again without talking over parts of it, to get the full, uninterrupted impact. Ren, through this performance piece, has become to a lot of people exactly what he stated in the song, "...the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope". So powerful, so impactful. The song structure itself is incredible. It starts off as a battle between his positive (Angel) and negative (Demon) aspects, the negative then makes an overpowering last ditch effort to reign supreme, tearing free and trying to take control, but ultimately fails as the final act, being the "God" aspect, emerges Triumphant, though still acknowledging and accepting that it will ALWAYS be a battle because we are all "a coin with 2 different sides". It's a beautifully cathartic and raw musical masterpiece. Ren is truly special. Welcome to the Ren rabbit-hole, it's a trip worth taking. This was the 4th take he did and yes, it was done live. Wait until you hear some of his other stuff, especially his storytelling ("The Tale of Jenny & Screech" FULL version). You haven't even touched the breadth of this young man's talent yet. The pig character (imo) represents the doctors and therapist who have essentially butchered him for years through their misdiagnosis. It's the system that focuses on peddling more pills than on genuinely trying to help to fix broken/ill people, caring more about profit than individual health. The bastardization of the hippocratic oath. He literally thought he was going insane because he was told repeatedly that the pain and symptoms he was experiencing were all in his head (psychosomatic). He had reached a point where he literally resigned himself to dying before he reached 30. Turns out he had Lyme's disease the whole time and it ran rampant through his system for 10 years, even to the point of causing brain damage. Ironically, if Ren hadn't gone through what he has, would he have ever made the art he has? There's no question that his suffering has shaped his music and now he's finally getting the recognition he undoubtedly deserves. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Ren is special.
Wow, thank you so much for the insight! We'll work on pausing more when we talk so we don't miss the lyrics. Thank you for watching, and we appreciate the feedback! - A
Ren almost hit it big when he was about 19 years old but was struck down by his illness to the point that he couldn't fulfill his contract and had to walk away from the "one shot" you're lucky to get as a performer. He spent years living with his mom and spending up to 23 hours a day in bed at some points. He continued writing, recording and performing as his illness allowed. He's completely independent and, at 33 years old now, his talent is finally getting a chance to be recognized by a wide audience thanks to the popularity of this song. Because Ren's independent and, as mentioned in the song, he doesn't necessarily write for the "radio formula", he doesn't stick to a single genre. He's been trying to put together a rap album, so a lot of his more recent videos are focused on that genre, but you can find videos of him busking on the streets of Brighton, doing duets and, if you want unique, Check out "The Tales of Jenny and Screech (Full)" - it's a combination of 3 videos that are available individually, but the "Full" version has them in the correct order ("Jenny's Tale", "Screech's Tale" and "Violet's Tale"). These are also live recordings.
Thank you so much for the insight! This song was so different and we'll have to check out more from him. We appreciate the recommendations, and thank you for watching! - A
New sub, ay up lads from an English hill village. Here to watch you react to Ren and his friends. They are street performers ( buskers) so perfoming live is their default setting. A talented group of people.
Almost everything he does is one off and incredible. Listen to his band, Big Push, and their cover of I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/HipHop; to the Tales of Jenny and Screech (whole), to Chalk Outlines with Chinchilla. He often has multiple versions of different songs - all good, all different. Usually the live versions are best. He's the master of the 1-take. They recorded this one 4 X, chose a version and spliced on a different free verse poetry section at the end... but the main part, the singing you just heard, was live and one take. Chalk Outlines has amazing acoustics - you can hear every contour of the room they recorded in.
Samuel Perry-Falvey who filmed Hi Ren, talks about the filming a bit in the comments of Jonathan Hiller's reaction to the song. In the long reply thread to his first comment.
A little something I've put together since I found Ren's music; part person who found hope again, part music lover, part fanboi (I admit it!), part bafflement at the sheer talent of Ren & Friends, so without further ado; Welcome to the RENaissance For Bardcore - check out the 3 part Tale of Jenny & Screech If you want to dive more into the rap side of his catalogue, I'd start with "What You Want" which is a brilliant homage to the Beasties, followed with "Genesis" followed by "Sick Boy" followed by "Illest of Our Time" (this one goes after the previous one so you have some grasp of the meaning) and the trail goes from there For more rock oriented fare follow the breadcrumbs to The Big Push and dive in (I personally suggest Sweet Little Lady, Swan Song, Englishman in New York, ,'I Shot The Sherriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop', and the cherry on top (my new favorite in this category, others are welcome to disagree but they're wrong :) "Fire" Last but not least, don't be afraid to check down the alleys, Ren has built himself a circle of talented musician friends that will surprise you and make you glad you chose to look for hidden treasure (Hint: *Chinchilla, Eden Nash, Sam Tompkins, and so many more) (Also Humble w/ Eden Nash is just pure young punk/rude boy heaven) *Chinchilla: Take 1 part Christina, 1 part Jessie J, 1 part Rhianna, blend well and pour over your own unique style, served ice cold by the baddest bitch in town (See Fingers (Live), Little Girl Gone (the official video is just *fun*), Elements, One Time, and for fun Terms & Conditions which has an 80s Madonna vibe *Gorran: He's got a pretty amazing list of tunes but the LIVE version of "If' speaks to me *Romain: If you love good guitar, Romain is your guy, but if I had to pick ONE song.. it's him on a Piano - Love Without Feelings (And bonus, he's got a new tune dropping soon (05/26/23) called Turn the Lights Down and its sounding like its going to be absolute mad
Thank you for your insight! We appreciate the detailed recommendations and guide to his music. We'll have to take a look. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more! - A
Subbed immediately ! RENegades in the house !! Welcome to the RENaissance ! ....Ren suggest we must all check out : DIRT MILLER !! All I can say is ....WOWWWWW !!!
I subbed today also. Everyone gave you great suggestions. Ren is a warrior using his new fame to help others get noticed. He is a huge inspiration. Buckle up Buttercup!
You guys are great, i have Subscribed simply because i want to witness your discovery of Rens genius! Please set up a playlist just for him, because you have only just begun to scratch the surface. Oooo, im excited FOR you! Lol Lots of love from the U.K. 💕
You guys are gonna be fun to watch go down the Ren rabbit hole. I'm 49, and here's a thought I've been having as I watch reaction channels do this song - what else in UA-cam music history has run 9min and utterly transfixed 13 million people and counting? I'm sure there've been many many many people who didn't like it and clicked away long before it ended, but... 13 million views since December 2022. For a NINE MINUTE VIDEO that doesn't usually translate to 'something I'll put on my playlist to listen to' (I'm not saying NO ONE listens to it outside of watching the video *performance* but you know what I'm getting at) For that matter, how many other things in *viral* history have run 9min? How many of them provoked a NOT INSIGNIFICANT number of their viewers to search out other material by the same person/people? I'll leave it to other commentors to rattle off their lists of favourite Ren songs that you shoudl try next - 1) you basically can't go wrong with ANY of it; 2) watch out, he's about to introduce you to some other INCREDIBLE musicians he collaborates with.... you basically can't go wrong with ANY of them, they're all AMAZING; and 3) DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM LIVE VERSIONS OF SONGS with Ren or any of his collaborators, or busking session videos. They're almost always incredible, and sometimes they're even better than the studio versions. You're not gonna believe the breadth of talent and creativity you've stumbled onto.
great reaction! you should continue down the ren rabbit hole, and i bet all us new subs will go along for the ride. next try the tale of jenny and screech.
Here is some additional information on Ren's story that I gathered from old newspaper interviews, articles, and Ren's livestreams and posts where he discussed his condition. Ren Erin Gill is a British musician/independent artist; born in Wales on March 29, 1990; he eventually moved to Brighton. Ren 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. In 2010, he was signed by Sony Records and was working on an album when his health deteriorated to the point where he was unable to continue; subsequently, his contract with Sony was dissolved. 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 currently in Calgary, Canada for more treatments, including surgeries, and will have to be there for at least six months (Summer of 2023) undergoing IV and other interventions five days a week. Ren recently underwent wisdom tooth removal and cavitation surgery. In addition, 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, adrenals as well as his bones/joints. Now, Ren is receiving additional treatments for this previously undiagnosed condition. 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. 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. Here is the link to Ren’s GoFundMe page to raise money for his current treatment. Ren has exceeded his initial goal. However, his goal was very conservative and did not reflect the added costs of unforeseen surgical procedures, and treatment for additional health issues such as MCAD. www.gofundme.com/f/ren-get-better-from-lyme-disease-and-autoimmunity
Subbed also! Great reaction! I discovered Ren's music through another reaction channel, and delved deep into the Ren rabbit hole since then. If you decide to delve there also, just be aware that you will meet all kinds of dangers and wonders--not only pig-headed people, but hooligans, other animal-headed people, knife-wielding teenagers, angry car park attendants, old school rappers with a new school twist, Chinchillas, buskers (street performers), conversations with the ocean, a nursery rhyme used as an economics teaching tool, gorillas, heart-breaking songs about lost friends, and the like. Once you set foot on that path, you'll start to recognize some of what I just mentioned.
Did you notice that Good Ren's shadow is the darkest and always present at the begaining. (Hence, the more intensely the light the darker the shadow) While the good Ren sings the evil Ren's shadow is faded. While the Evil Ren Sings His shadow comes in and out but the Good Ren's shadow doesn't leave. Until the switch at the end then the shadows battle for dominance. FYI this was done on purpose.
That's a super interesting detail. Thank you for pointing that out! He definitely brings a lot of layers to his music and videos. Thank you for watching! - A
Liked and Subscribed guys, Ren reactions bring me to new channels, but not all channels get Ren his Music is so varied because he is independent, you might not like everything, but in my opinion i think the dude is a Genius, he produces all his own Music, makes all his own Beats, writes all his own Music and Lyrics, plays in his own Band The Big Push, although they are on Hiatus at the moment because of his illness but they have a Channel with plenty of Music to React too as well. His main Output over the last 7yrs has been his solo stuff though and it's all of a high quality but mainly been unnoticed because he is independent. He was signed to Sony when he was Young but couldn't carry on making Music for a while because he got ill, and was misdiagnosed for so long. You will get many recommendations for Songs to react too, it just Depends what Genre you want, he's even invented his own Genre, "Bardcore", hope to see some more Ren Reactions soon.
Next one I'd recommend is Chalk Outlines, then Sick Boi. There are many more. Right now reactors have just found Freckled Angels, the song he wrote for his close friend who took his own life. I read somewhere he sang it at his funeral. Very emotional. I'm 71. I can't find a category to place him in, I think he was 100% when he said ''I am a genius.'' GO REN! P.S. Do the live version of Chalk Outlines.
Welcome aboard gentleman. You have barely scratched the surface of a truly remarkable genius. Down the Ren rabbit hole expect the unexpected, you will laugh, you will cry and you will be better people thanks to Ren. Your reaction was intelligent and compassionate, thank you.
Ren does like his live performances and one-take videos. Great reaction. I’d recommend the next four in order, just to give you an idea of the breadth of his work. The Hunger The Tale of Jenny and Screech (full version, it’s like 13 minutes but never disappoints) How to be me (live with Chinchilla) Losing It (his take on the Fisher EDM song) Welcome to the rabbit hole.
Ya boys!! Breakin the fourth wall!!! I’m thinking of the scene out of Die Hard …” “Welcome to the party, Bud”… Or Scene from Jaws… “ You’re going to need a bigger boat” All the RENegades will tidal wave your channel with love and support! Enjoy your journey down the Ren rabbit hole. Buckle up, we will be here to enjoy it with you. It’s always great to see others perspectives as they dive into Rens body of work. Look forward to enjoying more of your content. Sincerely, Don
Ooooooh! Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole. It’s lovely here. I haven’t found a bad song yet. Eventually you’ll try to figure out what genre he fits in but there isn’t one. He does a little of everything. Enjoy your stay here.
This is the song that introduced most people to Ren, but he has some amazing other choices. Sick Boi, Chalk Outlines and Crutch are health related, but the Tales of Jenny and Screetch (full - must be full version of Jenny Screetch and Violet) are completely different and just as amazing. Then there's The Hunger (Rap) or Money Games (1&2) or his latest, The Illest of our Times, and Animal Flow... there's also him with his band The Big Push busking that covers hard rock, reggae, hip hop, Nina Simone .. there is so much... Ren is a deep well to go down but it's really worth it.
Sick Boi is like a continuation of Hi Ren and his battles.... completely different vibe though. Which is what you will come to realise with Ren....he doesn't have a particular genre because he is his own genre. Unique, artistic, creative, talented... the list is neverending! However, like everyone else, I'm here for the rabbit hole that you are about to dive into so sit back, strap in and enjoy!! All that aside.... you must watch The Tale of Jenny and Screech (full version) You will be inundated with requests for this and you won't be disappointed. Each video (it's a trilogy) is a one shot and all performed LIVE. Also, you'll have some requests where you are asked to watch the live version.... simply because they are better. Much love from the UK!
All that back and forth, the voice switching, the alternating guitar parts, that was all one take. Towards the end they used footage from another take for the close-ups, but the core of that song is live, and is wildly impressive. It's not a common video to be reacted to, but there is a video called "Patience - Ren Gill - M.E.", which was recorded live in 2014 or so when he was in the depths of his illness. Most of what you see from him he is healthy and strong, but this will give you a chance to see where he is coming from. It's not act or schtick, he is very sick. He's come a long way though. M.E. is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which was his diagnosis at the time, for his long misdiagnosed Lyme's Disease.
I think you understand a great deal about Ren if you really hear 2 lines: "I've spent half my life ill." & "my music....gives me a purpose I can rest in." He's driven to create & it's been his refuge. One more thing that should be noted. The NHS, the British health care system, never correctly diagnosed Ren. He eventually figured it out by himself & went to a dr. in Belgium (?) who confirmed it immediately.
Good luck boys... Ren will become a fave quick.. He can't be put in a genre, Just wait.. Next up, for more live performances.. The Tale of Jenny and Screech, FULL VERSION>. Its 3 songs put in one video, each it's own live performance.
For REN, this was truly his reality. Misdiagnosed with Lyme disease for 7 years by conventional doctors who deemed him mentally ill, but when patients are experiencing neurological symptoms, they very often become misdiagnosed. Lyme disease can present itself as many neurological conditions including Acute Transverse Myelitis[3], Ptosis[4], Seizures, and Chronic Fatigue[1] and these symptoms can be often misdiagnosed or deemed psychosomatic. Second is dealing with the symptoms of Lyme neuroborreliosis, these neurological symptoms often leave patients feeling drained and debilitated as they begin losing their quality of life. Over time, patients find themselves unable to do the things they love as they struggle to get ahead of their progressing symptoms.
Yup, get ready, my good sirs! Others will tell you his amazing life story, and yes, ALL his music is awesome, and there is A LOT of it, as he has been putting out high quality music for a very long time. It just took the rest of the world some serious time to catch up with him. Enjoy the ride!
New sub! Thanks for doing this Ren review, you must do the Tale of Jenny and Screech and Violet’s Tale, all three are on the one video. You’ll see another side of Ren. His story telling is amazing.
Welcome to the Ren Rabbit hole it's an amazing ride, new sub from me! At 53 this young man has reconfigured my mind & REN-EWED my soul! A life long music and no one has affected me this way. I'm over 1,000 Ren reaction videos [yes I've counted] and there's no sign of stopping 😊
@@TAHBofficial thanks! I'd humbly suggest The tale of Jenny & Screech full version it's a trilogy of songs. Then go nuts listening to his catalog, I can't find a bad one.
As far as I know, the video was done in one take, with different cameras from different angles. And it took four tries to get the take right. I think only the speech part at the end was taken separately. That's the info that I heard other reactors give, don't know if it is accurate 😊
To answer your question. None of his music is the same. Except to say that it is ALL astounding. I will leave it to others to tell you his back story. He has a MASSIVE amount of music. Please continue discovering who he is through his music. As to where to go from here. That all depends which of the many sides of Ren that you want to see. There are 3 that are the standard recommendations. Sick Boi Chalk Outlines And The Tales of Jenny and Screech Full. Be sure to do that version. It is story based abd keeps it in the right order to see. Whatever direction you choose to go. I will be here. Subbed and notifications are on. So, I don't miss the next atep in this journey.
It’s not an anomaly. I am at the bottom of the rabbit hole and I’ve yet to find a bad song! He does every genre and he does them better than your best in that genre
Hi, I have subscribed to watch your Ren journey. Something to keep on mind, I believe'Jenny and Screech' was filmed years apart. I saw the first one then later saw the second. The third I didn't see until months later. Big surprise. Anyway, watch him collaberate. Amazing! For vocals and performance watch him cover a trilogy of songs with Sam Tomkins busking on the streets of London or on a roof top with Chinchilla and his tribute 'How to be Me' and with his band Big Push covering Bob Marley. To finish, watch him challenge the Rap Gods in The Hunger. He is a genius. Enjoy!
I like it when reactors next do his song with his band The Big Push doing "I shot the sheriff / Road to Zion / Hip-Hop" cover/mash up. Gives you a different side of him. I PROMISE it will blow your mind. The one where he is wearing the red suspenders.
Ren contracted Lyme disease as a teen but went through 10 years of misdiagnosis of both physical and mental illnesses. He was therefore being given medication that was not suitable, causing even more side effects and damage to his body that was already attacking itself. There were a couple of years where he spent around 23 hours a day bedridden due to the pain.
After finally getting the correct diagnosis, he is currently in Canada receiving treatment for his Lyme disease & therapy for the PTSD & depression that the whole
ordeal ultimately caused.
His music is widely varied and you’ll find yourselves listening to something completely different each time.
For more acoustic storytelling, that will blow your minds, try the Tales of Jenny, Screech & Violet (in that order). He has a video of all three in one.
For rap try: Sick Boi, Genesis, The Hunger, Illest of our Time and Animal Flow
He also has an amazing singing voice: Chalk Outlines ft. Chinchilla (Live version) is a stunning performance from them both.
There’s often a lot of hidden meaning, double entendres & poetry in his lyrics, as well as callbacks to other songs (listen to Money game pt 1&2 to understand the “sea shells” lyric in Hi Ren) & cultural references. Listen carefully and pay close attention to music videos too!
Seriously, strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride!
Thank you for your insight on Ren's background! This song was incredible and we'll have to take a look at more of his stuff. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more! - A
@@TAHBofficial Just add to that, his rap retake of the EDM hit track Losing It by Fisher is amazing!
I’ve Sub’d to watch your Ren journey, buckle your seatbelts guys I’m sure you will be amazed 👍🔥❤️ Best wishes from the UK 🇬🇧
The bottom guy relates, he had shingles
Thoroughly enjoyed ur reactions! ❤️🔥 Ren is unique with varying styles all his own-you never know what to expect, other than you Know whatever it is, it's gonna be fire! From ballad to triple-time rap to regee to old made new, to new made old, to, to, to.... His colabs with Sam Thompkins & Chinchilla are amazing. His basking sessions are unreal. He was also in a band called, The Big Push-incredible! Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole-ure in Great company! ;-) New sub from Tn ❤
You're exactly right about that song makes you want to dig deeper into Ren. He's clearly talented but then there's this whole other thing going on. Not enough people have reacted to Ren - Dominoes, so that might be a worthy song to listen to. My new personal favourite piece of his work
Welcome to the Renaissance. All songs are different and radically so unless they are numbered, and even then they are quite distinct. You can’t miss whichever way you look and choose. Just be ready to jump into his collaborations and into his work with band, The Big Push. Loved your reactions! Later!
Thank you for the support! We'll have to take a look at more of his music. - A
Shouldn’t be talking thru the/song . Too much there to miss.
Use will love the tale of jenny an screech full
Thanks for watching! We'll have to check it out! - A
Loved your reaction. Really intelligent. Ren has Lyme's disease but was misdiagnosed for years. He was treated for bipolar, psychosis ME and depression and untold damage was done to his immune system. After finally being correctly diagnosed he had 2 stem cell transplants that helped but didn't cure and he's in Canada having treatment to try and alleviate his ongoing symptoms which are pain, mind fog and the fact that he can only eat a handful of foods, to name but a few. Throughout this he has made music when he was able, and the necessity to create has kept him going. Check out the Tales next but don't make the mistake of linking Ren to one genre of music, just fall down the rabbit hole that is Rens back catalogue and be prepared for your life to change 😁😁😁. Enjoy
A great contrast to this is Losing it(Fischer retake). Absolutely have to do the duets with Chinchilla Chalk Outlines and How to be me, live versions! Ren has no genre, he does it all! Then there is his band The Big Push and all there street busking. Phenomenal!!!
He is crazy good! We'll have to check out more from him. Thanks for watching! - A
Liked and subbed for sure! Can't wait to see you explore Ren's catalogue, he genre bends like crazy and it's all so well done! Seriously, his fandom spans age groups, cultures, and nations! Also, if you follow his socials he is really just an awesome guy! Welcome to the Ren train!
Hi two and a half bros!!! I’m so excited to meet you and absolutely enjoyed your reaction! Excited to see more! Please, please dig into Ren’s work. You will be amazed and even more surprised! He is a freaking SAVAGE artist and musician. Excited to go on this journey with you! Next up should probably be the Tale of Jenny and Screech Full. 3 incredible stories twisted into an unbelievable performance, also shot as one takes live! ❤🎉
Thank you for the support!! He is crazy good, so we'll have to check out more of his music. Appreciate you! - A
everything is different and pure genious: sick boy, bittersweet symphony, animal flow (acoustic), genesis. then hos collabs: x chinchilla - chalk outlines, x eden nash - humble, and with his band the big push - I shot the sherrif/road to zion/hip hop, bongo bong, englishman in ny
We appreciate the recommendations! We'll have to take a look at more of his music. Thanks for watching! - A
First time watching you three give a reaction. Ten is multi talented and his fan base goes from teens to people in their 90’s. The guy is real as real gets. His story is fascinating and his music is a reflection of his life.
Thank you for watching! He really blew us away! - A
This was a very enjoyable reaction and commentary. You earned yourself a new subscriber. I wrote this introduction to Ren 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. “Hi Ren” is the song that put Ren on everyone's radar since December; it went viral and has garnered over 13 million views since its debut, but he has been creating great music for more than ten years. Ren’s music videos are generally recorded live, often in a single take, although not necessarily the first take, and from various camera angles. His release, "Sick Boi," is almost another chapter to "Hi Ren." Many of Ren’s songs resonate with people because he addresses struggles that many others face every day.
Ren is an independent artist/singer/songwriter/busker from Brighton, UK. He plays multiple instruments (acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano, drums), has impressive vocals, is an excellent storyteller, and is quite the philosopher and poet. He is considered by many a modern-day bard; he calls his music “bardcore.” Ren’s earliest recordings on UA-cam are from his time in a band called “Trick The Fox,” consisting of Ren and his buddies Charlie and Tommy. Unfortunately, the band performed only briefly due to Ren’s onset of health issues. They are very talented. A fun clip to watch is “The Mash Up.”
Ren’s trilogy "The Tale of Jenny/Screech/Violet" has been likened to a Shakespearean tragedy and is a prime example of his genius; it is a master’s class in storytelling 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 collaborations with Chinchilla (“Chalk Outlines,” “How to Be Me,” “Sexual Healing,” “One Dance/Drunk in Love”) are beautiful and showcase his singing voice. His live music videos are especially impressive. Ren's personal reflections are threaded through many of his songs; "Insomnia," "Depression," “Diazepam," “Penitence,” “Dear God,” “Heretic,” “Dominos,” his "Freckled Angels" album, just to name a few, all deserve a listen. His song "Money Game" (Part I & II) is another recommendation, although it is less of a personal song than it is an indictment of greed and the resulting injustices in this world.
Ren’s Hip Hop/Rap style songs are all worth checking out if you enjoy this genre; they are pretty amazing. Check out “The Hunger,” “Genesis,” “What You Want,” “Losing it (FISHER rap retake),” “Right Here, Right Now (Fatboy Slim one shot retake),” "Life is Funny," “Love Music (Parts 1, 2, and 3),” “Crucify Your Culture,” “Power,” "Hold On," “Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake),” his recent release "The Illest Of Our Time," and his latest song “Animal Flow,” both the full production and the live acoustic version, just to name a few.
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,” “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),” that 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," "Watch Out," “War Pigs,” “Roadhouse Blues,” "My Generation," “Paint It Black,” "An Englishman in New York," “Bongo Bong” are awesome. On “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” “Praise You” (Fatboy Slim Cover), “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,” 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 over the next six months that he expects to be gone. He released “Sick Boi” and “Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve retake),” which is another masterful work. Ren released his song, “Illest Of Our Time,” on his birthday, March 29. His newest release, "Animal Flow," is out now in two versions, a full production music video, and a live, one-take acoustic version.
I still fail to understand how Ren's YT channel has less than 900K subscribers while his videos have garnered millions of views!?! What is wrong with people? I guess it is a sign of our times; this is a "me, me, me" society, and people just want to consume, unwilling to give back even as little as giving a video a "like" and subscribing to an artist's channel.
Thank you so much for the support! Wow! Thank you for sharing your insight into Ren and providing us with a thorough background on him! We'll have to keep listening to more of his music. Stay tuned for more! - A
@@TAHBofficial I am glad to know that you found my comments and the info of some use. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to future reaction.
Hi Jens! Always good to see you doing your thing.
@@NilZed1 Thank you kindly. Have a blessed Memorial Day Weekend.
@@AlSnoopsReid Hey Al. How are you feeling? I hope your health is improving and your treatments are bearing fruit. You and yours are in my prayers. As you can see, I am still spreading the word, trying to share Ren's background and music catalog. Although, I am on YT less frequently now. As you said, some people simply don't recognize genius, even if it straes them in the face. Their loss. Take care of yourself, my friend. God bless.
he is amazing.....thanks
He is indeed! Thank you for watching! - A
Welcome to the fantastic and varied world of ren
Thank you for watching! We'll have to look into more of his music. - A
That was a cool reaction by you guys..I enjoyed witnessing you all become RENegades before my very eyeballs 😮
Hip Hoppity down The Ren Rabbit Hole
No two song's of his will sound alike .
Thank you for the support! This song really blew us away. We'll have to check out more! - A
This is the kind of artistry that gives "broken" people hope. My hope is that you guys listen to it again without talking over parts of it, to get the full, uninterrupted impact. Ren, through this performance piece, has become to a lot of people exactly what he stated in the song, "...the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope". So powerful, so impactful. The song structure itself is incredible. It starts off as a battle between his positive (Angel) and negative (Demon) aspects, the negative then makes an overpowering last ditch effort to reign supreme, tearing free and trying to take control, but ultimately fails as the final act, being the "God" aspect, emerges Triumphant, though still acknowledging and accepting that it will ALWAYS be a battle because we are all "a coin with 2 different sides". It's a beautifully cathartic and raw musical masterpiece. Ren is truly special. Welcome to the Ren rabbit-hole, it's a trip worth taking. This was the 4th take he did and yes, it was done live. Wait until you hear some of his other stuff, especially his storytelling ("The Tale of Jenny & Screech" FULL version). You haven't even touched the breadth of this young man's talent yet.
The pig character (imo) represents the doctors and therapist who have essentially butchered him for years through their misdiagnosis. It's the system that focuses on peddling more pills than on genuinely trying to help to fix broken/ill people, caring more about profit than individual health. The bastardization of the hippocratic oath. He literally thought he was going insane because he was told repeatedly that the pain and symptoms he was experiencing were all in his head (psychosomatic). He had reached a point where he literally resigned himself to dying before he reached 30. Turns out he had Lyme's disease the whole time and it ran rampant through his system for 10 years, even to the point of causing brain damage. Ironically, if Ren hadn't gone through what he has, would he have ever made the art he has? There's no question that his suffering has shaped his music and now he's finally getting the recognition he undoubtedly deserves. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Ren is special.
I couldn't of put it better myself👍
Wow, thank you so much for the insight! We'll work on pausing more when we talk so we don't miss the lyrics. Thank you for watching, and we appreciate the feedback! - A
Ren almost hit it big when he was about 19 years old but was struck down by his illness to the point that he couldn't fulfill his contract and had to walk away from the "one shot" you're lucky to get as a performer. He spent years living with his mom and spending up to 23 hours a day in bed at some points. He continued writing, recording and performing as his illness allowed. He's completely independent and, at 33 years old now, his talent is finally getting a chance to be recognized by a wide audience thanks to the popularity of this song.
Because Ren's independent and, as mentioned in the song, he doesn't necessarily write for the "radio formula", he doesn't stick to a single genre. He's been trying to put together a rap album, so a lot of his more recent videos are focused on that genre, but you can find videos of him busking on the streets of Brighton, doing duets and, if you want unique, Check out "The Tales of Jenny and Screech (Full)" - it's a combination of 3 videos that are available individually, but the "Full" version has them in the correct order ("Jenny's Tale", "Screech's Tale" and "Violet's Tale"). These are also live recordings.
Thank you so much for the insight! This song was so different and we'll have to check out more from him. We appreciate the recommendations, and thank you for watching! - A
New sub, ay up lads from an English hill village. Here to watch you react to Ren and his friends. They are street performers ( buskers) so perfoming live is their default setting. A talented group of people.
Almost everything he does is one off and incredible. Listen to his band, Big Push, and their cover of I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/HipHop; to the Tales of Jenny and Screech (whole), to Chalk Outlines with Chinchilla. He often has multiple versions of different songs - all good, all different. Usually the live versions are best. He's the master of the 1-take. They recorded this one 4 X, chose a version and spliced on a different free verse poetry section at the end... but the main part, the singing you just heard, was live and one take. Chalk Outlines has amazing acoustics - you can hear every contour of the room they recorded in.
Appreciate the recommendations! We'll have to check out more of his music. Thank you for watching! - A
Samuel Perry-Falvey who filmed Hi Ren, talks about the filming a bit in the comments of Jonathan Hiller's reaction to the song. In the long reply thread to his first comment.
A little something I've put together since I found Ren's music; part person who found hope again, part music lover, part fanboi (I admit it!), part bafflement at the sheer talent of Ren & Friends, so without further ado; Welcome to the RENaissance
For Bardcore - check out the 3 part Tale of Jenny & Screech
If you want to dive more into the rap side of his catalogue, I'd start with "What You Want" which is a brilliant homage to the Beasties,
followed with "Genesis" followed by "Sick Boy" followed by "Illest of Our Time" (this one goes after the previous one so you have some grasp of the meaning)
and the trail goes from there
For more rock oriented fare follow the breadcrumbs to The Big Push and dive in (I personally suggest Sweet Little Lady, Swan Song, Englishman in New York,
,'I Shot The Sherriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop', and the cherry on top (my new favorite in this category, others are welcome to disagree but they're wrong :) "Fire"
Last but not least, don't be afraid to check down the alleys, Ren has built himself a circle of talented musician friends that will surprise you and
make you glad you chose to look for hidden treasure (Hint: *Chinchilla, Eden Nash, Sam Tompkins, and so many more)
(Also Humble w/ Eden Nash is just pure young punk/rude boy heaven)
*Chinchilla: Take 1 part Christina, 1 part Jessie J, 1 part Rhianna, blend well and pour over your own unique style, served ice cold by the baddest bitch in town
(See Fingers (Live), Little Girl Gone (the official video is just *fun*), Elements, One Time, and for fun Terms & Conditions which has an 80s Madonna vibe
*Gorran: He's got a pretty amazing list of tunes but the LIVE version of "If' speaks to me
*Romain: If you love good guitar, Romain is your guy, but if I had to pick ONE song.. it's him on a Piano - Love Without Feelings (And bonus, he's got a new tune dropping soon (05/26/23) called Turn the Lights Down and its sounding like its going to be absolute mad
Thank you for your insight! We appreciate the detailed recommendations and guide to his music. We'll have to take a look. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more! - A
Subbed immediately ! RENegades in the house !! Welcome to the RENaissance ! ....Ren suggest we must all check out : DIRT MILLER !! All I can say is ....WOWWWWW !!!
I subbed today also. Everyone gave you great suggestions. Ren is a warrior using his new fame to help others get noticed. He is a huge inspiration. Buckle up Buttercup!
You guys are great, i have Subscribed simply because i want to witness your discovery of Rens genius! Please set up a playlist just for him, because you have only just begun to scratch the surface. Oooo, im excited FOR you! Lol
Lots of love from the U.K. 💕
He does everything, and it’s all good.
He has a band too, The Big Push, they are amazing as well. 'I Shot the Sheriff, Road to Zion, Hiphop' was the first one I saw and it blows you away.
You guys are gonna be fun to watch go down the Ren rabbit hole.
I'm 49, and here's a thought I've been having as I watch reaction channels do this song - what else in UA-cam music history has run 9min and utterly transfixed 13 million people and counting? I'm sure there've been many many many people who didn't like it and clicked away long before it ended, but...
13 million views since December 2022.
For a NINE MINUTE VIDEO that doesn't usually translate to 'something I'll put on my playlist to listen to' (I'm not saying NO ONE listens to it outside of watching the video *performance* but you know what I'm getting at)
For that matter, how many other things in *viral* history have run 9min?
How many of them provoked a NOT INSIGNIFICANT number of their viewers to search out other material by the same person/people?
I'll leave it to other commentors to rattle off their lists of favourite Ren songs that you shoudl try next - 1) you basically can't go wrong with ANY of it; 2) watch out, he's about to introduce you to some other INCREDIBLE musicians he collaborates with.... you basically can't go wrong with ANY of them, they're all AMAZING; and 3) DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM LIVE VERSIONS OF SONGS with Ren or any of his collaborators, or busking session videos. They're almost always incredible, and sometimes they're even better than the studio versions.
You're not gonna believe the breadth of talent and creativity you've stumbled onto.
Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole! It's nice in here and we have cookies! GREAT REACTION!!! +1 sub.
Welcome to the Ren-aissance !!! Go down the rabbit hole, but do first listen reactions so we can join you. Be ready to have your mind blown, lol. 😊❤
Appreciate the support! We'll have to check out more of his music. Thank you for watching! - A
Check out all of Ren, he doesn't fit any category but brilliance❤
We'll have to check out more from him for sure! Thanks for watching! - A
great reaction! you should continue down the ren rabbit hole, and i bet all us new subs will go along for the ride. next try the tale of jenny and screech.
Thank you for your support! We'll have to check out more of his work! - A
The rabbit hole is deep with a lot of twists and turns. Pack a lunch and have fun! Can't wait to see your reactions to more of his music.
Appreciate the support! Thank you for watching! - A
Here is some additional information on Ren's story that I gathered from old newspaper interviews, articles, and Ren's livestreams and posts where he discussed his condition. Ren Erin Gill is a British musician/independent artist; born in Wales on March 29, 1990; he eventually moved to Brighton. Ren 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. In 2010, he was signed by Sony Records and was working on an album when his health deteriorated to the point where he was unable to continue; subsequently, his contract with Sony was dissolved.
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 currently in Calgary, Canada for more treatments, including surgeries, and will have to be there for at least six months (Summer of 2023) undergoing IV and other interventions five days a week. Ren recently underwent wisdom tooth removal and cavitation surgery. In addition, 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, adrenals as well as his bones/joints. Now, Ren is receiving additional treatments for this previously undiagnosed condition.
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. 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.
Here is the link to Ren’s GoFundMe page to raise money for his current treatment. Ren has exceeded his initial goal. However, his goal was very conservative and did not reflect the added costs of unforeseen surgical procedures, and treatment for additional health issues such as MCAD. www.gofundme.com/f/ren-get-better-from-lyme-disease-and-autoimmunity
Thanks for all the information. We really appreciate it!
Subbed also! Great reaction! I discovered Ren's music through another reaction channel, and delved deep into the Ren rabbit hole since then. If you decide to delve there also, just be aware that you will meet all kinds of dangers and wonders--not only pig-headed people, but hooligans, other animal-headed people, knife-wielding teenagers, angry car park attendants, old school rappers with a new school twist, Chinchillas, buskers (street performers), conversations with the ocean, a nursery rhyme used as an economics teaching tool, gorillas, heart-breaking songs about lost friends, and the like. Once you set foot on that path, you'll start to recognize some of what I just mentioned.
Be prepared to be amazed😁
So far we are! We'll have to check out more of his music. Thank you for watching! - A
Did you notice that Good Ren's shadow is the darkest and always present at the begaining. (Hence, the more intensely the light the darker the shadow) While the good Ren sings the evil Ren's shadow is faded. While the Evil Ren Sings His shadow comes in and out but the Good Ren's shadow doesn't leave. Until the switch at the end then the shadows battle for dominance.
FYI this was done on purpose.
That's a super interesting detail. Thank you for pointing that out! He definitely brings a lot of layers to his music and videos. Thank you for watching! - A
Ren is in his own lane lol you cant put him in a box. you won't be disappointed!!
It was a great listen. Thanks for watching! - A
Welcome to the Ren Rabbit hole, I'm here for it, hunger, how to be me, illest of our time, animal flow, chalk outlines
We love Ren, his music is so fresh and perfect its revived my interest in music along with so many of us.
Thank you for the support and recommendations! We'll have to check those out! - A
Dive in enjoy 🎶✌❤🐦.
Thank you for watching! - A
Liked and Subscribed guys, Ren reactions bring me to new channels, but not all channels get Ren his Music is so varied because he is independent, you might not like everything, but in my opinion i think the dude is a Genius, he produces all his own Music, makes all his own Beats, writes all his own Music and Lyrics, plays in his own Band The Big Push, although they are on Hiatus at the moment because of his illness but they have a Channel with plenty of Music to React too as well. His main Output over the last 7yrs has been his solo stuff though and it's all of a high quality but mainly been unnoticed because he is independent. He was signed to Sony when he was Young but couldn't carry on making Music for a while because he got ill, and was misdiagnosed for so long. You will get many recommendations for Songs to react too, it just Depends what Genre you want, he's even invented his own Genre, "Bardcore", hope to see some more Ren Reactions soon.
haha put your seatbelt on fellas!! welcome to the RENaissance!!
Haha totally! He really blew us away! Thanks for watching! - A
He’s a brilliant songwriter. Glad I found this. I love watching first timers watch it lol
Next one I'd recommend is Chalk Outlines, then Sick Boi. There are many more. Right now reactors have just found Freckled Angels, the song he wrote for his close friend who took his own life. I read somewhere he sang it at his funeral. Very emotional. I'm 71. I can't find a category to place him in, I think he was 100% when he said ''I am a genius.'' GO REN! P.S. Do the live version of Chalk Outlines.
Welcome aboard gentleman. You have barely scratched the surface of a truly remarkable genius. Down the Ren rabbit hole expect the unexpected, you will laugh, you will cry and you will be better people thanks to Ren. Your reaction was intelligent and compassionate, thank you.
Ren does like his live performances and one-take videos. Great reaction. I’d recommend the next four in order, just to give you an idea of the breadth of his work.
The Hunger
The Tale of Jenny and Screech (full version, it’s like 13 minutes but never disappoints)
How to be me (live with Chinchilla)
Losing It (his take on the Fisher EDM song)
Welcome to the rabbit hole.
Thank you for the support! We'll have to check out more of his music! We appreciate the recommendations! - A
Ya boys!! Breakin the fourth wall!!!
I’m thinking of the scene out of Die Hard …” “Welcome to the party, Bud”…
Or
Scene from Jaws… “ You’re going to need a bigger boat”
All the RENegades will tidal wave your channel with love and support!
Enjoy your journey down the Ren rabbit hole. Buckle up, we will be here to enjoy it with you. It’s always great to see others perspectives as they dive into Rens body of work. Look forward to enjoying more of your content.
Sincerely, Don
Thank you Don! Appreciate the support! We'll have to take a look at more of his music! - A
You get it fellas. New sub here. Looking forward to following your ride on the Ren Rollercoaster. Buckle up boys. It's a wild ride!!
Ooooooh! Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole. It’s lovely here. I haven’t found a bad song yet. Eventually you’ll try to figure out what genre he fits in but there isn’t one. He does a little of everything. Enjoy your stay here.
Thank you for watching! This song was great, so we'll have to take a look at more from him. - A
This is the song that introduced most people to Ren, but he has some amazing other choices. Sick Boi, Chalk Outlines and Crutch are health related, but the Tales of Jenny and Screetch (full - must be full version of Jenny Screetch and Violet) are completely different and just as amazing. Then there's The Hunger (Rap) or Money Games (1&2) or his latest, The Illest of our Times, and Animal Flow... there's also him with his band The Big Push busking that covers hard rock, reggae, hip hop, Nina Simone .. there is so much... Ren is a deep well to go down but it's really worth it.
We'll have to take a look at more of his stuff. Thanks for watching! - A
Thank you for your reaction. 🙂
Appreciate the support! Thank you for watching Mary! - A
Ren has so many great songs!!! All 🔥
Thanks for watching! We'll have to take a look at more of his music! - A
I love someone starting fresh down the Ren rabbit hole, also not too many or lengthy pauses and great insights.
Joining you for the ride
Sick Boi is like a continuation of Hi Ren and his battles.... completely different vibe though. Which is what you will come to realise with Ren....he doesn't have a particular genre because he is his own genre. Unique, artistic, creative, talented... the list is neverending!
However, like everyone else, I'm here for the rabbit hole that you are about to dive into so sit back, strap in and enjoy!!
All that aside.... you must watch The Tale of Jenny and Screech (full version) You will be inundated with requests for this and you won't be disappointed. Each video (it's a trilogy) is a one shot and all performed LIVE.
Also, you'll have some requests where you are asked to watch the live version.... simply because they are better.
Much love from the UK!
I’m here for your ren ride!
Thank you for watching! We appreciate your support! Stay tuned for more! - A
Came for Ren..staying cause I enjoyed the reaction!
All that back and forth, the voice switching, the alternating guitar parts, that was all one take. Towards the end they used footage from another take for the close-ups, but the core of that song is live, and is wildly impressive.
It's not a common video to be reacted to, but there is a video called "Patience - Ren Gill - M.E.", which was recorded live in 2014 or so when he was in the depths of his illness. Most of what you see from him he is healthy and strong, but this will give you a chance to see where he is coming from. It's not act or schtick, he is very sick. He's come a long way though.
M.E. is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which was his diagnosis at the time, for his long misdiagnosed Lyme's Disease.
That's crazy! Thank you for the insight. We appreciate the recommendation! Thanks for watching! - A
Actually all of the audio was recorded live. The video being a combo of two separate takes doesn't mean that audio isn't all live.
This is a great recommendation!
I think you understand a great deal about Ren if you really hear 2 lines: "I've spent half my life ill." & "my music....gives me a purpose I can rest in." He's driven to create & it's been his refuge.
One more thing that should be noted. The NHS, the British health care system, never correctly diagnosed Ren. He eventually figured it out by himself & went to a dr. in Belgium (?) who confirmed it immediately.
Crazy! Appreciate you highlighting that. Thank you for watching! - A
Good luck boys... Ren will become a fave quick.. He can't be put in a genre, Just wait.. Next up, for more live performances.. The Tale of Jenny and Screech, FULL VERSION>. Its 3 songs put in one video, each it's own live performance.
Thanks for watching! We appreciate the recommendation. We'll have to check it out! - A
For REN, this was truly his reality. Misdiagnosed with Lyme disease for 7 years by conventional doctors who deemed him mentally ill, but when patients are experiencing neurological symptoms, they very often become misdiagnosed. Lyme disease can present itself as many neurological conditions including Acute Transverse Myelitis[3], Ptosis[4], Seizures, and Chronic Fatigue[1] and these symptoms can be often misdiagnosed or deemed psychosomatic. Second is dealing with the symptoms of Lyme neuroborreliosis, these neurological symptoms often leave patients feeling drained and debilitated as they begin losing their quality of life. Over time, patients find themselves unable to do the things they love as they struggle to get ahead of their progressing symptoms.
Ren brought me here... I liked 🤘😎 and Welcome to the rabbit hole 🥰 You help Ren and we help you 😇😂 Greetings from Denmark brothers 😎
And just do all that he does... You won't be disappointed... The Big Push... Chinchilla... Sam Thompkins .. Do 'em all... Cheers
You're about to step into a Dune Sand Worm Sized Hole!
Thanks for watching! We'll have to check out more of his music! - A
is a modern day bard!
Haha great way to put it! Thank you for watching!
great reaction guys! ren is so talented! you guys should check out his busking performances.
Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole lads.
His depth, creativity and ability to make you feel vulnerable will wow and inspire
You are here for a delightful surprise with every song of Ren!
Please do more Ren!
Thank you for watching! We'll have to check out more of his music! - A
Yup, get ready, my good sirs!
Others will tell you his amazing life story, and yes, ALL his music is awesome, and there is A LOT of it, as he has been putting out high quality music for a very long time. It just took the rest of the world some serious time to catch up with him.
Enjoy the ride!
New sub! Thanks for doing this Ren review, you must do the Tale of Jenny and Screech and Violet’s Tale, all three are on the one video. You’ll see another side of Ren. His story telling is amazing.
Great review! Jenny and screech full next bros
Thank you for the support! We appreciate the recommendations! - A
you guys get it so subbed , you should catch the Ren train .
Welcome to the Ren Rabbit hole it's an amazing ride, new sub from me! At 53 this young man has reconfigured my mind & REN-EWED my soul! A life long music and no one has affected me this way. I'm over 1,000 Ren reaction videos [yes I've counted] and there's no sign of stopping 😊
That’s amazing man!! Love to hear it!
@@TAHBofficial thanks! I'd humbly suggest The tale of Jenny & Screech full version it's a trilogy of songs. Then go nuts listening to his catalog, I can't find a bad one.
You’ve got to hop onto the ren train.. I promise you will never be the same …
He's crazy good! We'll have to check out more of his music. Thanks for watching! - A
He plays in the key of Ren 😍
As far as I know, the video was done in one take, with different cameras from different angles. And it took four tries to get the take right. I think only the speech part at the end was taken separately. That's the info that I heard other reactors give, don't know if it is accurate 😊
To answer your question.
None of his music is the same. Except to say that it is ALL astounding.
I will leave it to others to tell you his back story.
He has a MASSIVE amount of music.
Please continue discovering who he is through his music.
As to where to go from here. That all depends which of the many sides of Ren that you want to see.
There are 3 that are the standard recommendations.
Sick Boi
Chalk Outlines
And
The Tales of Jenny and Screech Full.
Be sure to do that version. It is story based abd keeps it in the right order to see.
Whatever direction you choose to go. I will be here. Subbed and notifications are on.
So, I don't miss the next atep in this journey.
Thank you so much for the support and recommendations! We'll have to check out more of his music. - A
Ren❤❤❤❤
Brilliant reaction guys. Enjoy the Ren journey ❤
Great reaction. Subscribed.
It’s not an anomaly. I am at the bottom of the rabbit hole and I’ve yet to find a bad song! He does every genre and he does them better than your best in that genre
Late subscriber, going back to all your reactions for Ren. Looking forward to your journey.
He is a Welsh bard.
Great reactions guys!
It’s the one that started it ALL. I’m now a Super Fan of Ren’s
new sub, great energy!
Well damn... I seem to have stumbled upon the "We Talk Over the Lyrics" channel. Too bad.
We'll work on pausing more when we talk. Thank you for the feedback! - A
One love UK
Welcome to the Ren rabbit hole! Enjoy the ride
Hi guys welcome to Rens world jump in and enjoy the fantastic ride😊😊😊😊
Sick boi , the tale of Jenny and screech full version
Chalk outlines Ren 💙
Appreciate the recommendation! Thank you for watching! - A
Hi, I have subscribed to watch your Ren journey. Something to keep on mind, I believe'Jenny and Screech' was filmed years apart. I saw the first one then later saw the second. The third I didn't see until months later. Big surprise.
Anyway, watch him collaberate. Amazing!
For vocals and performance watch him cover a trilogy of songs with Sam Tomkins busking on the streets of London or on a roof top with Chinchilla and his tribute 'How to be Me' and with his band Big Push covering Bob Marley. To finish, watch him challenge the Rap Gods in The Hunger.
He is a genius. Enjoy!
Ren has a ton of music in video format. He has another 3 part set of Tales you should react to next. 'Tales of Jenny and Screech (Full)'
Appreciate the recommendation! Thank you for watching! - A
Wait to see losing it... What you want... Chalk outlines... And his band the big push. You have endless amazing stuff to watch
We can’t wait!
Welcome to the RENaissance!!! The Ren Rabbit Hole is deep!!!!
Great reaction guys, got a new sub 👍
👍👍👍
LOTS will come for the Ren!
Great reaction guys you should do the tale of jenny and screech its in 3 stages but do it all in 1
It was shot live and in 1 take he was diagnosed with skitso when he was 6 then 82 years ago he found out it was like diease
I like it when reactors next do his song with his band The Big Push doing "I shot the sheriff / Road to Zion / Hip-Hop" cover/mash up. Gives you a different side of him. I PROMISE it will blow your mind. The one where he is wearing the red suspenders.
Put your seatbelts on.
For real! Thanks for watching! - A