Man, I love your reactions, I've watched a few now since I discovered you through Ren, you are so inciteful and nail it each time, with such warmth... The 'traced', and 'erased' chalk outlines analogy hit me so hard. I have been through 6 different anti-depressant medication cycles in as many years, they take away who you are inside, you no longer feel anything, you become emotionally stifled, you are just a 'chalk outline' of who you used to be. the line 'you erase yourself in a chalk outline' is exactly that... you erase who you are in this chalk outline... it is so eloquent and such a perfect analogy for me, it might mean something else to somebody else, but this is what it meant to me. I wish I had heard this years ago, but I suppose I had to wait until Ren had written it first. 😀 keep up the good work, much love brother.
Great reaction! I really related with what you were saying about medication and creativity, I'm a visual artist and haven't wanted to make anything in YEARS. It wasn't just the medication numbing me out but I've been in that state of not having lows but also not having highs for a very long time and its a dismal existence. Finding Ren's music was the best thing that ever happened to me, it woke me up and I'm finally feeling things again and wanting to make art. Edit to add- How To Be Me (Live) is another one he did with Chinchilla that's similarly emotional and powerful!
So glad you loved this, please check out their duet "how to be me" (live), it's another stunning performance. He has an amazing rap catalogue as well many songs that merge and cross genres. I can't stop listening to him!!! Also worth checking out his busking with band The Big Push.... so varied but such a talented musician
Keep the Ren reactions coming please! Nothing but great songs down the rabbit hole. I suggest checking out Crutch feat. Bibi next. Absolutely stunning song.
Chinchilla (Daisy Bertenshaw) is 26 years old, from London, UK, and a rising star on the British music scene. She was a supporting act on Sting's 2019 European Arena tour and the opening act for the 2021 McFly tour. Chinchilla has also played some big European music festivals. Her songs "Cold Water" and "Shadows [Tails]" are beautiful. Here is the link to her YT channel: ua-cam.com/channels/Zc7gfR6BH-mGJh0_EgHAIQ.html
If you want one that won't be quite as emotional, but will let you enjoy some more of Ren singing, he and the Big Push did a great cover of Sting's Englishman in New York.
More Ren please! I always get chills through this entire song. Esp knowing it is about suicide. Sadly, I can relate. Ren is a prodigy and he will be the artist others try to emulate but never will! Peace from NYC!
This was a very enjoyable reaction. "Chalk Outlines" touches me deeply no matter how many times I watch this video or hear this song. I can very much relate to this and many of his other songs as they describe my daily struggle over the past 25+ years. Ren has been able to express through his songs what I have been unsuccessfully trying to communicate to others regarding my mental, emotional, and physical struggles. I would recommend you also check out Ren's other collaboration with Chinchilla, the "How to Be Me" live version, as well as their busking sessions in Brighton. As for "Chalk Outlines," it is one of my favorite songs right now; it is beautiful yet sad. The studio version is also incredible. However, in my personal opinion, it does not come close to the live version. This performance is so much more raw, emotional, and visceral, and Chinchilla's performance here elevates the song to a whole new plain. I wish the live version would be available on Spotify. Someone (Obj Owl @JoesTheBestInTheWorl) shared his interpretation, I think fittingly so, “The sound of the folding chair opening up fills the empty space with echoes emanating from the walls and then diminishes. Ren uses this to compose the song, with Chalk Outlines representing the empty space that he feels within. Chinchilla, who also emerges from the walls and echos Ren throughout and suitably for an echo, has the last word, leaving a dark empty space. It's dark on the gallows.” Given Ren's medical history, I interpret this song to address mental illness diagnoses, and prescription psychotropics, which leave you emotionally dead (hence, the chalk outlines around your dead self). I can attest to the reality of this; for over 15 years, I was prescribed a cocktail of max doses of psychotropics, including Sertraline, until I decided to carefully wean myself off all medications in 2014. The side effects of the drugs were too many and too severe, left me an emotional zombie, and the benefits were negligible. I still struggle with my mental health and physical symptoms daily, but I rather feel pain than nothing at all. Looking forward to more Ren reactions from you. God bless.
@@DivergentReactions Thank you for your reply, and I would have to agree with you; this is indeed one of the greatest performances to watch/ listen to. Have a blessed weekend.
This song was hit me hard and can't stop listening it over the last three weeks. I had four episodes of major depression through my life and probably, there are more in queue. While I was on my antidepressants, this same crushing feeling of erasing myself, until a become hollow never passed. But what else we can do? Just waiting the pendulum to come back to middle... Also, everyone going through Ren rabbit hole are missing how Chinchilla is also talented AF. I highly recommend to check out Chinchilla - Fingers (live). She has an *unearthly* voice and I think that the lyrics/performance is raw/painful but beautiful in a similar sense to this song.
Although their are a lot of people that are helped by medication, so many times, we are just teaching kids that they aren’t okay the way they are and they are being robbed of developing the skills to deal with life. We need to teach kids to be okay in their own skin, to accept themselves warts and all, rather than feeding them this tale of a magical “perfect” neurotypical fix.
So many people with neurodivergent minds can relate to this feeling of masking and medicating. My hope for my kids and the future is that we will move away from neurotypical and neurodivergent and just accept everyone as a person.
Man, I love your reactions, I've watched a few now since I discovered you through Ren, you are so inciteful and nail it each time, with such warmth... The 'traced', and 'erased' chalk outlines analogy hit me so hard. I have been through 6 different anti-depressant medication cycles in as many years, they take away who you are inside, you no longer feel anything, you become emotionally stifled, you are just a 'chalk outline' of who you used to be. the line 'you erase yourself in a chalk outline' is exactly that... you erase who you are in this chalk outline... it is so eloquent and such a perfect analogy for me, it might mean something else to somebody else, but this is what it meant to me. I wish I had heard this years ago, but I suppose I had to wait until Ren had written it first. 😀 keep up the good work, much love brother.
Thanks for your kind words Chris - sorry it took so long to reply to this comment!
Great reaction! I really related with what you were saying about medication and creativity, I'm a visual artist and haven't wanted to make anything in YEARS. It wasn't just the medication numbing me out but I've been in that state of not having lows but also not having highs for a very long time and its a dismal existence. Finding Ren's music was the best thing that ever happened to me, it woke me up and I'm finally feeling things again and wanting to make art.
Edit to add- How To Be Me (Live) is another one he did with Chinchilla that's similarly emotional and powerful!
That is wonderful
It's so true. I don't think I've written a song for years, and it definitely correlates to the meds, for sure!
So glad you loved this, please check out their duet "how to be me" (live), it's another stunning performance. He has an amazing rap catalogue as well many songs that merge and cross genres. I can't stop listening to him!!! Also worth checking out his busking with band The Big Push.... so varied but such a talented musician
Lots of people recommending these videos, i need to check them out!
Mate I'm sure 'How to be me' live version by Ren X Chinchilla will blow you away
oo ill check that one out too!
Your reaction did justice to this beautiful and profound piece of art
Thank you Michael :)
Ren 😍👏👏👏
Everybody Drops
Dominoes
Do You Believe
Currently in my first long-term burnout as late-dx autistic. Ren has so many songs of relevance.
I've been in that burnout for years. Only starting to come through the other side of it, it's not easy for sure.
Love everything by Ren - just amazing! Please continue your journey through his catalog. Thank you!
Thank you! Will do!
Keep the Ren reactions coming please! Nothing but great songs down the rabbit hole. I suggest checking out Crutch feat. Bibi next. Absolutely stunning song.
Thanks I'll add to my watch list!
Chinchilla (Daisy Bertenshaw) is 26 years old, from London, UK, and a rising star on the British music scene. She was a supporting act on Sting's 2019 European Arena tour and the opening act for the 2021 McFly tour. Chinchilla has also played some big European music festivals. Her songs "Cold Water" and "Shadows [Tails]" are beautiful. Here is the link to her YT channel: ua-cam.com/channels/Zc7gfR6BH-mGJh0_EgHAIQ.html
Thanks Jens - Subscribed!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥I also can't get enough of Ren ! The guy is a fing genius! So inspirational.
Your face at the end, man...... perfectly, naturally pitched.
Thank you, it's such a powerful performance!
If you want one that won't be quite as emotional, but will let you enjoy some more of Ren singing, he and the Big Push did a great cover of Sting's Englishman in New York.
Thanks Rat I'll add those to the list!
More Ren please! I always get chills through this entire song. Esp knowing it is about suicide. Sadly, I can relate. Ren is a prodigy and he will be the artist others try to emulate but never will! Peace from NYC!
Yes, a "genius at work"
Love it
Great reaction! Love your perspective.
Thank you 😊
Really enjoy your reactions.
Thank you :)
This was a very enjoyable reaction. "Chalk Outlines" touches me deeply no matter how many times I watch this video or hear this song. I can very much relate to this and many of his other songs as they describe my daily struggle over the past 25+ years. Ren has been able to express through his songs what I have been unsuccessfully trying to communicate to others regarding my mental, emotional, and physical struggles. I would recommend you also check out Ren's other collaboration with Chinchilla, the "How to Be Me" live version, as well as their busking sessions in Brighton. As for "Chalk Outlines," it is one of my favorite songs right now; it is beautiful yet sad.
The studio version is also incredible. However, in my personal opinion, it does not come close to the live version. This performance is so much more raw, emotional, and visceral, and Chinchilla's performance here elevates the song to a whole new plain. I wish the live version would be available on Spotify.
Someone (Obj Owl @JoesTheBestInTheWorl) shared his interpretation, I think fittingly so, “The sound of the folding chair opening up fills the empty space with echoes emanating from the walls and then diminishes. Ren uses this to compose the song, with Chalk Outlines representing the empty space that he feels within. Chinchilla, who also emerges from the walls and echos Ren throughout and suitably for an echo, has the last word, leaving a dark empty space. It's dark on the gallows.”
Given Ren's medical history, I interpret this song to address mental illness diagnoses, and prescription psychotropics, which leave you emotionally dead (hence, the chalk outlines around your dead self). I can attest to the reality of this; for over 15 years, I was prescribed a cocktail of max doses of psychotropics, including Sertraline, until I decided to carefully wean myself off all medications in 2014. The side effects of the drugs were too many and too severe, left me an emotional zombie, and the benefits were negligible. I still struggle with my mental health and physical symptoms daily, but I rather feel pain than nothing at all.
Looking forward to more Ren reactions from you. God bless.
Thank you for the kind words and incredible comment, this performance is by far one of the greatest ive seen in a long time!
@@DivergentReactions Thank you for your reply, and I would have to agree with you; this is indeed one of the greatest performances to watch/ listen to. Have a blessed weekend.
This song was hit me hard and can't stop listening it over the last three weeks. I had four episodes of major depression through my life and probably, there are more in queue. While I was on my antidepressants, this same crushing feeling of erasing myself, until a become hollow never passed. But what else we can do? Just waiting the pendulum to come back to middle... Also, everyone going through Ren rabbit hole are missing how Chinchilla is also talented AF. I highly recommend to check out Chinchilla - Fingers (live). She has an *unearthly* voice and I think that the lyrics/performance is raw/painful but beautiful in a similar sense to this song.
I'll have to check that song out you are right she's super talented!
Check out Ren and chinchilla one dance its so good too!
Although their are a lot of people that are helped by medication, so many times, we are just teaching kids that they aren’t okay the way they are and they are being robbed of developing the skills to deal with life. We need to teach kids to be okay in their own skin, to accept themselves warts and all, rather than feeding them this tale of a magical “perfect” neurotypical fix.
So many people with neurodivergent minds can relate to this feeling of masking and medicating. My hope for my kids and the future is that we will move away from neurotypical and neurodivergent and just accept everyone as a person.
I couldn't agree more - That's the end goal we should strive for.
🐇🕳️🖤