Hi Ren
March 26, 2023 6:58 AM Subscribe
Ren - Hi Ren
Some background Ren – the Welsh musician attracting millions to his extraordinary music
Other Ren videos worth checking out:
Ren x Chinchilla - Chalk Outlines (live)
Money Game part 2
Ren & Sam Tompkins - Earned it /Mans World / Falling
Ren - Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake)
Ren - The Tale of Jenny & Screech (Full)
The Big Push - Wade in the water / Nina Simone / Trouble so hard
Ren also posted a "Essential Ren" spotify playlist for those of us who only recently discovered his music.
Some background Ren – the Welsh musician attracting millions to his extraordinary music
Other Ren videos worth checking out:
Ren x Chinchilla - Chalk Outlines (live)
Money Game part 2
Ren & Sam Tompkins - Earned it /Mans World / Falling
Ren - Bittersweet symphony (The Verve retake)
Ren - The Tale of Jenny & Screech (Full)
The Big Push - Wade in the water / Nina Simone / Trouble so hard
Ren also posted a "Essential Ren" spotify playlist for those of us who only recently discovered his music.
Came in expecting something Ren & Stimpy related and nearly skimmed right past. I'm so glad I watched - notes of theatrical predecessors like Queen and Meat Loaf (and The Darkness who I see has a reaction video up there) in his ability to arrange a totally credible story arc but remain so personal and raw.
Of course there's an Eminem comparison to be made, and it's hard to shake a little Bastille comparison (who fills a certain earnestly-attempted recovery from classic toxic masc Britishness in my taste).
None of these is negative, I like how much he's making that legacy his own.
And I don't know what it says that I got chills when he stood up - I was clearly fully invested - the lighting effects were so beautifully and subtly aligned with the energy he built up.
Really nice find, thank you for sharing.
posted by abulafa at 8:21 AM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Of course there's an Eminem comparison to be made, and it's hard to shake a little Bastille comparison (who fills a certain earnestly-attempted recovery from classic toxic masc Britishness in my taste).
None of these is negative, I like how much he's making that legacy his own.
Slight spoiler
And I don't know what it says that I got chills when he stood up - I was clearly fully invested - the lighting effects were so beautifully and subtly aligned with the energy he built up.
Really nice find, thank you for sharing.
posted by abulafa at 8:21 AM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you like that sort of thing, Justin Hawkins (Darkness) reacts to “Hi Ren” on his You Tube Channel.
posted by jozifd at 8:55 AM on March 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by jozifd at 8:55 AM on March 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
Well, this is going to eat up a lot of my time this .
posted by es_de_bah at 8:55 AM on March 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by es_de_bah at 8:55 AM on March 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Wow, this was amazing and powerful
posted by iswa at 9:50 AM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by iswa at 9:50 AM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
If anyone is interested in earlier work see the impressive Ren and Sam Tomkins - Blind Eyed (live)
posted by numberstation at 2:01 PM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by numberstation at 2:01 PM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yi-eah. Ren Hi Ren is down, I love it, great energy and character. The Genesis number is dope. Tale of Jenny and Screech is so.....good. Dude has the touch when it come to audience, presentation, music and story without the story part sounding like Eminem. Thanks for this.
posted by clavdivs at 2:59 PM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 2:59 PM on March 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
This is great. That is all.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:08 PM on March 26, 2023
posted by Bella Donna at 3:08 PM on March 26, 2023
I'm kind of surprised he hasn't been posted about here yet. I discovered him from Justin Hawkins' video that Jozifd linked above.
posted by sfred at 3:53 PM on March 26, 2023
posted by sfred at 3:53 PM on March 26, 2023
In retrospect, I should have had the "Some background" above the fold as well. Ah well.
posted by fings at 6:02 PM on March 26, 2023
posted by fings at 6:02 PM on March 26, 2023
Thank you for sharing this. Ren's artistry and story resonate.
posted by mightshould at 11:33 PM on March 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mightshould at 11:33 PM on March 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
I wish this post had more comments. I can't express how powerful this song was to me.
Are there any other artists you'd recommend, that have written songs about mental health in as brave a way?
posted by kmartino at 9:24 AM on March 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Are there any other artists you'd recommend, that have written songs about mental health in as brave a way?
posted by kmartino at 9:24 AM on March 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh my gosh, I just came to post this. The way I found it was a reaction to this song from The Charismatic Voice - highly recommend.
posted by Glinn at 6:21 PM on March 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Glinn at 6:21 PM on March 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Holy shit. Thank you for posting.
posted by FallibleHuman at 8:38 PM on March 27, 2023
posted by FallibleHuman at 8:38 PM on March 27, 2023
Just coming back to admit I watched reaction videos to this thing until 3am on a worknight. I am sorry to say I missed this post initially, fings. You may be right that adding more of the info above the fold would have helped... but I often skip music posts so it's hard to say.
posted by Glinn at 7:22 AM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Glinn at 7:22 AM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Thanks fings for posting Ren. I really hope he continues - Ren's .. just unreal in the range of things he does so amazingly, and .. just really out there re addressing mental health. Certainly unafraid to face (and produce) very hard issues.
kmartino Lone Lady explores grief, mental states, aloneness, but not only (as I think anyone would explode), but often deeply introspective /psychogeographic.
Just found an interview on music being lifesaving for Ren.
posted by unearthed at 1:20 AM on April 1, 2023
kmartino Lone Lady explores grief, mental states, aloneness, but not only (as I think anyone would explode), but often deeply introspective /psychogeographic.
Just found an interview on music being lifesaving for Ren.
posted by unearthed at 1:20 AM on April 1, 2023
Anyone else still watching? Have you watched Chalk Outlines or The Hunger? If not, you will be surprised differently by each one. Gobsmacked maybe, as one reactor said, even though he wasn't sure he was using that word right. He was.
I have things to do. But I'm just watching Ren videos and people reacting to Ren videos*.
*To be honest I often don't get things done that I need to do.
posted by Glinn at 7:00 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
I have things to do. But I'm just watching Ren videos and people reacting to Ren videos*.
*To be honest I often don't get things done that I need to do.
posted by Glinn at 7:00 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am! And don't forget The Big Push, whether originals like It's Alright or covers like Praise You or Englishman in New York. And their COVID lockdown LiveNation bedroom show. And their full fairwell concert. Plus all the busking
posted by fings at 9:47 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fings at 9:47 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Justin Hawkins is inviting questions for his upcoming chat with Ren
posted by fings at 9:36 AM on April 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fings at 9:36 AM on April 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Glinn! Still listening, I can't think of anyone remotely* like Ren, he's like a (melodic) baseball bat* against everything bad in the world - and terrifyingly honest about himself https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W6jKUMTlfW4 #dayinthelife so CW on that.
*although a lot of alt/counter / world-shifting sounds coming from UK at the moment [Benefits, Lone Lady, Sleaford Mods] addressing inequity and all the isms, but Ren manages to stay a little lighter.
posted by unearthed at 4:09 PM on April 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
*although a lot of alt/counter / world-shifting sounds coming from UK at the moment [Benefits, Lone Lady, Sleaford Mods] addressing inequity and all the isms, but Ren manages to stay a little lighter.
posted by unearthed at 4:09 PM on April 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
Yes, that day in the life is rough. Luckily seems to have a good support system.
And of course Hi, Ren hit 10M. Very cool.
Ok you guys. I watched a cover of Hi, Ren. I watched assuming it would be terrible because how could another person possibly? But, I was surprised. It didn't hurt that I've seen Hi, Ren dozens of times and know the words.
Ren - Hi Ren (Pop-Punk Cover by Mr. Blackburger feat. Basti Jacobs)
Ok, now back to Ren videos.
posted by Glinn at 11:42 AM on April 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
And of course Hi, Ren hit 10M. Very cool.
Ok you guys. I watched a cover of Hi, Ren. I watched assuming it would be terrible because how could another person possibly? But, I was surprised. It didn't hurt that I've seen Hi, Ren dozens of times and know the words.
Ren - Hi Ren (Pop-Punk Cover by Mr. Blackburger feat. Basti Jacobs)
Ok, now back to Ren videos.
posted by Glinn at 11:42 AM on April 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
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