I must have watched a hundred reactions to this song, and it still makes me tear up every time. My favorite reactions to this piece of art are of those like yourself who make their profession in music. They always start out quite analytical in their approach, but then we get to see that moment when his words touch your soul, and it's really beautiful. Like Ren, who bared his pain in this piece, you have allowed yourself to expose your own vulnerability through this reaction, and it is excellent, and helpful to all of us who struggle with our inner demons of self-doubt and fear. Thank you!

Almost everyone I've watched has connected with the song to some degree, and maybe a third of them are actually touched and moved. Ken here just got punched right in the chest, and it looked like it hurt. He must have a sensitive heart. I hope Ren gets to see this one.

“we need artists more than we realize” well said, and quite true. Thank you for your reaction.

This is actually the most classic Hi Ren reaction there is: 1. React to what your hearing and seeing, 2. get a little personal and tell a bit about your own demons, 3. Try to hold yourself together and not break down and cry. You're not alone Ken...

I'm a 55 year old metal head to the extreme. My reaction was very similar to yours. Totally speechless, sitting there crying like a baby. That internal struggle is real.

As a reactor, you have a truly beautiful heart, you do not hide or edit your feelings. We are all better off to have people like Ren and yourself in the world.❤❤❤

I have watched countless reactions to this piece of work, and I've watched about every reaction you've done...this was just outstanding work. You were just as vulnerable in this video as Ren was in the original piece...really, really good.

This song is pure genius not just musically and lyrically, but also the emotional vulnerability Ren shows and how he allows himself to invite us into his world. It's art, music and theatre all in one stunning performance that I believe was live and also done in one take. I'm so glad you reacted to this Ken and appreciate how it moved you as it has with everyone I've seen react to it. I'm also pleased for Ren as his story has been one of immense struggle and I hope he gets the credit and admiration he deserves, a stunning new talent with many other groundbreaking pieces to react to.

I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve cried to this.

Ken, you're a real one. To me, this is the most beautiful reaction to this performance that I've seen and I've probably watched 150ish different reactions to Hi Ren.

Thank you for not editing at the end of the song where you're obviously dealing with deep emotions. Very beautiful reaction.

I hope Ren sees your reaction. He will love it.. It must be good medicine for Ren to see how powerfully his moving masterpiece affects people.

"We need artists more than we realize." Profoundly felt.

Here is some additional information on Ren's story, in case you didn't already know. I gathered it from an old newspaper interview and Ren's livestreams and posts where he discussed his condition. Ren Eryn Gill is a British musician/independent artist; born in Wales in 1990 or ‘91 (depending on which source you cite), he grew up in Brighton. Ren pursued a career in music from an early age. In 2009, while studying music performance at Bath Spa University, he 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 and subsequently dropped by Sony. 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. 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 Canada for more treatments, including surgeries, and will have to be there for at least six months (Summer of 2023). Ren's Canadian doctor discovered that Ren also developed a condition called Mast Cell Activation Disorder, which has affected the myelin sheath in his brain, his thyroid, adrenals, as well as his bones/joints. Ren stated: "It's a lot to wrap my head around having to be away from friends, family, and a successful career, and almost feels like a total juxtaposition to the fact that my music is blowing up right now and spreading to all corners of the world, but that's life, we take the good with the bad." Let's keep supporting Ren and not pull a "Sony" on him as he undergoes his treatment. Check out and subscribe to his channel, 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 this generation, and his work is needed in these troubling times. Here is the link to Ren’s GoFundMe page to raise money for his current treatment. www.gofundme.com/f/ren-get-better-from-lyme-disease-and-autoimmunity

Our beloved Brighton Bard strikes again 🖤 He is pure emotion and art. His music is immensely versatile and addictive. He draws you in and touches your soul

The speechlessness and emotion at the end of this piece is some part of our brain telling us that these 9 minutes have just somehow changed our life. Thank you for sharing your emotions with us!! 🥰

Me too my friend Ken Lavigne; it hit me just like it hit you. Thank You for showing how it hit you. I don't think I will ever forget this song. I have seen very few songs that hit me like this; and I have to remind myself at the end, every time I see it, that this is one guy, with a guitar and a voice, in a room with two lights. That's it. No band, no CGI, etc. This is the real thing !

Ren has a way of connecting with just about everyone. I'm a 50+ woman who has been so surprised to see older adults love this kid as much as I do. He has lessons to teach, he has stories to tell. And he does it in such brilliant ways that makes us grin like goofs or sob like our hearts are breaking. Tears of admiration are thrown in there as well. With him, we come to experience the unexpected...that's part of the thrill of finding new pieces from him. I've never liked rap, but I'll listen to Ren's rap. His live busking videos with The Big Push really give us a perspective of how wonderful a performer he is. His ultimate gift is storytelling. I'm sure you'll get the suggestion, but for the modern day Shakespearean tragedy experience, please watch 'The Tale of Jenny and Screech' (Full version). Thanks for your heartfelt reaction. We've ALL been there with Ren.

Thank you REN, thank you Ken. Thank you for sitting with your emotional reaction, letting the silence roll, letting us see your vulnerability.

Like many of your fellow reactors Ren has moved you beyond words. He is genius, you are not alone . Thank you

Much respect to you for such a sincere reaction. Ren is such a special and versatile person that it is difficult to fit everything into one comment to describe him. I can only say that he, like no one else, makes us feel. All his music is saturated with revelation. I've never met anyone like Ren in the art world. Congratulations, you just discovered a treasure!

He stuns everybody into silence. And tears. He’s amazing.

it is ok to be speechless, to cry, to not know what to say, to struggle to keep it together when faced with this unbelievable song. And we reaction watchers feed on that, reliving our own experience with it again and again.

For me one of the most moving parts is when he slowly raises his head just before he stands. It’s like both previous characters integrate and it’s no longer a battle, some how it gets me every time.

This performance has left *so many* reactors speechless. It's so powerful; it takes some time to absorb.

That really affected your emotions like it has many others ..to see in real time when this hits home with you was amazing ... it proves the power of music and how a song written and performed excellently can deliver an important powerful message to every listener ..Only a sufferer can give and get the emotional feeling to a song like this

Sometimes a piece of art is so impactful that any analysis seems impossible because the art itself says it all!

I was waiting for this one, thank you for being vulnerable, this song just wrecks you... in a good way. Another song from Ren called "Sick Boi" deals with his disease, combined with an epic beat and society criticism, an absolutely amazing piece. What I also love by Ren - a trilogy which there haven't been many reactions to - is the tale of Jenny & Screech. In this piece he is not writing about his struggle, but tells a captivating story like a modern-day bard, which is thrilling musically and is also deep concerning social criticism.

Your reaction was human and also moving. Serenity!

Oh my. "Not a human doing, a human being"! Well said sir.❤

11:09 you felt what we all felt. Crying with you

Coach, its almost impossible to keep back the tears when listening to this. I still cry after hearing it, I reckon, 40 times. I guess I'm human, you are too.

There's lots of great music but it's rare something comes along that feels important. I felt it with my own response to hearing it, in the way numerous reactors have been left stunned by it and by reading comments left on the videos. This performance seems to have the ability to reach deep inside and unlock something healing in people.

In my 44 years I have never seen another piece of art affect as many people, as profoundly as Hi Sen has - Thanks for your reaction - it helps connect us all as we watch others get affected the same way you have to something.

"We need artists more than we realize"

I can't believe I still tear up after seeing 20/30/40 reaction videos to "Hi Ren". It really hits home every time I listen to it and seeing people's reactions to it is amazing. It truly feels like this song is bringing people together and making us admit that we do all suffer and we can all make it through

I really appreciate you not cutting away. Seeing you connect with this song makes me feel less alone. It's nice to experience something truly amazing and touching with someone else, even if we'll never meet

This might be the 20th time I’ve watched someone react to this and your response was truly wonderful. I was so happy when you mentioned Eminem and then Ren did too…..you went on such a ride, intrigue, surprise, amusement, shock, sadness and then awe. Truly authentic and fantastic to see ❤

One of the most moving reactions I've seen from what must be almost a hundred watched 👊

I love how this song really brings the deepest feelings out of people. It is not a piece for a radio, like he said, but we need more of music like this. Thank you for this reaction and take care ❤️

I've seen this thousands of times...I cry every time....

Thankyou for such an honest and open reaction

When your body is suffering its easier to share than when your mind and soul are.The human condition is a big deal.He is very fucking brave! Hope he takes this win!!!

BTW - props to you for not stopping once the video started slowly ramping up... to see your feelings start to wash over you... well done. Excellent honesty. 👍

Still boggles my mind that this was a single take...took 4 times, i believe, but it's a complete masterpiece and knowing it's all one go, amd not pieces edited together is just insane.... The performance, the acting, the guitar...simply mind blowing....

Much respect to you, Ken. To take that gut punch and just keep going was incredibly brave when there was a soft option available in editing. You never know the impact sharing your vulnerability may have made on so may others. Particularly other men. Thank you.

It was so touching to see this first reaction from you to HI REN. I really like your first reaction videos very much and never saw you deeply touched like this before... same here!!! First time I saw this video, I was touched like you were... To me, Ren is an outstanding artist in our time. Next to playing guitar (and piano and base) he is acting with such a power... On top he is the proove for the fact, that there are still a lot of people outhere, that are tired of all this mainstream music outthere. Soulless and easy to consume. No message, no meaning, easy and fast. And you are so right with your saying: "We need artists more than we realize!" I am always glad to see, that there are people as you outhere, who feel and understand an outstanding artpiece like that! You are doing such a great job! Would love to have someone like you as my vocalcoach! All the best from Cologne, Germany... KRISTINA

Wow! that was an honest reaction.

Ren is what the music scene has been missing for at least a couple decades💪💪 he's literally a prodigy. OH, and also l, he's incredible on piano too

Clear, crisp

Beyond brilliant as much as I loved, watching and listening to REN your response, spoke volumes and made me love and respect your work even more keep on keeping on I truly respect your work

Ren is known for his one takes. This was recorded in one go, live recorded and played live with multiple cameras.. He's been a busker for quite a while so he's used to live performances. And that's what they are. He's a modern day bard.

This is, by far, the best reaction to this song that I've seen, period. FINALLY! Finally, I've seen someone as moved by this song as I was.

I loved your reaction, I have watched Hi Ren so many times and it still chokes me up every time. He has suffered from undiagnosed Lyme disease and doctors telling him its all in his head. He has had stem cell surgery in the US and is now in Canada getting treatment. I came across another one of his songs Crutch ft. Bibi. If you want to hear his singing voice Ren x Chinchilla - How to be me (Live). What a talent.

Ken, my dude... When you said "we need artists more than we know", that did hit... Thanks for the courage for this reaction. Love and peace

Beautiful art creates emotions, especially when that art is another persons soul...So honest ...Ren is a bard for our time and describes his genre as Bardcore...Loved the reaction as always ...peace..

Even if you don't react to them you should check out his other stuff. This was really an art piece. He raps and all of his stuff is a mix of art and music

This is why we all should support artists. Every once in a while, something like this comes along that just punches you straight in the feels and leaves you a blob of goo on the floor. You never know who will write it, or where it will come from, but it's well worth the wait. This song is so good on so many levels.

Ren is the most creative and original artist I've heard at least since Bowie in tje 70s. This song is no flash in tjebpan either he has a lot of great stuff ranging from pop to full on rap. He is also a truely independent artist, everything you hear is written and done by him, and all the videos are by him and his friend Samuel. Typically, these are live single shot videos, but despite being low budget are inventive and very well done. Given your background I suggest your next reaction should be to the "the tales of Jenny and Screech (full) a trilogy if songs (tales) which us a Shakesperian tragedy in 3 acts sung by a wandering minstrel. The version with (full) at the end has all 3 songs in the correct order. You'll be blown away by the storytelling amity and sheer genius of this young man.

This song is pure art. And I've became addicted to watching people's reaction to this and see how this power hits them. It was a pleasure seeing you moved by this too

I teared up with you brother. Nothing wrong with tapping into it every now and then to make us realize how precious the ride is. For me moments of beauty in music really do give me hope. Those moments where people accidentally, haphazardly, but yet with purpose touch something that is hard to believe isn’t in some way divine. Makes me always feel lucky and grateful when I come across those moments. Hope you have a great day as well.

That last verse gets me every time. Love to see your review of Ren; "The tale of jenny, screech and violet". You have to do all 3 in one sitting for it to make sense. Amazing.

I've never wanted to give a KZfaqr a hug so much! Ren hits hard, doesn't he? Once you've collected your thoughts and, should you want to put yourself through more - to showcase his singing more, either Chalk Outlines or How To Be Me (a song about his friend that committed suicide) - both songs are duets with Chinchilla whose voice compliments his perfectly. Both are, as you can probably imagine, also emotionally draining. If you want to hear more of his incredible story-telling, The Tale of Jenny and Screech trilogy is the way to go. if you want to see his old-skool hip-hop side, check out The Hunger. Seriously, everything he does is almost infuriatingly brilliant. Take care and I hope you choose to jump further down the Ren rabbit-hole.

Waited for you to react to this. I'm on my way to watch it now and hope that you like the song. Ren is addictive. Check out his music.

Finally Ren is blowing up! 🙌 You won't regret doing a deep dive, his artistic range and creativity are a treat.

Sometimes you just have to admit...that is one of the greatest artistic expressions that we have ever seen.

Thank you so much Ken for BEING so generously vulnerable with us! You didn't cut out the difficult parts, you took us with you, with your emotions! Thank you for showing us your divine side. We all need more of this!

Thanks for this reaction, Ken! You're a beautiful Human, that compassion and empathy was palpable. Wish you every success

I appreciate your reaction. Liked and subscribed

Thanks for your reaction!

I love that you allowed yourself to show us how 'Hi Ren' moved you, as it did me, and so many others. Thank you for sharing.

I’m 43 years old and this song still hits me hard. You don’t have to be in your 20s to suffer from mental illness. It used to be nirvana and stone temple pilots and Pearl jam for me. Now I think Ren might be it.

Something tells me that you have had your own struggles with this dance Ken. The part where he says, "the voice that you hear when you loosen the noose on the rope"... yeah, that hit home with me in a big way! It's artist like Ren that remind us of the power of music and why we feel it in our souls! It reminds us that music is healing, and hopefully... this song reaches all the people who need to hear it!

I could write a thousand words about that video... and about your reaction, but yeah... I think we just joined a family of about 6 million people and rising, who have been struck dumb by that performance, thanks for being a late night defacto friend to share it with, Great stuff mate

Great googly moogly! 😂😂😂😂😂I haven't heard that in years. Perfectly appropriate to describe Ren. Subbed immediately 😁

There is a line in this song that very few people doing these videos actually hear. You heard it and it's very brave to put yourself out there like this. ❤

Really moving reaction video. I have watched many dozens of reactions to Hi Ren. Thank you for sharing yours with such vulnerability!

This was incredibly powerful.

I have watched dozens of reactions to this song, and every reactor is moved in their own way -- rappers, metal heads, guitarists... This reaction is stunning. Thank you. (And check out more of Ren's work; he's amazingly diverse.)

Shocked you haven’t done more Ren, greatest all around talent today.

The genius and beauty of Ren's performance is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to know what to expect. It's a visceral, mind-boggling punch straight to the head, heart, and soul 🤯 💔 ending with a powerful, resonating, and enduring message of inspiration and hope ❤️‍🔥 🙏 ❤️‍🩹 An amazing, brilliant, emotional, artistic masterpiece! I deeply appreciated and empathized with your honest and heartfelt reaction to the power of this message. ❤️

Yep, reduced me to tears too... Lovely reaction - thank you.

I could see that voice in your face at the middle of the song. You’re enough.

Your reaction goes from thinking it’s about all of us and how we deal with things and then you realize he is taking about himself and his battle which a lot of people can relate to and many can empathize with. Your face softens and it is moving.

Like @beldavius, I have watched many reactions to this video. I have listened to this song so many times in just a few days since finding Ren Gill...I'm late to the party. What amazes me is seeing professionals who start out wanting to react (to vocals, guitar riffs, etc) in one way or the other, but get sucked into the song and completely lose where they are or what they planned to do. You started out the video reacting like a vocal coach and talking about his falsetto range, but when it came to my favorite part of the song where he 'stands on his own 2 feet' and sings falsetto again and keeps that pitch, you were stone cold and teary eyed. That is the beauty of music. That is the beauty of art.

I'v seen like 100+ reaction videos of HI REN! This one is by FAR more HUMAN and You actually FELT the message Ren sent to all of us. Keep being #human

I love reaction's like this. about 3 minutes in you go from being a reaction youtuber to just experiencing "Hi Ren".

We need artists more to keep humanity humane.

I'm 70 years old and this is probably the most emotional piece of art work I ever witnessed. You have just been in the company of a geious. How on earth rap survives in its present form I don't know. Can you imagine someone doing a cover of this? It's simply impossible. I've been a relatively tough guy and this had me wiping my eyes. Notice the last cord and the last vocal part don't happen? I presume that's because he doesn't know if that story will ever be over. Great reaction.

Ken, I have watched maybe 30 reaction videos... mainly because the only way I can experience it again _"for the first time"_ is by watching through anothers fresh eyes. And your reaction was one of the most genuinely open and heartfelt. Thank you Ken. I don't mind telling you that as a 50 year old autistic man with MH issues myself, this song had me in tears when I first heard it. And then, welling up again, almost every single time since. It's not as though this is the first time this subject has been approached - but it's his bravery and raw brutal honesty that sets Ren apart. You said something in your video about "human doing/human being" and that was such a wonderful concept. I do think that we spend far too much time being a "human doing..." perhaps out of financial necessity... or, sometimes, just to run from ourselves - heaven forbid we should ever be still long enough to contemplate on ourselves. Rens music accomplishes just that. It stops us in our tracks and gets us to simply "be" ... if just for a moment. And, by sharing his story in such an honest and open way, he's making the kind of music that can actually save lives. If only by reminding those of us that need to hear it, that we are not alone in our pain, our doubt, our struggles. One guarantee, in this noisy and complex world, about being a human being in pain... is that you're never truly alone. Thank you Ken for being open and for sharing your authentic self in this video. Of all the reaction videos I've seen, yours touched me the most. I truly hope Ren sees this reaction video. Much love to you, Ken. Thank you for sharing.

This story/song/masterpiece has broken me and many others lol. Absolutely speechless and after a 100+ times hearing it I still get chills every time he says "that he goes by many names also, some people know me as HOPE!!" AAAAĤHH chills every time 🥹 pure, raw, thought provoking and most importantly.... beautiful!!!!

Beautiful reaction! Thank you for letting me know i want the only 1 who got very emotional hearing this song the first time!

Beautiful reaction.

Wonderful reaction. Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable. It’s been healing for many of us to experience this piece “with” people over and over again. It’s cathartic to experience not being alone, even if it’s in this parasocial context. Again, thank you 🙏🏻

I've watched so many reacts to hi ren. And I'm still as lost as your for words. Ren is a true musical and lyrical genius!

Could be the most moving thing I’ve ever witnessed

Great heartfelt reaction 👌🏻

Ken, I have watched countless reaction videos in search for someone that shares the same reaction as me, to this masterpiece. The impact that this display of art has on me is indescribable, so to find someone else, that truly has the same feelings towards it, is comforting. Thank you for allowing yourself to be vulnerable, it means a great deal.

I cried right along with you. Thank you for sharing your emotions with us.

“We need artists more than we realize” is a line that’s going to stick with me as much as any lyric in this song. Thank you.