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Hi Ren, I have stood in the flames that cremated my brain, Internal, Music, My name it is stitched to your lips so see, Phenomenal, taking some time to be still, The Gods Demons Angels and Us
It’s been too long, of course, but if it makes you all feel any better no-one has been getting much in the way of Esme, so it isn’t you. I even missed my ninth anniversary on WP. Nine years. Nine! I’m no mathematical genius but that means it’s ten next year and therefore must involve a ball ( or two in all their glory) to dance the night away.
I am here to share an artist I found a couple of weeks ago, shortly after this video came out. A chap some of you know called Billy Bragg bobbed onto my radar online proclaiming this song to be one of the best pieces of music he’d heard in years, so I decided to give it a go, and now think it to be the performance of the decade, even so early into it. For anyone who has ever struggled within themselves it is an absolute necessity to watch.
It is nine minutes long, and I thought I’d not watch it all…I was wrong. It surprises again and again, changing throughout – the ending is the cherry on an incredible cake. Watch it, and then please, do tell me your thoughts, unless you hate it and then just shush. falls about
I know it will save lives.
His channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqq3VcwPGseErHUa0-xLInQ
Esme's Cloud 
Yikes! 9-mins long!? Blimey and send me high upon the Cloud! I will need to watch it in segments Darling…
perhaps 10, 20, 30-second bits. 😉 🤭
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Start watching it, you’ll not stop, trust me, you’ll get this.
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Well… (rolls his eyes, drops his head as if scolded and booted in the buttocks…)
Okay. I guess I’ll click “Play” then.
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Good man. Know what’s best for you then I see. Hahahahahaha.
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HOLY EFFIN HELL Esme!!! 😧 Geeezzz, is that profoundly moving or WHAT!? And that final soliloquy…? BAAM!!! Between the eyes and straight through the heart!
Loved, loved, LOVED IT!!! ❣️ Thank you for sharing. I’ve passed it on to my Tribe of artists, dancers, and musicians. I’m sure they’ll be just as moved. 🙂
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Exactly as I expected. People can’t abide long songs, but this is something else, the boy has Shakespeare in his veins! I’m really pleased you’re sharing him too. Have a look at some of the ‘First reaction to hearing Hi Ren’ videos on YouTube, they’re fascinating.
Esme knowing her stuff and her Cloudsters well and loving them for it x
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That’s usually how long it takes to read your first paragraphs 😀
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Ha! It is. Now watch it dear and when you get to the end tell me what you think of it.
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I will watch it this evening
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❤
Thank you.
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And??? So smarty-pants, whatcha thank about it? 😉
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That you’d spend 12 hours saying what he manages to say in 9 minutes 😛
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HAHAHAHAHAHA.
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But here’s the thang my Lady…
What Pink doesn’t realize is that I have…
EXCEPTIONAL long-gevity!!! 😈
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I hope you’ve applied to the Guinness book of records with it.
Esme laughing upon the Cloud
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Bwahahahaha! You are completely WRONG Pink! 🤨
I would take AT LEAST 14 or 16! ☺️
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BWAAAAA! 😄
(under his breath… smart ass!) 😍
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This is funny stuff, crazy and endearing. Good share! Is he really ill?
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Yes, he has Lyme Disease and Chronic Fatigue, depression too. It’s so well channelled, I’ve found myself coming back to it again and again. May the Gods help the neighbours when I know all the words. Hahahahaha. Glad you liked the share m’dear, it is endearing, and without doubt quite brave too.
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Ok. Seems a bit sad that but he seems to be a brave lad. Well done making something of it and creating this. I might watch it again meself. Good fun! Poor neighbours haha.
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It’s a tale of redemption of sorts; when you battle illness, when you battle with your mind, blindly fighting back only makes things harder, what’s needed is acceptance and then keen management, in both cases, you can’t get rid of any such terrors permanently, but you can learn to live with them and be the one holding the steering wheel. He’s a triumph – odds all against him, yet his words, his incredible poetry and music have lifted him to such levels he’s had 213 thousand people loving this one track in just over three weeks. His illness is under control now, but he still needs infusions and the like, but he’s managing it. He is as God to my people, as you may have gleaned, hahahahaha.
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Hey my friend upon The Cloud.
How is the already old New Year treating you?
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Hello dear Mak. It’s been good compared to 2022, up to now. I am still hiding in the bushes of last year somewhat but will venturing out will occur eventually. And you?
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This is great to hear.
Mak is good too. The year has started well.
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This was spammed, pfft, cheek of it! Great tune and German subtitles (of course) too. Thank you m’dear.
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This is an accurate and representational depiction of the American experience, a savage yawp, a recognition, art explaining much, it speaks to the state of the union, Esme.
Lisa was born in Redondo Beach, CA. We have family throughout the San Diego North County area, so this is familiar turf (and surf).
Ren speaks to our common human condition, as does this sweeping and pulsing video. A grand rendition of the dynamic. I am grateful to join with my fellow followers in celebrating this golden serendipitous find.
I view this music video every night, while waiting for the Ambien to kick in. Actually, I am waiting for Lethe to stop by Crowell Manor… or to simply pass us by.
Om
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“Ren speaks to our common human condition” – very true, we must not forget he says, and had cemented his message in such a way we never will. A film director gave his first reaction to Hi Ren on Youtube and it’s perfectly shot; the lighting flickering specifically when it does, the simple three shot views…one of the most amazing things about it is that’s just a guy with an acoustic guitar. He does acapella at times in there too, plus, it’s one live take, you can see the microphone. He’s done lots of outdoor street corner busking singing like this, his voice is something else. I too keep watching it, the layers are beautiful.
It’s not filmed in America though, so far as I’m aware, he’s from the UK, so what’s the linkage with CA?
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I seem to have left my wordlings out. Will send them a tad later in the day…if time allows, of course.
A friend of REN now,
Billum
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Glad to hear it Bill, I knew you’d get it, you rest up, no rush for words here on the Cloud.
Esme sending love his way. X
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wow…. As I slowly return to WP (maybe, I guess, perhaps)… if I turned around right now and didn’t come back for another year or two, this would have made the trip back worth it. What a performance and message. A lot packed into 9 short minutes. Thanks Esme. I hope life on the cloud is treating you well.
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Hello Chris, it’s been too long and I know what you mean about WP, we drift eh? But I’m so very pleased you happened to come back for this. It is quite extraordinary, a monumental performance in so many ways.
I bide, and hope you fair well over there yourself.
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Oh my. Little shaman. This is a deeply, deeply disturbing performance in a good way. It reached down inside of me and turned me inside out, quite literally, I don’t know how else to describe it. He is learning more and his young life than many of my 70 and 80 year old contemporaries have learned in a lifetime. I don’t care how talented they are. Wow. Thanks for sharing. And now I will go to his channel. 🙏💓
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Wonderful. I’ve read so many comments under his video, and beyond from people in their seventies saying this piece is wise beyond its years, it reached inside them, as you say, and as we know, the older we get the more we’ve seen. But I’ve seen nothing like this in my life. Do share somewhere, he’s fit for the stars in the best way.
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Oh, i have and i will! 🙏❤️
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Phwoar! Inspiring! Thanks so much for posting this!!
Was reading the other comments up there * points * and whilst I can’t begin to imagine what Lyme disease must be like ( from what I’ve heard it sounds pretty awful) I do absolutely understand Chronic Fatigue and Depression, and while I watch this I’m not only blown away by the energy of the music, I’m here wondering why I ever let go of music ( Ha! he literally sang “..and the music that I left behind..” as I typed that. A sign?!) . It used to be such a big part of my life, and it’s such a healing force. Your timing in posting this is impeccable, as I recently decided ( with the help of the wonderful brothers Mael of ‘Sparks’ fame ❤ ) that I MUST reclaim music. Life is so short, and we must each decide for ourselves what does and does not constitute meaning in life. For too long I let others dictate that to me. No more!
Anyhoo, if you ever get a spare 5 mins to look up the music of iOTA it’d be well worth your time. His style is what I’m reminded of here. ( His song SCHITZO is awesome, even though he now hates it because it does display his then ignorance re the condition of schizophrenia. But the music itself is brilliant- I saw him live and up close back in the day and the energy and attitude reminds me of this brilliant dude you’ve introduced us to here.)
Sorry for the LONG comment! Thankyou, Esme. I hope you know what a gem of a human you are!
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You MUST. I had no choice but to return here to share this to the wondrous beings who follow the Cloud after watching it many times in the last couple of weeks and then onwards to first reaction videos from therapists and other musicians:
Music can be such a catalyst; whole lives changed by lyrics and notes, but this is something else, it leaves people speechless with good reason, and I am so beloved of and with and to words and how they can be sculpted, made 3D, tear a soul apart or stitch it back together, that I was a goner first time round. There’s power here and it takes some balls to open yourself up so brutally knowing that it may and of course very much does, help others as well as being rather than an exorcism, more a way to live with, to manage our own personal hells. Share it if you can. I know who has watched it because they’d have no choice but to comment I think.
IOTA has been noted, and shall be watched.
“I hope you know what a gem of a human you are!” – Aw shucks and heck and blimey guvnor, thank you. ❤
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I will- you’ve cemented it!
Oh, I completely agree with what you say about A) the power of words and music notes ( amazing enough on their own but when combined hold a special type of magic!) and B) the courage it takes to be raw like that. It does indeed take balls! Balls of steel! Vulnerability and raw honesty aren’t exactly encouraged by so-called normality/ so-called civilised society…..and then everybody wonders why there’s so much miscommunication and misunderstanding between humans. I won’t go on and on, but it’s why I will always be so moved by people who DO open up like that. They give the rest of us permission to be brave and bare our own souls. And besides all that, it is, like all Art, a wonderful way to transmute pain into some kind of beauty.
I’ve not actually listened to iOTA for years, so for all I know his style may have changed somewhat over time, but his old stuff does have this same kinda simple voice/ acoustic guitar/ bare soul rawness going on. I had an ex who used to jam with him before he got famous, and he must have made quite the impression because Mr ex used to go on and on about him.
Anyway, I had to comment and dash there before, but in my haste I forgot to congratulate you on your 9 year blogiversary! My own blogs are usually lucky to last 9 months, so consider me in awe ( and inspired to be less of a noncommittal shit this time around…crosses fingers )
quickly plants another cloud in your path so you’ve something soft to land on
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“I won’t go on and on” …Well I’d miss it if you didn’t. Hahahahahaha. I used to write long comments too, and they’re always welcome I found, or people didn’t complain which is their own fault falls about.
Thank you for your congratulations…by gum, nine years…I fell from the sky onto the Cloud back then, an inner saviour providing a much needed soft landing much like the one you have provided. I have considered starting another, but really it wouldn’t be any different, and here I have some interesting (to me) history.
Your comments are still sometimes only showing under the notifications bell, not in the comments section itself, but I find you regardless. I’m away tomorrow to visit the sea, stay a while away from the hub-bub of necessity, so I’m glad to have caught you here first.
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Hahaha, well if you’re part of the Long Comment Club I’m happy to be a part of it too!
Hmmm…that’s odd about the comments not showing up, but I am glad you manage to find them in their hiding spots!
Well, here’s to the next nine years! * raises glass * And have a lovely time by the seaside! Hope you get some much needed rest and rejuvenation. See you back here at some point in the future!
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https://youtu.be/Bkt-TPMU_lg
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An insightful interview with Marc Bolan, singer-song writer for T-Rex here:
https://youtu.be/YRdR-3J9iRQ
Note the casual appearance of Elton John on the piano, linking my contribution of Elton’s Tiny Dancer video to Bang a Gong. I hadn’t known that Bolan was also quite the poet, and literati. YouTube mixes can take you everywhere when insomnia sets in.
Synchronicity sets in, and you never quite know where it will take you next. Gretel and I viewed this 1971 video yesterday afternoon (Crowell Manor Standard Time). CMST spins through the 24/7 cycle. By necessity and design methinks.
By happenstance, I happened to meet with a mate from Kansas State University, whom I was visiting in London in 1972 at his flat in Pinner — birthplace of Elton John.
Pinner was also the town that witnessed a dispute between the historical home of John Friedrich Handel and Jimi Hendrix.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/may/16/jimi-hendrix-handel-museum-exhibition
So doth REN inspire us. Worra a wonder!
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Then, there is the tragic death of Marc Bolan, here:
https://youtu.be/30ZXet37Ms4
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Inspiration is core to the Cloud and Esme, so spin to and along all tangents Ren takes you. Great stuff Bill!
Esme the medium sized dancer shaking Bill’s hand warmly
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Off to the seaside today for a while, I’ll get signals somewhere and will be popping back though, so comments away m’dears.
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Oh. My. God. That was the fastest 9 minutes of my life. He /is/ a genius. Thank you.
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Brilliant. And thank you for sharing, very pleased you did – Esme knowing pingbacks of genius are the way to go x
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Truth: I only started watching because you’re a friend, and it seemed to mean so much to you. I kept on watching/listening because you were right.
Methinks Esme is smarter than the average…cloud. 😉
-huge hugs-
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Getting anyone to watch a long music video is tough these days, thank you for trusting me it would be something rather special.
Esme X
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-hugs- You do realise I would have bitched forever if it had been awful? -runs and jumps from the Cloud-
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Hahahahaha. Anyone who thinks it to awful isn’t a true Cloudster! I had no doubts. I know all of them would be moved enormously, and unless feeling particularly shy, if they’ve liked yet not commented, they didn’t watch it.
Esme tearing a bit of cloud off and catching meeka as she falls
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Phew…thanks. Didn’t realise it was such a long way down.
I hope they do watch it. Shakespeare could not have done it better.
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Pingback: 9 minutes of brilliance | Meeka's Mind
Perfection 🙂
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I thought you’d agree. Excellent.
Esme shaking Mr Pink’s hand vigorously upon the Cloud
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Reblogged this on My Mazamet and commented:
BREATHTAKING.
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Whoa!!!!
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I know!!!
Esme waving at JZee upon the Cloud
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totally mind blown! thanks much for sharing! btw, I would be thrilled if you’d write a guest blog post for my site. if you think it might be fun or helpful to have my followers meet you & your great site, here’s the link for general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ
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You’re most welcome, and I’m honoured for the invite, I will take you up on it at some point when I’m not so bogged down in RL. Cheers m’dear!
Esme of Cloud fame looking forward to being a guest of da-Al’s
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Mesmerising!!
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Just as sure. I was made to be tested and twisted – and now I’m obsessed with the beast.
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Oh yes. smiles Good.
Esme nodding with E upon the Cloud
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If I track him down in Canada I’ll have him locked up in one of my guestrooms in no time!
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I’d say I’m seeing you in Sherlock mode, but it’s Moriarty of course falls about
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My son shared this with me a few weeks ago, and I’m sad to say that I only watched for about a minute and turned it off. It didn’t seem to my taste. Thank you for “forcing” me to revisit it. Because the message of this is truly brilliant.
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Susi, I’m SO GLAD (caps and everything) you decided to give a go through to the end, it’s akin to watching a very short, brilliant play I think, and I’m absolutely sure that almost everyone who watches it gets something out of it themselves as well as enjoying the performance.
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