Rebel Heart

I've been a Madonna fan for her entire career. Remember hearing "Holiday" in junior high school. Then "Material Girl" and "Dress You Up," songs that defined an era. I bought every album and saw her on tour a couple times, and those performances got the adrenaline pumping, to be sure. The story of "Rebel Heart" is much different than prior Madonna releases. The entire album leaked, at least the demo versions, and after a show-stopping performance at the Grammys, Madonna did something she had never done before on a major stage: she fell. Of course, it was not her fault; she was unable to untie the cord tying her magnificent cape quickly enough and when the dancers pulled on it to remove it in a dramatic gesture, the drama was all about Madonna being yanked from her perch atop a staircase to the floor. Since she is the consummate performer and is in great shape, she recovered gracefully and performed the rest of the song. I thought the drama surrounding MDNA set an insurmountable bar, but I was wrong. The preface for "Rebel Heart" attains controversial heights that surprised me, a long-time fan inured, I would think, to such shocks. Onto the album itself: first and foremost, the super deluxe version IS the version to buy. 25 tracks, including two fantastic remixes of "Living for Love." The packaging is unlike any other double album I've purchased -- lots of glorious photos as you reach in to retrieve the discs. I've bought every single Madonna album. I have NEVER been so pleasantly excited (or surprised) by the contents. With prior albums, I had 5 or 6 songs that truly spoke to me, songs that I listened to over and over again. Madonna, with this album, decided to package two albums with two distinct flavors: vanilla (the ballads) and chocolate (the chunky hip-hop, dance, reggae tracks). In the end, you receive two albums, which is a gift, really. Many reviewers say this is the best album since "Confessions" or "Music" or "Ray of Light." They are wrong. This is the best thing she's released. EVER. I own every album, but I love more than dozen songs from this one, which is something I can't say for any other album. This should get nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammys, it's that good. Standouts: Living for Love Devil Pray Ghost-town Unapologetic Bitch (fantastic!) Iconic Joan of Arc (delicate ballad addressing bullying, which could apply to many vulnerable teens and supply inspiration and courage) Hold Tight (reminds me of Ellie Goulding) Heartbreak City (WOW!!!) Body Shop (amazing song that Dolly Parton could have sung, but Madonna is the magical voice here, such a mesmerizing tune, like nothing she's written before) Inside Out (sounds like a dark Depeche Mode song, with sophisticated lyrics) Veni, Vidi, Vicci ("I came, I saw, I conquered) Madonna, Empress, revisits her catalogue of 38 top 10 hits S.E.X. (the song Madonna would have written during the Erotica era if censors had not been so vigilant) Beautiful Scars (her gift to long-time fans who purchase the deluxe edition, as this song sounds like something that could have graced the disco floors in the late 70s) Addicted (fantastic Avicci collaboration) My pet peeve is that I would have liked the Avicci version of "Wash All Over Me." The demo, which is a dance track, would have offset a ballad/mid-tempo heavy album. Avicci's version is THUMPING, and it would have enhanced an already fantastic album, had it been featured. Again, I own all of Madonna's albums. I've seen her on tour several times. This is the album of her career. Absolutely magnificent. It's an album I already know I'll listen to ten years from now.

Quite frankly, this is one of Madonna's best albums EVER! This woman never ceases to amaze me. How is it possible that SO long into her career she can churn out such a quality product? It's usually the reverse with artists that have been around for a long time. What strikes me most about the songs on Rebel Heart are the amazing and honest, clean melodies present, the poignant lyrics written, and the power and emotion with which Madonna sings. She hasn't sounded this good in a long time. Like fine wine, she keeps getting better and better. For those who claim she's not as good as she used to be, or that "her old stuff is better," they just haven't given her a chance and are going along with whatever bandwagon they feel comfortable with. My favorites on the album are: Ghosttown, Devil Pray, Inside Out, Veni Vidi Vici, B*tch I'm Madonna, Unapologetic B*tch, Rebel Heart, Wash All Over Me, Joan of Arc, Beautiful Scars and Best Night. But, the album is FULL of great songs that are all very diverse. You're BOUND to like something off of it. That showcases Madonna's incredible diversity in her talent. Songs that I, personally, don't like are: S.E.X., Holy Water, Iconic; and most of the songs on the 2nd/bonus CD w/the exception of the great Beautiful Scars. However, this is just my humble opinion and you just might love the ones I dislike, and dislike the ones I love. That's what's great about this album. There are 24 songs to enjoy and choose from! Another very minor disappointing thing about the album, in my opinion, is its sequencing. I'm not a fan of the order in which the songs are played. Fortunately, that's very easy to fix on your smartphone. I just made my own playlist of it in the order in which I think the songs flow best. All in all, however, this ranks up there with Madonna's top 5 best albums. The songs are great, are created in such away that they can be either performed in an all-out, lavish production way, or in a stripped-down, acoustic guitar way. The melodies and lyrics are that strong! And, Madonna's voice is impressive and emotive. Get Rebel Heart. I am sure you'll enjoy it. :)

Here's my brief (as possible) rundown of the album now that's it had time to really settle in: Living For Love - 4/5 Great song with a nice message, sets the tone for the album - some of the lines are really great, and in light of the fall seen round the world at the Brits, this song took on even more special meaning .. no matter what knocks you down, you can get up again. As a lead single, it's not bad, but it's also not a song you instantly love that gets stuck in your head. This one takes time to fully appreciate. Still, if the leaks hadn't happened and this album had been released as planned, I'm pretty certain this would have been a hit - maybe not #1 or even top #10, but I think it would have done well. It was kind of doomed from the start, unfortunately. Devil Pray - 5/5 Quintessential Madonna tune .. love it! Loved this instantly and still love it just as much today. It's also got that special Madonna touch - I can't imagine anyone other than her putting this song out - it's kind of weird, it's kind of folksy electronic (think Don't Tell Me and parts of American Life). Not sure how this would perform as a single, but I still want it released. It's screaming for an epic video. Ghosttown 4/5 Initially, I really loved this song - it screams big hit. It also stands up well to other big Madonna ballads. I think what others have said is very true - if this song had been put out by Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, etc, it would have been massive. W/out the leaks and with a stronger performing lead single, who knows how this might have impacted the charts? I still like it, but I don't find myself going back to it as much as other tracks. I can actually see other pop stars pulling this song off, which is part of the problem. For whatever reason, it doesn't stand up as a song I can only see M putting out. Still, great song - and great to see her put out a ballad. Unapologetic Bitch - 3/5 I love the reggae feel - the Diplo production is very forward-thinking and enjoyable. Over time, however, this song doesn't do it for me as much as others. I'm not a huge fan of the lyrics or vocal delivery. Still, not bad. Illuminati - 4/5 One of the biggest surprises for me - I'm not sure what I was expecting when I first heard she was going to have a song called Illuminati (I actually rolled my eyes) .. but, I love this track. It's weird and dark and dancy and fun. Great production too. You gotta love all the name-dropping as well (Jay Z and Beyonce, Kanye, Gaga, Obama, etc). I love that she's playing with the idea of the Illuminati and sort of turning it on its head. Bitch I'm Madonna - 4/5 The song itself isn't deep - it's a fun party song that will get you dancing. Taken in context of Madonna's life at the moment, this song (and video) is a statement. I see it as a big F*ck You to anyone trying to box her into a corner (you're too old to do that, why are you still putting music out, why are you trying to act young, etc). I'm not always a fan of the guest raps, but I like Nicki's contribution here. The production is also great. I know it grates on some people's nerves, but I really love the weird sawing sounds towards the end. This song is a treat and will be great live. Hold Tight - 5/5 Loved it from the first listen and still love it now - there's something so romantic and warm about this track. I actually like this better than Ghosttown at the moment and think it could be a great single. In ways, it reminds me of Rain - her voice is just so inviting in this track. Joan Of Arc - 4/5 This is one of the tracks that I would have initially rated as one of the best, but, for whatever reason, I don't find myself going back to it as much as others. I do think it's strong, and I like the vulnerability. It's also a great commentary on the age of the internet and how what we put out there has consequences, good and bad. Iconic - 3/5 I wasn't a huge fan of this one initially, but it's grown on me. The Mike Tyson opening is odd .. and something only Madonna could pull off. The rap from Chance the Rapper is also good. I might like this one more when I see what's done with it live, whether it be a performance or video interlude. HeartBreakCity - 4/5 A lot of fans love this song - it's grown on me, but isn't one of my favorites. Lyrically, it's pretty solid - great breakup song. Body Shop - 5/5 This is a great track with a wonderful middle eastern flair. Again, when I first heard that she would have a song called Body Shop, I rolled my eyes and couldn't imagine liking it ... well, I was wrong. This is a cute, flirty song that reminds me of True Blue in ways. There's an innocent charm. The production is good too (minus the weird volume thing). Holy Water - 5/5 for sure! I love this song. Call me crazy, but I think it's one of the most interesting tracks here - I think it's one of the most intriguing songs Madonna has ever put out. Everything about this song is a home run for me. I'm obsessed with it and haven't tired of it one bit. Bless yourself and genuflect!! Oh, and that Vogue sample is perfect. It really shouldn't work as well as it does. Inside Out - 5/5 Another highlight - this is a great song - sexy, dark, almost industrial production - I wouldn't change a thing about this song. When I first heard it, I was really surprised that it was a Madonna song - something about the production reminds me a little of Closer by Nine Inch Nails (believe it or not). This one could make for a great single and video. I hope to at least see it live during her upcoming Rebel Heart Tour. Wash All Over Me - 4/5 Great lyrics, but there's something slightly lacking about this track for me. I prefer the album version to the dance version that initially leaked, but I can't help but feel like they didn't take this song far enough. It's hard to describe, but it falls just a little short. It's like it should be an epic track, but it doesn't quite get there. Still, a definite highlight. Some of the best lyrics of the album. Best Night - 4/5 Love this song! This one is very sensual, the production is great - and the Justify My Love samples are amazing. I could see this doing well as a single. Veni Vidi Vici - 4/5 Great retrospective on Madonna's career - and the chorus is so nice. She sort of raps/speaks much of the song, dropping lines from many of her old hits to sum up her career. The Nas rap is great too. S.E.X. - 4/5 I know many people don't like this song, but it has enough going for it to satisfy me. The dark production is great. It's a song I can't imagine anyone else putting out. The weird chant of random things with her lispy grillz voice is fantastic. I like that she took a chance with this song. Messiah - 5/5 This is probably one of my favorite songs by Madonna ever - period. Amazing lyrics, amazing production - the religious metaphors, the sadness, the somber vocal delivery - everything works. I lump this together with Wash All Over Me - although I think this is the better track. It harkens back to the Like a Prayer days for sure. It's a mysterious track that no one else could pull off with as much passion. Rebel Heart - 4/5 There's a lot of talk about which is better - the album version or the leaked, more dance-oriented version. I don't think they're all that different, really. I'm happy with the album version, although I wish it was a little longer. This is Madonna looking back on her life - deciding that she's right where she's supposed to be and glad she took the road less traveled. Even though it's Madonna reflecting on her life, the message is universal. Beautiful Scars - 4/5 I like this song, which has some of the best lyrics of the entire album. I know some fans hate the final version, but I love it. It's sort of a ballad with a strong disco flair. Borrowed Time - 3/5 Not a bad track, and probably one of her better "message" songs, but it's not a real standout for me. Still, it's nice to have as a bonus. Addicted - 4/5 I think a lot of people love this - not sure why. It reminds me of Heartbreak City - neither are bad songs, but I think there are far better tracks. Madonna had a song called 'I'm Addicted' on her last album, MDNA - I think I'm Addicted is far better (granted, they're not really comparable other than similarities in titles). Graffiti Heart - 4/5 Of the last 3 bonus tracks, I prefer this one. It's a 80s throwback in ways - I love that Madonna writes about some of her old artist friends like Keith Haring and Basquiat. This song really honors them and their contribution to the art world. Overall, I rate Rebel Heart as a 5/5 album. There really is something for everyone here. I understand the criticism of it not being cohesive - the very random track order was jarring at first, but I look at it differently now. It just seems like a great collection of songs - Madonna gives us dance, she gives us something deep, she gives us something weird and unexpected, she gives us strong ballads , etc. This album really should have been a bigger hit than it has been. It's her best work since Music as far as I'm concerned - certainly her best album out of her last three. No one can accuse M of phoning it in this time around .. she comes off as newly inspired and experimental, which I love. The sheer volume of tracks available is astonishing. There really are no stinkers in the bunch.

This is probably one of Madonna's best albums. I have all of them and I enjoy all of them but they don't all carry the same weight. This is classic Madonna but in a very modern and less filtered way. She sings and it's beautiful, she shares and it's poetic. She is sad, happy, sexy and thoughtful and you hear it and feel it. Her voice isn't as filtered or overly clean but it works exactly as it should. There's less religion and more sharing of life and her experience. There's rapping in this album but it's not forced. In a way it's probably Madonna's most organic album. The finished product is great but if you have the chance to hear the demos, you should. It's an interesting lesson in the creative process. The Best: VENI VIDI VICI: Not sure if I like the demo version or the final version best. For the first time it feels like rapping works in a Madonna song. Madonna's voice is used in various layers and she sounds great in each one. The song reminds me of Justify My Love and for a minute I felt it was 1991 again. Nas sounds great and the music track is really cool. Close to the 3:15 time the song sort of explodes in a cool sound. BODY SHOP: Not sure how a sexy song is about a car but this song has everything to make it perfect. Madonna is sexy and romantic in a teasing sort of way without being in your face. If you want to hear Madonna at her best when experimenting this is the song for you. I imagine green fields, a sunny day with a little rain, new love, kissing someone for the first time each time I hear this song. The demo for this song is also great. GHOSTTOWN: This song should have been the first single. People compare Living for Love to Like a Prayer but this song should have gotten the job. Madonna sings it well and the choir works perfectly. It's also an uplifting song without the slightest trace of religion or controversy. It's also a fun song to sing  HOLD TIGHT: The demo for this song was great but the finished version is excellent. It reminds of the gentleness of Drowned World. Madonna again does a great job singing this song. WASH ALL OVER ME: The demo was not bad but this version sounds like a journey, the chorus is great, the lyrics work well and Madonna sings it out. The chorus sounds amazing and the drums fit exactly as they should. The Choir is also used just enough to add but not detract unlike Living for Love. INSIDE OUT: The demo is good but in this version Madonna's vocals sound sharper and cleaner. It's such a well constructed song. It also has this sort of technoish sound that fits just right. JOAN OF ARC: this song alone is worth having the album. There is a slight melody that is sung through the chorus that is simply cool. Madonna's voice is perfect in this song. The demo isn't bad either. S.E.X: THE DEMO VERSION IS BETTER but this new version is probably closer to the Justify My Love video interlude in MDNA though not as sexy. If it were a music video it would be about a dirty gnome trying to get his grove on. There is one part where it sounds like Madonna is talking with something in her mouth. MESSIAH: the title for this song is a bit strange but it sort of sounds like it could have been part of the WE movie soundtrack. It's pretty and classic and full of violins and smooth melodies. ADDICTED: Remember Madonna's first album? Remember Burning Up? This is the older, wiser, and more sophisticated sister of that song. REBEL HEART: Not sure if I like the demo version best (not the acoustic version). It's a fun autobiographical song. It's fun to sing but I would understand if it's not released as a single. It's a little weak compared to the other songs. BEST NIGHT: Madonna paints a fun night hanging out and she makes you believe it not just through the lyrics but also by creating a moody and sensual mood. This is definitely a cool and sexy song. Just do what you like, go ahead…I'll make this the best night of your life. HeartBreakCity: This is the perfect break-up-still-slightly-bitter song. Again, Madonna does an incredible job singing, a choir is used and every sound is a puzzle piece placed perfectly next to each other. The Ok: Beautiful Scars: THE DEMO VERSION IS BETTER it's ok otherwise, it's got an interesting disco sound to it. Borrowed Time: it's ok, a little preachy and boring but Madonna sings it well and it does have a good message. It's safe and contains no controversy. Madonna isn't a fan of wars. Iconic: Not sure why Mike Tyson appears here since I would never consider him to be iconic. It's a fun song and it has good musical track. Bitch I'm Madonna: it's ok but mostly boring though it does have its qualities and Madonna sounds very different. If you're a Madonna fan you're sort of over the “I'm Madonna” message. We know you're Madonna, promise we're not gonna forget. If this song was sung by a 19 year old, people would like it. Unapologetic Bitch: it's ok, not really a fan but it has its moments mostly within the musical arrangement. Reminds of something Gwen Stefani might sing. The Bad: Living for Love: There's a secondary voice track that you hear as Madonna sings that sounds really strange. The choir sounds forced and detracts from the song. It's not a pretty song. It's too overproduced and none of it works for me. Graffiti Heart: not sure how I feel about this song except that it's boring and if it was never produced life would have moved on just the same. Holly Water: it's silly and about someone taking Madonna's pole. Someone give Madonna her pole back. There isn't anything interesting in this song and if the title was meant to be controversial then that's the only place where the song is successful. In other words, this SONG IS STUPID. Madonna, pretty sure Jesus doesn't like you p&**y. The weirdest part is how a snipped of Vogue is randomly thrown in. Devil Pray: again, nothing really interesting. It's full of the old religious crap which gets boring. The Auto-tune is probably the worst part of the song. Illuminati: THE DEMO VERSION IS BETTER, honesty makes me say that I hate this song and Kanye needs to stay away from Madonna. Madonna Fans should take a restraining order on him so he is forced to stay away from any and all Madonna productions. The demo version had a better pop sound to it and Madonna's voice didn't sound so obnoxious. The auto-tune sounds horrible.

First off, I find it very odd that the standard version of the album does not contain the title track! What's that about? I really wanted to love this album, but sadly I don't. I have all of her studio albums, and on her earlier releases, I would NEVER have considered skipping over ANY of the songs. But I am frequently looking for the "next" button when playing "Rebel Heart". I do like much of the album, however because there are several songs that I think rank among her best, and could become Madonna classics, most notably "Joan of Arc", and "Messiah". These tracks prove that Madonna is indeed still capable of thoughtful lyrics and understated productions, complemented by standout vocal performances. But those moments are too few here. "B**ch I'm Madonna", "S.E.X.", and "Holy Water" are truly awful, and are misguided and failed attempts to connect to a younger audience. It's not becoming to hear overtly sexual and juvenile lyrics from a 56 year old woman, who would do better to age gracefully than to resort to drivel like these 3 tracks in particular, which actually have me feeling embarrassed for her. Madge, you don't need to shock us anymore; you have already done that successfully and artistically years ago. Be who you are: a mature, highly talented legend of an artist and entertainer with an incredible body of work behind you, and hopefully ahead of you as well. There are many other worthwhile moments on "Rebel Heart": "Living For Love" is a great first single and deserves to be a hit on both the radio and dancefloor; "Devil Pray" and "Unapologetic B**ch" are both undeniably catchy, and I find myself unable to get them out of my head. "Ghosttown" is another potential classic with a beautiful vocal. "Iconic" could have been a mess, but it's not - it may be the only successful blending of pop and hip-hop on the album. The folk-like title track, "Rebel Heart" closes out the Deluxe version on a pleasant note. Madonna may never top or even match the brilliance of "Ray of Light" or "Confessions On a Dance Floor", but there are enough good tracks on this album to make it a worthwhile purchase. Just make sure you have quick access to the "skip" button on your music player to avoid the cringe-worthy moments

Her latest album, Rebel Heart, fuses a lot of genres but it is a pop album. I own the Super Deluxe edition which features additional songs that are not included on the regular or deluxe versions. One thing about Madonna's style, especially since 2000 is her fusion of rock, pop, trance, hip hop, and R&B. Rebel Heart is no exception to this. I think this album of hers is her best release since her 2005 album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. Here are all 23 tracks: 1. Living For Love 2. Devil Pray 3. Ghosttown 4. Unapologetic Bitch 5. Illuminati 6. Bitch I'm Madonna 7. Hold Tight 8. Joan Of Arc 9. Iconic 10. HeartBreakCity 11. Body Shop 12. Holy Water 13. Inside Out 14. Wash All Over Me 15. Best Night 16. Veni Vidi Vici 17. S.E.X. 18. Messiah 19. Rebel Heart 20. Borrowed Time 21. Addicted 22. Beautiful Scars 23. Graffiti Heart Conceptually, Madonna describes this album as a two-in-one. The name Rebel Heart implies two sides to her persona: the Rebellious Madonna, and the Heartfelt sensitive Madonna. Musically, this album was created with a large number of producers, something Madonna has never done before on an album. Typically, Madonna works with one or two producers per album. The wide range of producers on Rebel Heart created songs that fuse multiple genres together: Rock n Roll fused with Dance/Pop: The songs that have a guitar-based instrument on which the rest of the EDM and Madonna's lyrics are built, include Addicted, Rebel Heart, Joan Of Arc, Borrowed Time, Grafiti Heart, Devil Pray, Ghosttown, and Body Shop (which uses the Indian Sari instrument). Each of these songs start with the guitar hook. Some have acoustic guitar, and others, like Addicted, have the electric guitar as the central instrument. The producers fuse EDM beats on top of the guitar hooks, and in combination with Madonna's voice creates a rich blended listening experience. These songs fuse piano bars reminiscent of the days of the Blues, with dance, pop, or R&B: HeartBreakCity, Messiah, Wash All Over Me. These songs are melancholy in nature, sort of like Madonna's version of the Blues, but fused with moderate paced pop drum beats, synthetics, and rich dramatic vocals. These songs produce a different feel from her guitar based tracks. Her first single from the album, Living for Love, fuses the Gospel genre with pop and dance. It starts out with classic Madonna-esque pop sounds reminiscent of her 80s and 90s era. The track does include a choir of people singing the chorus in the background. Her song, Unapologetic Bitch fuses a Reggae beat and Hip Hop. The base of the song is in Reggae style, with the Hip Hop beats and sounds added over it. The pace of the song is that of the Reggae style, moderate, not fast. Her remaining tracks that I did not name, particularly Bitch I'm Madonna, Veni Vidi Vici, Iconic, and S.E.X. are very much Hip Hop and R&B infused tracks. She either raps on these tracks or sings and features guest rappers like Nicki Minaj and Nas. In terms of Musicology, Madonna's Rebel Heart (Super Deluxe) edition is an excellent album for study because she successfully fuses multiple genres: Rock, Blues, Gospel, Pop, Dance, Hip Hop, R&B, Piano jazz. Additionally, the lyrics to these tracks are all written or co-written by Madonna, and her prowess to write powerful lyrics that captures her essence as a persona is as strong today as it was when she first hit the scene in 1981.

Rebel Heart is definitely, as Madonna intended, Rebel + Heart. It often feels like two different sides of her personality and could easily have been a great double album. But the songs were all combined for one double, deluxe CD. Do all of them work together? Not quite - and I'd probably give this 4 1/2 stars. However, the majority of this material is daring, fresh, and powerful. Here are my impressions of the tracks (and yes, it's worth getting the super deluxe): Living For Love, catchier every time I hear it - and should have been a big hot 100 hit (but doomed by early rush release, bad sales, ugh). Devil Pray - folk-rock-electronica - one of the strongest songs on the album. Ghosttown - the best song on the album - and the next single very soon. Hope it's a smash. It could easily become a post-apocalyptic love anthem! Unapologetic Bitch - reggae vibe and fun. Reminds me a little of Gwen Stefani/No Doubt. Illuminati - one of 3 Kanye produced tracks - not my favorite. Bitch I'm Madonna - could catch on because of Nikki Minaj but seems juvenile to me after the first 3 wonderful songs. Hold Tight - Ryan Tedder song - fine, pleasant but not as memorable as I was expecting. Joan of Arc - incredibly personal, gorgeous song - I listen to it all the time!! Iconic - catchy, could be good in concert. Heartbreak City - yes another big ballad (and there could be a few too many ballads) but it's so dramatic! Body Shop - cute, very different change of pace - quiet production too. Holy Water - divisive, overly sexual song about oral sex and religion - very strong hook but a bit overt and the sampling of Vogue is unnecessary. Inside Out - another very strong hook and reminds me of a song from Bedtime Story. Wash All Over Me closes the standard album - quite lovely. Best Night - on deluxe. fine, not necessary. Veni, Vidi, Vici - she references her entire career - and I love it. SEX - yet another over the top graphic sex song. Could have left that one out. Messiah - yep, another lovely ballad but reminds me of Spanish Eyes in the melody. Rebel Heart - the title track only on deluxe! Honestly, it's a killer song but the demo was better (and more Avici). For the extra, extra tracks: Beautiful Scars, very delightful, sweet song. Borrowed Time - pretty extra track. Graffiti Heart - very good bonus track, references Basquiat, Herring, etc. Addicted - one of the absolute best songs - and should have been in the standard version. It's also a true dance song, and there aren't many. Overall, there are so many moods and styles here - and I can easily listen to this (long) deluxe album all day! Some of these songs will be perfect in concert and beg for visuals/videos. One of M's most eclectic and strongest work in years.

The one thing I've admired about Madonna is her ability too drop her crown, know it, then pick it up & place it back on her head. After that horrid MDNA, she has done just that. Madonna has done at least 2 things. Written some thought-provoking songs & taken some much needed voice lessons. She sounds good vocally on this project. Stand-out Tracks 1. Living for love. A potentially strong first single. This is a nice throwback song. With a old-school house feel to it. I really like the remix by Offer Nissim. It has that 90's deep Chicago house music sound. 2. Devil Pray. A song about drugs, religion & the ability to make someone has powerful as the devil, actually pray. I love the hook. 3. Ghosttown. Personally I think this is by far the best song. Madonna sounds very good vocally. It's about Armageddon & two souls being left on earth. Great Video! 5. Illuminati. This song is by far the most controversial for obvious reasons. With many people believing she is a part of this secret society that allegedly worships greed, fame, human sacrifices & the devil, Madonna of course, decides to do what she does best, stir the pot & get people talking {about her of course}, lml. I don't believe Madonna is affiliated, but she sure wants u to ponder the possibility! It does make for a good song with a hot club beat. I like this one a lot. 6. Bitch, I'm Madonna. At Madonna's mature age, she shouldn't be singing a song like this, but she doesn't care. This song is def a club banger with a hot beat. I must say I do like it. 7. Hold Tight. I love the hook on this song. 9. Iconic. There are many different elements to this song. It sounds pop, then EDM & then R&B. I like that & the rap by Chance the Rapper is cool. 10. Heartbreak City. This song is about a relationship that has ended badly. Great song. Madonna sounds good singing this & I like that background chorus. 11. Body Shop. This is the most eclectic song Madonna has on the cd. I like the sped-up way she sings it. 12. Holy Water. Nasty ass song...Madonna mixing Sex & religion {what a shocker!}. This song is HOT I must say. Love the "Vogue" sample. "Bless yourself in genuflect, Yeezus loves my P***Y best" 13. Inside Out. This song is about exposing oneself flaws. It has a nice R&B sound. Love it. 15. Best night. Madonna promises to make u feel like u never did before. A nice R&B flow... I love the "Justify My Love" sample. One of my favorite songs. 16. Veni Vidi Vici. She reflects on her early days. She has a nice rap flow throughout the song & Nas murder's his part. 17. S.E.X. Self-explanatory. {The demo version is better} 18 .Messiah. I nice ballot with nice vocal & musical arrangements. {The demo version is better} Rebel Heart isn't as good as Hard Candy, but it's an definite upgrade from MDNA.With much hype about the leakage of the songs, Madonna promoted Rebel Heart massively & it only reached #2 on the chart. Obviously the leak from 3 months ago hurt her sales. And some fans didn't support. That's unfortunate... If u are a Madonna fan, then u will most likely enjoy this cd. It's Hot!! I originally gave the cd 4 stars, but after listening 2 it again. Several songs grew on me. I had 2 change it to 5 stars!!

Rebel Heart non è un titolo che proviene semplicemente da una delle tracce presenti nel disco, come avviene per molti dischi. È un titolo che racchiude l’essenza di ogni canzone presente in questo album. Il disco è infatti sicuramente uno dei più intimi di Madonna, dove si racconta e si denuda in pubblico, ci mostra sia la sua parte aggressiva, sfacciata, consapevole di quanto in alto sia arrivata, ma anche la sua parte più fragile e insicura, proprio come ogni altro essere umano. Ogni tematica viene affrontata dal punto di vista Ribelle e dal punto di vista Cuore. Per la sfera amorosa troviamo da una parte una Madonna dolce e innamorata in canzoni come Inside Out, Body Shop e Ghosttown e dall’altra invece Madonna ci porta nel mondo più sporco del sesso con Best Night, S.E.X. e il misto tra sesso e religione di Holy Water. Dal punto di vista umano troviamo ancora questa divisione : in Joan Of Arc, Wash All Over Me, HeartBreakCity, Beautiful Scars Madonna è una donna come tutte le altre, fragile, impaurita, insicura, “lacerata tra l’impulso di rimanere o scappare via”. In Unapologetic Bitch, Iconic, Veni Vidi Vici, Bitch I’m Madonna ritorna invece sicura di sé, e, con un pizzico di arroganza, sembra voler dire “fatevi tutte da parte, la regina è qui!”. Connesse al Secret Project, progetto che Madonna ha realizzato in difesa dei diritti di ogni essere umano, troviamo tracce come Living For Love, Graffiti Heart, Borrowed Time, dove la cantante si batte e cerca quasi di persuadere l’ascoltatore a smettere di odiare e di capire che “in fondo siamo solo qui per amare, perciò dovremmo vivere ogni momento come se fosse preso in prestito”. In Devil Pray Madonna affronta poi il tema della droga, ammettendo che non è uno strumento utile per arrivare a Dio. Dal punto di vista musicale il disco rappresenta un prodotto di ottima qualità : si passa da brani sicuramente innovativi per Madonna, tra i tanti il reggae di Unapologetic Bitch, a brani pop più commerciali come Joan Of Arc o Hold Tight, all'elettronica di Inside Out, ai ritmi macabri di S.E.X., alle semplici chitarre di Rebel Heart e Borrowed Time. Nonostante il leak dell'intera sessione di registrazione, Madonna ha sorpreso tutti ancora una volta pubblicando un piccolo capolavoro della musica contemporanea.

A fine piece of art since her 2005 Confessions on a Dance Floor, The album has 14 brand new songs. Rebel Heart comes as a much awaited record after a lukewarm performance of her previous two records. Many of the songs are clear standouts- from the triumphant "Living for Love" with a cape-studded performance at the Grammys 2015 and the BRIT awards, it takes you back to the old Madonna signatures of a choir performance, only more 2015; to the massive post-apocalyptic "Ghosttown". 'Devil Pray' give a country inspired beat and 'Unapologetic Bitch' takes you through a dub revalation. 'Illuminati', co-produced by Kanye West is frenetically bouncy. 'Ghosttown' was recently released as a single and in my opinion, it is her best material since the Ray of Light video. The record as a whole is very satisfying and has a lot of energentic electro-dance tracks, lush ballads, and some sing-alongs reminiscent of "gimme all your luvin'". She is much less concerned about reaching out to any audience here and hence sounds very confident and relaxed. The album is a bold reaffirmation of her Madjesty's supremacy in a genre she created and literally sculpted to fine perfection. Check out "Body Shop" with it's host of sexual innuendo and the trap 'Iconic'. Holy Water should be taken with a pill of caution. It even has a sampler from her previous "Vogue" My personal favorites on the album are 'Hold Tight' which soars to optimistic ( and somewhat corny ) lyrics about love. It is definitely the midtempo songs that steal all the album's glitter. For a woman who exudes strength and endurance, it is surprising to hear her being incredibly vulnerable and revealing in her weaknesses. Joan of Arc is reminiscent of "Crazy for You". It is the most sentimental track and has a potential for a single. "Wash all over me" was initially supposed to have a superb beat infused by Avicii but the album version is good too. Surprisingly, the album misses out on the title track "Rebel Heart" , which is included in the deluxe and super deluxed editions and I really don't know what to do of this. The Deluxe/Super Deluxe Versions have additional tracks and you would want to check out "Beautiful Scars', 'Borrowed Time' and 'Veni Vidi Vici' amongst other beauties. The album is already welcome by curious casual listeners, and regardless of how it is going to perform, I love it. It would be biased from my side because I have been a Madonna fan since I was a kiddo. Complementing the album is a fab cover which reminds me of Marilyn Monroe. Check out the Deluxe Version too. It has even more surprises. The genius of Madonna is that she never ceases to surprise and amaze. She has always had and impeccable charisma to be experimental in her work, unpredictable (Coachella, anyone?) ,challenging, fearless, and still be on top. She is a legend in her own way and a leader of contemporary and recent pop artists. And when she wears her heart out on her sleeve, as she has done in this one, the result is unmatched to anything yet. And don't be hesitant to spend those greens on this piece of art.

Rebel Heart has been one of my top Madonna albums so I knew that I would love this purchase, it has some amazing songs like Ghosttown, Devil Pray and The iconic Bitch I'm Madonna. Even though this isn't the deluxe version it's still an iconic and great album. I love to blast Bitch I'm Madonna on my cd player and it sounds amazing. I definitely recommend this album it was only $9.50 and fast delivery! I'm very satisfied with my purchase.

永遠のアイドル、Madonna様の2015年の新譜！年月を重ねる度にSEXYで格好良くなっているマダーナ。 私はデビューから現在まで殆どのアルバムをコンプリートしている位ファン。今日届いて感激。 今回、初めは通常盤を買おうと思ったけれど、ちょいと高いけれど、未発表曲が4曲入ってるこのスーパーデラックスを購入。 内容的には、前作所謂あまり派手さはないのかもしれないけど、様々なスタイルの曲があってかなり聴きごたえあります。 そして何よりこのジャケが紙でアートワークが格好いい。ちょっとした写真集の様に！可愛い！永久保存版

Madonna est de retour, en fonction de mes gouts je classe ce disque au dessus de Hard Candy, le premier album, Like A virgin, True Blue, Bedtimes Stories, MDNA et même Confession on a Dancefloor ( qui manque une vraie voix avec des mélodies malgré la qualité des productions qui surpassent Rebel Heart ). Si je retire les chansons que j'aime moins, il me reste 15 chansons de très bonnes factures dans la version deluxe sachant que le maximun de chansons dans un disque de madonna est de 14. Dans les pistes de la super deluxe, je retiens Addicted, Borrowed Times et Beautiful Scars mais il y a rien d'extraordinaire non plus. Les chansons qui sont moins bonnes sont " Unapologetic B****, Illuminati, B**** I'm Madonna, Holy Water ". Le meilleur de l'album est " Devil Pray, Ghosttown, Joan Of Arc, Hold Tight, Living For Love, Heartbreak City, Messiah, Rebel Heart, Inside Out, Wash all over me, Best Night et Veni Vedi Vici avec l'incroyable rappeur Nas". SEX a une bonne ambiance plutôt urbaine comme les autres chansons de la fin de l'album ( Best Night, Veni vedi veci ) mais il reste légèrement en dessous du reste sans être mauvais. Iconic est une chanson urbaine avec une influence dance, un bon hit mais trop radiophonique pour être dans mes favoris. Le retour est bon, sa voix est bien là alors qu'on l'avait perdue dans Hard Candy et MDNA ( c'était aussi distant dans Confession On a dancefloor ). Rebel Heart est très loin des albums " cliché " dance. Living for love est une bonne chansons dance plutôt plaisante, il est très varié comme MDNA mais sans toute la soupe électro pop ou dance. Il n'atteint pas la perfection d'un Ray Of Light mais ce n'est pas grave, je ne demande pas à Madonna de refaire la même chose. Chaque album de Madonna est différent et sa discographie est très bonne surtout pour une artiste pop ( j'aime aussi Prince, Michael jackson et Janet Jackson ).