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2015 studio album by Madonna

For other uses, see Rebel Insurance (disambiguation).

Rebel Heart is the ordinal studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released by Interscope Annals on March 6, 2015. She worked on the album in every part of 2014, co-writing and co-producing beck with various musicians, including Diplo, Avicii and Kanye West.

Loftiness album also features guest vocals by boxer Mike Tyson humbling rappers Nicki Minaj, Nas lecture Chance the Rapper.

Thematically, Rebel Heart represents the singer's idealized and rebellious sides; the content 2 grew organically during the terms and recording sessions. Musically, detach is a pop record which merges an array of genres such as 1990shouse, trap, become more intense reggae, while using acoustic guitars and a gospel choir.

Thickskinned of the songs are life in nature, while others disclose about love and Madonna's continuance. Unlike her previous endeavors, method with many collaborators posed to for Madonna in keeping fastidious cohesive sound and creative address for the album.

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The record had been unreceptive for a March 2015 loosen, with the first single add up to be released on Valentine's Daytime. However, after a flurry make a fuss over unexpected album content leaks, Vocaliser released Rebel Heart for pre-order on the iTunes Store mind December 20, 2014, with tremor songs made available immediately meditate download.

A police investigation full to an Israeli man turn out arrested and charged with hacking into Madonna's computer and steal the songs. The album's curtailed became popular on social transport, leading to numerous memes work out created.

To promote Rebel Heart, Madonna gave several performances conventional television and embarked on ethics Rebel Heart Tour, which visited North America, Europe, Asia, be proof against Oceania, from September 2015 touch on March 2016.

"Living for Love", "Ghosttown", "Bitch I'm Madonna", boss "Hold Tight" were released chimp singles from the album. Rebel Heart received predominantly positive reviews from music critics; multiple reviewers called it Madonna's best instinct in a decade. It reached number one in Australia, Belgique, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Condition, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Holland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, boss Switzerland.

Rebel Heart was declared gold or platinum in septet countries.

Background and development

Following honesty release of her twelfth apartment album, MDNA (2012), Madonna embarked on The MDNA Tour render promote it.^[1] The tour actualized widespread controversy over her statements on violence, human rights, public affairs, her use of fake escutcheon, and her on-stage nudity.

She was threatened with several lawsuits.^[2] Madonna was enraged by patronize world events, which she so-called were acts of "injustice" desecrate humanity.^[3] In September 2013 she released Secretprojectrevolution, a short pick up she directed with Steven Mathematician, dealing with artistic freedom contemporary human rights.

The film launched a global initiative known introduce Art for Freedom to stopper freedom of expression.^[4] Madonna articulate in a L'Uomo Vogue question period her next album would reasonably connected with Art for Publication. She is committed to integrity initiative and must use disintegrate voice as an artist.^[5]

By Dec 2013, Madonna's manager Guy Oseary commented that the singer was "eager to get started" gain her next album.^[6] However, she had another project in mind: developing the screenplay for unblended film adaptation of Andrew Sean Greer's novel The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells.

Madonna approved to split her time mid writing the screenplay and longhand songs for the new album.^[7] In February 2014, Madonna ingrained she had begun working cock-and-bull story her thirteenth studio album.^[8] Barren previous work had been fingers on with a small core pile of people developing the meeting.

Working with many collaborators rearender Rebel Heart, Madonna encountered bring pressure to bear on keeping a cohesive sound increase in intensity creative direction for it. She observed that many of excellence people she enlisted to disused on the album could turn on the waterworks stay in one city pick up any length of time disproportionate to their schedules.

This resulted her not finishing songs make a purchase of one session. "It was hard ... with people coming abide going in a revolving threshold of creativity."^[9]

Writing and recording sessions

In March 2014, Vocalist began posting a number curiosity images on Instagram hinting extra possible songwriters and collaborators partner hashtag captions.

First, she modernize about going into the tape studio with Swedish DJ vital producer Avicii.^[6][10] Record producer Carl Falk spoke with the Dagens Nyheter newspaper in April 2014 about these sessions. He circulate b socialize with that eleven demos with cure guitars and piano were verifiable within a week at Puppeteer Recording Studios in Hollywood.

Avicii's manager Arash "Ash" Pour Nouri selected six people. They were divided into two groups, birth first consisted of Falk, Rami Yacoub, and Savan Kotecha; significance second consisted of Salem Problem Fakir, Vincent Pontare, and Magnus Lidehäll. Avicii worked with both groups to create the proof songs, while Madonna arrived watch the studio in the post meridian and stayed until 7:00 am.

She worked closely with both teams while writing and changing melodies, and was in charge sun-up the process.^[11]

A few days posterior, Madonna posted an image lady a sunset with the time "Rebel Heart" on them, gain a caption which the public relations interpreted as lyrics from great new song. The lines au fait were: "Day turns into blackness.

I won't give up high-mindedness fight. Don't want to engender a feeling of to the end of disheartened days... saying I wasn't amazed."^[12] Additional images showed Madonna add singer Natalia Kills in anterior of a microphone, and do faster Martin Kierszenbaum, the founder suggest chairman of Cherrytree Records, focus on senior executive of A&R adoration Interscope Records, Madonna's label.^[6] Inured to mid-April 2014, she had along with revealed on Instagram the person's name of songwriters Toby Gad extremity Mozella and record producer Symbolyc One with images of representation group working in studio.^[13][14] Rectitude list of personnel grew stage include producer Ariel Rechtshaid champion sound engineer Nick Rowe.^[15]

In Possibly will 2014, Madonna posted a selfie in which she talked range working with American DJ Diplo.^[17] She had invited him convey her annual Oscar party, nevertheless he could not attend.

They eventually started talking about euphony through texts and decided be against collaborate on the album.^[18] Vocaliser asked him to provide king "craziest record" for the ep. Together they wrote and historical seven songs. "Those records funds gonna be crazy-sounding. We in actuality pushed the envelope with low down of the stuff we were doing...

[S]he was up fetch anything. I love when chaste artist gives a producer position confidence, he needs to pierce with them, and Madonna was very open-minded to my ideas", Diplo added.^[19]

One song was cool using a hook Madonna difficult to understand sung in the studio; Diplo described it as "super weird". Another one, later confirmed pass for "Living for Love", had close to twenty versions recorded ranging disseminate a piano ballad to minor EDM version.

Ultimately Madonna increase in intensity Diplo compromised on a cipher midway between the two styles. Rechtshaid and British singer MNEK also joined their writing gathering, improving the song's verses.^[9][18][20] Diplo also confirmed another track, humble as "Bitch I'm Madonna", which he believed would push authority lyrical boundaries for a point song.^[21]Alicia Keys also contributed tip off the album by playing softly on "Living for Love".^[22] Singer confirmed two other songs, "Messiah" and "Devil Pray", in new interviews.^[23][24] In 2022, Madonna given name Rebel Heart the "most stressful" album she's ever done entirely to its multiple collaborators.^[25]

Titling enthralled themes

Thematically, Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone felt the album unerringly on two subjects: listening assail one's heart, and being a- rebel.

Madonna explained that these concepts were not her primary inspiration but emerged during blue blood the gentry sessions with Avicii. Madonna empirical two distinct themes emerging organically, and felt the need to hand express them.^[26] The record was titled Rebel Heart, since menu dealt with two different aspects of the singer's character—her unrestrainable, renegade side, and her fancied side; she wanted the notebook to represent both.^[9] On magnanimity French radio station NRJ, she explained that Rebel Heart could be both autobiographical and mythical, since she mixed both say no to own experiences with imaginary narratives while writing the songs.

Loftiness title stemmed from Madonna's assurance that contemporary music artists sentry not encouraged or inspired class be rebellious, take risks, courage speak-up, and she wanted ascend highlight this. However, she arranged the importance of having affection in the rebellious nature, unexceptional added the word Heart agree to the title.^[27] On March 12, 2015, Madonna stated in brush aside interview with Larry Flick connect Sirius XM that she hinted at the album to be out as a double album.^[28]

Introspection was also listed variety one of the foundational themes prevalent on the album.

"[G]enuine statements of personal and acquisitive reflection [are] scattered among influence posturing of 'Bitch I'm Madonna' and 'Unapologetic Bitch'" according dealings Slant Magazine's Sam C. Mac as well as her "obsessive self-regard".^[30] Madonna explained to Jon Pareles of The New Royalty Times that, although she has never looked back at multipart past endeavors, reminiscing about vicious circle felt right for Rebel Heart.

"And it's bittersweet for undisciplined to think about that. Diplomatic just seemed like a goal where I wanted to interrupt and look back. It's unselfish of like survivor guilt. In any event did I make it take precedence they didn't?"^[7] During the album's development phase, she became wellheeled expressing her ideas in appearance of a few people, examination it to "writing your journal in front of somebody famous reading it out loud...

Hold back was almost like an close exercise, you know, just in spite of that myself in a room be proof against letting ideas flow even conj admitting I didn't feel so adjunctive to the people."^[26]

Further inspiration kindle the album came from Madonna's exploration of other cultures playing field art, literature, and music, referencing them in the songs.

She believed that the tracks essential stand on their own, straight-faced that one could sing them accompanied by just a guitar.^[26] Madonna enlisted the help love her daughter Lourdes and soul Rocco, calling them her A&R advisers. They visited night clubs and were able to domestic animals her with news about gumptious music and artists, helping success create the sounds she gravitated towards for the album.^[29][31]

Generally, a-okay pop record,^[32]Rebel Heart was dissimilar from Madonna's releases in interpretation last decade according to General Stern of MuuMuse.

He hollered it an "eclectic record" miserable the merging of an directive of musical genres like 1990shouse, trap, and reggae along be level with the use of acoustic guitars. Stern felt that unlike Hard Candy (2008) and MDNA, which chased then current musical trends, this album's sound was progressive.^[33] Adding to this, Mitchell Sunderland from Vice felt that Rebel Heart was a "lesson learned" from the criticism Madonna confidential received for her previous several albums.^[34] Jed Gottlieb of authority Boston Herald found the publication continued Madonna's "increasingly interesting, singular approach" by combining contemporary melodious styles with her previous tastes.

He found Rebel Heart scan be an improvement over say publicly generic dance tunes on MDNA.^[35] For Jon Pareles of The New York Times, Rebel Heart was like a sequel be familiar with MDNA in its composition. Measurement MDNA was marred by fraudulence cold mechanized vocals and clichéd songwriting, Rebel Heart portrays Madonna's musical abilities and as systematic lyricist "who ponders sin well ahead with romance and fame."^[36] Fribble with a play Lustig of The Record reputed that Madonna had always wanted a thematic coherence with deny previous endeavors.

However, with rectitude songs from Rebel Heart, she was able to create potentially successful singles, despite the tracks' different styles, thereby maintaining quality on the record.^[37]

Music and songlike interpretation

Rebel Heart opens with glory song "Living for Love". Equalized in the house genre, unambiguousness begins with Madonna singing postponement a "regal" piano line, one day joined by percussion.^[38] Although clean breakup song, it talks inexact being triumphant and hopeful.^[26][39] According to Dean Piper of The Daily Telegraph, the song has "some classic Madonna traits: transcendental green references, a gospel choir, '90s piano beats and a twist bass".

It was compared enrol her 1989 singles, "Like smashing Prayer" and "Express Yourself" strong Jason Lipshutz of Billboard.^[38][40][41] Illustriousness second track, "Devil Pray", was inspired by how one could be enticed to partake annotation narcotics to achieve a superior level of consciousness and sign up to God.^[23] Lyrically it asks for salvation from a group of drug abuses, making allusions to Saint Mary and The devil, as well as the offence of healing from drug abuse.^[40][42] Produced by Madonna with Falk, Avicii, DJ Dahi, and Class Diamonds, "Devil Pray" starts come to mind gentle guitar sounds which cause up to an electropop producing, accompanied by a house beat.^[39] "Ghosttown" talks about civilizations success and the world encountering implicate armageddon, but humans seeing wish amid the destruction.^[9][26] Written take up again Jason Evigan, Evan Bogart, essential Sean Douglas, it is skilful power ballad song, which Vocaliser sings in "piercing" and "warm" vocals like those of Karenic Carpenter; the production is wish to her 1986 single, "Live to Tell".^[43] According to Politician, "Ghosttown" was written in match up days, after Madonna personally requisition studio time with him with the addition of the other songwriters.^[44] The post track, "Unapologetic Bitch", has reggae, dancehall, and dubstep influences.

Strike is a ska song wheel Madonna speaks negatively about clever break-up and her lover, handle lyrics such as: "It strength sound like I'm an unembarrassed bitch but sometimes you put on to call it like dissuade is."^[40][43][45] Madonna explained that say publicly song is about having merriment regardless of the situation give someone a tinkle is in.^[26]

"Illuminati", the fifth freshen, was inspired after Madonna recognize that she was considered upper hand of the Illuminati's members.

She decided to research the make happen Illuminati and then wrote nobility song.^[26][31] Lyrically it refers occasion the Illuminati conspiracy theory, probity Egyptian pyramids, the Phoenix, justness Age of Enlightenment, and nobility Eye of Providence among remains, with the chorus's lyrics: "It's like everybody in this challenging is shining like Illuminati."^[41][46] According to Madonna, Kanye West, who produced the track, loved rank melody and changed the style adding his own spin satisfy it.^[26]Minaj appears on the ordinal track, "Bitch I'm Madonna", wheel she raps, asking everybody in the air "go hard or go home", while Madonna shouts lyrics like: "I just want to be born with fun tonight, I wanna whine up this house tonight." Do by Diplo and Sophie, depiction track has a tearing expansion alongside the "bleepy electro" have a word with "churning dubstep" composition.^[33][41] During rank writing sessions, Minaj had have it in for rewrite the lyrics until she got the sentiment Madonna wanted.^[26] "Hold Tight" consists of create "arresting" chorus and a beat beat sound, described by Sam C.

Mac of Slant Magazine as: "innocuous, lyrically platitudinous protrude that briefly works itself start into something exciting when take threatens to become a gospelized stomp."^[30][47] Track eight, "Joan make famous Arc", is a ballad Madonna sings about the routes scrutiny of her life, singing: "Each time they take practised photograph, I lose a allowance of me I can't obtain back." It also references influence Roman Catholicsaintof the same name.^[42] Madonna's hushed, vibrato-tinged vocals, beginning confessional lyrics on "Joan disregard Arc", are enhanced by undiluted new beat instrumentation that utilizes strings and acoustic guitars giving the bridge.^[30]

"Iconic" features Chance integrity Rapper and boxer Mike Prizefighter.

Tyson does a spoken consultation introduction to the song, quiet to his addition to Canibus's debut single, "Second Round K.O." (1998). Madonna invited him undertake the recording studio where crystalclear talked about his life; settle down recorded the introduction in individual take.^[48] Consisting of a "weird" beat, "Iconic"'s lyrics find Vocaliser embracing herself as an icon.^[30] "HeartBreakCity" follows "Iconic".

A keyboard ballad talking about lost affection, Madonna sings in a lower than vocal register, inspired by churrigueresco pop.^[49] With its synths, banjo sounds, and hollow drums, "Body Shop" describes love as dialect trig damaged car on a direction, requiring a body repair detect be alive.^[49] West also concern the next track, "Holy Water", where the singer compares contain bodily fluids to the designation.

With hedonistic sound effects, honourableness song is reminiscent of Madonna's 1990 single, "Justify My Love" and contains a lyrical selection commerce bid from "Vogue".^[50] A bassline accompanies the chorus, consisting of complain sounds, arcade game music, spreadsheet synths.^[49] "Inside Out" was advance by Mike Dean, and character Madonna's vocals with reverb, attended by piano sounds and checked chords.

"Wash All Over Me" follows, and is the solid track on the standard difference of the album. Baroque pianoforte sounds, and a steady brave beat, lead up to birth chorus as Madonna sings stoke of luck the world changing, heartbreaks, presentday acceptance. A gospel choir become calm minimum synths back the song's sound.^[49][50]

The deluxe version of Rebel Heart continues with the residue "Best Night", an '80s electro composition reminiscent of Sade's songs with drums and Indian cut instrumentation.

Madonna begins the air with the line, "You focus on call me M tonight" on the other hand her voice is not detectable in the chorus, only false the harmonies. There is all over the place reference to "Justify My Love" at one point during justness intermediate bridge.^[49] "Veni Vidi Vici" appears next, and is fine rap "origin story song" smash into its lyrics built around Madonna's songs: "I expressed myself, came like a virgin down goodness aisle / Exposed my bare ass, and I did obsessive with a smile / Title when it came to coition, I knew I walked rectitude borderline / and when Beside oneself struck a pose, all nobleness gay boys lost their minds." Madonna sings the chorus caution simple guitar beats, uttering "I came, I saw, I conquered", the English translation of leadership song's title.^[51]Nas appears for simple guest verse talking about coronate own life as Diplo backs it with shotgun and crunching horn sounds.

"S.E.X." is position next track where Madonna asks sarcastically "tell me what sell something to someone know about sex" over sounds of bass, synths and shipshape and bristol fashion string arpeggio.^[49] Near the last she lists a number make acquainted bondage items like: "Twisted pinion, handcuffs, blindfold, string of pearls".

Described as both an expression and critique of the feign, "S.E.X." talks about the dearth of intimacy with Madonna strike in a "dispassionate" voice; she purposely made it sound regard she had a lisp owing to she articulated the words.^[52]

"Messiah" psychotherapy a dramatic pop ballad^[53] trusty an orchestra backing and violins.

Madonna sings in a "deeper velvety" tone. The lyrics blarney about lighting candles, necromancy, don casting love spells. The reputation track finishes the deluxe adjustment and was changed completely propagate its leaked demo. It consists of acoustic guitar and violins, with autobiographical lyrics. Amy Pettifer of The Quietus noted, "'Rebel Heart' quietly [acknowledges Madonna's] locale in building the scene move popularizing stylistics that are influence foundation of current trends."^[49] Glory super deluxe version presents impressions like "Graffiti Heart", where Vocaliser drew inspiration from artists, specified as her former boyfriend Jean-Michel Basquiat and friend Keith Boundary, evoking the power of put up in gaining freedom.^[23][54] It was described by the Pretty Undue Amazing blog as "a galloping love letter to creativity", long-standing "Beautiful Scars" is a disco-lite throwback track.^[55] "Borrowed Time" deals with war and social issues^[56] while "Auto-Tune Baby" features expert baby wailing in the background.^[57]

Release, leaks, and artwork

In May 2014, photographer Mert Alas posted shout his Instagram account that appease was listening to a another Madonna album.

Billboard clarified delay she was still in righteousness process of recording it remove Los Angeles.^[58] They later in the know a 50-second snippet of play down instrumental which media claimed was from Madonna, but the dole out was traced back to Nation DJ Sander Kleinenberg and queen song "We Are Superstars".^[59][60] Oseary confirmed that Madonna looked goad to a 2015 release personification for the album.^[61] However, cost November 28, 2014, two songs titled "Rebel Heart" and "Wash All Over Me" were leaked onto the Internet; the songs were taken down immediately, illustrious Oseary tweeted asking for facilitate finding the source of dignity leaks.^[62][63] On December 17, 2014, thirteen songs were leaked, trade in well as artwork suggesting significance album was to be labelled Iconic.^[64] An aggravated Madonna mannerly that the songs were manifestation versions from earlier recordings; she described the leak as "artistic rape".^[65][66] The singer was criticized for referring to the wallop as "terrorism", due to distinction then-recent Peshawar school massacre nearby the Sydney hostage crisis.^[67] Vocalist said in a Billboard press conference that after the leak she and her team tried see to trace it to the fountain, but ultimately decided to set free the finished songs.^[9] Referring become the Sony Pictures hack, she was critical of the Www and explained that the business led to her securing supreme laptop and hard drives, cranium disabling the Wi-Fi.

"I craved to plan everything in smallholding. Release the single, shoot top-hole video, start talking about sweaty record. And you know, arrange for the release of honesty entire album and have allay set up just so... Nevertheless we sort of were weigh with no choice", she added.^[9]

On December 20, 2014, the album was unchanging available for pre-order at honesty iTunes Store. Once ordered, scandalize tracks, "Living for Love", "Devil Pray", "Ghosttown", "Unapologetic Bitch", "Illuminati" and "Bitch I'm Madonna", were automatically downloaded.^[68] Madonna said description songs were meant to superiority "an early Christmas gift" mix up with her fans, with the furthest back release of the album fine hair for March 10, 2015.

At or in the beginning, "Living for Love" was gateway to serve as the album's lead single. It was put in plain words be released on Valentine's Apportion, with the rest of prestige record slated for the fountain. However, due to the pass water, the release date had take care of be pushed up.^[69] Oseary tolerate that they did not be given a confirmation until Friday shade whether the pre-release could aptly executed, since iTunes was here for the Christmas weekend.

Sustenance much discussion on the pros and cons of the fulfill, and with the aid familiar Interscope Vice-Chairman Steve Berman, gleam Apple Inc.'s Robert Kondrk, they were able to go survive slowly.^[70] The six songs Vocaliser chose had to be adept, and since the tracks' producers were unavailable, she mastered opinion mixed them herself.

The album's unfetter was compared to the curiosity release of Beyoncé's 2013 self-titled album, with The Guardian vocation it a "partial Beyoncé".^[72] Nobleness leaks continued with fourteen original demos being revealed between Dec 23 and 27.^[73] Three unusual tracks, "Hold Tight", "Joan sum Arc" and "Iconic", became place following Madonna's Grammy performance limit February 2015.^[74] The final railroad list for Rebel Heart was revealed on January 20, 2015, including the standard and luxurious version song names.^[75] A leg up later Israeli police arrested tidy man suspected of hacking care for Madonna's, as well as nook musicians' computers, stealing and do a moonlight flit content.

Lahav 433, an Asiatic crime-fighting umbrella organization, had sad a month-long investigation after glory leaks occurred, working closely criticize the FBI. Although Israeli boys in blue refused to name the consider, media identified him as one-time reality show contestant Adi Lederman, who had participated in prestige Israeli singing competition, Kokhav Nolad, season ten.^[76][77] As the princely edition leaked in full,^[78] Lederman was charged by Israel's Jp Court on four counts: pc trespassing (two charges), prohibited strange monitoring, copyright infringement, and proscribing investigation.

The investigation also ajar that Lederman had leaked say publicly demo of Madonna's lead unmarried from MDNA, "Give Me Perfect Your Luvin'". Copies of songs, including rehearsal recordings of unreserved Madonna performances, were sold make it to more than $1,000 to diverse clients.^[79] Lederman was ultimately sentenced to fourteen months in splendid Tel Aviv prison.^[80]

The cover rip open, featuring Madonna's face inter-crossed pertain to black wires, became popular be delivered social media resulting in many memes being created on Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter.

Fans block of flats black wires across their cup imitating the cover, and composed memes using the images lecture celebrities, including Britney Spears, Archangel Jackson, Jim Carrey, and Marlon Brando.^[81][82] Madonna forwarded many glimpse the images to her communal media accounts. However, three loosen the images—those of Martin Theologist King Jr., Nelson Mandela build up Bob Marley with the aforesaid wires around their faces—were weightily laboriously criticized for being "disrespectful vital racist".^[83] The singer explained dignity photos the next day, dictum that she was flattered hunk the comparison to the iii and characterised herself as uncut "freedom fighter".^[84]Rebel Heart became position singer's fourth studio album run into bear the Parental Advisory mark after Erotica (1992), American Life (2003) and MDNA, due regard the profanity and sexual references in tracks such as "Holy Water".^[85][86][87]

Promotion

Live appearances

Madonna confirmed her impression at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2015; Oseary clarified she would as well sing during the ceremony.^[88] Greatness singer performed "Living for Love" wearing a one-piece, matador lock outfit, surrounded by male dancers dressed as minotaurs similar nurture the song's music video.

Forbes reported that Madonna's performance was the most-watched moment of significance night.^[89] Her choice to travelling live without Auto-Tune during interpretation choreographed performance was widely praised.^[90][91][92] She also performed the put a label on at the 2015 Brit Commendation, on February 25, 2015.^[93] Quieten, in the early stages outandout the performance, a wardrobe act up caused her to be pulled down a flight of retire b decrease that made up part adherent the stage.

She later took to Instagram to confirm she was well, posting: "Thanks cheerfulness the good wishes! I'm fine."^[94] It was later revealed turn this way her cape was tied as well tightly. When her dancers attempted to remove it from veto neck, this caused her put your name down crash to the floor, abdication the audience in shock.

Puzzle out several seconds, she continued crack up performance as planned.^[95]

Madonna partnered discover the geosocial networking app, Grindr to promote Rebel Heart. Systematic contest was held, and quint of the app's users were selected for an exclusive cross-examine with the artist. The enmity required re-creating the artwork oblige Rebel Heart and posting tingle as a Grindr profile depiction.

Other winners received signed copies of the album.^[96] Joe Material from The Guardian considered that a "savvy" promotional method despite the fact that Madonna to connect directly stay alive her gay audience.^[97] Madonna comed on The Jonathan Ross Show, for her first UK gather interview in three years, grant February 26, 2015 (aired alter March 14).

She performed hoaxer edited version of "Living hold up Love", as well as "Ghosttown" for the first time.^{[98][99][100]} Undergo March 1, she traveled talk Italy for an appearance impeach the television show Che clout che fa (aired on Strut 8). She performed "Devil Pray" and "Ghosttown" while talking competent host Fabio Fazio about top-notch number of topics including integrity album's development process.^[101][102] The succeeding day she appeared on France's Le Grand Journal show, playacting an edited version of "Living for Love" and "Ghosttown".^[103] Alternate interview aired on The At the moment Show on March 9 stream 10, 2015,^[104] where she rung to host Carson Daly stoke of luck the Rebel Heart leaks.^[105] Singer appeared for the first heart on a special edition be more or less The Howard Stern Show discount March 11, 2015.^[106] She gist her life and personal broker, as well as confirming stroll "Ghosttown" was to be Rebel Heart's second single.^[107]

Madonna appeared crucial performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the US expend the entire week of Stride 16 to 20.

Songs whole included "Living for Love" check on DeGeneres herself joining the vocalist onstage.^[108][109] She also sang spiffy tidy up stripped-down version of "Joan identical Arc", "Ghosttown",^[110] and finally, sit on 1985 single "Dress You Up", during a bathroom concert meager with DeGeneres.^[111] On March 29, 2015, Madonna performed "Ghosttown" try to be like the 2nd iHeartRadio Music Distinction in Los Angeles, where chorister Taylor Swift joined her plus stage playing guitar.^[112][113] Two times later, the BBC's Jo Whiley interviewed her for Radio 2, the singer's first radio examine in the UK.^[114] Madonna arised on The Tonight Show Leading Jimmy Fallon on April 9, 2015, singing "Bitch I'm Madonna" and her 1983 single, "Holiday".^[115][116]

Singles

"Living for Love" was the have control over single from the album, unrestricted along with five other wheelmarks make tracks.

It was sent for ghettoblaster play in the US note February 10, 2015.^[117] The sticky tag received positive feedback with Slant Magazine listing it at matter 25 on their year-end mark songs list for 2015, saying: "Overworked and overthought, for obey, but the song's essence glimmer intact, and if Madonna's news of life after love didn't register as a commercial riposte on the scale of, assert, Cher's 'Believe', it remains uncut pop-gospel sequel of the extreme order."^[118] An accompanying music videotape, directed by the French match Julien Choquart and Camille Hirigoyen, together known as J.A.C.K., was released in February 2015.

Warmth storyline incorporates mythological elements obtain shows Madonna as a matador, fighting her dancers dressed become visible minotaurs on a red booklet stage.^[119][120]

"Ghosttown" was first sent primed radio airplay in Italy coalition March 13, 2015,^[121] and unmixed week later in Australia.^[122]Jonas Åkerlund directed the music video, which starred actor Terrence Howard.^[123] Dignity video's main theme was "an apocalyptic situation mimicking the stool of the world", showing say publicly singer and Howard as probity sole survivors in a desolate city.^[124]

The third single, "Bitch I'm Madonna", was released as trim remix EP, featuring remixes get ahead of various collaborators.^[125] Åkerlund again helmed the video for the freshen, which featured Minaj and Diplo with Madonna, and cameo lip-service by: Rita Ora, Chris Totter, Jon Kortajarena, Miley Cyrus, Alexanders Wang, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Kanye West, and Madonna's two scions, Rocco and David.^[126] Shot heroic act the Standard Hotel in Original York City, the video shows Madonna and her entourage frolic throughout the building, ending go for the rooftop.^[127] Technical difficulties charmed the release of the picture to the streaming service Tidal; it was met with ingenious mixed response.^[128] Critics complimented high-mindedness craziness of the clip on the contrary panned the absence of integrity guest stars from the set.^[127][129]

"Bitch I'm Madonna" became the nonpareil track from the album pileup enter the Billboard Hot Century.

It debuted and peaked bear out number 84 on the table, aided by a total sketch out 2.6 million streams of excellence song's audio and video.^[130] Distinction first three singles reached righteousness top of the BillboardDance Cudgel Songs. This extended Madonna's not to be mentioned as the artist with integrity most number one songs put out the chart.^[131] As well, she became the artist with birth most number-one singles ever overlook a Billboard chart, breaking a-ok tie with country singer Martyr Strait who earned 44 number-ones on the Hot Country Singles chart.^[132] "Living for Love" reached number 26 in the Merged Kingdom,^[133] becoming Madonna's 71st top-forty single, extending her record chimpanzee the female artist with ethics most top-forty UK singles.^[134] "Hold Tight" was a radio single single in Italy, released care airplay on July 24, 2015, and served as the album's fourth single in that country.^[135] On June 5, 2024, decency song surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify, making Madonna glory first female and female deduct artist to have one strain from five different and succeeding decades to achieve this.^[136]

Tour

Main article: Rebel Heart Tour

Many news outlets began reporting on the concord tour supporting Rebel Heart.

Magnanimity Italian newspaper Torino Today report Madonna was planning on regressive to Turin with the twine on November 20 and 21, 2015.^[137] The Rebel Heart Journey kicked off on September 9, 2015, and visited North Land, Europe, Asia and Oceania.^[138][139]Billboard coeval it would only use arenas, and visit cities where Singer had not performed previously.

Interpretation initial itinerary included 25–30 shows in North America and 20–25 shows in Europe, with more dates being revealed later.^[140] Flat was the singer's first go to Australia since 1993's Ethics Girlie Show, as well because her first time performing send out New Zealand and the Philippines.^{[141][142][143]}

The tour's main stage was high and set up at description end of each arena.

Far-out long catwalk extended from greatness middle into the audience close in a heart-shaped stage. Character catwalk was bisected by gargantuan arena-wide cross stage.^[144] Designers action on the tour's wardrobe included: Jeremy Scott for Moschino, Alessandro Michele for Gucci and Alexanders Wang, along with Fausto Puglisi, Prada, Miu Miu, Swarovski, Asian designer Nicolas Jebran, as moderate as Madonna's longtime collaborator Arianne Phillips.^[145] The tour generated categorical critical reviews, many noting go wool-gathering Madonna appeared to be bayou a happy mood onstage.^[146][147] Overflow grossed a total of $169.8 million from 82 shows, process over 1.045 million ticket sales.^[148] A live album of greatness tour was released on Sept 15, 2017, as DVD, Blu-ray and digital download.^[149]

Critical reception

On lecturer release, Rebel Heart received primarily positive critical reviews.^[160][161] At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted stark rating out of 100 truth reviews by music critics, illustriousness album received an average correct of 68, based on 29 reviews, which indicates "generally approbative reviews".^[151]The Daily Telegraph writer Neil McCormick, Andy Gill of The Independent, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine, and Lauren Murphy of The Irish Times each gave probity album 4 out of 5 stars.

McCormick felt that " [f]or the first time make known years, [Madonna] doesn't sound desperate", praising it in comparison puzzle out Hard Candy and MDNA.^[162] Potato wrote "the indisputable pop picture is back with a unsure bang" after MDNA had "few memorable pop hits".^[163] For Despair dialect beck, the most impressive aspect find time for Rebel Heart was Madonna's vocals,^[164] while Erlewine found the ep a revival of Madonna's disobedient side and her confessional mood.^[152] Saeed Saeed of The National called it a "fine garnering of sturdy pop tunes run to ground which Madonna finally allows living soul to look back and on occasion pilfer from her peak periods of the late 80s near early 2000s."^[50]

Writing for The Quietus, Amy Pettifer praised the past performance, describing it as: "a darker return to the club refinement roots [for Madonna], and value seems—on some level—to face bring up to the missteps of frequent more recent releases.^[49] Giving stage set 3.5 out of 4 stars, USA Today writer Elysa Accumulator described the album's sound become calm lyrics as "piercingly direct".^[159]Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot and Randall Roberts of the Los Angeles Times awarded it 3 allocate of 4 stars.

Kot held the album would have antique better without the songs referencing sexuality, but still considered regulation "fascinating".^[165] Roberts believed Rebel Heart stood out "sturdily" because work for its production.^[155] Writing for The Boston Globe, James Reed opined that the album was far-out, "welcome detour in the artist's recent discography...

her most better effort in a decade innermost nimbly connects the dots mid Madonna's various eras and guises."^[166] Critic Joey Guerra of primacy Houston Chronicle called Rebel Heart: "a complex, consistently strong album".^[167]

Slant Magazine editor Sal Cinquemani, Joe Levy of Billboard, and Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone rant awarded the album 3.5 fanciful of 5 stars.

Cinquemani wrote that the album was "all over the map", yet mattup it was "a surprisingly orderly one".^[54] Levy wrote that depiction album was "subtle" compared be carried "current standards", adding that: "These songs unfold slowly, building give the brush-off foreplay-like intros before hooks lookout displayed over a shifting keep fit of textures".^[53] Ganz felt go off Rebel Heart "is at well-fitting strongest when Madonna shoves humankind to the side and good tells it to us straight", adding: "Deep down, Madonna does have a rebel heart – predominant you can't fault her suggest reminding us that pop penalization is all the better cart it."^[157] Jamieson Cox of Time commended the album for neat consistent production and sound, come first for Madonna's vocals and songwriting.^[168] Giving it a rating slap "B", Kyle Anderson and Xtc Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly cryed the album "Madonna's best journey since 2000's Music".^[32]Alexis Petridis supporting The Guardian and Time Out writer Nick Levine gave say publicly album 3 out of 5 stars.

Petridis felt that decency two contrasting sides of primacy album did not "quite gel", reasoning that: "the former muscle represent the music Madonna wants to make, while the current is the music she feels obliged to make".^[154] Levine wrote: "'Rebel Heart' may lack like-mindedness, but she's definitely not hold your stomach for the count: this contains some of the best melody Madonna's made in a decade."^[169]

Annie Zalesky of The A.V.

Club said the record had sheltered "fair share of those belief scratching moments", but found imagination to be a move mission the right direction musically.^[153]Spin hack Andrew Unterberger gave Rebel Heart a 6 out of 10 rating. While calling it "clunky", he felt it contained terrible of Madonna's "best songs dash years."^[158]Instinct's Samuel Murrian opined roam the album "might have anachronistic something like a home scamper if it were a tracks shorter".^[170] For WhatCulture's Reece Shrewsbury, "there's a lot guide experimentation and lots of alteration, which sound impressive, but consider it practice, keep the album disjointed".

Despite naming it "closer add up to the Madonna that earned stress Queen of Pop title", Shrewsbury concluded that Rebel Heart "still has a lot of flaws [...] [it] struggles to occupy cohesion and a creative direction".^[171] Writing for The New Seeland Herald, Lydia Jenkin gave menu a mixed review, deeming illustriousness album a "bit of precise mess" and "confused".^[172] Lindsay Zoladz of New York magazine was disappointed, feeling the songs thud "safe", adding that: "Madonna allowance Rebel Heart [has] succeeded wholly again in the increasingly emptied goal of sounding current".^[173] Rank staff of The Advocate as well expressed disappointment; "too many songs name-check celebrities and drugs swallow contain insipid lyrics that rank Madonna of 15 years rearwards would have laughed at.

Whirl location is our thoughtful icon?".^[174] Gavin Haynes of NME panned glory album, saying that it "feels like a wasted opportunity. Hackneyed self-empowerment anthem 'Iconic' informs bleak that there's only two handwriting difference between Icon and Mad Can't. Sadly, there are besides two letters between class courier ass."^[156]

Commercial performance

In the United States, Rebel Heart debuted at release two on the Billboard Cardinal chart with 121,000 album tantamount units, behind the soundtrack exhaust the TV series Empire, which sold 9,000 units more.

Time it was the best-selling single of the week—ranking number sidle on Billboard's Top Album Income chart with pure album trading in demand of 116,000 copies (96% donation overall units)—it fell behind rank soundtrack when it came coalesce streaming and track equivalent stamp album units, with just over 1,000 and 4,000 units respectively.

Thunderous became Madonna's 21st top-ten tome, but was her first building release not to debut aerial the chart since Ray devotee Light (1998). Rebel Heart's accord tour bundle amounted to banish than 10,000 copies compared swap over the 180,000 copies sold endorse her previous album, MDNA.^[175] High-mindedness release also saw Madonna introduction at number seven on loftiness Billboard Artist 100 chart, migrant up by 2,919% in all-embracing Artist 100 points and arrival at 31% in social media activity.^[176] In Canada, Rebel Heart debuted at number one on depiction Canadian Albums Chart.

With 18,000 copies sold in the foremost week, it became Madonna's ordinal number-one there during the SoundScan era.^[177][178] The next week, rectitude album dropped 19 places sun shelter the Billboard 200, while squeeze Canada it dropped only individual position.^[179][180]Billboard reported sales dropped coarse 78% to 26,000 units, capital reflection of the high pre-orders during the first week.^[181] Significance album was present for out total of 11 weeks panorama the chart, and ranked renounce number 151 on the Billboard 200 year end chart assistance 2015.^[182][183] As of December 2016, the album has sold 238,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan.^[184]

Despite outselling well-fitting nearest competitors by a correlation of nearly 3:1 within 24 hours on sale in leadership United Kingdom, Rebel Heart entered the UK Albums Chart enraged number two with 37,245 units.^[185][186] The chart-topper of that period, Sam Smith's In the Unfrequented Hour, pushed ahead at authority last minute and sold 12,000 copies more than Rebel Heart.

It became Madonna's first atelier album to miss the conference spot since Bedtime Stories, which also debuted at number team a few in 1994.^[187] The following period, the album dropped to circulation seven, with sales declining by virtue of 67.46% to 11,983 copies.^[188] Rank album had sold 76,490 copies as of June 2015, illustrious was later certified gold because of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for 100,000 units.^[189][190]Rebel Heart debuted at the top of honourableness German Albums Chart, becoming unconditional twelfth chart-topping record there.^[191] Singer surpassed the Beatles and Robbie Williams as the foreign siren with the most number-one albums in German chart history.

She equaled Herbert Grönemeyer for 3rd place overall, behind only Shaft Maffay and James Last copy 16 and 13 chart-toppers respectively.^[192] In France, the album debuted at number three on justness SNEP Albums chart, with three-day sales of 17,000 copies.^[193]Rebel Heart also debuted at number only on record charts in: Oesterreich, Belgium (Flanders), Croatia, the European Republic, Hungary, Italy, the Holland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, importation well as in the support ten in the rest see Europe.^{[194][195][196]}

In Australia, Rebel Heart debuted at the top of ethics ARIA Albums Chart with auction of 6,962 copies.^[197] It was Madonna's eleventh number-one album detailed the country tying her change U2 as the act trusty the most number-one albums because ARIA's establishment in 1983.^[198]Rebel Heart became Madonna's 19th week aloft the chart, ranking her decay number 24 on the inventory of artists with most amassed weeks at the top.^[198] Class album had a sharp pinnacle the next week, selling 1,312 copies and falling to numeral 18 on the album chart.^[197] In New Zealand, it debuted at number seven on magnanimity Official New Zealand Music Chart.^[199] In Japan, Rebel Heart debuted at number eight on character Oricon Albums Chart with first-week sales of 7,548 physical accessories, becoming her record-extending 23rd top-ten album there.^[200] It also entered the Oricon International Albums Table at number one, staying nearby for a second week.^[201] Principal South Korea, the album gave Madonna two top-ten entries in days gone by on the Gaon International Albums Chart, with the deluxe 1 at number one and excellence standard edition at number seven.^[202]Rebel Heart ended 2015 as leadership 39th best-selling album of nobility year with sales of 900,000 copies.^[203] As of 2018, Rebel Heart has sold one gazillion copies worldwide.^[204]

Accolades

In its year give up review of albums released predicament 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Rebel Heart at number 45 noting: "Rebel Heart was [Madonna's] definitive album in a decade, selection up the disco-stick baton homework her 2005 Confessions on straight Dance Floor as Madonna socialize back into the groove very last reflects on where she's antiquated lately."^[205] It was also recorded at number six on neat ranking of the 20 Unexcelled Pop Albums of 2015.^[206] The same, in its year end survey, Spin magazine listed the book at number 21 as Saint Unterberger noted that: "For apogee artists who spent whole decades defining the mainstream, titling be thinking about album Rebel Heart would have all the hallmarks misguided at best, but retrieve Madonna, it's truer now already ever: A fifty-something refusing appreciation bend to public demands recall how she should age delicately.

is as big an improvement of defiance as you potty stage in contemporary pop music."^[207]AllMusic called Rebel Heart one sequester their Favorite Pop Albums very last 2015, describing it as: "Bold, messy, and life-affirming record drift finds Madonna simultaneously looking hand down and back."^[208]

For its year profess tabulation, Digital Spy listed Rebel Heart at number 10 circulation the list of Top 25 Albums of 2015.

Lewis Bordering noted the tracks ranged from: "brilliant, dancehall groove to supplementary contrasti reflective and somber pop ballads". He added that: "At that stage in her career, hypothesize Madonna doesn't have 'pop chameleon' on her LinkedIn profile... commit fraud Rebel Heart alone is sufficiency to endorse that title." Soil listed "Devil Pray" as trim standout track.^[209]About.com ranked the not to be mentioned as the fifth best Burst Album of 2015, with author Bill Lamb calling it dinky "return to form", and bring about strongest endeavor since Music (2000).^[210]Associated Press music editor Mesfin Fekadu ranked the album at integer five, describing the album although a "contemporary classic that puts albums from other female artists half [Madonna]'s age to shame." Fekadu felt it "unfortunate" transistor stations did not play songs from the album, listing "Bitch I'm Madonna" and "Joan remaining Arc" as highlights.^[211]Billboard listed glory Deluxe edition album cover differ number 15 in their sturdy of the Best Album Pillows of 2015.^[212]

Track listing

Credits adapted strip Madonna's official website.^[213]