Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan… Read Full Bio ↴Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is considered one of the most influential figures in popular culture and has often been referred to as the "Queen of Pop". Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation. She is also known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music, while maintaining control over every aspect of her career. Her works, which incorporate social, political, sexual and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim.

Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, Madonna (1983). She followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986) as well as Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Madonna has amassed many number-one singles throughout her career, including "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".

Madonna's popularity was enhanced by roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996). While Evita won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films received poor reviews. As a businesswoman, Madonna founded the company Maverick in 1992; it included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history. Her other ventures include fashion brands, children's books, health clubs, and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006.

With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is certified as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and holds the record for the most number-one singles by a female artist in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With a revenue of U.S. $1.5 billion from her concert tickets, she remains the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time. Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility. She was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1 in 2012, and as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 and Billboard in 2020. Rolling Stone also listed Madonna among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

Studio albums
Madonna (1983)
Like a Virgin (1984)
True Blue (1986)
Like a Prayer (1989)
Erotica (1992)
Bedtime Stories (1994)
Ray of Light (1998)
Music (2000)
American Life (2003)
Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Hard Candy (2008)
MDNA (2012)
Rebel Heart (2015)
Madame X (2019)

Rebel Heart
Madonna Lyrics

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I've lived my life like a masochist
Hearing my father say,
'Told you so, told you so!
Why can't you be like the other girls?'
I said, 'Oh no, that's not me
And I don't think that it'll ever be'

Thought I belong to a different tribe

Walking alone, never satisfied, satisfied
Trying to fit in but it wasn't me
I said, 'Oh no, I want more
That's not what I'm looking for'

So I took the road less traveled by
And I barely made it out alive
Through the darkness somehow I survived
Tough love, I knew it from the start
Deep down in the depth
Of my rebel heart

I've spent some time as a narcissist
Hearing the others say,
'Look at you, look at you!
Trying to be so provocative'
I said, 'Oh yeah, that was me'
All the things I did just to be seen

Outgrown my past and I've shed my skin
Letting it go and I'll start again, start again
Never look back, it's a waste of time
I said, 'Oh yeah, this is me
And I'm right here where I wanna be'
I said, 'Hell yeah, this is me
Right where I'm supposed to be'

So I took the road less traveled by
And I barely made it out alive
Through the darkness somehow I survived
Tough love, I knew it from the start
Deep down in my rebel heart

So I took the road less traveled by
And I barely made it out alive
Through the darkness somehow I survived
Tough love, I knew it from the start
Deep down in the depth

Of my rebel heart

Of my rebel heart
In my rebel heart

Overall Meaning

The song Rebel Heart by Madonna is a reflection of the pop star's life as a rebel who never conformed to societal norms. The lyrics of the song reveal Madonna's experiences of being told what to do and who to be by people in her life, especially her father who tried to discourage her from pursuing music. In the first verse, Madonna reflects on her childhood where she was told to be like other girls by her father, but she refused to fit in and always aspired to be more. The chorus of the song highlights Madonna's courage to take the road less traveled, to break from the norm, and live life on her terms, with her rebel heart that never gave up.

In the second verse, Madonna speaks about the judgments of society on her provocation and narcissism, and how she has outgrown that. The bridge of the song is an affirmation of Madonna's beliefs and self-love. She is proud of the journey she has taken, and the person she has become. The last chorus of the song reiterates her rebel heart and how that has helped her survive.

Overall, the song Rebel Heart is a declaration of Madonna's identity as a brave, independent, and rebellious woman who has lived life on her terms. It is an empowering and inspiring song for those who are trying to find their identity and who refuse to give up their dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

I've lived my life like a masochist
I have always subjected myself to painful experiences

Hearing my father say, 'Told you so, told you so!
My father always told me I would fail and was not like other girls

Why can't you be like the other girls?'
He always wanted me to conform like other girls

I said, 'Oh no, that's not me
I knew that I was not meant to be like everyone else, and I refused to conform

'And I don't think that it'll ever be'
I knew that I was different and accepted that I would always be that way

Thought I belong to a different tribe
I always felt like I belonged to a different group from everyone else

Walking alone, never satisfied, satisfied
Despite this feeling of belonging to a different tribe, I was never fully satisfied

Trying to fit in but it wasn't me
I attempted to fit in with others, but it never felt right

I said, 'Oh no, I want more
I knew that there was more to life than simple conformity

That's not what I'm looking for'
I refused to settle for mediocrity and always strive for more

So I took the road less traveled by
I chose a path that was unconventional and not frequently taken

And I barely made it out alive
Despite the challenges faced, I managed to succeed and survive

Through the darkness somehow I survived
Despite enduring difficult times, I was able to keep going and survive

Tough love, I knew it from the start
I understood that my journey would be difficult from the very beginning

Deep down in the depth of my rebel heart
I knew that my desire to rebel against the norm was rooted deep within me

I've spent some time as a narcissist
At times, I have been self-absorbed and focused on myself

Hearing the others say, 'Look at you, look at you!
Others noticed my self-absorption and called me out on it

Trying to be so provocative'
I was attempting to gain attention and provoke a reaction from others

I said, 'Oh yeah, that was me'
I owned up to my past self-absorption and desire for attention

All the things I did just to be seen
I did things in the past for the sole purpose of gaining attention from others

Outgrown my past and I've shed my skin
I have moved on from my past self-absorption and channeled my rebellious nature in a more productive way

Letting it go and I'll start again, start again
I have let go of my past and am starting anew

Never look back, it's a waste of time
I do not dwell on the past because it is not productive

I said, 'Oh yeah, this is me
I have embraced who I am and will not apologize for it

And I'm right here where I wanna be'
I am content with where I am in life and have no regrets

I said, 'Hell yeah, this is me
I am proud of my rebellious nature and will not apologize for it

Right where I'm supposed to be'
I know that I am exactly where I am meant to be in life

Of my rebel heart
All of these experiences are a part of who I am and have contributed to my rebellious nature

So I took the road less traveled by
I chose to follow my own path, rather than conform to societal norms

And I barely made it out alive
My journey was not easy, and at times felt like it might be too much to bear

Through the darkness somehow I survived
Despite difficulties, I was able to keep going and persevere

Deep down in the depth
My rebellious nature is rooted deep within me

Of my rebel heart
These experiences and my rebellious nature are at the core of who I am

In my rebel heart
All of these experiences have contributed to and are a part of my rebellious spirit

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ASH POURNOURI, TIM BERGLING, MADONNA CICCONE, VINCENT PONTARE, MAGNUS LIDEHALL, SALEM A. FAKIR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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