Rebel Heart (Madonna song)

The song was included on the set list of the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016), where Madonna performed it in front of a backdrop displaying fan art.

[11][12] According to Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune, "Rebel Heart" hearkens back to the folk-rock music Madonna had done in the past, but differs due to the usage of finger claps and some "brisk strings".

"[13] Calling it the album's "most successful pop moment", Evan Sawdey from PopMatters observed that Madonna made numerous references to her past with the lyrics.

[11] Bradley Stern, an editor and publisher for MuuMuse, also praised the song's autobiographical lyrics; "The message is sincere, vulnerable and undoubtedly true to Madonna's story, the music is strong and that chorus is utterly anthemic.

So it's fitting that she wraps up the deluxe edition with the title track [...] Deep down, she does have a rebel heart — and you can't fault her for reminding us that pop music is all the better for it".

[18] In 2018, Billboard picked it as the singer's 72nd greatest song, calling it "a sentimental sing-along that looks back on her bumpy road to stardom, adding some shrugged-off self-awareness ("I spent some time as a narcissist...trying to be so provocative/ I said, 'Oh yeah, that was me'") to keep things from getting too schmaltzy".

[21][22][23] Madonna had previously launched an online contest calling her fans to submit their art for a digital gallery; those chosen winners would have their work displayed as backdrops during the tour.

[24] Jordan Zivitz from the Montreal Gazette, wrote that "In the concert's second category, none stood out more than Rebel Heart's uplifting title track, presented as a statement of identity and gratitude".

[25] Conversely, Joshua Ostroff from The Huffington Post found that only few people could sing-along to the track on the tour, thereby proving that the new songs from the album had not connected with the audience.

[26] The performance of the song at the March 19–20, 2016 shows in Sydney's Allphones Arena was recorded and released in Madonna's fifth live album, Rebel Heart Tour (2017).

[27] On November 7, 2016, Madonna performed "Rebel Heart" as part of an impromptu acoustic concert at Washington Square Park in support of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.