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Genre: Latin Pop
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 19-DEC-2006
CD Reviews
Release in English a little rough
Luke Koong | The Rio Grande Valley in Texas | 02/03/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Rebels by R.B.D. was originally released Dec. 19, 2006 but it has taken me a month and a half to translate the whole album and write a review on it.
Okay, I jest. This album is in English (except for the last song) and has touches of Spanish intertwined for spice. A good deal of the songs are translated adaptations from their earlier albums, so fans of the group will notice some similar sounds. The lyrics on the other hand... I have not heard any of their other songs before, but I can tell you whoever translated those songs did their job. Unfortunately, they did it literally.
One that really bugs me is in My Philosophy. "Always lookin' for a minimal sign." How about "the smallest sign?" Same number of syllables and it sounds much better. Or what about "I can't stand sometimes the morning light" from Save Me. These small flaws make me wonder how English lyrics sound when translated into other languages.
For fans of nasal music artists, "Connected" features the singing of Dulce Maria. I hope it's just singing in English that makes her sound so bad. I have to rate the song at least one star less because of that. She also leads off in This Is Love, but thankfully gets pulled after the first stanza. I think the only saving grace for her is her decent looks. But again, I haven't heard her sing in Spanish so I won't write her off completely.
Two inclusions on Rebels make me question whether I received full value for the $9.99 I spent on the album. This album was released before Christmas, but remixing and slightly rewording Tu Amor, which is one of the good songs on the album, was a lazy thing to do. Don't get me wrong - it doesn't sound bad. The move brings back memories of Billy Mack in Love Actually though. The only way he made his song No. 1 was singing naked, a sight we don't want to see from R.B.D., unless it's only the female band members.
Celestial is just a sampler from their Spanish album of the same name. Two minutes of wasted disc space. You do get to hear 30 seconds of My Philosophy in Spanish though, and it seems better than the English version.
Rebels does have several redeeming qualities. The afore mentioned Tu Amor and I Wanna Be the Rain are two beautifully composed ballads that caught my attention on my initial listen through. Additionally, two reggaeton-ish songs, Wanna Play and Cariño Mio, made me want to bring the dancer out of me. Salsa-sounding Era la Música did the same, but I didn't think it wise to dance while driving. Oddly enough, I liked Money Money, sung entirely in Spanish, a lot too. I still don't know what they're saying in the song though.
If you don't mind Spanish accents and a new taste to your music collection, try Rebels out. Just make sure you don't pay more than $10."
Bi-lingual pop
Rosalyn B. Riley | Pennsauken, NJ United States | 03/17/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I liked the all-Spanish version better. This is still bouncy and fun, but I miss the heart of the original."
It's good but better in spanish
Anonymous | Miami, FL USA | 02/21/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"RBD really tried their best to do a good CD in English and they somewhat succeeded. I like listening to the CD and I eventually didn't notice their bad accents. If you are English speaking- you won't understand why RBD is so popular by listening to this CD. My adivice is to buy the spanish one. Even if you don't know Spanish, you'll love it. Then when you get to liking it you might want to buy the English one just to hear more from them. I remember when that song Drangostea Din Tei came out in Romanian, I don't know Romanian and I loved it. I know that if they sang in English I wouldn't enjoy it as much so just buy the Spanish CD and you'll eventually understand it. You can get their lyrics and put it through a translator website and you can somewhat get the meaning. They all sing MUCH better in spanish and their spanish songs are more "them" so you should definitely not judge them solely on this CD. Get the Spanish ones, the first or third and you will definitely love them. OO and i wanted to clear up why they're called Rebels. In the novela which they were in they were in they did not conform to all the rules and rose up against them to help other and for justice. So they literally are "Rebels" to the meaness and injustice of the world. They also were like typical teenagers and broke the rules they thought made no sense- all in goodness and innocence."
DON'T BUY THIS CD IF YOU LOVE RBD....
Meghan K. Saunders | Maryland, USA | 02/18/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"...Because after hearing these songs you will start to hate them! The lyrics don't sound right at all! They couldn't have found somebody whose first language was English to translate for them? And Dulce's voice, which was only moderately annoying in Spanish, is grating in English. Especially with her heavy accent!As a matter of fact, everyone has an annoying accent (duh, 'cause their first language is Spanish). I can hardly understand what they're trying to say so I look up the lyrics and it's just a bunch of gobbledegook. The only reason why I'm giving them two stars is for trying. They tried, but they failed. I really do love RBD, I just love them in Spanish."
For True RBD Fans
Cornflake Girl | El Dorado Hills, CA USA | 01/10/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD, viewed independently, is rather a poor representation of RBD's talent, but for the true fan, it is enjoyable. I love the group's Spanish music, so it was a treat to hear so many of their old songs translated to English, even if the translations were somewhat literal and awkward at times. None of the songs are too musically complex or ground-breaking, but it is a fun CD to listen to and I really like it. I would recommend it to someone but only as a gateway to their Spanish-language music.
Song by Song:
1. Tu Amor - this song is reminiscent of the Backstreet Boys. it is equally addictive and enjoyable. i like the combination of English and Spanish. it gives the song great flavor.
2. Wanna Play - this song makes me want to DANCE!!! it has a great reggaeton-style backbeat and fun, sexy lyrics.
3. My Philosophy - the first English cross-over of one of their Spanish songs, this is a translation of "Dame" from Celestial. the lyrics are a little corny at times, but what good pop song isn't? it has a fun pop beat in the background and i just love listening to it.
4. Connected - this might be my least favorite song on the disc, but it's not that bad. it is an English version of "Tenerte y Quererte" from Rebelde. it has that typical RBD sound to the chorus, but Dulce's voice gets a little whiney at times.
5. I Wanna Be the Rain - i particularly love this song. it is a "slow jam" with, again, corny lyrics, but i have fallen in love with it. the chorus is beautiful, and i love the way their voices sound together.
6. Cariño Mio - this is another song that makes me wanna dance!! it has that reggaeton beat to it and it is very catchy. i love that they infuse their new songs with Spanish so that the English-speaking audience will get a taste of what their Spanish music sounds like
7. Era La Música - another dance song, this one with more of a salsa beat. very pretty and fun. anahí's voice really shines.
8. Keep It Down Low - i was OVERJOYED when i heard this song come up, because it is the English version of "Sólo Quédate En Silencio," a song i LOVE!! the translation is quite literal, and i feel like it doesn't quite work, but it is interesting to hear what they have done with it.
9. Happy Worst Day - surprisingly, this song is one of my favorites on the disc. it is the English version of "Feliz Cumpleaños" from Nuestro Amor, and unlike most of the songs, it is a song about lovers being sick of each other instead of a love song, and it's got some sass. i love the dueling chorus: the girls: "i don't wanna be your bleeding juliet" the guys: "i don't have to be your romeo"
10. This Is Love - the English version of "Nuestro Amor." some might consider it repetitive, but it mirrors the Spanish version, and i like that. ("es así, así es" and "is it love? it is love")
11. Save Me - an English version of "Sálvame" from Rebelde, this is a beautiful song in any language. i think this one actually translates really well.
12. Money Money - by FAR the best song on the CD. no surprise, since it is the only Spanish song on the disc. it is loaded with fun and reggaeton and the chicas in fine form! it makes me wanna dance, the chorus gets stuck in my head, and i just wanna listen to it again and again.
13. Tu Amor (Navidad Mix) - basically the same as the other version, only there are some christmas references in this one.
14. Celestial sampler - shows some of what to expect on Celestial, which should entice those that buy this CD to explore the Spanish-speaking realm of RBD (as they should)
all in all, i liked it, but i was already a fan. it might be hard to like if you are new to RBD."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1