Rebelde (song)

"Rebelde"
Single by RBD
from the album Rebelde
LanguageSpanish
English title"Rebel"
Released
  • 30 September 2004 (Mexico)
  • 11 January 2005 (worldwide)
  • 1 November 2005 (Portuguese version)
Recorded2004
Genre
Length3:34
LabelEMI
Songwriters
  • Carlos Lara[a]
  • Max di Carlo
Producers
  • Lara
  • di Carlo
RBD singles chronology
"Rebelde"
(2004)		 "Sólo Quédate En Silencio"
(2004)
Music video
"Rebelde" on YouTube

"Rebelde" is the debut single by Mexican pop group RBD. It was released on 30 September 2004 by EMI as the lead single from the group's debut album of the same name (2004). It was written and produced by Carlos Lara and Max di Carlo. The song contains a mix of Latin pop and pop rock in its instrumentation and lyrically sees the group describing what makes them rebellious.

The single was used as the first theme song for the telenovela Rebelde (2004–06), which helped it enter several charts around the world, topping the Mexican charts. It received positive reviews from critics and is widely considered to be the RBD's signature song. Its music video was directed by the show's executive producer Pedro Damián and features the cast partying at a mansion, and the group singing on an empty stage. A Portuguese version with the same name was released as the first single of the album's Brazilian reissue on 1 November 2005. The song appears on all of the band's live CDs and DVDs recorded during their tours, and was performed extensively by the group during 2004 and 2005. It was named by Billboard as the second best telenovela theme song of all time in 2025.[1]

Background and release

In June 2004, production on the teen-oriented telenovela Rebelde began, with Pedro Damián serving as executive producer. Its six young lead actors, Anahí, Alfonso Herrera, Dulce María, Christopher von Uckermann, Maite Perroni, and Christian Chávez, formed RBD as part of the contract with the company Televisa to promote the show. They recorded their first album in two days, and "Rebelde" was released as the lead single on 30 September 2004.[2] The telenovela premiered on Televisa in Mexico on 4 October, and went on to achieve high ratings in the country. Their debut album Rebelde was released on 30 November, to commercial success.[3] After achieving significant success in Brazil, the group recorded a Portuguese-language version of the album, adapted solely by Cláudio Rabello, with "Rebelde - Versão Português" accompanying it as the lead single.[4][5] A cumbia version and a rock version were performed as the final number during the first and second legs of the band's first concert series, Tour Generación RBD, respectively.[6]

Composition and lyrics

The song, written by and produced Carlos Lara and Max di Carlo, is a combination of Latin pop, pop rock,[7] and teen pop that lasts for three minutes and 34 seconds. It uses the typical verse-pre-chorus-chorus-post-chorus structure, with an instrumental bridge featuring an electric guitar solo. The song is set in the key of G major with 95 beats per minute.[8]

The first verse is sung by Anahí and Alfonso, saying that they think about each other while their fathers scold them for how they act: "...Mi padre grita otra vez / Que me malgasto mi futuro y su paz / Con mi manera de ser". The second verse is performed by Christian and Dulce María, where Christian promises to run away one day "...para jugarme todo por un sueño". Meanwhile, Dulce tells the listener that they have to bet on everything despite the two outcomes: "Todo en la vida es a perder o ganar/Hay que apostar, hay que apostar sin miedo". The pre-choruses are sung by both duos, with a difference in the first lines; Anahí and Alfonso sing, "Aunque lo escucho ya estoy lejos de aquí", contrary to Dulce and Christian's, "No importa mucho lo que digan de mí". Both end with "Cierro los ojos y ya estoy pensando en ti".[9] In the chorus the band chant: "Y soy rebelde", every two lines, and making statements in-between, such as: "Cuando te quiero hasta rabiar", and "Cuando me juego hasta la piel". The post-choruses are sung by Chrisitan and Anahí. One notable aspect of the song is that Maite and Christopher do not sing, despite the latter having a more prominent role in the telenovela than Christian. However, in the music video and during shows, the second post-chorus is sung by Maite, even when the band was required to use playback in some televised performances.

Music video

The music video was released alongside the song. It was directed by Damián and featured several cast members from the show. The band and actors from the telenovela arrive at a house for an exclusive party. Throughout the video, the teens and young adults party throughout the house. The group, dressed in black clothes with fake tattoos, is also seen singing on a stage while performing some choreographed dance moves. They keep rebelling throughout the video even though their parents are around. At the end of the clip, they are led into the woods by a man to cleanse them of their sins.

With the re-release of the group's music in 2020, the song's music video has garnered over 14 million views on YouTube as of September 2023.

Live performances

RBD performed the song on television and radio stations to promote the telenovela Rebelde during 2004. It was also included on all of their concert series, starting with the Tour Generación RBD where the song was the opening and closing number, with a Cumbia version performed during 2005 and a rock version during 2006 and 2007. The live albums Tour Generación RBD En Vivo and its DVD, and Live in Hollywood with its video counterpart, were recorded and released during the first two years. The latter featured the song on the "Medley Rebelde", performed alongside "Sólo Quédate En Silencio" and "Sálvame". During the concerts in Brazil, RBD performed a Portuguese rock version of the song to close the shows. The DVD Live in Rio, filmed in 2006 and released in 2007, contains a performance of this version.[10][11]

"Rebelde" was performed by the group during the Tour Celestial, Empezar Desde Cero World Tour, and Tour del Adiós; three concerts from these tours spawned the 2007 CD and DVD Hecho en España, and the DVDs Live in Brasília and Tournée do Adeus, both recorded in 2008 and released in 2009. The performance in Live in Brasília is a mix of both versions. Anahí has the public sing her solo while Alfonso sings his part and the pre-chorus in Portuguese. Christian sings his post-chorus in both languages before he and Dulce perform the second verse in Portuguese; Dulce continues the pre-chorus in the same language while Christian switches to Spanish. Maite sings her post-chorus in Spanish, and the choruses features the members each singing in one of the languages.

RBD sang the song at the end of their Ser O Parecer: The Global Virtual Union live show in December 2020. Dulce María and Alfonso Herrera both missed the concert due to personal reasons, and Christopher and Maite sang their solos. With Dulce's return, the band performed the song as the closing number on their 2023 Soy Rebelde Tour, where the intro featured the members, dressed in newly made uniforms from the telenovela, taking the red blazers from their mannequins and putting them on before starting the song. Alfonso's absence caused Christopher to once again perform his lines during the tour.[12]

Other versions

In October 2021, the main cast of the Mexican 2022 Netflix series Rebelde released a cover version of the song, included on the album Rebelde la Serie (Official Soundtrack).[13]

Mexican rock music group Moderatto released a version of "Rebelde" on 18 August 202,2 in collaboration with Brazilian singer Paula Fernandes. The song was released as the seventh single from the album Rockea Bien Duro (2022), recorded in homage to RBD.[14]

Commercial performance

The song gave the band recognition in Mexico, the United States, Spain, and the rest of Latin America.

In the group's home country, the song peaked at number 1 on the charts, and became the nation's biggest hit in 2005. In the U.S., it peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and at number 21 in its Latin Pop Airplay chart. "Rebelde" reached number 1 on the charts in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Spain, while peaking at number 5 in Panama and at number 35 in Venezuela.

In 2008, "Rebelde" was certificated Gold in Brazil.

Charts

Chart performance for "Rebelde"
Chart (2004–2008) Peak
position
Brazil (Crowley)[15] 63
Chile (Lincoln Journal)[16] 1
El Salvador (Notimex)[17] 1
Guatemala (Notimex)[17] 1
Mexico (Hispanos Unidos)[18] 1
Panama (EFE)[19] 5
US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard) 21
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard) 37
Venezuela (Record Report)[20] 35

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[21] Gold 20, 000[21]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for "Rebelde"
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
2005 Premios Juventud La Más Pegajosa Nominated [22]
Premios Oye! Video del Año Nominated
Canción del Año Nominated
2006 Premios TVyNovelas Mejor Tema de Telenovela Won [23]

Track listings

Digital download / Rebelde

  1. "Rebelde" – 3:34

Digital download / Tour Generación RBD En Vivo

  1. "Rebelde - Versión Cumbia / En Directo" – 3:54

Digital download / Rebelde (Edição Brasil)

  1. "Rebelde - Versão Português" – 3:34

Digital download / Live in Hollywood[24]

  1. "Medley Rebelde" (Medley with "Sólo Quédate En Silencio" and "Sálvame")[b]

Credits and personnel

Notes

  1. 1 2 Originally credited as DJ Kafka
  2. ↑ "Sólo Quédate En Silencio" was written by Maurício Arriaga and "Sálvame" contains lyrical contributions from Pedro Damián.
  3. 1 2 Only in live performances and Portuguese version

References

  1. ↑ Cobo, Leila; Ratner-Arias, Sigal; Raygoza, Isabela; Flores, Griselda; Roiz, Jessica; Cano, Natalia; Aguilera, Tere; Guim, Franchesca; Fajardo, Ingrid; Calle, Luisa (2 December 2024). "The 100 Best Telenovela Theme Songs: Finally, We Reveal 20-1". Billboard. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Rebelde". Spotify. 1 January 2004. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Rebelde". Spotify. 1 January 2004. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Canhisares, Mariana (6 November 2023). "RBD | 10 músicas para entrar no clima da turnê". Omelete (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Rebelde - Versão Português". Spotify. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Rebelde - Versión Cumbia / En Directo". Spotify. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Villa, Lucas (15 February 2023). "The Best RBD Songs, Ranked". Uproxx. Retrieved 30 December 2025. In the pop-rock banger, RBD channel their teenage angst...
  8. ↑ "'Rebelde' by RBD – Key and BPM". SongData.io. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "RBD – "Rebelde" Lyrics - Genius". Genius. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "RBD – Rebelde (Versão Português / Live)". Apple Music. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  11. ↑ Armstrong, Sam (24 July 2023). "RBD Release 'Live In Rio' Concert Album". UDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "RBD faz primeiro show da Soy Rebelde Tour; confira as músicas apresentadas". Capricho (in Brazilian Portuguese). 28 August 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Rebelde Netflix: aqui está o primeiro clipe musical… cantando RBD!". Popline (in Brazilian Portuguese). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Rockearán bien duro en el edén con Moderatto". Tabasco Hoy (in Spanish). 21 August 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Top 100 – Semanal – Com Comparação – Internacional" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Crowley Broadcast Analysis. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Las diez canciones más populares". Lincoln Journal Star (in Spanish). 7 September 2006. p. 50. Retrieved 13 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 "Mexicanos conquistan Centroamérica" (in Spanish). El Siglo de Torreón. 21 March 2005. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "Las diez canciones más populares". Hispanos Unidos (in Spanish). 26 March 2005. p. 16. Retrieved 12 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Shakira favorita en istmo". La Nación (in Spanish). 4 July 2005. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "Top 50 – General: Cierre de Año, 2005" (PDF) (in Spanish). Record Report. 24 December 2005. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  21. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles". Australian Record Industry Association. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  22. ↑ "2nd Annual "Premios Juventud" Awards: A Night of Stars and Premier Performances". Univision. 22 September 2005. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "TvyNovelas premia a los mejores". El Siglo de Torreón. 15 May 2006. p. 3. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Medley Rebelde - Live". Spotify. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
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