Bakotopia

All > Rants & Raves > Music Reviews
CD Review: RBD "Rebels"
Topics: RBD, Rebels, Rebeldes, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, music, Bakotunes, entertainment, Mas Magazine
Posted by lpena Thu Jan 4, 2007 09:35:31 PST
Viewed 404 times
0 responses 3 comments Mexican pop group RBD is doing what Mexican pop groups Timbiriche and Magneto couldn’t accomplish in the 80’s — achieve mainstream popularity.

Magneto tried with their disjointed, syntho-pop hit, “Vuela, Vuela (Fly Away, Fly Away)” and Timbiriche with “Quinceañera,” the theme song to the Mexican soap opera of the same name and the ever-so-naughty “Amame Hasta Con Los Dientes (Love Me Even with Your Teeth).”

Then RBD came along with the whirlwind of girls donning black stiletto boots, micro mini skirts and white starched blouses, trying to emulate their idols from the popular Mexican soap opera, “Rebelde (Rebel).” Take that, Mexican teen musical soap operas “Alcanzar Una Estrella (To Reach a Star)” and “Alcanzar Una Estrella II (To Reach a Star II).”

RBD’s first burst on to the scene in 2004 with the Mexican soap opera, “Rebelde (Rebel)” produced by Pedro Damián about a group of students at a private school, who form a band called “RBD.”

The soap opera dealt with issues like sexuality, divorces, social classes and suicide. Since the actors — Anahí Puente, Dulce María Espinoza, Alfonso Herrera, Christopher Uckermann, Maite Perroni and Christián Chávez — all could actually sing, the group released  RBD’s first album, “Rebelde (Rebel).”

RBD released others music releases like “Nuestro Amor (Our Love),” “Live from Hollywood” and “Celestial.” Last year, RBD did a two-leg tour in the U.S., including a popular performance at Rabobank in Bakersfield.

With their recent studio effort,  “Rebels,” — their sixth album, but the first in English — the six-member group takes another stride into the American music market.
“Rebels” includes 11 rock-laced pop songs and three bonus tracks — “Money Money,” “Tu Amor (Your Love)- Navidad Mix,” and “Celestial,” a four-song sampler of their recent Spanish-language album by the same name. In “Rebels” RBD uses heavy-weight song writers like Diane Warren on the songs “Tu Amor” and “I Wanna Be the Rain” and Andrea Martin, who’s known in the urban music scene, on the reggaetón-twinged songs, “Wanna Play” and “Cariño Mio.”

Five of the 11 songs are loose translations of their five Spanish hits. Songs like “Dame (Give Me),” “Sólo Quedate en Silencio (Only Stay Here in Silence),” “Feliz Cumpleaños (Happy Birthday),” “Nuestro Amor (Our Love),” and “Salvame (Save Me)” become “My Philosophy,” “Keep It Down Low,” “Happy Worst Day,” “This Is Love” and “Save Me.”

The translations are weak, confusing and don’t flow well like the original Spanish versions. Although English is a second language for many members of RBD, they need to work on their diction and pronunciation. Singers like Shakira, Paulina Rubio and Thalía have accomplished this without sacrificing their rich accents.

Like most of their previous albums, RBD’s content is mostly cheesy, puppy love ballads or energetic, rock-infused dance songs. This album will help the group gain a few more new fans, but still please their faithful fan base.

With this album, RBD hopes to break away from their soap opera persona and mature into their own musical identity. “Rebels” is a worthy effort to help accomplish this.

In all, “Rebels” is enjoyable ear-candy for teens and those young at heart.

Infobox:
“Rebels” by RBD
EMI Televisa Music/Virgin
11 tracks excluding bonuses
Price: $9.72 to $13.99
Available at: Wal-Mart, Ritmo Latino, Target, Circuit City, Best Buy among others

**Story originally printed in Mas Magazine Volume 2, Issue 17, 1-5-07

Send to a Friend

Report a Violation

Comment From: twinkie

haha. I remember Timbiriche! My niece loves Rebelde! Comment From: matt

Dulce Maria es muy bella..ayayayayyyyy!! Comment From: twinkie

Es muy fresa. haha