La Isla Bonita
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| “La Isla Bonita” | |||||
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| Single by Madonna from the album True Blue |
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| Released | February 25, 1987 (U.S.) March 31, 1987 (U.K.) |
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| Format | 7" single, CD video, 12" single, 5" CD single | ||||
| Recorded | 1985 | ||||
| Genre | Pop/Latin pop | ||||
| Length | 4:03 | ||||
| Label | Sire, Warner Bros. | ||||
| Writer(s) | Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Bruce Gaitsch | ||||
| Producer | Madonna, Patrick Leonard | ||||
| Madonna singles chronology | |||||
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| True Blue track listing | |||||
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| The Immaculate Collection track listing | |||||
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"La Isla Bonita" (English: "The Pretty Island") is the fifth and final single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 3rd studio album True Blue and was released on February 25, 1987 by Sire Records. It later appeared remixed on the 1990 compilation album The Immaculate Collection and on the Japanese version of the 1995 ballads compilation Something to Remember as a bonus track.
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[edit] Song information
It was written by Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch, and originally intended for Michael Jackson for his Bad album, who, according to Gaitsch, turned it down. Working with Leonard on the True Blue album, Madonna accepted it in Jackson's place, and wrote the song's lyrics, earning herself a co-writing credit. It was the fifth US top-five hit from the album (it reached number four in March, 1987), and a bonafide worldwide hit which reached number-one in the UK, France and Germany. The song was the first Madonna song to employ Spanish motifs, going so far as to include Spanish lyrics, an uncommon thing at the time. The Spanish theme would come to recur throughout her career, manifesting itself in lyrics for "Who's That Girl", "Pray for Spanish Eyes", "You'll See" with the version in Spanish: "Verás"; "Don't Cry for Me Argentina", "Be Careful (Cuidado con Mi Corazon)" a duet with Ricky Martin, "Sorry" and "Lo Que Siente La Mujer", which is the version in Spanish for her song "What It Feels Like for a Girl"; the video for "Take a Bow", and "Spanish Lesson" on the Hard Candy album, and concerts on the Drowned World Tour.
Lyrically, the song speaks of the simplicity and authenticity of boy-meets-girl love: yet another theme which has occasionally recurred in her lyrics as in "Impressive Instant", "Forbidden Love". Much has been made of the song's reference to 'San Pedro' and the island to which the song title refers. Some believe the island is Ambergris Caye in the nation of Belize, as the song may also mention the principal village, San Pedro Town. However, Gaitsch has mentioned that at the time, Madonna was spending time in a US town of the same name, and both Madonna and then husband Sean Penn were good friends with San Pedro, California poet and novelist Charles Bukowski.[1] Puerto Rico is thought to be "La Isla Bonita" due to the reference of salsa being danced in the streets by the island natives. Madonna herself hasn't helped speculation, referring to the song as being only a tribute to Latin America and its people, to an island and to herself.
Madonna and the song appeared in Japanese TV commercials for the "Mitsubishi F-23 Hi-Fi Video" VCR, as part of her ongoing commercial commitment to Mitsubishi in Japan at the time.
[edit] Trivia
In 2001, an extended version of "La Isla Bonita" was included on the remastered re-release of True Blue
"La Isla Bonita" was Madonna's first #1 in France where the song spent three weeks at the top spot in July 1987. It was also one of the biggest hits of the 80's in the Republic of South Africa, where it spent 8 weeks at #1 in 1987.
In 1999, female singer Deetah used elements of the song in her single "El Paraíso Rico". Also, in 2004, rapper Mase sampled and interpolated it for his song "My Harlem Lullaby". The song was sampled by rapper Black Rob, too in his 2000 song "Spanish Fly" (included in his "Life Story" album.), which features Jennifer Lopez. In the chorus of the song, Lopez sings the part which samples "La Isla Bonita".
The French singer Alizée has sung "La Isla Bonita" on stage at least once, and in May 2008 released a newer recording on the Internet. Finnish metal band Twilight Guardians has also recorded a heavy rock version of the song. The song was also covered on Dream, the debut album of TrueBliss, a New Zealand reality television pop band formed in April 1999. A dance remix was also in the compilation Absolutely Mad by Mad'House. American heavy metal band System of a Down played part of this song in their live shows very often.
Madonna has performed "La Isla Bonita" during many of her concert tours, most spectacularly during The Who's That Girl Tour, The Girlie Show, the Drowned World Tour, and the Confessions Tour. To many of her fans, "La Isla Bonita" is seen as an enduring and beautiful product of this fascination with Hispanic culture, whilst to others, "La Isla Bonita" was seen as a blue print for later female stars who would inevitably include the occasional Spanish styled songs on their albums (Tina Arena, Geri Halliwell, Kylie Minogue). The Mexican Latin Pop singer Byanka (Mexican Pop singer) has sung by the 1987 Spanish song of the same title. Madonna performed "La Isla Bonita" during her Confessions Tour in a dance/tribal remix. She also has given the song a remix with Eugene Hutz and Sergey Ryabtsev from the gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello. Hutz and Ryabtsev performed the song with Madonna onstage at the London Live Earth concert on July 7th, 2007.
[edit] Music video
The music video was set in Los Angeles and was directed by Mary Lambert, who directed a string of her acclaimed 1980's videos including those for "Borderline" and "Like a Prayer". The video, rich in Spanish tones wearing a traditional flamenco dress, sees Madonna playing dual roles, alter egos as such, representing piety and passion. The struggle between the two forms the backdrop of the video, which juts back and forth between blue and red backdrops and scenes. A young Benicio del Toro appears in the video as a background character. The video world premiered on MTV on March 6, 1987.
- Director: Mary Lambert
- Producers: David Naylor, Sharon Oreck
- Director of Photography: Bryan Loftus
- Editor: Glenn Morgan
- Production Company: O Pictures
[edit] Official mixes
- Album Version (4:03)
- Extended Remix (5:24)
- Remix Edit (3:58)
- Instrumental (5:24)
- 7" Instrumental (4:21)
- Video Version/Fade (3:53)
- Remastered Edited Version from The Immaculate Collection (3:48)
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1987) | Peak Position |
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| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| Australia | 6 |
| Austria | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 1 |
| France | 1 |
| Germany | 1 |
| Ireland | 2 |
| Italy | 1 |
| Japan | 5 |
| Mexico | 1 |
| Netherlands | 2 |
| Norway | 5 |
| South Africa, Republic of | 1 |
| Spain | 8 |
| Sweden | 3 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 1 |
| United World Chart | 1 |
[edit] References
- ^ Ciotti, Paul. (March 22, 1987) Los Angeles Times Bukowski: He's written more than 40 books, and in Europe he's treated like a rock star. He has dined with Norman Mailer and goes to the race track with Sean Penn. Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway are starring in a movie based on his life. At 66, poet Charles Bukowski is suddenly in vogue. Section: Los Angeles Times Magazine; Page 12.
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| Preceded by "Let It Be" by Ferry Aid |
UK number one single April 25, 1987 |
Succeeded by "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship |
| Preceded by "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" by Aretha Franklin and George Michael |
United World Chart number one single April 25, 1987 – May 23, 1987 |
Succeeded by "With or Without You" by U2 |
