Peak
4
Weeks
17
Score
2,866
Chart Year
1987
Scores & Rankings
Chart Performance
Peak Position4
Peak DateMay 2, 1987
Weeks at Peak3
Weeks Charted17
Weeks in Top 4012
Weeks in Top 105
Weeks at #20
Weeks at #10
Scoring
Summary Calc1,267
Weekly Calc1,599
Total Score2,866
Rankings
Year Ranking#73
Decade Ranking#697
Billboard Year#72
Top 5000#4,275
Details
- Album
- True Blue
- Label
- Sire Records
- Genre
- Latin pop
- Media Type
- 45s
- Duration
- 4:03
- Composer(s)
- Madonna;Patrick;Leonard;Bruce Gaitsch
- Entered Chart
- Mar 21, 1987
- Peak Date
- May 2, 1987
- Released
- February 25, 1987
- Recorded
- Unknown
- Catalog #
- Sire 7-28425
- B-Side
- La Isla Bonita (Instrumental Remix)
Music Video
The music video for "La Isla Bonita" was directed by Mary Lambert, who had previously collaborated with Madonna on the clips for "Borderline" and "Like a Virgin" (both 1984), as well as "Material Girl" (1985). Filmed in Los Angeles over three days, the shoot was described as "simple" by producer Sharon Oreck in her book Video Slut (2010).More than 500 extras of Hispanic descent were featured, including a then-unknown Benicio del Toro, who played a teenager sitting on a car hood and was paid $150 for his appearance.Percussionist Paulinho da Costa appears in the opening sequence playing bongos. Set in a barrio, the narrative features Madonna in dual roles: a pious Catholic woman, and a vibrant flamenco dancer. The Catholic character is shown lighting candles in a sparsely furnished apartment —its cold-toned walls adorned with black-and-white photographs of Hispanic individuals and religious figures. She wears a plain white petticoat and quietly watches a street musician from her window. In contrast, the flamenco dancer performs expressively in a candlelit room adorned with a large image of the Sacred Heart. She wears a red polka-dot dress with a décolletage neckline and a skirt parted down the middle. Her hair is done in a Spanish-style netted bun, accented with a red carnation flower. As the video progresses, a street celebration begins, with Hispanic families and couples dancing to live music. The dancer eventually joins the festivities. Premiering on MTV on March 6, 1987, the video became the most requested on the network for 20 consecutive weeks —a record at the time. In Europe, it was among the year's most heavily rotated music videos. "La Isla Bonita" was later included in Madonna's video compilations The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration: The Video Collection (2009)
Notes
"La Isla Bonita" ([la ˈis.la boˈni.t̪a], lit. 'The Beautiful Island') is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album, True Blue (1986). Initially composed as an instrumental demo by Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch for Michael Jackson, it was presented to him but ultimately rejected. The track was later developed by Madonna, who added lyrics and co-produced it with Leonard. Marking her first foray into Latin pop, the song features flamenco guitar, Latin percussion, maracas, and several lines sung in Spanish. The lyrics reference an island called San Pedro, whose location remains ambiguous; Madonna described the song as a tribute to Latin Americans. Released on February 25, 1987, as the fifth and final single from True Blue, "La Isla Bonita" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its melody, production, and romantic tone. It became a commercial success, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. Internationally, it reached number one in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, West Germany, and Austria. The track has since appeared on several Madonna compilations, including The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration (2009), and has been cited as an influence on the work of later artists. The accompanying music video, directed by Mary Lambert, features Madonna in dual roles: a reserved Catholic woman and a flamboyant flamenco dancer. Its portrayal of Hispanic themes drew both praise and criticism, with some accusing the singer of cultural appropriation. "La Isla Bonita" has been performed on eight of Madonna's concert tours, the last being the Celebration Tour (2023–2024). It has been covered, sampled, or referenced by various artists, including Laura Pausini, Alizée, Ricky Martin, and the Black Eyed Peas.
¿Cómo puede ser verdad? Last night I dreamt of San Pedro Just like I'd never gone, I knew the song A young girl with eyes like the desert It all seems like yesterday, not far away Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free This is where I long to be La isla bonita And when the samba played The sun would set so high Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby I fell in love with San Pedro Warm wind carried on the sea, he called to me Te dijo te amo I prayed that the days would last They went so fast Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free This is where I long to be La isla bonita And when the samba played The sun would set so high Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby I want to be where the sun warms the sky When it's time for siesta you can watch them go by Beautiful faces, no cares in this world Where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a girl Last night I dreamt of San Pedro It all seems like yesterday, not far away Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free This is where I long to be La isla bonita And when the samba played The sun would set so high Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free This is where I long to be La isla bonita And when the samba played The sun would set so high Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby La, la, la, la, la, la, la Te dijo te amo La, la, la, la, la, la, la Él dijo que te ama La isla bonita
Chart History (17 weeks)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 21, 1987 | 49 | 77 |
| 2 | Mar 28, 1987 | 39 | 87 |
| 3 | Apr 4, 1987 | 25 | 101 |
| 4 | Apr 11, 1987 | 18 | 108 |
| 5 | Apr 18, 1987 | 12 | 114 |
| 6 | Apr 25, 1987 | 7 | 119 |
| 7 | May 2, 1987 | 4 | 122 |
| 8 | May 9, 1987 | 4 | 122 |
| 9 | May 16, 1987 | 4 | 122 |
| 10 | May 23, 1987 | 9 | 117 |
| 11 | May 30, 1987 | 19 | 107 |
| 12 | Jun 6, 1987 | 25 | 101 |
| 13 | Jun 13, 1987 | 38 | 88 |
| 14 | Jun 20, 1987 | 56 | 70 |
| 15 | Jun 27, 1987 | 58 | 68 |
| 16 | Jul 4, 1987 | 77 | 49 |
| 17 | Jul 11, 1987 | 99 | 27 |