Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita,” one of her most atmospheric and alluring music videos, has officially made history on YouTube. Released in 1987 as a single from the True Blue album, the video has surpassed 1 billion views—marking the first time one of her visuals has reached such a milestone.
Directed by Mary Lambert—celebrated for her collaborations with icons like Janet Jackson, Sting, and Eurythmics, as well as her signature work on Madonna's “Material Girl” and “Like a Virgin”—the video is a vibrant fusion of Latin influences. Flamenco guitars and maracas set the mood as two contrasting sides of the same woman come to life: one, a reserved Catholic peering at her lover from behind a window; the other, a fiery dancer giving herself over to the rhythm and passion.
The song itself—co-written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard, and Bruce Gaitsch—evokes longing for an exotic, romantic escape, captured in lines like: “Last night I dreamt of San Pedro / Just like I’d never gone, I knew the song.” True to Madonna’s enduring themes, the video explores the interplay between devotion and desire, the sacred and the sensual.
Though Madonna has long been hailed as the ultimate visionary of music video art in the ‘80s and ‘90s—thanks to cultural milestones like “Vogue,” “Like a Prayer,” and “Express Yourself”—it is “La Isla Bonita” that has now reached this remarkable digital benchmark. A timeless reminder that when atmosphere and storytelling are authentic, they transcend generations.
