Writing and Inspiration
"La Isla Bonita" was written by Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch. The song was previously written as a lament for the mythical Spanish island called San Pedro and was offered to Michael Jackson for his Bad album, who, according to Gaitsch, turned it down. While working with Leonard on the True Blue album, Madonna accepted it in Jackson's place and wrote the song's lyrics and melody, thus earning herself a co-writing credit. The song was the first Madonna song to employ Spanish motifs, going so far as to include Spanish lyrics. The Spanish theme would reoccur throughout her career, manifesting itself in lyrics for "Who's That Girl", "Spanish Eyes", "I'm Going Bananas", the Spanish version of "You'll See" called "Verás", "Be Careful" which was a duet with Ricky Martin, "Sorry", "Lo Que Siente La Mujer" – the version in Spanish for her song "What It Feels Like for a Girl", and "Spanish Lesson" on the Hard Candy album. Madonna described the song as her tribute to the "beauty and mystery of Latin American people". According to her "Latin rhythms often dominate our uptempo compositions. It's like we're possessed. We both think that we were Latin in another life."
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