Islands

Album: Sale El Sol (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written and originally recorded by British alternative rock band The xx on their Mercury-winning self-titled debut album, which came out in 2009. Released as a single it peaked at #34 on the UK chart.
  • Shakira first performed the song during her performance at the Glastonbury Festival on June 26, 2010. She then recorded a soft-rock-oriented version for her bilingual album Sale el Sol. It was the first time Shakira has ever included a cover on any album.
  • In a 2012 interview with The Fader, xx singer/guitarist Romy Madley Croft recalled her brief encounter with Shakira at the London BBC Studios prior to the Colombian pop singer recording "Islands." She said: "We were sitting on a wall outside the BBC and she came up and her bodyguards parted and it was little Shakira, and she says, 'Hi!' And I was like, 'Wow!' I found out recently that she's a big fan of The Cure and stuff."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Pete Anderson

Pete AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Pete produced Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Meat Puppets, and a very memorable track for Roy Orbison.

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.