Shakira

"Islands" (The XX cover)

BY Josiah HughesPublished Oct 12, 2010

The XX's self-titled debut record landed them an unprecedented amount of global success, from winning fans worldwide to taking home the prestigious Mercury Prize. The real test of songwriting, however, is when your work is covered by another. Enter bleating, goat-voiced international pop star Shakira.

The track was covered for Shakira's upcoming album, Sale El Sol, and while her voice is just as grating as you might expect, the song retains some of its shimmering appeal despite a doubled drum beat and big budget production.

Stream Shakira's cover of "Islands" here at Idolator.

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