The song won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. It spent a record-breaking ten consecutive weeks at the top of the VSpot Top 20 Countdown, a record that held up until the Dixie Chicks broke it in 2006. According to Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits by Fred Bronson, this is the number-one song of The Nineties (2003). A cover version of the song is included in the Wii version of Samba de Amigo. Escape the Fate also recorded a cover version of the song for the compilation album Punk Goes Pop 2, released on March 10, 2009.
The song features a Latin-influenced feel, inspired by the classic Santana song, "Guajira".
Rob Thomas wrote this song for his wife, Marisol Thomas. The pair married in 1999, after meeting backstage in 1998. Of Spanish origin, she was the inspiration behind lines such as, "My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa". Thomas stated in interviews that the phrase "Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa" was inspired by the 1972 Elton John song Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, which includes references to the 1961 Ben E. King song Spanish Harlem.
On Billboard magazine's rankings of the top songs of the first fifty years of the Hot 100 singles chart, "Smooth" was ranked as the number-two song overall (behind only "The Twist) and the number-one rock song in the history of the chart.
Smooth
Santana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like seven inches from the midday sun
Well, I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone
But you stay so cool
My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa
You're my reason for reason
The step in my groove
And if you said this life ain't good enough
I would give my world to lift you up
I could change my life to better suit your mood
Because you're so smooth
And it's just like the ocean under the moon
Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it
But I'll tell you one thing
If you would leave it'd be a crying shame
In every breath and every word
I hear your name calling me out
Out from the barrio
You hear my rhythm on your radio
You feel the turning of the world, so soft and slow
It's turning you round and round
And if you said this life ain't good enough
I would give my world to lift you up
I could change my life to better suit your mood
Because you're so smooth
Well, and it's just like the ocean under the moon
Well, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it
Well, and it's just like the ocean under the moon
Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it
Or else forget about it
Or else forget about it
Oh, let's don't forget about it
Give me your heart, make it real
Let's don't forget about it (hey)
Let's don't forget about it (now, oh, now, oh)
Let's don't forget about it (now, now, now, oh)
Let's don't forget about it (hey, now, now, oh)
Let's don't forget about it (hey, hey, hey)
The lyrics to Santana's song Smooth are a tribute to a woman, who is compared to the hot sun and the smooth ocean. The song is about the intense feelings the singer has for this woman, who is referred to by several endearing terms such as "my muñequita" and "my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa." Despite the whispered words of the woman that melt everyone around her, she manages to stay cool. The singer believes that the woman is the reason for reason in his life and the step in his groove.
The singer's devotion to the woman in the song is emphasized by his willingness to change his life to better suit her mood. He also declares that he would give his world to lift her up if she ever said that life isn't good enough. The song's chorus describes the woman's love as smooth, like the ocean under the moon, and evokes an emotion in the singer that makes him feel like the world turns soft and slow. The repetition of the line "give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it" at the end of the chorus emphasizes the singer's plea for the woman to reciprocate his feelings.
Overall, the lyrics to Santana's song Smooth paint a vivid picture of intense love and devotion. The comparison of the woman to the sun and the ocean highlights her power and beauty, while the singer's willingness to change his life for her emphasizes his devotion. The chorus describing the woman's love as "smooth" creates a sense of calm and serenity that contrasts with the intensity of the singer's love.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, it's a hot one
Today is very hot
Like seven inches from the midday sun
It feels like it's only a few inches away from being as hot as the sun in the middle of the day.
Well, I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone
When you whisper, your words are so powerful, they can affect everyone around you.
But you stay so cool
Despite the effect you have on others, you remain calm and collected.
My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa
You are my precious little doll, my masterpiece.
You're my reason for reason
You are the reason I am able to think logically and logically.
The step in my groove
You make me feel good, inspiring my rhythm and groove.
And if you said this life ain't good enough
If you don't think life is good enough,
I would give my world to lift you up
I would do anything to make you happy.
I could change my life to better suit your mood
I am willing to make changes in my life to match your mood and desires.
Because you're so smooth
You are so effortlessly cool.
And it's just like the ocean under the moon
The way I feel when I'm with you is like the ocean under the moon--powerful and unchanging.
Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
The emotion I feel when I'm around you is just as intense as the ocean under the moon.
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Your love is easy and effortless.
Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it
Give me your love honestly or don't give it to me at all.
But I'll tell you one thing
I have to say one thing, though,
If you would leave it'd be a crying shame
It would be devastating if you were to leave me.
In every breath and every word
I think of you in every breath I take and in everything I say.
I hear your name calling me out
I hear your name in my mind, and it feels like you're calling out to me.
Out from the barrio
You come from the neighborhood, and you're proud of it.
You hear my rhythm on your radio
You listen to my music and recognize my distinctive rhythm.
You feel the turning of the world, so soft and slow
You feel the world turning gently and slowly around us, and it's a beautiful thing.
It's turning you round and round
You are being swept up in the beauty of the world and the rhythm of the music.
Or else forget about it
If we can't be honest and sincere, it's not worth it.
Oh, let's don't forget about it
Let's not forget to be honest with each other.
Give me your heart, make it real
I want your love to be genuine and honest.
Let's don't forget about it (hey)
Let's not forget to be honest with each other.
Let's don't forget about it (now, oh, now, oh)
Let's not forget to be honest with each other.
Let's don't forget about it (now, now, now, oh)
Let's not forget to be honest with each other.
Let's don't forget about it (hey, now, now, oh)
Let's not forget to be honest with each other.
Let's don't forget about it (hey, hey, hey)
Let's not forget to be honest with each other.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Robert Thomas, Itaal Shur
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unknownawakening6507
Whoever’s idea it was to put rob thomas with santana was genius
@Isseki_Nicho
Was just thinking the same and here I find a comment with like minds
@ahmadveykie4516
Rob Thomas wrote this song for santana
@stevensheets3612
Santana was planning a comeback of sorts at the time and had an album nearly complete, but he / his production team felt it was lacking a true lead single, so his producer (I think) reached out to the label Rob was under with MB20 and asked if Rob could write / co-write for them (MB20 was still on top of the world from their debut album, and they knew Rob wrote that entire album himself basically). So Rob and one of Santana's songwriters ended up writing the track together. Santana hadn't even really known who Rob was until they met in studio to play back what Rob had come up with. A few articles about the song's origin have come out in the past few years, it's really interesting! :)
@danielhaire6677
When I originally heard that was happening when this first came out, I thought they were crazy. But as it turned out it was the absolutely brilliant form of crazy that sees a possibility where others don't.
@TheNamesDitto
Factual
@hectorcarrillo6655
I remember the summer when this song came out, and it was playing EVERYWHERE. On MTV, the radio, the record store, the grocery store, every department store, just everywhere. It was incredible. Good times.
@Ken-fh4jc
This is one I would secretly listen to when my friends weren’t around.
@WeAreNotAmused
Oh yeah this was super fire. The time following it's release. Was. Meteoric the way it caught on such devotion and passion for the. love for the power of synergy that music like this can only be described as both divine and. Seeringly Spicy hot for to dance with your paramour. And friends back in the 90's I went touring through Alabama and Mississippi. And quite a few points in between the different venues we played covers mostly
This song easily surpassed. Free bird and all other long standing. Runner up songs for most. Requested
Quite frankly it got requested twice at every gig night. at least twice on not most. But over half of em but was never. Complained about playing it too much always warmly received and it shall probably never be forgotten about. By myself. Much Love to cousin Carlos and the fellas
There is absolutely no question Santana has shaped my. Love for music all the way. Such. Kick in the explosive fast breaks and. Bridges stringing multiple songs together so to not allow the energy to. Dwindle it is maximum. Latino. Locomotive power. Rejoice u will not be disappointed with a live set I saw them close out the last night of the three day midtown Atlanta music festival in 97' and hands down the finest. Iive performance I have seen by any band
We now have legions of amazing talented musicians. But nobody could ever be so. Supercharged
A live performer to eclipse the way Santana. Jams every inch of stage time packed to the gills and overflowing. Quality quality. Output of energy. U should know. Barring a. Full on cataclysmic. Event u will get your money's worth of entertainment and then some
@briancannon3987
I remember life before social media. Ppl are too judgemental and petrified these days to let their hair down. I'm done. Let's take our world back