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 Carlos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like seven inches from the midday sun
Well, I hear you whispering in the words, to melt everyone
But you stay so cool
My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem, Monalisa
You're my reason for reason
The step in my groove
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 would 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
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
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
Let's not forget about it
Give me your heart, make it real
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about it
The lyrics to Santana Carlos's song Smooth depicts a man who is completely enamored by his lover. He describes the intense heat between them, comparing it to being only inches away from the scorching midday sun. The woman he loves is incredibly alluring, whispering words that make everyone melt, but she remains cool and collected. The man refers to her using several terms of endearment such as "my muñequita," "my Spanish Harlem," and "Monalisa." She is the reason for the man's existence, the step in his groove.
The lyrics describe the deep connection between the couple. The man would do anything to make his lover happy, even if it means changing his entire life. He feels like the love they share is as vast and dynamic as the ocean under the moon. The emotions he feels when he's with her are intense and undeniable. The kind of love they share is smooth and beautiful, and he wants nothing more than for her to give him her heart.
Overall, the song is about the passion and intensity of true love. The couple described in the lyrics is entirely devoted to each other, and their connection is unbreakable. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a man deeply in love with his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, it's a hot one
It's extremely hot outside.
Like seven inches from the midday sun
The sun is so intense that it feels only seven inches away from the earth.
Well, I hear you whispering in the words, to melt everyone
Your words are so sweet and smooth that they have the power to charm everyone.
But you stay so cool
Despite the heat, you remain composed and calm.
My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem, Monalisa
You are the most beautiful woman, my darling.
You're my reason for reason
You give me a purpose in life, something to strive towards.
The step in my groove
You complete me and bring rhythm to my life.
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
If you ever felt unhappy with our life together, I would do anything to make it better because you make everything feel so easy and effortless.
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
Your love for me is as serene and unrelenting as the ocean, and it feels so good. Please be sincere with me and give me your heart, or we should just forget about it.
But I'll tell you one thing
If you would leave it would be a crying shame
In every breath and every word
I hear your name calling me out
If you ever left me, it would be a tragedy because you are so important to me. I constantly hear your voice calling out to me.
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
Even from afar, you can feel the rhythm of my love on the radio. You feel connected to me and the world around you because of it.
Let's not forget about it
Let's not forget about the passion and love we share for each other.
Give me your heart, make it real
Let's be truthful and genuine with each other in our love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Downtown Music 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