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 Feat. Rob Thomas 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, Mona Lisa
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 opening line of Santana feat. Rob Thomas's "Smooth" situates the listener in an environment with blazing heat, invoking the image of the sun looming overhead. The line also functions as a metaphor, conveying the searing passion between two lovers who are in close proximity. The song's lyrics are about a man's infatuation with a woman, whom he calls his "muñequita" and compares to various artistic masterpieces such as the Spanish Harlem and the Mona Lisa. This woman is the inspiration behind his every move and the one thing that makes his life worth living. Eventually, the singer proclaims that he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her with him, as she is the only one that can make him feel so smooth.
The song contains various romantic lines throughout, highlighting the strong emotions the singer has for this woman. The chorus, which repeats twice, emphasizes the smoothness that the woman possesses and how it makes the singer feel. This song's composition uses a combination of Latin-infused guitar and percussion mixed with a pop-rock sound. The song's lyrics and music work together to create a fusion that works hand in hand to convey the message of love and desire between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, it's a hot one
It's really hot outside today.
Like seven inches from the midday sun
The heat is so intense that it feels like the sun is only seven inches away from us.
Well, I hear you whispering in the words, to melt everyone
You have a way with words that can captivate and charm anyone.
But you stay so cool
Despite being so hot, you maintain a cool and collected demeanor.
My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem, Mona Lisa
You are my little doll, my Spanish Harlem, and my Mona Lisa - the epitome of beauty and grace.
You're my reason for reason
You are the reason that I have a reason to live and to be my best self.
The step in my groove
You are the missing piece that completes my rhythm and makes everything feel right.
And if you said this life ain't good enough
If you ever felt like life wasn't good enough for you,
I would give my world to lift you up
I would do anything to make you happy and fulfilled.
I could change my life to better suit your mood
I am willing to make any changes necessary to cater to your needs.
Because you're so smooth
You are so effortlessly cool and confident.
And it's just like the ocean under the moon
Being with you feels like being under the calming, serene presence of the ocean under the moonlight.
Oh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from you
The feeling I get from being with you is the same as the peaceful emotion the ocean evokes.
You got the kind of lovin' that can be so smooth, yeah
Your love is gentle, easy, and cool - it doesn't cause any turbulence or drama.
Give me your heart, make it real or else forget about it
I want you to give me your true, authentic love or else I don't want it at all.
But I'll tell you one thing
There's one thing I need to say.
If you would leave it would be a crying shame
If you ever left me, it would be an absolute tragedy.
In every breath and every word
In everything I do and say.
I hear your name calling me out
I can feel your love and presence even when you're not around.
Out from the barrio
From the streets and the alleys of the neighborhood.
You hear my rhythm on your radio
You can feel my music and my soul pouring out of the radio waves.
You feel the turning of the world, so soft and slow
Together, we feel the gentle, gradual turning of the world and all its wonders.
It's turning you round and round
It's making you feel alive and full of wonder.
Or else forget about it
Otherwise, it's not worth it.
Let's not forget about it
Let's not lose sight of what really matters - our love and connection.
Give me your heart, make it real
Let's be open and honest with each other about our deepest feelings and desires.
Let's not forget about it
Let's not let the distractions of life get in the way of our love.
Let's not forget about it
Let's never forget how much we mean to each other.
Let's not forget about it
Let's hold onto our love and never let it go.
Let's not forget about it
Let's always remember how much we love each other.
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