Video hit Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana - Smooth (feat. Rob Thomas)

Smooth is a collaboration between Latin rock band Santana and Rob Thomas of the rock group Matchbox Twenty.

The song was written by Thomas and Itaal Shur, sung by Thomas, produced by Matt Serletic and won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

"Smooth" was originally conceived by Shur as a song called "Room 17". The lyrics were stripped off and the track was given to Thomas, who re-wrote the lyrics and melody and re-titled it "Smooth", then recorded the song as a demo to play for Santana. This song was originally written to describe an acquaintance of Thomas', John Bizanes, who is... very 'smooth'. However, over time credit for this inspiration has been given to Thomas' wife, Marisol Maldonado. After hearing the song, Santana decided to have Thomas record the final version. Matt Serletic (who produced Matchbox Twenty's debut album Yourself or Someone Like You) produced the song and it was released from Santana's album Supernatural.

Thomas wrote "Smooth" for his wife, Marisol Maldonado. He stated in interviews that the lyric "My 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".

"Smooth" became a massive hit in 1999, spending 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 beginning with the October 23, 1999 issue. It was the first chart-topping song in Carlos Santana's long-running career (his previous biggest hit being "Black Magic Woman", which peaked at number four in 1971). The song was the last number one hit of the 1990s and the final number one hit of the 20th century.

In the United Kingdom, "Smooth" initially underperformed in the UK Singles Chart, charting at number 75 in October 1999. After extra airplay and publicity it was re-issued in March 2000 and this time peaked at number 3, spending eight weeks in the top 40.

"Smooth" also 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.

In popular culture

Prior to starts at Citi Field, Johan Santana uses "Smooth" as his introductory song.

On the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars, Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo danced a Cha-Cha-Cha to this song.

Was featured in the British Rom Com Love Actually

Bill Richardson used "Smooth" as his introductory music at campaign events for his 2008 presidential campaign

This was featured on popular sitcom Friends season 10 special "The One With All the Other Ones" and featured on the soundtrack album "Friends: The Ultimate Soundtrack".

It made an appearance in the movie Keeping the Faith

The song was made available to download on March 20, 2012 for play in Rock Band 3 Basic and PRO mode utilizing real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards plus vocals.

The song was made available to play in Rocksmith on January 8, 2013.

The lyrics:

Man it's a hot one

Like seven inches from the midday sun

I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone

But you stay so cool

My munequita, my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa

Your my reason for reason

The step in my groove

And if you say 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

Cause you're so smooth

And just like the ocean under the moon

Well that's the same emotion that I get from you

You got the kind of lovin that can be so smooth

Gimme your heart, make it real

Or else forget about it

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 from your radio

You feel the turning of the world so soft and slow

Turning you round and round

And if you say 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

Cause you're so smooth

And just like the ocean under the moon

Well that's the same emotion that I get from you

You got the kind of lovin that can be so smooth

Gimme your heart, make it real

Or else forget about it

And just like the ocean under the moon

Well that's the same emotion that I get from you

You got the kind of lovin that can be so smooth

Gimme your heart, make it real

Or else forget about it

Or else forget about it

Or else forget about it

Or else forget about it

give me your hard, make it real

hooo Or else forget about it hee

Or else forget about it nah nah

hooo Or else forget about it nah nah nah

hooo Or else forget about it hoo hoo

hooo Or else forget about it he he he