Santana hit #1 with "Smooth" for first of 12 weeks

Smooth Santana with Rob Thomas

Writer(s): Itaal Shur, Rob Thomas (see lyrics here) First Charted: June 26, 1999 Peak: 112 US, 17 RR, 11 AC, 125 A40, 113 AA, 10 AR, 24 MR, 3 UK, 11 CN, 4 AU, 5 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.7 US, 0.4 UK, 2.24 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 355.13 video, 281.24 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: When Santana hit #1 on the pop charts with “Smooth” it marked the 30th anniversary of his chart debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and the longest span in chart history between an artist’s chart debut and first trip to #1. SF In October 1969, “Jingo” became Carlos’ first hit, albeit it a minor one with a peak at #56. Over the next few years, he had notable hits with “Evil Ways” (#9), “Black Magic Woman” (#4), and Oye Como Va” (#13). He regularly landed top 40 hits during the 1970s, but by the 1980s, his success with singles had dwindled. He landed only five songs on the Hot 100 during the entire decade, although “Winning” and “Hold On” were top 20 hits. Arista Records’ chief Clive Davis, who had worked with Santana at Columbia Records, signed him to record an album with an all-star guest roster. Santana had been fronted by many lead singers over the years, but this was a new approach. Among those lending their aid to Santana’s comeback were Eric Clapton, Cee-Lo Green, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Dave Matthews, and Rob Thomas. Thomas was one of the hottest names around as the front man of pop-rock group Matchbox 20. His co-writing and singing on “Smooth” launched one of the most impressive career resurgences in chart history. Itaal Shur, a songwriter and producer who had worked with Jewel and Maxwell, brought a song called “Room One Seven” to Arista. They liked the instrumental, but thought his lyrics were too sexual and tapped Thomas for a rewrite. SF Inspired by his wife’s Puerto Rican descent, Thomas crafted the new song with the Spanish-flavored lyrics. WK Thomas envisioned George Michael singing the song, but recorded a demo to play for Santana. WK With “Smooth”, Santana didn’t just land the biggest hit of his career, but the biggest pop single of 1999. WHC In its 2008 run-down of the biggest hits in the fifty-year history of the Hot 100, Billboard magazine named it the #2 all-time song on that chart. BB “Smooth” spent a dozen weeks at the chart pinnacle and a grand total of 30 weeks in the top 10. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Rob Thomas BB Billboard (9/08). “All-Time Hot 100” SF Songfacts WHC Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 10/23/2011; last updatd 10/22/2022.