Rock Pop
When guitar legend Carlos Santana teamed with Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas in 1999, the result was “Smooth” — a sultry, Latin-rock-meets-pop jam that became a cultural phenomenon. Driven by Santana’s fiery guitar licks and Thomas’s soulful vocals about making everything “smooth” in the hot summer, the song’s groove was irresistible. It ruled the charts for 12 weeks, essentially becoming the soundtrack of the summer of ’99. “Smooth” swept the Grammys (including Record of the Year) and relaunched Santana’s career for a new generation. Even today, that opening line (“Man, it’s a hot one”) and the sizzling guitar hook instantly bring back the steamy, feel-good vibe of late ’90s pop.