Rob Thomas was pushing for a legendary pop star to sing his iconic 1999 collaboration with Carlos Santana rather than belting it out himself.
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The 54-year-old singer made the revelation during a recent appearance on the Zach Sang Show. When Sang asked Thomas if his solo career was by design and about the origins of his collab with Santana for "Smooth," the singer insisted he only intended to "write on it."
"I wasn't going to sing it," the Matchbox Twenty frontman revealed. "I was actually in the office with Clive Davis, going through ideas of who could sing it."
Thomas then shared the surprising pop superstar he hoped might sing the track.
"I was trying to help push George Michael for a while," the "Unwell" singer said. "The actual intention was I wanted to write a song that went to someone else that I didn't sing on. I wanted to be a writer, and I thought this was a good way to start that part."
Thomas told Sang that he wanted to continue performing with his band but quietly write songs for other artists as well. However, the hit 1999 track derailed those plans.
"Even Carlos, like, he didn't know me," Thomas continued. "He just listened to the demo. He's like, 'Well, I like this guy. Does he sing?' And they were like, 'Oh, yeah. He's just had some success with this band.' And he's like, 'Well, let's just use him. I believe him.'"
Why "Smooth" Is a "Blessing and a Curse" for Rob Thomas
Thomas also admitted he may have tinkered with the lyrics of "Smooth" a bit more had he known he'd end up being so closely identified with it.
"It's a blessing and a curse...it just sounds so funny," the singer admitted. "Like when you talk about singing at you, like every time I hear it, it's always this, like, 'Man, it's a hot one...' That's what I hear every time I hear that song."
Of course, a bit of embarrassment aside, the collab went on to be a major hit. The track, which appeared on Santana's 1999 album, Supernatural, went on to pick up three Grammys, including Song of the Year.
