Ahhhh, 2006. What-a-year! Back when Taylor Swift was still a country crooner, well on her way to blowing UP the billboard charts with her genre-crossing hits, when Kanye West was known more for Late Registration instead of “#Kimye”, every kid knew Disney’s High School Musical by heart (and don’t lie, you probably did too), Paris Hilton made news for her music instead of… other things, and if you don’t remember the American Idol-induced “Sanjaya Fever”, you probably lived in a hole in your backyard (seriously, Sanjaya was EVERYWHERE! #cryingforsanjaya)
Now that we are well into 2016, let’s take a look back and celebrate 2006 with the top hottest songs turning 10 this year!
Aaaaand try not to feel too old when you listen to them, which will be undoubtedly HARD.
“Crazy” – Gnarls Barkley
Who could forget the Ceelo Green fronted Gnarls Barkley? With their inkblot inspired music video and that infectious opening beat, we were ALL “crazy” for this song when it came out.
“Sexy Back” – Justin Timberlake
Long before JT was slaying it on SNL and in movies, he was bringing “Sexy Back” by breaking his former boy band mold and emerging as a mature and sexy solo artist, which he still rocks to this very day.
“Breaking Free” – Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens
In 2006, High School Musical was. every. WHERE. If a tiny human wasn’t singing all the songs from the movie at full volume (and most likely off-key) in your household, you truly didn’t live in 2006. It was no wonder “Breaking Free” topped the charts featuring the cuties with chemistry, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.
“What Hurts the Most” – Rascal Flatts
The 2006 song about the “bae who didn’t stay”, this country ballad had even the most calloused person feeling ALL of the feels. Still holding up to this day, enjoy it again without shedding too many tears (but if you do, no judgement here).
“Ice Box” – Omarion
Another ballad about heartbreak from the R&B genre, here we have a very mature and very hurt Omarion getting raw with us. Take a listen and work your feelings out over *that* person who put an ice box where your heart used to be. #socold #whywerewesosadin2006
“Bad Day” – Daniel Powter
The official national anthem for craptastic days, “Bad Day” is exactly the song we needed when we were having a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day.
“Teardrops on my Guitar” – Taylor Swift
“T-Swift the Country Singer” seems like a lifetime ago, especially since she’s now a pop culture icon. Before TayTay was filling out her “Blank Space” and shaking off the haterade drinkers, she was getting real about heartbreak with “Teardrops on my Guitar”. Give the song a listen again, it’s definitely never going out of style.
“Hips Don’t Lie” – Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean
SHAKIRA! SHAKIRA! This song had everyone trying to wobble their hips, but only Shakira’s don’t lie. This party jam was at every house party, school dance, etc. You couldn’t turn a corner without hearing it and we were totally ok with that.
“You’re Beautiful” – James Blunt
The song that made tons of relationships “offical” throughout 2006 and beyond. Also, if your teenage boyfriend didn’t have this on a mixtape (or burned CD) for you in 2006, that relationship was obviously a waste of time.
“Buttons” The Pussycat Dolls ft. Snoop Dogg
Before Fifth Harmony, the closest 2006 had to a sexy girl group post-Spice Girls were The Pussycat Dolls. “Buttons” was a slow jam that everyone sang when they were #feelingmyself. Featuring Snoop Dogg, and LOADS of innuendo, this song steamed up the airwaves when it was released as a single.
“Back to Black” – Amy Winehouse
2006 got a breath of fresh air when the tatted-up and retro-clad Amy Winehouse broke out on the scene with “Back to Black”, an ode heartbreak that taps into to the deepest part of despair. Although Amy Winehouse sadly passed in 2011, her goose-bump inducing voice and her unique style will always be remembered.
“Irreplaceable” – Beyonce
The Beyhive was just starting to buzz with excitement when “Irreplaceable” hit our ears in ‘06. Beyonce was always a force to be reckoned with and this single proved that if you puffed up, you’ll find your stuff in a box to the left. #slayqueenslay
“Stars Are Blind” – Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton was our Kim K in ‘06, which is kind of weird knowing this, and she was always in the news in some form or fashion (whether it was for her reality show or getting into trouble with the law). This all changed when she took a shot at a music career and Paris Fever was extended when “Stars Are Blind” debuted topped the charts.
“SOS” – Rihanna
Back before Ms. Good Girl Gone Bad earned her namesake, Rihanna took the world by storm with her Caribbean charm with her debut single “SOS”. A cheeky and catchy song about needing savin’ (but not really) from a love making you feel some type of way, this single ultimately paved the way for her very successful career.
“Welcome to the Black Parade” – My Chemical Romance
When it came to teenage angst expression in 2006 (as someone who was there and experienced it myself, trust me), My Chemical Romance answered that beck and call with “Welcome to the Black Parade”. With their high-energy rock and punk influenced sound paired with the gothic aesthetics of their music videos, “Welcome to the Black Parade” struck a chord millions of listeners.
“Like a Boy” – Ciara
CIARA IN THA HOOOOUSE! <333 First and foremost, Ciara will forever be bae. When no one wanted to call out the sexist double standards in pop music, Ciara didn’t just raise her hand, she slammed her fist on the desk. Ciara called out this ‘ish with “Like a Boy” and we will forever love her for it.
“Promiscuous” – Nelly feat. Timbaland
Nelly Furtado shook off her more simpler “Like a Bird” days in favor of getting sexy and catty with “Promiscuous”. In this fun tune featuring famous baritone Timbaland, the two entered a girls vs. boys lyrical battle and we loved hearing it play out.
“So Sick” – Ne-Yo
2006 Ne-yo was sick of all those love songs and being lovelorn and wanted the world to know. We heard him out, even though WE didn’t get sick of Ne-Yo’s “So Sick”. Hmmm, the irony!
“Stupid Girls” – P!nk
Gotta love my girl P!nk. P!ink in 2006 didn’t give a bump in the road about what anyone thinks the same as P!nk still doesn’t a decade later. Although, she did give a hoot about all the “stupid girls” stinking up the place. In this highly satirical tune of girls being too extra, P!nk poked some serious holes in society and wasn’t afraid to call them out. “Stupid Girl” was catchy, it was funny and it was totally P!nk.
“Hustlin” – Rick Ross
Rick Ross’s kickback to the art of “hustlin” had us all respecting his and our own hustlin’, collectively. This was our answer to getting thangs done and giving mad respect for it. Thanks, Mr. Ross. You truly understood that the struggle was too real.
“Smile” – Lily Allen
Lily Allen is a personal favorite of mine. She brings a fun, clever, charismatic charm to her music and that was especially true in her anti-breakup song “Smile”. This smooth jam ballad gives a shout out to the power of squads, understanding that life goes on and just laughing at the madness of it all (or in this case, smiling.)
“Smack That” – Akon feat. Eminem
Two of the biggest acts at the time, Akon and Eminem made us all happy by releasing a single together and we can’t thank them enough. This party jam had everyone feeling a little bit fiendish when it came on and you couldn’t help but sing along. Thank you, Akon and Eminem. Now kindly do another public service and please release another song? (hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask!)
“Face Down” – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Don’t let this high-energy pop rock tune fool you, it was packing some serious emotions (especially with its lyrical content). This song did the unthinkable at the time and highlighted the harms of physical abuse. Although catchy, it made us all do a double-take when we heard it a second time.
“The Sweet Escape” – Gwen Stefani ft. Akon
Embarking on a solo career after departing from No Doubt, Gwen Stefani made a splash with her pop hit “The Sweet Escape”. Featuring the famous “whoo-hoo’s” from Akon and Gwen’s doe-eyed playfulness, this was a hit right out of the gate. Also, Gwen, quick question: when are you going to feature the Harajuku Girls again?! Get your people to get in touch with my people. I have some ideas.
“Temperature” – Sean Paul
Sean Paul was heating things up back in ‘06 with “Temperature”. With his amazingly awesome Jamaican accent and hard-hitting beats, he had the temperature rising anytime this song was playing.
“I Write Sins, Not Tragedies” – Panic! at the Disco
In 2006, Panic! at the Disco wasn’t the band we deserved but the band that we needed. In this ode about a bae gone astray, Panic! at the Disco had some fun looking at and mocking social norms with their carnival-esque music video. It’s definitely worth listening to again (and again, and again..). Just remember to close the gosh darn door on your way out.
“Lips of An Angel” – Hinder
Hinder understood the lingering effect of a relationship that was never really over. In this ballad about “the one who got away..” Hinder struggles with the past and present by raising questions whether the love lost in question should remain that way. We understood what they were getting at and it helped us realize we weren’t alone. Also, if you have lips of an angel, you should probably stay away from Hinder. It’s hard for them to be faithful, ya know?
“Unwritten” Natasha Bedingfield
Wrapping up our #throwbacktunes of 2006 is Natasha Bedingfield with his optimistic tune about truly vibing with the possibilities that lay before you. Bedingfield gave us the nod to live outside of the box and to write our own stories. It was awe-inspiring and totally everyone’s go-to jam for a pick-me-up. Also, the chorus that joins her at the end of the video gives me life.
