The Ultimate List of 2006 Pop Songs
Find the perfect 2006 pop song for your next karaoke night with this ultimate list.
2006 Pop Songs
It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than a decade since 2006, but that’s exactly how long it’s been since some of the most iconic pop songs were released. From Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” to Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack,” there were a ton of great songs that came out in 2006. Here’s a list of some of the best.
“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley
“Crazy” is a song by American soul duo Gnarls Barkley, released as their debut single in 2006. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped charts in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, and other countries. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2007.
“Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae
“Put Your Records On” is a song by English singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae from her eponymous debut album (2006). Written by Rae and John Beck, it was released as the second single from the album in early 2006. The lyrics are about enjoyment of music regardless of age or background.
The song was a commercial success, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. In 2007, the song won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The accompanying music video features Rae in various settings, including an outdoor concert and dancing in a club.
“Smile” by Lily Allen
“Smile” is the debut single by British singer Lily Allen from her debut studio album Alright, Still (2006). It was written by Allen and produced by Greg Kurstin. The song was released as the lead single from the album in July 2006, and peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart in September 2006. In her native United Kingdom, “Smile” knocked Madonna’s “Hung Up” off the top spot, making it both Lily Allen’s and Greg Kurstin’s first UK number one.
In June 2009, Pitchfork Media ranked “Smile” at number 179 on their list of The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s.
“Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira
This song was Shakira’s first US #1 hit, and spent a total of 27 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is one of the most popular songs of 2006, and was ranked #4 on Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Year.
“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
“You’re Beautiful” is a song co-written by British singer James Blunt, Sacha Skarbek, and Amanda Ghost for Blunt’s debut album Back to Bedlam (2004). It was released in the United Kingdom as the second single from the album in May 2005 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Blunt’s first and only number one single in his home country.
The song was released in the United States as the third single from Back to Bedlam, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2006. Music critics have complimented its lyrics and Blunt’s vocals. In 2012, Billboard magazine ranked “You’re Beautiful” at number 22 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Pop Songs since 1963”.
2006 Pop Songs
If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of 2006 pop songs, you’ve come to the right place. This list includes all the popular songs that were released in 2006. You’ll find everything from pop hits to ballads and slow jams. Whether you’re looking to reminisce about the good old days or just want to hear some good music, this list has it all.
“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley
“Crazy” is a song by American duo Gnarls Barkley, released as their debut single on April 3, 2006. Written and produced by Danger Mouse and CeeLo Green, the song presents the artist’s manifesto. It peaked at number two on both the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. In May 2007, “Crazy” became the first single to top the charts in both the US and UK for Gnarls Barkley. It was nominated at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, and won Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
“Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On” was one of 2006’s biggest pop songs. The soulful ballad peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and cemented Rae as a force to be reckoned with in the pop music world. The song, which was written by Rae and producer John Beck, remains a staple on radio and TV today.
“Smile” by Lily Allen
After the success of her singles “LDN” and “Knock ‘Em Out”, both of which reached the top 20 in the UK, Allen began working on her debut studio album, Alright, Still. “Smile” was released as the album’s lead single in July 2006. The song was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one in the UK and Australia, and number 10 in the US. The track remains Allen’s biggest hit single to date.
“Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira
“Hips Don’t Lie” is a song performed by Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira, taken from her second English studio album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005). The song was released on February 28, 2006, by Epic Records as the second single from the album. It was written and produced by Shakira, Jean Luis Dominguez Santiago, Omar Antonio Martinez Estrada; Jerry Duplessis and Wyclef Jean served as additional co-producers for the track. A reworked version of the song features vocals from Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean.
The original version of “Hips Don’t Lie” received generally positive reviews from music critics. Most of them praised Shakira’s vocal performance and the production of the song. “Hips Don’t Lie” peaked at number one in more than fifty countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. It became one of the best-selling singles of all time with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. The English-language version was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards (2007).
“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
Despite its title, “You’re Beautiful” is not a love song. It’s actually about drug addiction and the down-and-out life of an addict. Blunt has said that he was inspired to write the song after seeing a homeless man begging for money on the streets of London. The man was high on crack cocaine, and Blunt was struck by the contrast between the man’s inner beauty and his outer appearance.
