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2006 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics

Top 10 Songs of 2006

  1. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
  2. SexyBack – Justin Timberlake
  3. Irreplaceable – Beyoncé
  4. Everytime We Touch – Cascada
  5. Temperature – Sean Paul
  6. Get Up – Ciara featuring Chamillionaire
  7. We’re All in This Together – High School Musical Cast
  8. Pump It – Black Eyed Peas
  9. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
  10. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley

More 2006 Music Hits by Style

Beyond the Top 10, 2006 music was packed with dance-pop, hip-hop, R&B, emo-pop, alternative rock, country crossover, Disney Channel hits, and soundtrack favorites. It was a year where Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, High School Musical, The Fray, Rascal Flatts, Fall Out Boy, and Carrie Underwood could all live on the same radio dial without anyone asking too many questions.

2006 Dance-Pop, Club, Latin Pop, and Party Hits

Dance-pop and club music had a huge year in 2006, with Latin pop, Eurodance, hip-hop-influenced pop, and radio-friendly dance tracks all hitting hard. Shakira, Cascada, Sean Paul, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna, The Pussycat Dolls, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Timberlake helped make the year feel built for clubs, ringtones, and very confident car singing.

Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
Buttons – The Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg
SOS – Rihanna
Rompe – Daddy Yankee
Maneater – Nelly Furtado
My Love – Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
Me & U – Cassie
Show Stopper – Danity Kane
Stupid Girls – Pink
Ain’t No Other Man – Christina Aguilera
Bossy – Kelis featuring Too Short
Stars Are Blind – Paris Hilton
Long Way 2 Go – Cassie
A Public Affair – Jessica Simpson
LoveStoned – Justin Timberlake

2006 Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, and Pop-Rap Favorites

Hip-hop and R&B were central to 2006, with club records, smooth R&B ballads, pop-rap hooks, and ringtone-era hits all competing for attention. Akon, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Ludacris, Missy Elliott, Eminem, Juelz Santana, Dem Franchize Boyz, and 50 Cent helped give the year its beat-heavy side.

One Wish – Ray J
We Run This – Missy Elliott
Beep – The Pussycat Dolls featuring will.i.am
I Wanna Love You – Akon featuring Snoop Dogg
Money Maker – Ludacris featuring Pharrell
So Sick – Ne-Yo
Ms. New Booty – Bubba Sparxxx featuring Ying Yang Twins & Mr. Collipark
Where’d You Go – Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga
Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It – Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Peanut & Charlay
Yo (Excuse Me Miss) – Chris Brown
There It Go (The Whistle Song) – Juelz Santana
Shake That – Eminem featuring Nate Dogg
Chicken Noodle Soup – Webstar & Young B featuring The Voice of Harlem
Chain Hang Low – Jibbs
Smack That – Akon featuring Eminem
Best Friend – 50 Cent featuring Olivia

2006 Pop Ballads, Adult Contemporary, and Big Vocal Hits

Ballads and adult contemporary songs were still very powerful in 2006. James Blunt, Rihanna, Snow Patrol, The Fray, Rob Thomas, Christina Aguilera, Corinne Bailey Rae, Michael Bublé, John Legend, and Anna Nalick helped give the year plenty of emotional radio moments. These songs were built for movie trailers, dramatic TV montages, and staring out the window like life had suddenly become a music video.

Unfaithful – Rihanna
Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
Upside Down – Jack Johnson
Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
How to Save a Life – The Fray
Over My Head (Cable Car) – The Fray
Ever the Same – Rob Thomas
Walk Away – Kelly Clarkson
Stay with You – Goo Goo Dolls
Single – Natasha Bedingfield
Hurt – Christina Aguilera
Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
Save the Last Dance for Me – Michael Bublé
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall
Save Room – John Legend
How to Touch a Girl – JoJo
Goodbye My Lover – James Blunt
Breathe (2 AM) – Anna Nalick

2006 Alternative Rock, Pop-Punk, Emo, and Modern Rock Hits

Alternative rock, emo, pop-punk, and modern rock had a strong presence in 2006. The Killers, The Fray, Nickelback, Evanescence, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Weezer, Blue October, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Bowling for Soup helped define the guitar-driven side of the year. This was the era of dramatic choruses, eyeliner-adjacent angst, and band names that looked great on a MySpace profile.

Dani California – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Lips of an Angel – Hinder
Call Me When You’re Sober – Evanescence
Far Away – Nickelback
When You Were Young – The Killers
Dirty Little Secret – The All-American Rejects
The Kill (Bury Me) – 30 Seconds to Mars
Dance, Dance – Fall Out Boy
Hate (I Really Don’t Like You) – Plain White T’s
The Adventure – Angels & Airwaves
Move Along – The All-American Rejects
Perfect Situation – Weezer
I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! at the Disco
Hate Me – Blue October
Snow ((Hey Oh)) – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Love and Memories – O.A.R.
High School Never Ends – Bowling for Soup

2006 Country, Country-Pop, and Roots-Leaning Hits

Country music crossed over strongly in 2006, with Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Toby Keith, Bon Jovi, Heartland, and the Dixie Chicks all showing different sides of country radio. Some songs leaned polished and pop-friendly, while others kept the barroom humor, heartbreak, and front-porch storytelling close by.

What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts
My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Life Is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk – Trace Adkins
Who Says You Can’t Go Home – Bon Jovi
Get Drunk and Be Somebody – Toby Keith
I Loved Her First – Heartland
Jesus, Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood
Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks

2006 Disney Channel, Teen Pop, Soundtrack Songs, and Pop Culture Favorites

2006 had a major teen-pop and soundtrack wave, led by High School Musical and Hannah Montana. These songs became part of the year’s pop culture memory beyond radio charts, especially for younger listeners. If 2006 had a school assembly, this section probably performed in it.

Breaking Free – High School Musical Cast
The Best of Both Worlds – Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus
Get’cha Head in the Game – High School Musical Cast
What I’ve Been Looking For – High School Musical Cast
Pumpin’ Up the Party – Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus
We’re All in This Together – High School Musical Cast

2006 Novelty, Comedy, Viral, and Pop Culture Curveballs

Some 2006 songs became memorable because they were funny, strange, internet-friendly, soundtrack-driven, or impossible to escape. “Weird Al” turned nerd culture into a rap parody, Lustra landed a cult soundtrack favorite, and several songs became bigger because they felt tailor-made for the ringtone and early viral era.

White & Nerdy – “Weird Al” Yankovic
Scotty Doesn’t Know – Lustra
Crazy Bitch – Buckcherry
Dare – Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder
Chicken Noodle Soup – Webstar & Young B featuring The Voice of Harlem

2006 Pop-Rock, Singer-Songwriter, and Light Alternative Favorites

Pop-rock and lighter alternative songs helped balance the year’s club, hip-hop, and emo-heavy moments. Jack Johnson, KT Tunstall, Goo Goo Dolls, Rob Thomas, O.A.R., Matisyahu, and Natasha Bedingfield gave 2006 a more relaxed radio lane. This was the music for coffee shops, acoustic sets, road trips, and people who wanted fewer strobe lights.

Upside Down – Jack Johnson
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall
Stay with You – Goo Goo Dolls
Ever the Same – Rob Thomas
King Without a Crown – Matisyahu
Love and Memories – O.A.R.
Youth – Matisyahu
Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield

PCM’s Top 100 Hits for 2006:

  1. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
  2. SexyBack – Justin Timberlake
  3. Irreplaceable – Beyoncé
  4. Everytime We Touch – Cascada
  5. Temperature – Sean Paul
  6. Get Up – Ciara featuring Chamillionaire
  7. We’re All in This Together – High School Musical Cast
  8. Pump It – Black Eyed Peas
  9. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
  10. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
  11. Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
  12. Unfaithful – Rihanna
  13. Buttons – The Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg
  14. SOS – Rihanna
  15. One Wish – Ray J
  16. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
  17. Upside Down – Jack Johnson
  18. What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts
  19. We Run This – Missy Elliott
  20. Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
  21. Breaking Free – High School Musical Cast
  22. Beep – The Pussycat Dolls featuring will.i.am
  23. Rompe – Daddy Yankee
  24. White & Nerdy – “Weird Al” Yankovic
  25. The Best of Both Worlds – Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus
  26. Maneater – Nelly Furtado
  27. Dani California – Red Hot Chili Peppers
  28. My Love – Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
  29. Me & U – Cassie
  30. How to Save a Life – The Fray
  31. Lips of an Angel – Hinder
  32. Call Me When You’re Sober – Evanescence
  33. Over My Head (Cable Car) – The Fray
  34. Ever the Same – Rob Thomas
  35. Walk Away – Kelly Clarkson
  36. Far Away – Nickelback
  37. When You Were Young – The Killers
  38. Stay with You – Goo Goo Dolls
  39. Single – Natasha Bedingfield
  40. Life Is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
  41. Honky Tonk Badonkadonk – Trace Adkins
  42. Show Stopper – Danity Kane
  43. Dirty Little Secret – The All-American Rejects
  44. The Kill (Bury Me) – 30 Seconds to Mars
  45. Dance, Dance – Fall Out Boy
  46. Hate (I Really Don’t Like You) – Plain White T’s
  47. Scotty Doesn’t Know – Lustra
  48. Who Says You Can’t Go Home – Bon Jovi
  49. Stupid Girls – Pink
  50. I Wanna Love You – Akon featuring Snoop Dogg
  51. Hurt – Christina Aguilera
  52. Get Drunk and Be Somebody – Toby Keith
  53. I Loved Her First – Heartland
  54. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
  55. Money Maker – Ludacris featuring Pharrell
  56. Save the Last Dance for Me – Michael Bublé
  57. So Sick – Ne-Yo
  58. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall
  59. The Adventure – Angels & Airwaves
  60. Ms. New Booty – Bubba Sparxxx featuring Ying Yang Twins & Mr. Collipark
  61. Where’d You Go – Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga
  62. Move Along – The All-American Rejects
  63. Perfect Situation – Weezer
  64. I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! at the Disco
  65. Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It – Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Peanut & Charlay
  66. Jesus, Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood
  67. Bossy – Kelis featuring Too Short
  68. Hate Me – Blue October
  69. King Without a Crown – Matisyahu
  70. Save Room – John Legend
  71. Ain’t No Other Man – Christina Aguilera
  72. Get’cha Head in the Game – High School Musical Cast
  73. Yo (Excuse Me Miss) – Chris Brown
  74. Crazy Bitch – Buckcherry
  75. There It Go (The Whistle Song) – Juelz Santana
  76. L.O.V.E. – Ashlee Simpson
  77. Dare – Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder
  78. Shake That – Eminem featuring Nate Dogg
  79. Stars Are Blind – Paris Hilton
  80. Long Way 2 Go – Cassie
  81. How to Touch a Girl – JoJo
  82. Chicken Noodle Soup – Webstar & Young B featuring The Voice of Harlem
  83. 4ever – The Veronicas
  84. Crowded – Jeannie Ortega
  85. Chain Hang Low – Jibbs
  86. Chemicals React – Aly & AJ
  87. What I’ve Been Looking For – High School Musical Cast
  88. Smack That – Akon featuring Eminem
  89. Best Friend – 50 Cent featuring Olivia
  90. Rush – Aly & AJ
  91. Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
  92. Snow ((Hey Oh)) – Red Hot Chili Peppers
  93. Love and Memories – O.A.R.
  94. A Public Affair – Jessica Simpson
  95. Pumpin’ Up the Party – Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus
  96. Goodbye My Lover – James Blunt
  97. LoveStoned – Justin Timberlake
  98. Breathe (2 AM) – Anna Nalick
  99. Youth – Matisyahu
  100. High School Never Ends – Bowling for Soup