Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 2006

Cafe Society
1

The year is 2006. We’re now in the digital music era again, and while crunk is finally starting to drift from the top of the charts, it’s not yet completely dead. In its place, we’ve got an interesting mix of pop and alternative here, with exactly 25 songs after we eliminate the #1s.

What’s your favorite?

Previous polls: 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Best #1 single polls: 1955-56 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s All-time

2

Easy one: Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”. Another classic from this era–one of the best songs of the 2000s, not just 2006.

3

“Crazy” was crazy overplayed, but it’s still the clear winner from this list.

4

Panic! for me, love that song.

Not voting for the rapist apologist, so no Gnarls Barkley.

5

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

6

Gnarles Barkley for me and it looks like they might run away with it. RHCP and Fallout Boy were worthy of consideration. “Photograph” may be the worst Nickelback song, which is saying something.

7

Cassie got my vote.

8

I nearly went with Crazy, but decided instead on Because Of You, the only Kelly Clarkson song I find tolerable, and one that deals with a topic I’ve had personal experience with.

9

Can I vote “all of the above”? Finally it’s a year that I recognize most of the songs, even if I can’t match the titles to the tunes, and for the most part they’re all pretty good. I voted Natasha Bedingfield mostly because it’s the first one one in the list but it’s still decent.

10

You just reminded me of how much I hate “How to Save a Life”.

11

There are quite a few more contenders than in the previous few years. I liked “Unwritten,” “Crazy,” “Over My Head (Cable Car),” “Buttons,” “Ain’t No Other Man,” “Dance Dance,” and “Stickwitu.” Also, I didn’t recognize “Me & U” by name, but now that I hear it on Youtube, I do vaguely remember liking it as well. The melody is nothing special, but the backing track during the chorus is cool. I had a small crush on Natasha Bedingfield, but “Unwritten” is inferior to her previous hit “These Words,” so “Unwritten” was eliminated from the competition.

According to the world-famous Ponch8 Music Rating System, “Ain’t No Other Man” is the best song on this list. It’s one of the few Christina Aguilera songs I like. The horn sample comes from David Cortez’s “Hippy Skippy Moon Strut” or “Happy Soul with a Hook” (I’ve seen both titles receiving the attribute).

Nickelback finishes in dead-ass last. Hinder’s Nickelback impression isn’t a whole lot better either.