Last week I shared my top 10 favorite albums to have been released a decade ago. However, there were many albums in 2006 that didn’t make it into my personal favorites of the decade. Regardless, 2006 hosted a multitude of albums, and therefore songs, that are still appreciated (or underappreciated) today. As such, I’d like to share my top 10 songs released in 2006:
1. Song: Face Down
Album: Don’t You Fake It
Artist: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Apart from its powerful message, this song dominated the airwaves back in 2006. It’s a beautiful mix of emo and pop-punk, and had definitely become a song that will continue to last for decades to come.
2. Song: Never Too Late
Album: One-X
Artist: Three Days Grace
This anti-suicide song is probably one of my personal favorites from Three Days Grace. Albeit depressing, the message it sends is about never giving up on your life, and that there is always time to turn everything around.
3. Song: The Diary Of Jane
Album: Phobia
Artist: Breaking Benjamin
“The Diary Of Jane” is one of the most successful (if not the most successful) songs ever to be put out by Breaking Benjamin. With its memorable hooks and catchy chorus, the song still stands up to day as one of the top rock songs in the 21st
4. Song: When You Were Young
Album: Sam’s Town
Artist: The Killers
Much like their hit song “Mr. Brightside”, I don’t think any fan of The Killers could resist the urge to sing along when this song starts playing. It's catchy chorus and I believe a quintessential Killers song.
5. Song: Prayer Of The Refugee
Album: The Sufferer & The Witness
Artist: Rise Against
Rise Against are no strangers to writing powerful songs (Septembers Children, Ready To Fall, etc.) and “Prayer Of The Refugee” is no exception. Like many other songs to come out in 2006, the message of this song is powerful and thought-provoking.
6. Song: The Curse Of Curves
Album: The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch
Artist: Cute Is What We Aim For
I will admit this song is on here just for the pure sentimentality of it. Its too catchy to not sing along with it. It also is probably the most successful song to be created by this band.
7. Song: High School Never Ends
Album: The Great Burrito Extortion Case
Artist: Bowling For Soup
Nobody writes pop punk songs like Bowling For Soup. “High School Never Ends” is a prime example of how to create an everlasting hit song by combining stereotypical pop punk problems with a catchy chorus and power chords.
8. Song: Not Good Enough For The Truth In Cliché
Album: Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
Artist: Escape The Fate
I don’t know about you, but hearing this song immediately takes me back to my emo phase. Not to mention the pure angst of the chorus “Sitting in this room playing Russian roulette; Finger on the trigger to my dear Juliet…”
9. Song: When I Get Home You’re So Dead
Album: Tales Told By Dead Friends
Artist: Mayday Parade
For a band that writes a lot about love and missing somebody this song is very refreshing. Its angry, its about calling somebody out. It also is my favorite song off of their debut album, as well as a standout song for saying that you’re over and done with somebody.
10. Songs: Trading Heartbeats
Album: This Is Why We Don’t Have Nice Things
Artist: Every Avenue
Since the band's departure in 2012, I have been waiting for this song (this album really) to turn 10, though I’ll admit only for the hope of an anniversary tour. Despite the sentimentality, “Trading Heartbeats” is one of the catchiest songs to be written by this band, I mean just listen to that chorus. Its also one of the only songs (the other being “Chasing The Night”) to appear on their second album “Shh. Just Go With It”.