2006 was a fantastic year for music, filled with boatloads of influencing projects stemming across all genres, whether it was the uprising of electronic pop, the revival of soul, or even the elevation of pop-punk / alternative rock, the 20 year anniversary marks what was a massive turning point in the world of music, these projects shaped the game forever.

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FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake (September 2006)

Justin Timberlake’s most famous project, FutureSex/LoveSounds was a key part of redefining what modern pop music sounded like. With production help from none other than Timbaland and Danja, Justin was capable of creating a futuristic R&B sound that would go on to influence a majority of the electronic direction pop music has taken on in the late 2000s. With massive hits such as “Sexyback”, “My Love” and “What Goes Around… Comes Around” Timberlake’s 12 track record is one of the most iconic pop albums of all time, continuing to influence the sound of pop today in modern music.

The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance (October 2006)

My Chemical Romance are often a forefront of conversation when it comes to music in the early 2000s, however with The Black Parade, the group brought their emo style to an elevated arena-style sound, inspiring countless concept projects from other artists along with darker visual aesthetics. The Black Parade to this day continues to inspire and influence the works of other alternative and pop-punk artists with its theatrical soaring piano melodies, heavily distorted guitars and cinematic marching band percussion that are almost reminiscent of something you’d hear from Queen or Green Day.

B’Day by Beyoncé (September 2006)

Beyoncé’s legendary career is built off of her first projects, B-Day was an album that truthfully cemented herself as a solo superstar, balancing her radio-ready hits with exceptional powerhouse vocal performances that she’s now widely recognized for. The 11 track album featured massive hits such as “Irreplaceable” and “Déjà Vu” that are now considered modern classics. While the album is generally considered primarily as an R&B album, it features some funk and soul elements, showcasing her capabilities of expanding into different genres that we see from Beyoncé today.

Back to Black by Amy Winehouse (October 2006)

Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black was a key part in reviving soul music for the new generation of music. The project seemingly influenced and opened the door for artists who were a major presence in the music scene in the early 2000s, such as Adele, Duffy, and Sam Smith, all releasing multiple major projects within the time frame. The project surfaced as an influence to the genre, but has now surfaced as one of the defining albums of the 21st century with songs like “Rehab” and “Love is a Losing Game” headlining the project.

Loose by Nelly Furtado (June 2006)

Nelly Furtado’s Loose was yet another Timbaland produced project that not only reinvented Nelly Furtado’s career, but assisted in the development of the sleek electro-pop sound of the late 2000s that were also heard on Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds that also had Timbaland production. The project featured multiple global hits, “Promiscuous” being the most famous, seemingly getting radio virality, along with “Maneater” and “Say It Right” also being major successes off of the record.

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