Usher was signed to a recording contract by L.A. Reid at the age of 14.However, he did not have his first major hits until his second album My Way was released in 1997 when he was 19.Since that time he has been one of the most successful of all male recording artists regularly hitting the upper reaches of both pop and R&B charts.These are his 10 most memorable songs.
Usher's "Yeah!" was a last minute choice as the lead single for his album Confessions, and it was a truly inspired choice.Simply put together with crunk beats and a minimalist melody, the song captured the imagination of pop fans worldwide.It won a Grammy Award for Best Rap / Sung Collaboration."Yeah!" spent 12 weeks at #1 in the US, sold over one million physical copies and later over three million digital copies.It hit #1 in most major pop music markets around the world.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
"Burn" was the song that "Yeah!" replaced as the first song from Confessions.It is the most compelling of Usher's slow burn love songs.At its heart "Burn" is a wrenching breakup song. Many fans saw it as alluding to Usher's own real life romantic troubles."Burn" replaced "Yeah!" as the #1 pop song in the US.It received Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Male Vocal and R&B Song of the Year."Burn" spent eight weeks at #1 in the US and hit #1 in the UK as well.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
"You Make Me Wanna..." was released as the lead single from Usher's second album My Way.It became his breakthrough pop hit.The uptempo R&B track climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.The use of acoustic guitar gives "You Make Me Wanna..." a warm, organic sound. The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Male Vocal."You Make Me Wanna..." went to #1 on the R&B chart and spent over 70 weeks on the chart, one of the longest-running singles of all time.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
"OMG" introduced Usher's sixth studio album Raymond Vs. Raymond.It was written and produced by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.Some critics complained about the liberal use of auto-tune, but pop fans were excited by the thumping beats and stadium crowd sounds that animate the song."OMG" went to #1 in the US and the UK and sold over four million digital copies.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
The upbeat "Caught Up" was the fifth top 10 single from Usher's album Confessions.It is known as one of the top party tracks on the album. "Caught Up" received strong critical acclaim and hit the top 10 on the pop singles charts in both the US and the UK.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
"DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" found Usher venturing strongly into europop territory.Songwriting and production are handled by pop mastermind Max Martin and his team.The song was originally offered to Rihanna, but she turned it down. "DJ Got Us Falling In Love" became Usher's 16th top 10 pop hit.It sold over three million digital copies and became a top 10 pop hit around the world.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
Read Review
"U Got It Bad" was the second single and second #1 hit from Usher's album 8701.It is a slow R&B jam and features some of Usher's most exposed and beautiful vocals. "U Got It Bad" spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.It reached #5 on the UK pop singles chart.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
"U Remind Me" led off Usher's album 8701 by climbing to #1 on the pop and R&B charts."U Remind Me" earned Usher his first Grammy Award winning Best Male R&B Vocal.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
"Love In This Club" appeared as Usher's first single from the album Here I Stand. It was produced by Polow da Don.The beat structure is strongly influenced by Eurodance music."Love In This Club" spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
Read Review
"Nice & Slow" was the second single from Usher's album My Way.It was also his first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
ListenBuy from Amazon »
1. "Yeah!" featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris - 2004 - #1
Usher's "Yeah!" was a last minute choice as the lead single for his album Confessions, and it was a truly inspired choice.Simply put together with crunk beats and a minimalist melody, the song captured the imagination of pop fans worldwide.It won a Grammy Award for Best Rap / Sung Collaboration."Yeah!" spent 12 weeks at #1 in the US, sold over one million physical copies and later over three million digital copies.It hit #1 in most major pop music markets around the world.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
2. "Burn" - 2004 - #1
"Burn" was the song that "Yeah!" replaced as the first song from Confessions.It is the most compelling of Usher's slow burn love songs.At its heart "Burn" is a wrenching breakup song. Many fans saw it as alluding to Usher's own real life romantic troubles."Burn" replaced "Yeah!" as the #1 pop song in the US.It received Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Male Vocal and R&B Song of the Year."Burn" spent eight weeks at #1 in the US and hit #1 in the UK as well.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
3. "You Make Me Wanna..." - 1997 - #2
"You Make Me Wanna..." was released as the lead single from Usher's second album My Way.It became his breakthrough pop hit.The uptempo R&B track climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.The use of acoustic guitar gives "You Make Me Wanna..." a warm, organic sound. The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Male Vocal."You Make Me Wanna..." went to #1 on the R&B chart and spent over 70 weeks on the chart, one of the longest-running singles of all time.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
4. "OMG" featuring will.i.am - 2010 - #1
"OMG" introduced Usher's sixth studio album Raymond Vs. Raymond.It was written and produced by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.Some critics complained about the liberal use of auto-tune, but pop fans were excited by the thumping beats and stadium crowd sounds that animate the song."OMG" went to #1 in the US and the UK and sold over four million digital copies.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
5. "Caught Up" - 2004 - #8
The upbeat "Caught Up" was the fifth top 10 single from Usher's album Confessions.It is known as one of the top party tracks on the album. "Caught Up" received strong critical acclaim and hit the top 10 on the pop singles charts in both the US and the UK.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
6. "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" featuring Pitbull - 2010 - #4
"DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" found Usher venturing strongly into europop territory.Songwriting and production are handled by pop mastermind Max Martin and his team.The song was originally offered to Rihanna, but she turned it down. "DJ Got Us Falling In Love" became Usher's 16th top 10 pop hit.It sold over three million digital copies and became a top 10 pop hit around the world.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
Read Review
7. "U Got It Bad" - 2001 - #1
"U Got It Bad" was the second single and second #1 hit from Usher's album 8701.It is a slow R&B jam and features some of Usher's most exposed and beautiful vocals. "U Got It Bad" spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.It reached #5 on the UK pop singles chart.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
8. "U Remind Me" - 2001 - #1
"U Remind Me" led off Usher's album 8701 by climbing to #1 on the pop and R&B charts."U Remind Me" earned Usher his first Grammy Award winning Best Male R&B Vocal.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
9. "Love In This Club" featuring Young Jeezy - 2008 - #1
"Love In This Club" appeared as Usher's first single from the album Here I Stand. It was produced by Polow da Don.The beat structure is strongly influenced by Eurodance music."Love In This Club" spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Watch VideoBuy from Amazon »
Read Review
10. "Nice & Slow" - 1998 - #1
"Nice & Slow" was the second single from Usher's album My Way.It was also his first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
ListenBuy from Amazon »