Why Usher’s ‘Confessions’ Still Matters 15 Years Later

Confessions are good for the soul. The early 2000s were a peculiar time in R&B music. We were just coming down from the tidal wave of 90s heavyweights and trying to find our footing for the new millennium. Usher is one of the artists that set the tone for the rest of the decade. Confessions, his most successful album to date, turns 15 years old this year.

Why was this album such a success? Well, for starters, his public breakup with TLC’s Chilli couldn’t have come at a better time. Everyone thought the album was about her, but Jermaine Dupri later revealed it was his personal story. Nevertheless, bad press is good press in the entertainment industry. Plus, the music backed up the controversy.

Lead by the hit single, “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, Usher sealed his biggest club crossover #1 hit. The song still gets any party jumping today. Oh and then there’s “Burn”, the soundtrack of heartbreak. That song almost made you want to get in a relationship and break up just to experience the feeling.

Usher effortlessly glided into pop music territory with the Pharrell produced, “Caught Up”. The song cleverly blended elements of Hip Hop, R&B, Rock and Pop with an undeniable swag. However, there were some album cuts that also missed their shine as singles. Songs like “That’s What It’s Made For” and “Superstar” were much more than mere album fillers.

Confessions was a movie in audible form. All the exciting elements of love were there: sex, passion, infatuation, infidelity and of course, heartbreak. The album entered right on the cusp of the social media wave and sold 10 million copies (actual CDs, not streams), bringing it to RIAA Diamond status. There aren’t really any artists moving these types of numbers in traditional sales and streams combined.

The undeniable musical chemistry between Usher and Jermaine Dupri (who produced the majority of the album), his public breakup headlines and relatable subject matter proved to be a winning formula for a hit album. Even Usher hasn’t topped himself since then. Now, 15 years later, it’s still one of the best albums we’ve heard in quite some time.

So, what were some of your favorite tracks from Confessions?