Usher’s Confession Still Rocks The R&B Platform

2004 was entirely the year of Usher. His popularity was soaring high after his debut in 1994.

After the release of his album “Confessions” the entire world could tell you exactly who the chart-topping artist is or the name of the Grammy-nominated songs from his album including “Burn” and “Yeah!”.

“Confessions,” Usher’s fourth studio album also a sequel to the massive 2001 effort “8701″ and its hit singles “U Got It Bad,” “U Don’t Have To Call” and “U Remind Me,” has earned the singer a height that was reached by the iconic predecessors like Michael and Janet Jackson.

Although slated for release in 2003, “Confessions” is an amorous affair between the former child prodigy and TLC singer Rozanda “Chili” Thomas who appeared in the 2001 video “U Got It Bad”. Their highly-publicized break up forms the autobiographical content of “Confessions”.

However, the post Confession fans chose “Yeah” as Usher’s first single because it was in fact intended to be a “buzz” record which was projected to set the stage for the eventually pushed back single “Burn”.

After “Yeah’s” release and subsequent rise to no.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Usher unleashed “Confessions” on a heavily promoted premier event on Tuesday in March of 2004. Within a couple of days of release, “Confessions” sold away the record setting total of 1.1 million copies, which was the highest first week debut for any R&B recording artist.

Today, Usher’s mega album “Confessions” has been certified Diamond and has sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide on the strength of five singles including “Confessions Part II,” “My Boo” and “Caught Up”.

In total “Confessions” earned Usher nearly 50 awards including Billboard’s 2004 Artist of the Year Award and three Grammy Awards.