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18 Dec Songs 2022: The Best Hits and Musical Highlights

Q: Which albums defined 2022?

The standout albums of 2022 were Beyoncé’s Renaissance (a dance/disco revival), Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti.

Posted at 10:00h in Review, Review, Scene & Culture, Scene & Culture by Alec Chizhik

2:19 min read

2022 was the year music roared back to life in full force. Concerts, festivals, releases-after two years of hibernation, the pace felt almost overwhelming. Here are 15 tracks that stuck around-not because they were everywhere, but because they meant something.

Key Takeaways

Beyoncé, Harry Styles and Bad Bunny ruled the global charts in 2022
Kendrick Lamar dropped the year’s most debated album-without a single traditional hit
Indie acts like Wet Leg and Big Thief delivered the most surprising moments
2022 marked the strongest year for Latin music in Europe since the streaming era began

The tracks that truly resonated

1. “Break My Soul” – Beyoncé
The house anthem that opened Renaissance: brisk, danceable, liberating. By summer 2022 it was unavoidable-on dance floors, in cars, everywhere. 2. “As It Was” – Harry Styles
The most-streamed song of 2022 worldwide on Spotify. An indie-pop meditation on loneliness that sounds like dancing through an apartment you’ve just left. 3. “Me Porto Bonito” – Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone
The definitive Latin summer smash. Reggaeton on autopilot-yet the best autopilot in years.

The albums that work like singles

4. “N95” – Kendrick Lamar
The gripping opener to Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Aggressive, self-scrutinizing, political. No radio format-yet unforgettable live. 5. “Chaise Longue” – Wet Leg
The debut single from the British indie-pop duo. Laid-back and sly, anchored by a riff that sticks instantly. The year’s best newcomer track. 6. “White Ferrari” (reissue) – Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean released nothing in 2022-but any year-end roundup without “White Ferrari” feels incomplete.

The surprises

7. “Midnight Rain” – Taylor Swift
The oft-overlooked jewel from Midnights. Two stacked vocal layers, a bass foundation from another production epoch. Less a single, more a work of art. 8. “Glimpse of Us” – Joji
Producer-singer Joji (formerly Filthy Frank) crafts one of the year’s most emotional ballads. Minimal, vulnerable, pitch-perfect. 9. “Running Up That Hill” – Kate Bush
Recorded in 1985. Reclaimed the summit via Stranger Things in 2022. The song was always great-the world simply needed a reminder. 10–15. Quick notes
“Escapism” – Raye ft. 070 Shake (UK garage, razor-sharp).
“Lift Me Up” – Rihanna (Black Panther soundtrack, first new material since 2016).
“Unholy” – Sam Smith ft. Kim Petras (divisive yet dominant).
“Quevedo Bzrp Music Session #52” – (the year’s defining Spanish-language hit).
“Big Energy” – Latto.
“Easy On Me” – Adele (emotionally bulletproof).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which song was streamed the most in 2022?

“As It Was” by Harry Styles was the most-streamed track of 2022 on Spotify worldwide. The indie-pop anthem spent 15 weeks at No. 1 in the German singles chart.

Which albums defined 2022?

The standout albums of 2022 were Beyoncé’s Renaissance (a dance/disco revival), Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti.

What was the most surprising comeback of 2022?

Kate Bush’s 1985 classic “Running Up That Hill” reclaimed the top spot in multiple countries after its use in Stranger Things Season 4-37 years after its original release. A streaming-era record for a catalog reissue.