The 45 Best Songs of 2022 (2024)

If you didn’t check the release date you may think “Can I Call You Rose” first dropped in the 1950s. This buttery track is so smooth and full of soul, Sam Cooke is proud as hell somewhere. And with lyrics like, “Can I call you a rose?/‘Cause you’re sweet like a flower in blue,” it’s sure to make just about anyone swoon. —BM

Latto dominated the charts this year with “Big Energy,” a song that can carry you from your late night TikTok scroll all the way to the club. The track samples Mariah Carey’s "Fantasy," and reimagines it for a new era of bad b*tches. Her braggadocious lyrics combined with the track's tantalizing melody make it an undeniable hit. —BM

SZA has yet to release a full album (though she’s teased it so many times), but she did give us “Shirt” this year. The 3-minute-long track utilizes her ability to turn ordinary objects into a thick piece. In 2017 she sang about dirty shoes, and now, blood-stained shirts. I don’t know who’s making her so upset, but I’m begging you, please, give it a rest. —BM

Noah Kahan is gunning for the best indie-rock artist of our generation. In 2017 he released his first single, “Young Blood,” and while it found an audience, he has since further refined his sound, which is perfectly rough around the edges. “Stick Season,” off his 2022 LP of the same name, uses clever imagery to reminisce about a lost love. —BM

Diana, we have failed you. This track from the new Minions movie was sitting here ready to be the song of the summer, yet it never really caught on. Shame on us; it’s like a better draft of that Justin Timberlake Trolls song, with a hook that never lets go and a strong vocal from a living legend. It should have been the song that takes the “Blurred Lines” spot on wedding dance floors. It should have been a karaoke standard. Maybe it’s not too late. Forgive us, Miss Ross. —Dave Holmes

Thanks to “Tití Me Pregunto,” I’ve officially added a night out with Bad Bunny to my life bucket list. VIP status, dancing, selfies, and a chance to meet his aunt? Sign me up. —BM

I don’t know if Drake intended to yassify himself when he wrote this song, but it happened all the same. When he croons, “21, can you do somethin’ for me, can you hit a lil’ rich flex for me?” I can’t help but picture him doing a little dancey-dance in the studio—and for that, I will always be grateful. —BM

Suki Waterhouse’s “Moves,” is a smooth and slinky ode to raw-attraction. The song is vague enough to apply to anyone, but I can’t help but wonder, is Robert Pattison the “baby” she’s referring to here? —BM

Ms. Willis tapped into everyone's deepest fears with “Shouldn’t I Be”—a breathtaking confession about not feeling good enough. This track comes from her debut album Scout LaRoue Willis which, unfairly, felt like it too easily got lost in the 2022 shuffle. Give it the second chance it deserves. —BM

Should you hook up with an ex? According to Ashe, yes! “Another Man's Jeans” flirts with the idea of reigniting a former flam—but don’t get it twisted, this is not about closure. No, this is about sex. It’s all just “a little bit of fun.” —BM

We don’t argue about which song was the Song of the Autumn, but if we did, this would be the one I’d go to the mat for. Real Estate lead singer Martin Courtney brings you a vibe I am officially dubbing "Majestic Melancholy with a twist of Timid Hope." It’s music with a hint of nutmeg and clove—a song with a shawl collar. Enjoy it by a roaring fire. —BM

If I’m ever in a fight, I want Nicki on my team. In “Do We Have A Problem” the MC is on top of her game, spitting lyrics like “they want the heat, I’m the only provider,” to remind you she’s not one to be messed with. If you ever thought Nicki was all bark and no bite, listen to this track and reassess. —BM

This one snuck in at the end of last year, but I am putting it here anyway, because it makes me feel powerful enough to bend space and time to my will. This Atlanta singer-songwriter brings pure attitude in a track that is guaranteed to make the world your runway throughout the remainder of this year and well into the next. —DH

Sometimes music that’s made for movies sucks, but in other cases, it's Doja Cat's "Vegas." The club-ready song off the Elvis soundtrack samples Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog,” and combines Doja's penchant for writing a clever verse with a beat that’ll easily get stuck in your head. —BM

Rachel Chinouriri may be new to the music industry, but you wouldn’t know it based on her expertly crafted music. “All I Ever Asked” is written about an ex who never measured up, but the gloom never drags you down. Rather, its indie-rock lean makes it cheery enough to listen to on any occasion. —BM

On their latest album, Skinty Fia, this Irish indie band proved they’re ready to level up, and if lead singer Grian Chatten’s affectless “la la la” on this song tells us anything, it’s that they’ll do it on their terms when they’re good and ready. —DH

Omar Apollo made a name for himself this year as one of Hollywood's rising stars. And nowhere does he prove what the hype is all about better than in this stripped-down track. It’s the kind of song that begs to be played in the car at full volume while you drive around for hours. —BM

The former lead singer of The Maccabees addresses new fatherhood in a track that could have come from a Talk Talk album from the 1980s. Good thing it didn’t; this three minutes of simple joy, optimism and enthusiasm is exactly what we needed this year. In Orlando’s world, the kids are alright. –DH

“As It Was” was Harry Styles first single this year, and it did not disappoint. This glittering track fuels nostalgia as Styles sings about life which is, of course, always changing. (Reality bites!) If you listen closely, you might even catch a reference to his relationship with Olivia Wilde. —BM