‘Bad Habit,’ ‘Cuff It,’ ‘As It Was’ rank among top songs of 2022
Entertainment journalists select the best songs of 2022.
It took nearly three months, but “Bad Habit” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has continued to thrive. The multigenre song became the first record to top the Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop, Hot R&B, Hot Rock and Alternative songs chart simultaneously. With a funky bassline, Lacy shows some regret after missing an opportunity to approach a love interest.
Steve Lacy, ‘Bad Habit’: Harry Styles, ‘As It Was’:
This bittersweet and brightly packaged bop sees Styles singing, “Nothing to say/ when everything gets in the way.” The song is deceptively upbeat with a jingly synth-pop beat and a little kid’s voice as the intro and wedding bells at the end. But the lyrics are self-referentially melancholic as he accepts the reality of change that even he is not quite ready for.
The feel good, dance track captures the spirit of fun, romance and infatuation all in nearly four minutes of music. If you feel like falling in love or need a flirty boost, keep this track on repeat.
Beyonce, ‘Cuff It’:
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’: This is peak Swift: Confessional
to the point of self-horror, depressing in its inevitable tears. “I’m the problem,” she sings. “It’s me.” The rest of the lyrics are dense and pregnant with meaning — all driven by a moody, propulsive electro beat.
Kendrick Lamar, ‘Die Hard’ featuring Blxst and Amanda Reifer:
The three artists collectively blend their voices on the hit song — which delves into trust and battling demons. Lamar raps about overcoming his insecurities in hopes of becoming better for a future relationship.
Lizzo, ‘About Damn Time’:
Lizzo’s infectious bop hit the indoor-dazed populace right in the solar plexus and shattered the dancefloors. Between lyrics like “I’m way too fine to be this stressed, yeah/ Oh, I’m not the girl I was or used to be/ Uh … I might be better” and her up-tempo flute, Lizzo says it’s OK to claw back a little happiness after our collective trauma with the help of some pop music.
The 1975, ‘Part of the Band’:
The song refuses to follow a tempo pattern as it caroms from cellos to lounge ballad to sax solo, with dense, funny lyrics. “Am I ironically woke? The butt of my joke? Or am I just some post-coke, average, skinny bloke calling his ego imagination?” frontman and lyricist Matty Healy sings. It is a song that makes you stop and listen.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras,‘Unholy’:
The club anthem that slinks up on you with its throbbing bass wrapped in Eastern influences kicks off right out the gate with a heavenly choir. The electro-hook is set to catch, stun and haunt in one of the most wellmatched collaborations of 2022.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Perfume Genius, ‘Spitting Off the Edge of the World’:
Karen O’s distinctive vocals on the opening line, “Cowards, here’s the sun, so bow your heads,” are aptly matched with Perfume Genius’ delicate and glamorous voice. The song peaks with the banging drums in the chorus inviting a defiance on the precipice of chaos.
Beyonce, ‘Break My Soul’:
It would be easy — and possibly understandable — to only include one Beyonce song. But why punish the Queen for creating phenomenal music? This house track spanned genres, dominating airplay on R&B, pop and dance formats. Reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the song delivered a variety of DJ versions and remixes, including the “The Queens Remix” with Madonna.