This list of the 40 best songs of 2022 which was compiled by over 20 people here at mxdwn. Making this list was a challenge but because of the challenge mxdwn had one goal: we got together. We had a conversation. We paid attention to the voices of our audiences and in the end, mxdwn created a ranked list of 40 songs that we feel exemplify the craziness that is 2022. This year has been hard for everyone but the only thing that always seems to cheer people up is music. The best part of 2022 is the brilliant songs that came out of it. mxdwn formed a unique playlist that is so versatile and lovely from so many talented bands and artists and we couldn’t wait to share it with everyone who needs extra love. Two of the songs that came out on top and represent this crazy year to a T are Kendrick Lamar’s “Rick Spirit” an introspective and reflective song and Ghost’s “Call Me Little Sunshine” a hauntingly comforting song. And without further ado here are the top 40 best songs of 2022. (And while you are at it check out our top 40 best albums of the year. ;))
40. Orbital – “Bruce’s Plan”
“Bruce’s Plan” by the electronic duo Orbital was made for the soundtrack of the Netflix show The Pentaverate. The fast paced electro beat offers a thrilling score that is sure to catch the viewers’ attention. The song even features the original breakbeat from the box which is the theme of the show.
-Gracie Chunes
39. Fucked Up – “Oberon”
Oberon released on October 7th, 2022 leading with the cover title itself. “Oberon” is a Shakespearean nod. This track scuffles and tussles with a pointed edge with volcanic and expressive guitar riffs, while singer Damian Abraham growls his way through “Oberon”; it is surprisingly deliberate and extensive.
-Kayla Bell
38. Julia Kugel – “No Hard Feelings”
This sweet, melodic song has a haunting quality about it. The softness of Kugel’s voice along the bitter lyrics provide an almost lullaby-esque sense. “No Hard Feelings” is both great for breakups and reflecting at the end of the year.
-Hannah Boyle
37. Alison Sudol – “Playground”
It’s hard to make a love song this straight-forward, yet Sudol elevates simplicity to greatness with a steady melody, unyielding sincerity and a wonderfully layered final hook.
-Blake Michelle
36. Meshuggah – “They Move Below”
Meshuggah’s “They Move Below” immediately sends the listener into the most cavernous parts of themselves, calling upon the emotion invoked by a melodic guitar riff complete with an iconic yet haunting chorus effect. When watching the official visualizer, the first two minutes are a conglomeration of emotion conveyed through sight and sound before punchier, abrasive guitar cords share the screen with the uninterrupted swarm of wicked graphics. The absence of lyrics results in a tactical attack on anyone who dares to ask just what Meshuggah is capable of doing next.
-Kelly Catlin
35. The Hellacopters – “Reap a Hurricane”
A sudden explosion of high energy. It carries everything that is to love from ’80s rock n’ roll with killer riffs, flattering rhythm, a catchy chorus and Nicke Andersson’s strong vocals that blow everything away.
-Conny Chavez
34. Carly Rae Jepsen – “The Loneliest Time”
Infected with disco fever, Carly Rae Jepsen and Rufus Wainwright reach warp speed with this space-disco track. Strings, synths, keys, funky bass and punchy drums accompany this notable duo to the stars.
-Caroline Birmingham
33. Marcus Mumford – “Grace”
“Grace” is a fun and lighthearted song, which after 2022 is something we all need. The classic country essence is strangely comforting after a long year.
-Hannah Boyle
32. Sofi Tukker – “Original Sin”
Sofi Tukker’s electronic melancholy melody accompanied by quarantine-inspired lyrics make this single so addicting to listen to. The upbeat rhythm blends well with the singers’ softened voices.
-Jayna Celi
31. Zola Jesus – “Into the Wild”
This ethereal track with Zola Jesus’ bright voice captures the intensity and optimism of walking into the unknown. The transcendental nature of her music gives off a dark gothic tone.
-Jayna Celi
30. Cult of Luna – “Into The Night”
As part of the album The Long Road North, “Into the Night” is a somber song. Cult of Luna bewitchingly traps listeners with its Halloween-esque, gloomy sound. Chords and progressions full with tension keep their listeners on their toes.
-Priscilla Flores
29. Trivium – “The Shadow Of The Abattoir”
A truly dynamic track with an insane amount of vocal and instrumental range. Matt Heafy’s vocals battle with the mind-boggling guitar shreds to dominate the track. The nearly eight-minute track takes the audience on a journey through every note. From lullaby-like melodies to speedy blazing guitar riffs, this track sums up heavy metal.
-Conny Chavez
28. Sharon Van Etten – “When I Die”
Sharon Van Etten released the dreamy tune “When I Die” as part of We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong. Slow and enticing, “When I Die” escalates in instrumentation from beginning to end and features Van Etten’s emotional self-reflection of mortality throughout the lyrics.
-Maddie Pimlott
27. Jack White – “If I Die Tomorrow”
The former lead singer of the famed band The White Stripes, Jack White, released two albums this year. “If I Die Tomorrow” is from the latter album, Entering Heaven Alive. It is a reflective track, dripping with sentimentality. White asks, “If I die tomorrow / Will you know exactly what to say today?”
-Elias Etten
26. Brockhampton – “The Ending”
“The Ending” is the 16th track off of Brockhampton’s album The Family and is the second single from it. It features only Kevin Abstract which differs from their usual style of rapping. The subject matter of it concerns Brockhampton’s early days and their breakup.
-Aditya Rohilla
25. KMFDM – “Hyena”
German Industrial Rock Band KMFDM released their 22nd album titled HYËNA on September 9th, 2022 while ironically enough “HYENA” was also the first single released. This expeditiously break-neck hit that asserts an invigorating amount of deliciously tasteless strumming and clashing of the guitar and drums while making it a point to instill defiance at every turn. “HYËNA” wraps with its hair-raising cackle.
-Kayla Bell
24. Architects – “tear gas”
Delightfully heavy and simultaneously catchy, Architects’ “tear gas” is a true metalcore hit. The lyricism also offers listeners a sense of hope in the form of a mantra for difficult times: “Anything is possible / we can be unstoppable.” Overall, the song is proof that Architects still have what it takes.
-Skyy Rincon
23. Danger Mouse & Black Thought – “Because”
Danger Mouse and Black Thought give old-school hip-hop fans exactly what they need in these trying times. Danger Mouse transforms Dylan Cartlidge’s soulful sample into a vintage-yet-polished top-notched groove for each rapper to dive into. Danger Mouse’s production on this track is spectacular, with transitions between each rapper standing out on their own. Giving each rapper the respect they deserve takes a skilled artist. Black Thought’s lyricism is well known because he has some of the best lyrics in the game, and “Because” is no exception.
-Cassandra Alese
22. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Burning”
Alternative song “Burning” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has an eerie beginning, calling to those to protect the things we love most in a world that is “burning”. Lead singer Karen O, explained that the song was about doing the best we know how during a time in our lives when things are going wrong.
-Melanie Stewart
21. Demi Lovato – “Eat Me”
“EAT ME” by Demi Lovato appears on album HOLY FVCK. Part of the song’s appeal is it’s alternation between slow and fast pacing between verses and the chorus. “EAT ME” features Royal & The Serpent, making the track even more dynamic.
-Maddie Pimlott
20. Brother Hawk – “Southern Sun”
Brother Hawk pushes their textured southern rock into the stratosphere with this barn-burner of a lead single. The vocals are more passionate and anguished, the keys come in at the right moments to accentuate the majesty, and the final solo is the perfect capstone for the gospel-inflected bombast.
-Blake Michelle
19. The HU – “This Is Mongol”
“This is Mongol” serves as the opening song on The HU’s newest album, Rumble of Thunder. The HU are a Mongolian folk metal band that uses traditional Mongolian instruments as well as Mongolian throat singing. As such, their music resembles much other folk rock music, with their heavy use of stringed instruments and low vocals. The song paints a picture of pride and tradition. Proclaiming statements such as “Sons of Mongol are to return home” and “May the Mongol thrive and proper/ This is the Mongol.” The HU also reference the culture in the piece as well, with references to the music being played by a ikel khuur, and the dance biyelgee. They filmed the accompanying music video in a desert that resembled the Gobi desert. The passion behind the Mongolian art and culture is the perfect opening to their new album, and the band as whole to any new listeners.
-Keller Corrield
18. Pale Waves – “Reasons To Live”
English pop punk band Pale Waves has delivered yet another hit with “Reasons To Live.” Beginning with a brief hypnotic vocalization courtesy of frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie, the song wastes no time throwing listeners into the mix. The siren-like vocals drive the track with rhythmic drums and blaring guitars keeping pace as Baron-Gracie reminisces about a euphoric time in her life when she “found someone who showed [her] a reason to live.” The lyricism is delightfully hopeful, optimistic and appreciative: “You picked me up when I was down on the floor / You showed me how to love myself a little more.”
-Skyy Rincon
17. Lights – “Salt and Vinegar”
Valerie Poxleitner aka Lights, rocked the year with a new album called Pep which featured a fan favorite, “Salt and Vinegar”. The pop/alt-rock hit embraced a grungy likeness accompanied by Lights’ raspy voice. Groovy bass and drums carry the song to a place where you just want to dance and rock out, but the lyrics are yet another star of the show. Salt & vinegar might sound great on a chip, but to Lights – it’s the description of a love that is bitter, not quite right, yet a little too sweet to let go of. Sometimes polar opposites attract in the worst ways.
-Melanie Stewart
16. The Regrettes – “Shapeshifter”
Complete with an infectious groove, huge bass, crunchy synths and fuzzy vocals, this spacey future-pop track is all about discovering true identity in a world of “shapeshifters” – those who copy the style, personality and behavior of others. In a social-media-saturated and body-image-obsessed world, the lyrics sting with familiarity but offer comfort, too. Lines like “it hurts, but you know what they say, that beauty’s pain” capture the anxiety so many feel when it comes to their self-image. Singer Lydia Knight sings that she’s finally “had enough” of her shifting identity and wants to “recognize who [she is] close up.”
-Caroline Birmingham
15. Wargasm – “Fukstar”
The musical duo from the UK, Sam Matlock and Milkie Way, known as Wargasm, released “Fukstar” over the summer. It’s a fast paced song that attempts to tear into the excessiveness of wealth, fame and power. As the hook states, “You’re not a god, you’re just another Fukstar.” While not explicit exactly what a Fukstar is, Sam Matlock and Milkie Way describe the song in a press release as an indictment on the billionaires who take what power they can and leave the rest. As Way sings in the pre chorus “No, I just love Corporations/ Want them to take all my money.”
-Keller Corrield
14. Crippled Black Phoenix – “Blackout77”
“Blackout77” sets a retro stage as black and white Super 8 footage captures some of New York City’s darkest years, literally. A Clockwork Orange dominates a local marquee as a sound reminiscent of the haunting yet purposeful Moog synthesizer heard in Kubrick’s dystopian drama crawls its way front and center. The feeling of unease is palpable, and listeners know that Crippled Black Phoenix has plans of epic proportions. From “Blackout77’s” inception until its static-induced finale, the result is a track complete with veritable lyrics as powerful as they are candid and absolute. The harrowing despair of a relentless gloom is flawlessly captured as “Blackout77” summons tales from the infamous New York City blackout of 1977, their lyrics the harsh reminder of just how insidious a city cast in darkness can be.
-Kelly Catlin
13. Metric – “Doomscroller”
This eerie song dances between rock and techno. The song has an odd quality about it, along with its string of pessimistic lyrics, that makes the song stick with its listeners. The contrast between the more upbeat and danceable music and the dark lyrics has earned this song its rank of 13. The odd quality of the song is what makes it interesting and keeps listeners coming back to Metric.
-Hannah Boyle
12. Maren Morris x Zedd x BEAUZ – “Make You Say”
The twelfth spot on the Song of the Year list is occupied by “Make You Say.” Maren Morris, Zedd and BEAUZ collaborated on this track, a beautiful, evocative song about missing someone one loves. The lyrics: “You’ll miss the weeks, the days, the hours, when all the loneliness kicks in” and “you’ll learn one day, I’m one in a million.” The song is about a breakup where one party feels that another party will regret leaving. The music is dance-pop based, a bass-heavy, syncopated and delightful listen. The vocals are intense, with a long sustained belt towards the end.
-Madeleine Thezan
11. Bishop Briggs – “Revolution”
Bishop Briggs is a master of composition as well as lyricism. From the tension-filled and percussive pre-chorus, which sounds like a march in a battle field, to the masterfully placed pause right before the chorus, Bishop Briggs does more than just deliver. She pieces high pitched snares, twangy synths, piano and choir-like layers to support her powerful voice, and inspire any listener to fight their battles. “Revolution” offers a potent and robust sound, a worthy sibling that measures up to her hit song “River.” “Revolution” is filled with energy, surprising for a song with so many silent parts. Briggs does this ingeniously, transforming those silences into sucker punch energy.
-Priscilla Flores
10. Alex Lilly – “Frank”
Lilly’s creative mindset when it comes to songwriting is brilliantly revealed. A strange sense of emotional vulnerability also bled throughout the song. Lilly is a smart, bright, and cheerful yet defiantly outside-the-box thinker, with the charisma of someone who can tell hard truths or reveal secrets with a knowing smile. Alex Lilly has clearly tapped strongly into her musically inclined brain that helped elevate pop to the level of fantastic art that is “Frank.” Lilly’s songwriting is possibly the most remarkable among the fascinating feats of what it takes to make great music. It feels as though when it comes to writing “Frank,” Lilly is lighthearted and doesn’t find it to be hard work. There is a refreshing satire and disregard for political correctness, resulting in a lighthearted and genuine tone that is pleasing to the ears. “Frank” changes the game of songwriting for avant-garde listeners seeking brilliance and uniqueness while uncovering their own sense of the song. Now, it begs the question: Who is Frank?
-Cassandra Alese
9. Amanda Shires – “Take It Like A Man”
Number 9 is the song “Take It Like A Man” by Amanda Shires who is an American singer/songwriter and fiddle player. This song displays all of Shires’ immense talents from vocals, to fiddle, to lyrics. It is clear that Shires sings with raw emotion and deep intention. These lyrics are heavily descriptive with nature related metaphors like that of a Romantic era poem. The most prominent line in the song is probably “the cost of flight is landing.” Lastly as the song progresses, the fiddle playing becomes more and more prominent showing Shires immense instrumental skillset. All of these elements are cleverly tied together to form a retrospective, old school ballad with elements of country, rock and pop.
-Audrey Soetermans
8. Tove Lo – “Grapefruit”
“Grapefruit” comes from Tove Lo’s fifth album Dirt Femme. Grapefruit is an emotionally charged song. Lo provided a song that likely connected with many others throughout the world by tackling the heavy issue of struggling with body image and eating disorders. Lo has discussed her personal battle with an eating disorder in the past and draws on that experience for this potent song. An accompanying music video for the song painted a picture of how difficult surviving through an eating disorder can be. The song’s title relates to the way an eating disorder can cause compulsions to limit one’s food intake and counting the calories or amount of food. Tove Lo with this song has been able to invoke in listeners the strong feelings that she had fought with through powerful vocals.
-Bailey DeSchutter
7. Taylor Swift – “Bejeweled”
“Bejeweled” by Taylor Swift comes in at 7 for top songs of the year. This pop anthem is a catchy masterpiece. It is an easy, danceable TikTok sound and an empowering anthem. She sings about finding herself after being walked over. Her confident tone takes her power back, and her catchy melody keeps fans returning to the song. This song immediately topped the charts, and after releasing a cinematic music video that recreated a funny yet empowering spinoff of Cinderella, it generated millions of streams. This catchy song is sure to continue its success in 2023.
-Stephanie Pratt
6. Rina Sawayama – Phantom
“Phantom” by Rina Sawayama is a powerful ballad from the British singer-songwriter’s sophomore studio album. When asked about the song, Sawayama said: “I realized as an adult that I have spent my whole life pleasing other people and not realizing it – constantly pushing my boundaries and not realizing the difference between what I wanted to do and what other people wanted from me. Through the lyrics in the verse I’m trying to tell this story and then in the choruses I’m mourning the loss of my real self” She sings of sacrificing parts of herself for others and love. Sawayama has lost the person in which she sacrificed herself for and is therefore trying to fill the void they left and gather the pieces of herself she gave away in this soulful single. The song was recorded with longtime collaborators Clarence Clarity and Stuart Price.
-Gracie Chunes
5. Gorillaz – Cracker Island
Ranking number five on the Song of the Year list is “Cracker Island” by the group Gorillaz featuring Thundercat. The “cartoon supergroup” began as a project by Damon Albarn, collaborating with Jamie Hewlett and releasing international hits like “Clint Eastwood” in 2001 and “Feel Good Inc.” in 2005. “Cracker Island” is a cartoony pop song with elements of rock, a wheezy synth playing over drums and a distorted vocal line singing lyrics “on Cracker Island it was born, to the collective of the dawn.” The themes are repetitive, ostinato-like with a melody that seems spoken as well as sung, as if the speaker is telling a story. The lyrics seem to tell the story of a fantastical cult born on Cracker Island, a fictional island somewhere. Although the song is mainly based on a singular, upbeat theme, there is a break in the middle section for a slightly quieter section where some lyrics “they taught themselves to be occult, they didn’t know its many strategies,” are sung over a slightly different chord progression that is moodier than the rest of the song. Overall, this song is an energetic, playful take on dance and rock with an intriguing set of lyrics.
-Madeleine Thezan
4. Maya Hawke – Therese
A musical depiction of the painting “Thérèse Dreaming” by the Polish-French artist Balthus, Maya Hawke’s “Thérèse” imagines the dreams and yearnings of the young, aloof girl in the painting in light of the work’s controversy. Because the painting shows the 11-year-old girl in a compromising position, some have petitioned for the piece to be removed from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The lyrics of “Thérèse” reference this controversy as Hawke sings, “Obscene, it really says it all … and get her down, take her off the wall.” Another side of the story is presented, though – the innocence of the young girl who, oblivious to how others see her, is just being herself: blissfully unaware of her surroundings as she is carried away by her dreams and memories. Hawke, perhaps disappointed at the controversy behind the painting, concludes her point with the hook, “It’s timeless, it’s a test, it’s just Thérèse.” In other words – viewers will attribute whatever meaning they want to the painting, subject to their own state of mind – but in the end, Thérèse is just Thérèse.
-Caroline Birmingham
3. Devin Townsend – Call Of The Void
At mxdwn we have come to expect brilliance from creator Devin Townsend, and he never disappoints. Townsend returned this year with another amazing left turn in his softer/more subdued release, Lightwork. Paired with a heavier companion album, Nightwork, Townsend described this release as one of the most challenging of his career, forcing himself to work in sonic palettes beyond his comfort zone and in concert with other players/producers, rather than creating almost every thing entirely by himself. On the single “Call of the Void,” Townsend crafts a nocturne with delicate high-tone guitar work. Mid tempo drums compliment the patient delivery setting the listener on a course that is soothing throughout. The ebbs and tides of the song bring relief to the rising tension, but everything here seems designed to float in a meditative bliss. Townsend strikes this whole as a plea for balanced bliss amidst a chaotic and crazy world that can sometimes be unbearable to tolerate. “You want them to see the world the same as you and / to feel the pain the same as you / But everybody in the world’s different point of view /could never see the world the same,” he sings before digging into the song’s chorus, a call for staying calm no matter how violent the world’s response to one’s purity might become. “Case when you feel the urge to feed reaction / Just follow your heart, the worst reaction is to / Freak out / So don’t you / Freak out,” he sings somehow impossibly with both ferocity and tenderness.
-Raymond Flotat
2. Ghost – Call Me Little Sunshine
Ghost has had quite an eventful year, from releasing their highly anticipated (and critically acclaimed) fifth studio album Impera back in March to debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 with their hit single “Mary On A Cross” from their 2019 EP Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic. The band has assembled a large flock of fans who continue to revel forevermore in frontman Tobias Forge’s elaborate musical projects. “Call Me Little Sunshine” is no different. The track opens with intricately layered instrumentation featuring delicate percussion and a melodic riff. This is soon replaced with a harder drumline and heavier riff as the song ushers in Papa Emeritus IV’s vocals. His vocals are complimented by the rhythmic drumbeat and deeper bass which keeps pace as the track powers forward. The lyricism poses as a comforting cadence featuring lines like: “You will never walk alone / You can always reach me / You will never ever walk alone.” The track’s outro hauntingly (and fittingly) leads into “Hunter’s Moon” which was originally released as a part of the soundtrack for the 2021 film Halloween Kills. Impera may have been inspired by the concept of the falling of empires, but Ghost’s own empire is steadily growing and expanding.
-Skyy Rincon
1. Kendrick Lamar – Rich Spirit
“Rich Spirit” is the seventh track on Kendrick Lamar’s long-awaited album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. Contributing to the more introspective and reflective tone of the album, this track features Kendrick Lamar talking about his own qualities. He discusses subject matters such as narcissism, morality and loyalty while also refuting the criticisms thrown at him. In lines like “Paintin’ Pictures, put me in the Louvre, that’s a definite” he acknowledges his skill as a songwriter while also using a play on words as Painting Pictures is an album released by Kodak Black who is a major feature on this album. The lyrics following it seek to point out the double lives of many celebrities and how they aren’t usually what the general public perceives them to be. Funnily enough, in the next line, he claims himself to be a trustworthy person with a “firm grip” which can connotate a dependable person but also could mean that he has a firm grip on the rap game and reality. In the next verse, Kendrick raps “Ask Whitney, she okay, nevermind a hundred K.” In this, he is referring to his wife Whitney. He says that he doesn’t care about money and will not care if he has to spend large sums of it (a hundred grand) to keep her and their relationship healthy. The track also features background vocals from Sam Dew in the chorus and an interlude which add to the haunting and ethereal sound of the track. Overall, the masterful production and lyricism displayed by Kendrick Lamar make this song the best one of 2022. The storytelling on it really sets it apart from the competition and Kendrick Lamar once again proves his skill as an emcee and maintains his status as one of the best rappers of all time.
-Aditya Rohilla
Featured Image Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna
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