Honestly, looking back at the music from 2022 feels like opening a time capsule that shouldn't be that old, yet somehow feels like a decade ago. It was a weird, transitional year. We were finally fully "out" in the world again, and the music reflected that chaotic energy. There was this massive shift where the "album" became a cohesive story again, rather than just a collection of singles for the radio.
When we talk about top hits 2022 album songs, we aren't just talking about catchy choruses. We're talking about the tracks that defined the cultural mood of a year that couldn't decide if it wanted to party or stay in bed and cry.
The Year Bad Bunny Owned Everything
It is basically impossible to discuss 2022 without starting with Benito. Un Verano Sin Ti wasn't just a successful album; it was a global takeover. You couldn't walk into a grocery store or a beach club without hearing "Tití Me Preguntó" or "Me Porto Bonito."
What’s wild is that Bad Bunny didn’t just have one or two hits. The entire album was the hit. According to Spotify's year-end data, Un Verano Sin Ti was the most-streamed album globally. It stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for 13 non-consecutive weeks. That's a ridiculous amount of time in the streaming era where most albums drop off the face of the earth after fourteen days.
"Moscow Mule" set the tone—chill, atmospheric, but undeniably danceable. But then you have "Ojitos Lindos," which showed a softer, more collaborative side that resonated with people who don't even speak a word of Spanish. It proved that the "Latin Explosion" wasn't a trend; it was the new status quo.
Harry Styles and the House Everyone Lived In
If Bad Bunny owned the world, Harry Styles owned the radio. Harry’s House gave us "As It Was," which was arguably the biggest song of the year. It’s a fast-paced, synth-pop track that feels happy until you actually read the lyrics. Then you realize it’s actually kinda sad. That duality is why it worked.
Why "As It Was" Never Went Away
- The Hook: That initial synth line is an instant earworm.
- The Nostalgia: It felt like a modern take on 80s A-ha or Depeche Mode.
- The Relatability: "Harry, you're no good alone" is a line that hit home for a lot of people post-lockdown.
But the deep cuts on that album like "Matilda" or "Late Night Talking" are what kept fans coming back. "Matilda" specifically became a massive "album song" hit because of its emotional weight regarding family trauma. It wasn't a radio single in the traditional sense, but it was everywhere on social media.
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Taylor Swift and the Midnight Mania
Then came October. Taylor Swift released Midnights, and the internet essentially broke. She became the first artist in history to occupy the entire top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.
"Anti-Hero" was the lead, and it was inescapable. "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me" became the caption for every self-deprecating post for months. But the real top hits 2022 album songs from Midnights were the ones that explored her "sleepless nights" concept.
Tracks like "Bejeweled" and "Karma" became massive viral hits. Swifties spent hours deconstructing every lyric in "Maroon" or "You're On Your Own, Kid." It showed that even without a traditional "summer" release window, a well-crafted album could still dominate the cultural conversation through sheer storytelling and lore.
Beyoncé and the Return of the Club
After years of more experimental or visual projects, Beyoncé decided she wanted us to dance again. Renaissance was a love letter to house music, ballroom culture, and Black queer history.
"Break My Soul" was the anthem for the "Great Resignation." Everyone was ready to quit their jobs and hit the dance floor. But the transition from "Energy" into "Cuff It" is probably one of the most celebrated musical moments of 2022. "Cuff It" specifically had a massive organic growth spurt on TikTok that turned it into a bigger hit than the lead single for many listeners.
It’s an album designed to be heard from start to finish. You can’t just listen to one song; you have to let the whole thing wash over you. It was a masterclass in sequencing.
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The Viral Outliers: Steve Lacy and Glass Animals
2022 was also the year of the "slow burn."
Take Steve Lacy’s "Bad Habit" from the album Gemini Rights. This song is a perfect example of a track that wasn't necessarily built for the top of the charts but got there because of its "DIY" feel. It’s lo-fi, soul-infused, and catchy as hell. It eventually hit number one, proving that the public was craving something that felt a bit more authentic and less "polished" by a committee of forty writers.
And we have to mention "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals. Technically, the song came out in 2020 on the album Dreamland. But it didn't hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 until March 2022. It took 59 weeks to get there! It’s the longest climb to number one in history. It defines the 2022 experience—a song from the past finally catching up to the present.
Kendrick, SZA, and the Emotional Heavyweights
While some were dancing, others were processing. Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was a dense, difficult, but rewarding listen. Songs like "N95" and "Die Hard" were the "hits," but "Father Time" (featuring Sampha) was the emotional core that people kept talking about. It dealt with "daddy issues" and generational trauma in a way rap rarely does.
And then, right at the buzzer in December, SZA dropped SOS.
"Kill Bill" became an instant classic. It’s a song about wanting to kill your ex—totally healthy, right? The vulnerability on that album, mixed with her signature R&B-meets-everything style, made it an immediate contender for the best of the year, even though it arrived so late. "Snooze" and "Nobody Gets Me" proved that SZA’s pen is one of the sharpest in the game.
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What We Get Wrong About 2022 Music
People often say that the "album is dead" because of TikTok. I think 2022 proved the opposite.
While TikTok definitely helped songs like "First Class" by Jack Harlow (sampling Fergie) or "Sunroof" by Nicky Youre blow up, the biggest successes were cohesive projects. People weren't just streaming a clip; they were living inside these albums. Whether it was the disco-drenched world of Lizzo's Special or the cinematic synth-pop of The Weeknd’s Dawn FM, we wanted a world to disappear into.
Actionable Takeaways for Your 2022 Throwback Playlist
If you’re looking to revisit the best of the year, don’t just stick to the "Global Top 50."
- Look for the transitions. Listen to Renaissance or Dawn FM in order. The way the songs flow into each other is half the art.
- Check the "B-Sides." Tracks like Taylor Swift's "Would've, Could've, Should've" (from the 3am Edition) or Harry Styles' "Keep Driving" often have more staying power than the radio edits.
- Explore the global sound. If you only listened to English-language hits, you missed half the story. Dive into Rosalia’s Motomami for some of the most innovative production of the decade.
- Support the "Slow Burns." Artists like Zach Bryan (American Heartbreak) showed that country music was having a massive "indie" moment with hits like "Something in the Orange" that didn't need the Nashville machine to succeed.
The music of 2022 was about reclaimed space. We reclaimed the dance floor, we reclaimed our emotional health, and we reclaimed the idea that an album can still be a cultural event.
Next Steps for Your Music Discovery:
To truly understand the 2022 soundscape, start by listening to Un Verano Sin Ti and Renaissance back-to-back. Notice how both albums use "genre-blending"—mixing house, reggaeton, and pop—to create something that feels entirely new. You can find curated "Best of 2022" playlists on Spotify or Apple Music that separate the viral "TikTok hits" from the critically acclaimed "album gems" to give you a more balanced perspective of the year.