tay’s favorite songs of 2022
music in the year of the lovers (pt. 1)
today, i present the first part of my year-end music lists — starting with the songs. i’ll give a little more context to many of these selections in part two, when i share the albums i had on repeat.
before i countdown the songs, here’s a review of my most-listened tracks of the year as analyzed by Apple Music and last.fm respectively.
after i reviewed both sources for just the songs that were released in 2022, i coupled this data with my personal sentiments to compile the following list.
from 22-1, here are my favorite songs from 2022.
“Magazine (feat. Salami Rose Joe Louis)” by Toro Y Moi
Toro Y Moi (Chaz Bear) has been a mainstay in my rotation since the early 2010s, so i’m always excited when he releases something new. with the single “Magazine,” the artist makes existential contemplation sound jazzy and cool with assistance from Salami Rose Joe Louis (a fave from my Soundcloud hunting days).
“Washed Away” by Kelela
just when the world needed her most, Kelela gracefully re-emerged with this healing balm of a song. i’m looking forward to her next album, Raven.
“Competition” by Amber Mark
Amber Mark gifted us the following positive words to live by in a world where there is room for everyone, despite the illusion of scarcity:
“This is not a competition
You are not the opposition, I just wanna see you win
Don't put me in this position
This is not a competition, come on, baby, let me in
Wanna be the greatest
Want someone to share it with
Oh, I feel like we can make it, I know that we can make it”
“Sold Me A Dream (Terry Tracksuit edit)” - Sam Evian, Mild High Club & Hannah Cohen
this song feels like blissfully drifting away on a cloud, or what i’d imagine that to feel like.
“Frequently (Summer ‘20)” by Elujay
Elujay strikes a fine balance here with a track that sounds so inspired by retro R&B, it makes you even more hopeful for the future of the genre. i wanna cruise to the beach to this song, while the sun beams through the sunroof.
“Matinee” by Smino & Kal Banx
there are a lot of things i love about this song, but mainly it’s the interpolation of “Da Butt” by E.U for me. Smino’s swagger remains undeniable and untouchable.
“Prester John” by Animal Collective
after 20+ years in the industry, Animal Collective has refined the art of teasing and delighting with an extended instrumental intro. and with any of their songs —“Prester John” being no exception— the anticipation draws you in, but you ultimately stay for the oft-zany, yet philosophical lyrics.
“Crazy Down” by LAYA
with her modern interpretation of two R&B classics, LAYA adds an extra sultry layer to Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” by mashing it up with “Crazy Feelings” by Missy Elliott featuring Beyoncé. also, her personal style and art direction? 10/10.
“Tomorrow 2” by GloRilla & Cardi B
what do Little Orphan Annie and GloRilla have in common? the unwavering hope of another day and all the possibilities it will bring. “Tomorrow 2” is just as inspirational as the show tune “Tomorrow” — but more in a “let your haters be your motivators” kinda way.
“Change” by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
if you’re familiar with the Gizzverse, then you know this Australian band’s catalog runs DEEP. i haven’t made my way through all of their albums, let alone the ones they released this past October. the operatic opening track from Changes has stuck with me since i first listened on a whim at 1 AM the day it released — and if you don’t think i’m the type of person to listen it to a 13 minute track on repeat multiple times in a row, you don’t know me at all.
“Age of Ascent” by Kokoroko
the title is absolutely spot-on; there’s something hopeful and triumphant about the way the horns rise and meld on “Age of Ascent” — it’s like a sonic coming of age.
“B-Side” by Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
you already know the vibes are exquisite here. also, try naming a more compatible music collaboration — i’ll wait.
“Leveled” by Durand Bernarr
this song make me feel like i’m in church listening to the choir sang down, mere seconds away from someone catching the Holy Ghost. from the runs to the depth of emotionality, Durand Bernarr ate good with this one.
“Compassion (feat. Chiiild)” by Lucky Daye
Chiiild has been on my radar for a couple years now so it was a pleasant surprise to see them collab with R&B superstar Lucky Daye. this song was one of many standouts from Daye’s 2022 album Candydrip.
“Through It All” by Lady Wray
i’m convinced that Lady Wray’s voice could move mountains, or to speak less hyperbolically, she could bring the most stoic, reserved person to tears. on this track, she details a mature and honest perception of romance — even the healthiest of relationships go through rough patches sometimes. and despite it all, she wouldn’t trade a thing.
“The Room (feat. Devin Tracy)” by Flying Lotus
some lovely backstory on this gem: Devin Tracy was so inspired by the anime Yasuke that he made a lyrical version of the song “Crust” (from the show’s score by Flying Lotus). and that’s how we got this heartbreakingly good track.
“Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy
it’s a rarity that a song goes as mainstream as “Bad Habit” did and i still want to listen to it. this bop is absolutely the exception; no matter how many times you’ve heard it, you just can’t deny how good it is. while i didn’t necessarily expect “Bad Habit” to be the breakout hit, i knew long ago that Steve Lacy had all the makings of a superstar.
“Your Mind” by Greentea Peng
you can always count on Greentea Peng to be a voice of reason and healing. “Your Mind” is a genuine conversation about honoring oneself and a reminder to stay centered above all.
“Stevie” by Warpaint
the ladies of Warpaint just have such a sensual way with words. in around 3-4 minutes, they can inspire you to reminisce over a highlight reel of your best moments in love & lust (or live vicariously through their lyrics).
“There's so much that I would really love to show you
Wanna hold and love and really get to know you
I'm your moon and stars through any kind of weather
You're the sun, I feel you forever”
“Invincible (feat. Daniel Caesar)” - Omar Apollo
the first time i heard this single, i knew it was gonna rank high on my year-end list. overall, the song is a sincere and transparent plea to be seen as you are — to be treated with common human decency in love, fame, and all other affairs.
“The Otherside (feat. Cold Diamond & Mink)” by Bobby Oroza
this song resonated with me so deeply as it spoke to the many waves of transition i found myself in this year; with my career, my sense of self, my relationships, my spirituality, etc. let Bobby tell it, glory and freedom wait on the other side of fear. personally, i’m done with being afraid.
“Skin Tight (feat. Steve Lacy)” by Ravyn Lenae
talk about a comeback! after a few years away, Ravyn Lenae beautifully returned with this lead single from her debut album Hypnos. the endlessly ethereal song quickly made its way into my heart and has been at the top of my list for months; i will be playing this ballad for years and years to come. then when you thought it couldn’t get even better, Lenae lifted us even higher into the clouds with the alternate version below. what an angel.
and that’s a wrap on my song list — i’m sure you know that it was difficult to narrow this list down to just 22 songs, so i’ll definitely include a longer year-end playlist when i share my album list tomorrow. last, but not least, here’s the handwritten list:
