Top 10 Best Hit Songs Of 2022

 Well, here we are. The very last list that will be posted on this site. Like I said in the worst list, words cannot describe how much of a wild ride this has been, and I cannot thank those that have stuck with me this long enough. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all of the support through the years, and I promise to make this as thought out and detailed as can be. As for the songs that are on this list itself, we have quite the amazing bunch if I do say so myself. 2022 provided us with quite the gems, and I was certainly spoiled for choice this time around. Before we begin, though, I would like to mention that no, you will not see Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) on this list. Not that it's a bad song, nowhere near it at all, it is actually fantastic, but while this year is its debut on a Year-End Hot 100 chart, the reason it won't be appearing here is due to the fact that it is still unquestionably a song from 1985 that really only got the attention and popularity it did in 2022 was because of its use in an episode of the Netflix series Stranger Things, and as such, I don't know, I just feel like placing it on this list would feel a bit like cheating. Still, though, make no mistake, it is absolutely fantastic, between the impeccable groove and damn near perfect synthwork, Kate Bush's amazing vocals, and lyrics that are a cry for there to universally be true gender equality through both men and women being able to see things from each other's perspectives, it really does deserve all of the recognition and appreciation that a show like Stranger Things was able to bring to some newer audiences who otherwise would've been deprived of knowing of its existence. You can pretty much consider it the unofficial #0 on this list. As for what I actually did consider eligible to land on here, let's waste no more time and get right to it, starting with......

10

Alright, I spent the last list thrashing pretty hard on this guy, but between the things he has said and done as well as a lot of the music he put out during the year, it's not like he didn't deserve it. That said, there were still times where his sensibilities for good taste were able to kick in, and yeah, one of them is making this list.

10) Song: Flower Shops
      Artist: ERNEST feat. Morgan Wallen
      Year-End Position: 96

     Yeah, for as much shit as Morgan Wallen got himself into, he was still able to show flashes of what drew people to him to begin with, and as stated in the preamble to this entry, there were two examples of such. However, where plenty of attention went to Sand In My Boots for how much of a genuinely heartbreaking, sympathetic tale it weaved on top of some beautiful instrumentation, it really does kind of unfairly overshadow Flower Shops, a song that, upon repeated listens, I've come to realize actually does the exact same things except ever so slightly better. Granted, that could be because Morgan is merely the featured artist here, playing second banana to the guy credited as the main artist here, ERNEST. Much like Niko Moon from last year, he had been a behind the scenes writer for some prominent country artists such as Sam Hunt and Chris Lane before deciding to step in front of the mic for himself. UNLIKE Niko Moon, ERNEST actually was able to provide us with something incredible. For starters, this instrumentation is beautiful. The softer drums, the more organic sounding guitars, and that keening pedal steel all sound so lush and convey just the right amount of sadness and melancholy for what the song is going for. On top of that, our two performers here each sing their tales of losing their significant other with such passion and emotion that you can practically hear the teardrops rolling down their cheeks as they try desperately to get them back. Lyrically, this is about how our narrators are coming to the realization of just how much they hurt their partners and will now do just about anything to win them back, even if it means they have to sink to the cliche of just getting them a bunch of flowers to make up for all they've done. It's simple, but the tone and conviction really sell the tune of just how remorseful these guys really are, and I also really like the dynamic of two friends in the same boat commiserating together and both wondering what the hell they're gonna do. It was a bit of a slow burn, admittedly, but once it hit, it just hit. Damn solid stuff. Also fun fact: this song holds the distinction of being the lowest peaking song to ever make a YE chart, lasting long enough to be one of the biggest hits of the year despite only getting to #64 on the weekly charts.

9

Alright, I think this artist has waited long enough to make one of these lists proper. She truly does make a lot of good music, and even if this is kind of an oddball pick, it's still no less deserving of being here.

9) Song: Get Into It (Yuh)
    Artist: Doja Cat
    Year-End Position: 68

     Look, I've always had a soft spot for Doja Cat. She's had plenty of songs I would happily consider complete bops, and while the Say So remix with Nicki Minaj might've understandably soured her on a lot of people as well as her association with a certain scumbag producer who shall not be named, plenty of her other hits have thankfully been more hit than miss. Songs like Best Friend, Kiss Me More, You Right, Ain't Shit, Streets, hell even Need To Know has grown on me a lot over the past several months, and this right here, Get Into It (Yuh), I would easily consider her best hit to date because it displays everything I love about her in terms of music all rolled up into one neat little package. A quirky and bouncy bubblegum-esque beat with synths and percussion that, yeah, are kinda standard in terms of the trap that is used for this kind of lightweight sort of party rap, but they really do add that buoyancy and energy that is the perfect amount of kick to at the very least get anyone bouncing in their seat when they hear this. Doja brings her trademark loose, passionate and energetic flows that have a ton of goofy non-sequitors laced throughout them where, ya kinda don't know what the hell she's talking about, but you're just kinda hopping along for the ride anyway because goddammit it's fun. Except, with this one, though, there is kind of a point to it as it's one big silly way of saying thank you to Nicki Minaj for the success that she was able to help Doja attain thanks to her hopping on the Say So remix. Again, think what you will about that version of that song (I personally am among the majority of people who think that version of the song sucks, the original is way better, obvs) as well as the various..."activities", let's say, that Nicki and the barbs have partaken in themselves, the fact of the matter is, had it not been for her lending a helping hand to Ms. Cat for that hit, the most of what a lot of people would've known of Doja would maybe be Mooo! and Juicy, if even those. It's a weird song, but it's the kind of weird that I for one embrace with open arms.

8

Of course this guy would be here again.

8) Song: The Kind Of Love We Make
    Artist: Luke Combs
    Year-End Position: 36

     Look, at this point, I think we all are able to acknowledge the fact that the more music Luke Combs makes, the better he continues to get. The guy just has an ear for organic instrumentation as well as making sure that he puts his all into whatever it is he's singing about. In the past, though, he's really only made lists like these of mine whenever he tackles more serious subject matter, so we're about to break that mold with him doing an upbeat sex jam, and no, you did not misread that. This song's premise is about as barebones as possible: Luke and his girl have been dealing with the stresses of life all week long, and now, to end things off on the right note, they're setting the mood, relaxing, and will relieve some tension by exploring each others' bodies as only they know how. It's simple yet oh so effective as Combs has an abundance of expressiveness in his delivery to show just how excited he is to finally enjoy the moments with his lover he's been waiting for. The production is bombastic, yes, but it also manages to capture just how much fire power the passion Combs has for his partner contains. The groove here is impeccable, and honestly, it reminds me a lot of Conway Twitty's cover of Slow Hand by The Pointer Sisters. Also, I can see how one would find the hook to be abrasive, but I actually really like how it shows off the release of all the tension that had been building up inside of them (in more ways than one, if ya catch my drift). So yeah, in short, Luke Combs knocks yet another one out of the park. Fantastic stuff.

7

And let's get an obvious pick out of the way......

7) Song: Something In The Orange
    Artist: Zach Bryan
    Year-End Position: 39

     I'll admit right now that one thing I have gotten really bad about lately is, when a song just starts to break on to the charts (assuming it does so at all), it will take me a buttload of time to actually sit down and really listen to it to try and formulate some sort of actual opinion of it. Even if a song is praised as being a gift from on high from several parties at once, it'll just be that for me: something I've heard is really good. Sadly that causes me to miss what might be some otherwise truly great songs, at least in time to root for them to become hits. Thankfully, though, every now and again, they do become hits, and when it happens, the stars just so happen to align, and I join that choir of praise accordingly. Such is the case with this song. It debuted on the charts, I had heard it was really good, but hadn't actually sat down and listened to it to see what all the hubbub was about. When I did, though, man do I see why people enjoy this one as much as they do because......hoo boy this one is heavy. This is a song that conveys the mindset of someone who knows the relationship is over, but is trying (and failing) to convince himself that things could still somehow manage to work between him and his now ex SO. However, no matter how hard he tries to delude himself, whether through begging, trying to forget, or even outright lying to himself, eventually, he always returns to his senses and has to face the harsh reality that it is, indeed, over between them. All of this is contrasted with the imagery of being out in the heat while the sun is setting, and it's warm, but definitely not a comforting warm. No, it's the kind of warm that is brutally excruciating where you're sweaty and sticky from head to toe, as if to symbolize all the guilt, shame and emptiness he feels from having someone so dear to him part without even a word to say. It's a gut punch in every sense of the word, backed up beautifully by the acoustic strumming and harmonica as well as Zach Bryan's vocals having just the right amount of grit and emotion behind it to sell it extraordinarily. What else can I say, magnificent song. Although I will say I did feel just a sliiiiiightly more relatable kind of anguish coming from......

6

Y'know, when this guy first broke onto the scene, I was wary of him and how far he'd go......but now I can't wait to see what he does next.

6) Song: Fall In Love
    Artist: Bailey Zimmerman
    Year-End Position: 54

     I'll admit, when I first saw Bailey Zimmerman's name first appear on the Hot 100, my immediate reaction was "okay, who is this fresh face?" Upon listening to his music, I could immediately tell he was going for a Morgan Wallen-esque style in both the sour lyrical content as well as the timbre in his vocals. That filled me with a sense of trepidation as, given how much shit Morgan Wallen has gotten himself in over the years (as well as a lot of his music just not being that good). But, thankfully, the more time has gone by, the more success he accrued to the point that I was inclined to check out his EP, Leave The Light On, which, to my surprise, actually ended up being way better than I expected. A theme throughout this man's tunes is how new he is to all the various emotions that come with relationships and all the ups and downs that come with them from beginning to end. It's dealt with in a way that, admittedly, is incredibly messy, sure, but in a way that feels real and lived in. I genuinely buy into the emotions this guy is putting on record and, in a way, kind of sympathize with a good deal of his plights despite having not been in a relationship myself, it's just that gripping. And with the exception of Where It Ends (which I personally consider his best song), there isn't a clearer example of what encapsulates the appeal of Zimmerman's music better in my opinion than Fall In Love. For starters, this instrumentation is rough and gritty in such a satisfying way. The guitars, banjos, and drums all give this a rock flare to compliment the outlaw country vibe of the track perfectly in order to give this song the gravity and bombast needed to sell the seriousness of the situation. On top of that, there's Bailey's vocals, and my god, this dude can sing. See, with artists like HARDY, the aforementioned Morgan Wallen, or even someone like Jason Aldean, it can almost sort of feel like they're forcing the amount of twang in their vocals needed so much so that it almost sounds phony, not helped by how checked out the delivery often is. Not an issue here, though, as although he's not the best singer there is, Bailey Zimmerman knows how to add just the right amount of warmth and emotion into his voice to convey the way he feels about what's going on in his songs. And here, all the anger just festering and bubbling before exploding at the moments it does fits perfectly with the content, which is about a young person trying to parse through his emotions after a breakup. He knows that the way he's acting is immature and not the right thing to do at all, but he's frustrated and doesn't know where to turn, so as such, even if he knows all his sulking won't get him anywhere, it's all he can do for the moment being. Cap all that off with an excellent guitar solo before the final hook, and you've got one hell of a tune. Great stuff, Zimmerman, can't wait to see what you do next.

5

......ALL HAIL OUR DISNEY OVERLORDS!!!

5) Song: We Don't Talk About Bruno
    Artist: The Cast Of Encanto
    Year-End Position: 24

     It is wild to think that in all of the years that Disney has been around, it isn't until super recently that the music from their movies were able to chart and become hits on the Hot 100. Sure, people knew their songs, incredibly well as a matter of fact, but a lot of what we consider the modern classics in terms of the music of the magical mouse corporation come from films only going so far back as the late '80s to early '90s, and even in regards to the songs from that era that actually managed to chart, they weren't even the original songs from the movie, but rather adult contemporary covers that, for the most part, sucked all the life out of them. Like, seriously, would you rather hear Hercules himself sing Go The Distance, or would you rather listen to the shitty Michael Bolton end credits version? The original? Yeah, that's what I thought. Anyway, then came along a little movie, you might've heard of it, by the name of Frozen. In addition to the movie itself being a smash hit, the song Let It Go became such a phenomenon that it was a hit in its original format, and ultimately was what woke the Mickey operators up to the fact that, when people wanna hear a song from a movie, they wanna hear the song from the movie, and thus, ever since then, the vast majority of the time when a Disney song hits the charts, it's the song in its original format. That brings us to the tale end of 2021 and Disney releasing their film, Encanto, an enticing film that deals with the topic of generational trauma and how the stresses of such can continue to have negative effects on everyone so long as the cycle persists. The movie centers around the Madrigal family and all of their members' (save for Mirabel) powers, one of whom being a main point of contention throughout, Mirabel's uncle, Bruno. He could predict the future, but that was something that...let's just say...wasn't always a good thing. This song is the magnum opus of the film, and for damn good reasons as, while not exactly a villain song in the traditional sense, it amplifies each of the ways that Bruno, whether intentionally or not, ended up making a prediction in regards to a family or town member that effected them in as negative a way as possible. He caused so much turmoil that, as a result of what happened, while nobody knows what happened to him (up to that point in the movie, at least), no one wants to speak of him or the power he wielded because even a cursory mention of him or what he did could bring all that bad juju rushing back to the forefront. This is all presented in a vibrant Salsa tune where it builds, rises, and swells, and while all of these people are listing their grievances with him, Mirabel just wants answers, although she ends up kind of regretting bringing him up to begin with as she probably wouldn't have otherwise. The production is amazing, everyone's singing is on point, the progressions and dynamics are mastered beautifully, and just, what else is there to say about this? Absolutely legendary tune.

4

So yeah, We Don't Talk About Bruno......except now we do gotta talk about him because he's one half of the next entry on this list.

4) Song: Smokin' Out The Window
    Artist: Silk Sonic
    Year-End Position: 41

     So I was finally able to get a copy of An Evening With Silk Sonic on vinyl, and while I was no stranger to the album prior to picking it up on that specific format, I knew deep in the recesses of my mind that if there was ever any medium that record deserved to be played on given the era of music it was hearkening back to, it was that one, and man alive did it enhance the experience. Every soulful note hit that much more once the needle dropped, and all the crackling and imperfections in sound quality only added to the experience. The album is a throwback to Philadelphia soul when it was in its prime with all of the warmth and invitation of anyone and everyone, regardless of background, to listen and enjoy. And while it was the lead single from the record that left the door open (for lack of a better phrase) for more songs with that type of sound to make a resurgence in the mainstream, it sadly looks as though that hasn't quite happened yet. The silver lining to that, though, was that the best song off the album was able to gain traction and become a huge hit as well, and wow, what a piece of music it is. And the strange thing is, in the hands of a less charismatic set of performers or, hell, probably in a different genre altogether, this probably wouldn't work nearly as well as it does here, if at all. The basic premise is that our narrator is in a relationship that, while it may have started off fine enough, the woman's true colors began to show once she began to take advantage of him financially without reciprocating any of his feelings towards her, either sexually or romantically. In others, well, I ain't she a gold digger, buuuut......I think I'll leave you to fill in the rest of that sentence. Anyway, as I was saying earlier, in any other song, this could've come off as really misogynistic and toxic in regards to how things were handled. The anger could've gone off the meter, and this could've been an ugly, unpleasant listen from start to finish. Thankfully, Bruno and Anderson had the good sense to not take that route and instead add some levity, almost as sort of an acknowledgement that, while it sucks what happened to him, at least he can breathe now that things are finally over. The real star, though, is the instrumentation and those vocal performances. The loose silliness combined with how silky smooth these guys sound, the lush strings paired with the guitar strums, synth beeps, and little interjections of horns throughout, it's a listen that is both a vibe and full of energy at the same time. Also, thanks to that pre-chorus, I can't help myself from going "THIS! BITCH!" at random points throughout the day sometimes. It's just so memetic. Do I know if we'll ever get any more Silk Sonic stuff in the future? That I am unsure of, but my god, do I hope so because these guys really know how to work their magic. Keep it up, fellas.

3

Alright, there, that's taken care of, now get out of here, Bruno, go, go, go, quickquickquickquickqui-oooooooh, heeeeeeey Luisa.

Say, uh, what's going on with your ey-oh yeah, sensitive subject, that's right, my bad.

3) Song: Surface Pressure
    Artist: Jessica Darrow
    Year-End Position: 53

     Yeah, where We Don't Talk About Bruno was the one that was given all the props and the accolades, if there was a song that resonated with me more than any other from this film, it was always gonna be Surface Pressure. I've spoken at length about my own mental health struggles before, but this song perfectly encapsulates what it constantly feels like to be at your wits end but having to just paint on a smile for the sake of the appearance of not only yourself but your family and their legacy. It tackles the fear of how even the tiniest of slips can cause the destruction of not only your life but that that of others and the toll that that can take. On top of that, what about your own happiness? You can feel yourself slipping away and starting to neglect your own health and well being as a result of having to constantly be at the beck and call of others, yet if you take even the teensiest amount of time to check in with yourself, you feel like you'll be nothing but a failure to everyone else around you, and consequently, yourself. WDTAB might've been the catalyst that really got the ball rolling on the main conflict of the film, but this was the song that really showed what kind of cracks would continue to lie beneath. And look, you don't have to tell me that this is not a perfect song because it isn't. Like, at all. But, to me at least, each flaw shown in the song only further revealed the true beauty it hid all along. It's overproduced and unstable as hell? Well, yeah, when you feel your mental state crumbling before your very eyes, it feels like your world around you is toppling beyond your control, and the sound of this song, from the tense synth hits to the blasts of trumpets, watery piano, and toppling percussion all provide wonderfully to that atmosphere. It's overwritten and way too clever for its own good? Well, that just goes to show just how much goes on in one's brain when they're overthinking things and are overwhelmed by the pressure of trying to keep everything together at all times. Jessica Darrow's singing voice isn't at its best? In any other song, that probably would be a problem, but here, it shows wonderfully all the shakiness and nerves involved when trying to express these types of emotions. And finally, it feels like a forced smile without any true release from any of this stress? I mean...do I even need to say that that's the exact point of the song? It is meant to show exactly what Luisa is going through at that particular point of the movie and how she feels as though she *can't* do that lest society view her as lesser than she really is. Now, some might be wondering why this is on the list instead of, say, Numb Little Bug. I'll admit, I like that one too, but it just came off as a bit too on the nose for what it was going for in my opinion, it just hit a little too close to home, whereas this I had no issues connecting with while still managing a good number of relistens out of it. It's not exactly gonna be everyone's cup of tea, that's for certain, but I'll be damned if it isn't a song I returned to a lot in 2022.

2

I have been waiting so damn patiently for this guy to have a YE hit, you have no idea. And to think, his presence and initial fame did not come from any of the type of music he takes today, but rather something that is the diametric opposite and, let's be real, isn't nearly as palatable as his current output is just...crazy to think about. But yeah, his music as well as himself are completely gorgeous. And thus......

2) Song: Glimpse Of Us
    Artist: Joji
    Year-End Position: 52

     Okay, a little background here. So, here we have one George Kusunoki Miller, better known today as Joji.He was born in Osaka, Japan and emigrated to the United States when he was 18, when his career was in full swing. However, it wasn't in full swing as Joji like it is today, but rather under a more recognizable and potentially infamous alias, that of course being one Filthy Frank. This was a character he created that he would use to make sketch comedy with, the aesthetic of these sketches being crude, abrasive, and as intentionally obnoxious as possible. Alongside this, he would make comedy music with a correlating character known as Pink Guy, which was actually the persona he dawned in order to help the Harlem Shake gain traction in 2013. He would eventually put an end to both of these characters in 2017, citing personal and health reasons as to why. Something he had planned to do since 2015, however, was make more serious music under the name Joji, which he finally decided to release his debut album under 3 years later and has since continued to chart ballads such as Slow Dancing In The Dark, Sanctuary, and Run. I gotta be real with you guys, I love this man's music. Sonically, it just hits every bit of my ears, brain, heart and soul with such an out of body experience that it really does capture every single bit of my attention in the best possible ways. And nowhere is that more evident than in his biggest hit to date, Glimpse Of Us. Up until this point, Joji's songs have always had a sense of grandiosity to them, as much effort as possible to make the song feel huge while still maintaining its core emotionality. Here, though, things are scaled back a bit, and wow, does it work wonders for what this one in particular is going for. The spare piano and muted synths ebb and flow to compliment Joji's angelic voice, and it fits like a glove. It is an ethereal, almost out-of-body experience just how well this works in terms of sound alone. But then we get to the lyrics, and man, is it a tearjerker. They detail that, while Joji and his ex have managed to find new partners since splitting up and going their separate ways, it still doesn't feel quite the same for him. Yeah, he's not exactly unhappy in his current relationship, but reality is rearing its ugly head that, in the end, it's just not the same. He and his ex had bonds and experiences unique to them that just can't be replicated. He knows that what he's feeling may not be right, but he can't help but long for what used to be, and as such, when he looks in his new partner's eyes, all he can do is try and see her in there somewhere and wonder if she's feeling the same way he is. He knows his efforts are futile, but he has nowhere else to turn, and as much as it hurts like hell, he has to face the music that she isn't coming back. It really is a gutpunch and a reminder to all that sometimes, even the good things don't last forever, and the ghostly backing vocals and synths right before the final hook really are the ultimate shot right through the feels. This one came so close to topping this list, but there was still one song that just managed to edge it out. And before we reveal what that is, let's take a look at one last batch of honorable mentions. Here we go.



Honorable Mentions


Song: Tití Me Preguntó
Artist: Bad Bunny
Year-End Position: 22

A song with a buckwild sense of groove and energy that morphs into the darker tones as the consequences of Bad Bunny's player attitude and actions come back and haunt him at the end. This one was just a blast to listen to through and through. Not much else to say, really.




Song: Easy On Me
Artist: Adele
Year-End Position: 4

A song that wound up cooling on me with repeated listens, and yet it's no less deserving of at least a mention. The beautiful pianos that complement Adele's pleas of forgiveness from her son over her and her husband's divorce that simultaneously cover the listener with a warm blanket of the hope that still lies ahead make it abundantly clear that Adele is here to stay, and we are all better off for that, without question.




Song: Bad Habit
Artist: Steve Lacy
Year-End Position: 28

This one is just trippy and borderline psychedelic in a way that is able to fuse modern r&b and the psych-rock of yesteryear seamlessly. Coupled with the lyrics lamenting of what could've been with a past partner, it's just really solid stuff. I dig it.




Song: THATS WHAT I WANT
Artist: Lil Nas X
Year-End Position: 14

I really wish I could've put this on the list proper, but don't let the fact that it's only here make you think it didn't hold up for me over the course of the year because it most certainly did. Everything I said about it last year is still true to this day, and it is an absolute banger. Keep on keepin' on, Montero.




Song: Numb Little Bug
Artist: Em Beihold
Year-End Position: 32

As I mentioned in the Surface Pressure entry, this is a song I respect more than I like, but don't get me wrong, I do definitely like this a lot. The jagged piano and Em Beihold's burnt out delivery lend a lot of weight to the lyrics of how much of a toll depression can take on a person as well as showing a good message of continuing to push through even as the antidepressants make you numb to the world around you. Didn't exactly get as much replayability as it did for other people, but still solid stuff. I'll take it.




Song: About Damn Time
Artist: Lizzo
Year-End Position: 12

A glitzy, bouncy disco tune about self-love after going through some pretty difficult times that finally gave Lizzo her second number one hit? Took long enough, or put another way...ah hell, you know the name of the song.




Song: Rock And A Hard Place
Artist: Bailey Zimmerman
Year-End Position: 70

Screw it, I can have both, and if Where It Ends had been a hit, it easily would've ranked incredibly high on the list, proper. Anyways, this is excellent, showcasing the run down, exhaustion that comes when your relationship with someone is at a crossroads, and all you want is some sort of relief, explanation, anything to make the pain go away. Pair it with some really good sounding and organic instrumentation and vocals that have their all put into them, and you have an absolute gem. God, I hope Bailey Zimmerman sticks around.




Song: One Mississippi
Artist: Kane Brown
Year-End Position: 99

You know, I've always kind of secretly had a soft spot for Kane Brown, and it really was a tough call between this and Like I Love Country Music. But in the end, this one just grabbed me way more with its ramshackle, high energy feel and the rush of just saying screw it and going for broke on going for something more than just a one night stand with someone. The rush, the adrenaline, everyone here sounds like they're having fun, and as a result, I do as well.

And now, the finale......

1

Look, figuring out my number one over the months for this particular year was no easy feat. At various points, any one of the songs that made the list could've taken the top spot. Hell, I figured the song I eventually put here would've just been relegated to an honorable mention if that. But then, towards the end of the year, as the months were truly begin to wind down, I sat down and gave it a proper listen all the way through, paying close attention to every detail, every nook and cranny of what went in to the final product, and it gripped and resonated with me in ways that I'm only now finding the words to describe it all. I've waited for this guy to truly wow me, and while he may have done so in the past, he certainly hasn't in the way he has with this. And thus.......

1) Song: Doin' This
    Artist: Luke Combs
    Year-End Position: 71

 

     If ever there was an artist that deserved the amount of success and accolades that he's attained in all the years that he's been performing music, it would be Luke Combs. Every single word this guy sings comes straight from his massive heart, and you can tell that when it comes to crafting his material, this guy does not fuck around at all. Very rarely are there ever times where he'll put out something that isn't of quality, or at least damn close to it. Gotta admit, though, that when it comes to songs that just hit me like a truck coming from him, I didn't think anything would ever be as glorious as this is, and it has now become not just my favorite song Luke Combs has ever made, but it easily has made its way into being one of my favorite songs in the genre of country. Period. Yes, even more so than Even Though I'm Leaving. Why's that, you may ask? Well, the reasoning is simple, and that is that this song carries a message that may seem simple on the surface, but it's delivered in such a way as to resonate and hit hard with as many people as possible while also pertaining closely with how Combs thinks and has come to be on a personal level. It tells of him being interviewed about various things in regards to his life and career when the big question comes up of "what would you be doing if you weren't as successful as you are now?" A question that, from an outsider's perspective, would seem like a pretty difficult thing to answer for. For Luke, however, it's a no brainer: he'd be making music regardless of whether or not it made him money? Why? Because it's what he loves to do. After all, that's how he made his way before he got famous, and so what would be the reasoning for suddenly quitting just because the cash and recognition ran out? But wait, does this mean then that he is unappreciative of all the fans and wealth and awards he's received throughout his years as an entertainer? Of course not. Even if he would've still been doing what he always did if he went nowhere, all the support he's received has only helped him to keep going, and it can only get better the longer he continues to persevere. And ultimately, that is what sold this song for me: the levels of passion carried within this song. The fact that he had the drive and know-how to never stop giving up on all his dreams and managed to continue to put in the effort to get to where he is today, even when times were at their absolute toughest, that is something I think we can all take a page from. So often, we see people in this world left and right giving up what they love and losing their enthusiasm for something they hoped for making into a living because they've been gaslit to believe that it'll simply never happen, but when you have a deep devotion to something, you keep going even in the face of all the naysayers because, hell, as long as you're not hurting anyone, what the hell do they know? This is a victory lap of sorts, sure, but it's sold with as much sincerity and warmth as humanly possible with the moody bass, somber guitars and guitars that absolutely roar for each of the hooks of this song. And while the song may seem somewhat tragically nostalgic for the times when Luke didn't have much, you can still hear the tears of joy in his voice and the gratitude being expressed for all that he was lucky enough to achieve making the music he loves. 

 

In fact, it was that love of music that is ultimately endemic of being the song to top this list in particular. I've been doing this blog for nearly a decade now, and it all started because of how much I truly adore the amount of variety that the medium has to offer, and the fact that a song that so openly expresses that passion being why someone like Luke Combs wanted to get into the industry at all just hit me like a ton of bricks. Hell, it even made me question for a little while if I was even doing the right thing by hanging my hat up on this thing entirely. But then I came to a realization: a love and a passion for something can take many forms. Even just listening to and supporting the ones in a similar field as you can be enough, and as such, while my days typing away on my keyboard on here have come to an end, do know that I will never stop being a fan of music. There's still albums to listen to and stream, CDs to listen to in the car, and vinyls to spin on my record player, and anything and everything that strikes my eardrums at any given moment, you know I will do my part in giving recognition to those that absolutely deserve it. I wanna give one last thanks to those that have read and given attention to these lists over the years, it really means more than you could ever imagine, and I will leave you all with this: even though I'm leaving, I ain't going nowhere. Take care, everyone. 

-Halston

Top 10 Worst Hit Songs Of 2022

 Hey guys, so can we chat for a hot minute real quick? So, I've been doing this for quite some time, and I have to be completely honest with y'all, my heart just isn't in this anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still adore music, and absolutely always will. Hell, this doesn't even mean that my affinity for those that review music has waned all that much either. That being said, though, for me personally, as you'll have noticed by now, the only real times these days that I come back to this blog are to give my thoughts on the best and worst of  what the current year had to offer. However, that has varied and changed so often, and many of those times are not documented on here at all. Hell, Heat Waves (which, fun fact, is the very first song to top a Year-End chart after having placed on the one from the previous year) has grown on me immensely to the point where I very much regret putting it on my worst list last year, and had it not been on last year's YE, it absolutely would've been eligible for my best list this year. All of that is coupled with just how hectic my own personal life has been between going to work, dealing with family matters, and handling my own mental health struggles. As such, this is the last set of lists you'll be receiving from me this year, and fair warning, this will easily be the most simplified and quickest worst list I've ever done. On the flip side, though, I don't wanna end things completely negatively as my best list will still be as well thought out and detailed as I have always striven for it to be because I want to be absolutely sure that things end on as positive a note as possible. Anyone who has stuck with me through all of this, you guys truly are the best, and that is something you absolutely do deserve. But, before we get to the good stuff, as always, we gotta wade through the shit, so let's begin.

10) Song: abcdefu
      Artist: gayle
      Year-End Position: 17

Well, this one soured on me in record time. I can understand making a cathartic "fuck you" anthem to some asshole who did you wrong, but there is a right way to do it, and this song does it oh so very wrong. For starters, the instrumentation is this rumbling guitar that has an admittedly pretty solid rollick in the verses, but then the hook hits, and everything just becomes this fuzzy clash of noise. Gayle herself is going for this snarl in her delivery, but the most her vocals can only convey an annoyed mumble at best, and her amateurish vocals are not doing her any favors. Top it all off with lyrics that childishly say "wah, you ended things, so now I'm gonna act like everything you do and anyone and anything (except for your dog for some reason) associated with you are pieces of shit as well," and no wonder this grated on so many people's nerves so quickly, my own included. NEXT!




9) Song: Wasted On You
    Artist: Morgan Wallen
    Year-End Position: 19

But hey, at least gayle never said the n-word. Look, there's already been more than enough discourse surrounding that whole situation, and I would rather not open that can of worms back up, but I will say that a lot of this guy's music tilting into outright crap certainly isn't helping matters. Much like the previous song, the guitars do actually sound pretty good and add some nice texture to the mix...which is then completely undercut by all the trap percussion and obnoxious amounts of bass that sound utterly terrible. None of it has any of the weight or heft needed to support Wallen's howling vocals. But then there's the content where Morgan bitches and moans that he's "learning the hard way again." Uh, dude, if you keep finding yourself in these sort of shitty relationships, maybe it's time to look inward at what you're doing wrong and actually make effort to change that, otherwise you're not learning, much less "the hard way." But no, he'd rather blame all of his problems on her in the most toxic, gaslighting way by essentially saying he regrets all the time, money, memories, etc. that he "wasted" on her. Fuck you, dude. Screw this.



8) Song: She Likes It
    Artist: Russell Dickerson feat. Jake Scott
    Year-End Position: 91

"She likes it when I OOOOOOOOH MMM MMM"
Worst two seconds in pop music this year, hands down, and the choppy electric guitar, tense bass, and limp vocals aren't doing any favors either.





7) Song: I Ain't Worried
    Artist: OneRepublic
    Year-End Position: 37

OneRepublic......why????? You were a band who, while not always making great music necessarily, at least made some decent tunes with serviceable instrumentation and at least an okay level of lyricism, and at your absolute best churned out gold like Stop & Stare, Counting Stars, and Kids. It is for that very reason that it disappoints me to no end that, in a desperate attempt to stay relevant, you play to absolutely none of your strengths with this garbage sellout single with flimsy production that has an irritating whistle shoehorned in, some horrible multitracking on Ryan Tedder's vocals, and content that aims to be triumphant and about living life to the fullest but ultimately just end up repeating empty platitudes and non sequiturs. Oh, and apparently this was the big hit from that new Top Gun movie or whatever. Did you care? No? Me either. What a waste.




6) Song: Enemy
    Artist: Imagine Dragons feat. JID
    Year-End Position: 15

But on the topic of bands wasting their potential, that's exactly what Imagine Dragons have been doing for years now, and Enemy is absolutely among the worst of their charting songs. Between the glitchy instrumentation that has no punch, groove, or any sort of texture that ends up a warping, malformed monstrosity, Dan Reynolds at his screechiest, and JID doing a cheap Kendrick Lamar imitation for his throwaway verse, no wonder everybody wants to be your enemy, man. Content wise, this is supposed to have some sort of connection to the Netflix series, Arcane, but all that's really here is some vague banalities about how the world is out to get the narrator in this song for......some reason. Completely pointless. I never had any interest in watching Arcane or playing League Of Legends, but even if I did, this song would single-handedly decimate it.




5) Song: You Proof
    Artist: Morgan Wallen
    Year-End Position: 27

Take basically everything I said about Wasted On You and multiply it a thousand fold here. The trap drums are even more overpowering, the guitar line is considerably weaker, and Wallen's vocals here have the effects piled on so heavily, you'd swear it wasn't actually him singing but rather an AI created to try and replicate his rasp. Lyrically, it's about how this woman was so bad to him during the relationship, that he now needs an alcohol so strong that its proof is just enough for him to drink her off his mind. Uh, Morgan, hasn't the booze gotten you into enough trouble already? Just an absolute slog of a horrendous mess. But speaking of horrendous messes......

4) Song: Unholy
    Artist: Sam Smith & Kim Petras
    Year-End Position: 98

Oh god, this one hurts. Sam Smith has made a bunch of music that I would say ranges from okay to absolutely fantastic, and for as controversial as a figure as Kim Petras is outside of her songs, within that particular realm, she has actually made a lot of songs that are quite enjoyable (even if they are produced by he who shan't be named). So I had hopes that this would turn out good, and oh my god, it did not. At all. For starters, neither artist's performance has any of the charisma needed to sell this story of a guy who puts on a veneer of a clean cut, faithful married man who secretly is having an affair behind closed doors. They're both incredibly flat, and for Sam themself to be nothing more than an outside narrator to Kim Petras playing the role of the mistress in question really undercuts any of the weight this song desperately needed to be able to hold its own. Put all of this on top of a clanking, bass heavy slog of a beat filled with tuneless synths and an atmosphere that's way too tense and uncomfortable even for this type of song, and you have a piece of music where the only saving grace is that it's mercifully short. Painful.




3) Song: Super Gremlin
    Artist: Kodak Black
    Year-End Position: 9

Enough time has been wasted on this sentient piece of human shit that I'm not even gonna bother, so all I will say is that this nasally dirge where Kodak Black bitches and moans about a former friend turning him in for all the crimes he's committed over a generic trap beat with a sparse piano melody isn't worth my time or yours. NEXT!





2) Song: Broadway Girls
    Artist: Lil Durk feat. Morgan Wallen
    Year-End Position: 81

The incredibly basic guitar melody and suffocating trap production alone would make this a candidate for this list, but what landed it so high was the fact that this is despicable on principle alone. Yes, this collab was Lil Durk's idea and was in the works well before the...... "incident" took place, but it still doesn't make the idea of Morgan Wallen teaming up with a rapper who's been getting big in recent times to try and make his image seem cleaner than it actually is any less disgusting to think about, and the final product turning out to be complete junk doesn't help either. And believe it or not, I wouldn't even say Wallen is the worst part, either, although his overly processed caterwauling and grating delivery being a career worst for him certainly doesn't help. No, that'd be the content, something both he and Durk fair incredibly poorly in regards to. This is pretty much a genderflipped version of Taylor Swift's I Knew You Were Trouble except with any of the self awareness that made that song's narrative at least somewhat work removed, and filling in the gaps, we have a bunch of pissy machismo and bitching that neither artist can credibly back up. All of the assumptions that these girls were "no good" and that they "should've known better than to mess with," yet that's just it, they're ASSUMPTIONS, and even if they weren't, these guys still made the conscious decision to hook up with them that night, and with neither guy willing to take accountability for their actions, all while begging for our sympathy, yeah, no that's not happening. So yeah, every single element of this song pissed me off, and for the longest time, it was a lock for my #1, but still, there was one song  that beat it out, and before we get there, let's rattle off some dishonorable mentions.

Song: Pushin P
Artist: Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug
Year-End Position: 48

The twinkly synths are kinda cool. Everything else is boring as hell. Also, "Pesbian"? Really Future?




Song: Trouble With A Heartbreak
Artist: Jason Aldean
Year-End Position: 88

Can Jason Aldean just, like, go away? Please?????




Song: Después De La Playa
Artist: Bad Bunny
Year-End Position: 78

Oh, I'm probably gonna get some pushback for this one, but I'm sorry, while I didn't mind a lot of the songs from Un Verano Sin Ti that made the year-end chart, this one soured on me in record time. Mostly due to how unpleasant those synths that open up the track are as well as the even worse salsa portion that takes over the second half. It just sounds so damn sloppy, and the swing of it just never felt right to me. Oh well.




Song: Big Energy
Artist: Latto
Year-End Position: 7

Just listen to Fantasy by Mariah Carey instead (btw, fun fact, that was the #1 song the week of my birth).




Song: Fingers Crossed
Artist: Lauren Spencer-Smith
Year-End Position: 75

The singing is amateurish, the instrumentation is a snoozefest, and the premise is childish as hell with none of the stakes to credibly sell it, but it was more in one ear and out the other, so I can't really get too mad at it.




Song: Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)
Artist: CKay
 Year-End Position: 55

The production actually isn't that bad, but the nasally performance and prolonged moan of the hook meant to represent this dude's orgasm absolutely destroy it for me. Just gross.




Song: Take My Name
Artist: Parmalee
Year-End Position: 82

Yet another plastic, badly produced and kinda clingy boyfriend country song whose only purpose is to take up air time, but at the very least, this one isn't nearly as morally reprehensible as Just The Way, so at least it gets some leeway in that department.




Song: One Right Now
Artist: Post Malone & The Weeknd
Year-End Position: 30

The production on this one actually has a pretty nice groove to it, but those lyrics are choc full of swaggering machismo and misogyny that is the biggest, most whiny "I don't care about you so I'm gonna write an entire song about it" thing this side of Shake It Off by Taylor Swift (yep, she's getting mentioned twice on this list, and both times with songs that others don't like but I actually think are pretty good. Sidenote: while it won't be making my best list, All Too Well is really good as well.)

Alright, with all the crap we've sifted through what could possibly be number one? Well......



1) Song: AA
Artist: Walker Hayes
Year-End Position: 61

Alright, I haven't really been all that nice to any of the songs on this list, but if there was one that was the absolute least deserving of my kindness, it would be this absolute pile of shit. Let me make this abundantly clear: I fucking HATE this song, and unlike many other critics I have seen discuss this one, I believe this is worse than Fancy Like by a considerable margin. For one thing, as even those who do think Fancy Like is worse will agree, AA has way more atrocious production. The suffocating bass, the looping, tinny guitar pickup that just rips through the track like a buzzsaw, and everything just sounding so fake and inorganic just adds up to nothing short of a complete and utter disaster. This is a cacophony of noise that is just flat out unlistenable. Walker himself didn't quite have that much charisma or personality on Fancy Like, but at least it's easy to tell what he was going for, that being the slick, easy going guy who is just so impressed with himself that he can please his SO without having to be so extravagant all the time. It felt corporate and lame, especially with all the unnecessary brand name drops, but at least it felt somewhat tenable. Here, he sounds so dead against how jaunty everything around him is that it just clashes horrendously. Where's the passion, the emotion, anything to signify that you're anything other than a soulless husk of a "country" artist who makes music for anything more than a paycheck? But no, what really sunk this song was the attitude of this song, and no, it's not just thee questionable line of how he's trying to "keep [his] daughters off the pole." See, the entire song is about how life is so stressful, and he's doing everything he can to avoid drinking himself to the point where he needs to go to rehab. Not a bad premise, and I can see how that could work against some more upbeat production to give it some sort of contrast and levity (provided it doesn't sound like shit, of course, which this absolutely does). Here's the thing, though: you can tell that throughout the song, Walker isn't doing this out of any genuine concern for his family or friends or even for himself, really. No, he's really just doing it so people would just get off his damn back already. If it were entirely up to him, he'd continue his destructive and, quite honestly, lazy lifestyle, but nooooo, everyone's gonna continue nagging him if he does that, so he may as well try and fix things, I guess. And really, it was that self-serving, breezy dismissiveness that sunk this song all the way to the bottom for me. I mean, why else would he be trying to keep his wife from figuring out how far down she married? It's this veneer of trying to improve that really pisses me off about the whole thing, which Hayes himself even undercuts that with the line "sometimes you just need a beer, can I get an amen?" So he's not even willing to commit to the fraudulent show he's putting on cuz, uh, Walker, I thought you were trying to stay OUT of AA. Yeah, no, this wore out my patience in record time. Worst hit song of the year by a mile. Final list coming soon, but until then, take care everyone.

Top 10 Best Hit Songs Of 2021

 Well, now that the garbage has been taken out, let's wash our hands and get to the feast that is the good this year had to offer. On with the show.

10

We start off with an artist who already made quite the name for himself a couple of years ago, but man, did he really sail above and beyond this year.

10) Song: INDUSTRY BABY
      Artist: Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
      Year-End Position: 24

     Lil Nas X is no stranger to controversy. Hell, that's the entire reason his breakout hit became the longest running number one hit of all time and is one of the biggest songs of all time to this day. And he continued that trend when he made his grand return at the beginning of the year with his second number one, MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name), what with the video and the Satan shoes and all that. He really knew how to game the system in all of the correct ways, and it was an absolute delight to see every single bit of it unfold. Then he released the video to this with a scene of him dancing with other naked men in prison being, big shocker, controversial. I'll admit, during the first few months of this song's popularity, I wasn't really into it and was fully prepared to put M(CMBYN) in this spot. But then it took the number one on the Hot 100, and everything flipped. I began to realize just how much stronger of a song overall this was than MONTERO. That one is good, don't get me wrong, but for as much controversy as it has drummed up, it also felt pretty...safe. Like, as much as it was an interesting song at the time, the charm kinda wears off after a while. Not so much with INDUSTRY BABY, it kicks ass, and it's damn near entirely due to that infectious as hell horn melody. Seriously, this makes me feel like I'm about to see some epic shit in a sports stadium go down, and those marching drums coming in every now and again definitely help. Lyrically, this is about proving the haters wrong and gloating about the success he earned, but it's all delivered with Montero having the time of his life and grinning from ear to ear with every word he says, and let's not forget how quotable there is. Seriously, M(CMBYN) might've been the first chart topper explicitly about gay sex, INDUSTRY BABY actively says, in no uncertain terms......

"I don't fuck bitches, I'm queer"

......fucking iconic. But you may notice that there's another name on the song. Yes, Jack Harlow is on here as well, and he's just as fiery as our main man here. He may not be as skilled or cool as Lil Nas X, but holy damn does he spit fire while keeping his laid back demeanor. Oh, and the clapping sound effects while he talks about sending this girl back to her man with his handprint on her ass cheeks never fails to amuse me. Overall, this is just fucking fun and shows that Montero Lamarr Hill is here to stay. What can I say? I'm down for that.

9

And now from the biggest new artist of two years ago to the biggest new artist of this year......

9) Song: good 4 u
    Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
    Year-End Position: 5

     Olivia Rodrigo is an interesting character in her own right. She got her start on the Disney+ series that is a spinoff of High School Musical literally titled, I shit you not, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (catchy name you got there). From there, like many Disney starlets before her, she decided to break out on her own and create her own music. Unlike someone like Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez, however, next to nobody knew who she was, so she may as well have been a complete unknown before now. She broke through in January with drivers license, a harrowing song that juxtaposes the freedom to finally drive against the sad realities that come with the breakup linked to it, however, it was the two singles that followed it that really set her stardom into motion. First up on the docket, we have good 4 u, and holy shit, she brought rock music back. Seriously, that muscular bass line against those drums that are compressed a little more than they should be but still sound really good time, and then that hook where the guitars just go buck wild with how much rampant energy they exude. Melodically, this is pretty similar to Paramore's Misery Business, and while not as good as that song, it's kinda hard to argue that this still slams all the same. Honestly, a closer comparison would actually be You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette for being a song where the emotions are held in during the verses with Olivia gritting through her teeth trying to force a smile before letting all of her anger and sadness out on that explosive hook showing just how upset she is that he moved on so quickly. It's petty and immature, yes, but 1) Olivia as well as the guy in question and his brand new girl are all teenagers, and 2) she's hit rock bottom mentally so hard that she doesn't know what else to do. It really is a pure shot of adrenaline, and given that our other option this year for You Oughta Know alternatives was Gabbie Hanna's godawful cover of that very song, I'll stick with this easily. So yeah, kickass song. Glad Olivia Rodrigo gave us this.

8

Yeah, we're not quite done with Olivia Rodrigo just yet.

8) Song: deja vu

    Artist: Olivia Rodrigo

    Year-End Position: 13

     So yeah, I avoided talking about this during the last entry, but yeah, good 4 you, drivers license, and this song are all part of Olivia's debut album Sour, which details the emotions of her breakup with co-star Joshua Bassett as well as the fact that he decided to leave her for other fellow co-star Sabrina Carpenter. The album explores the messy details about how said breakup unfolded and everything going on inside Olivia's head throughout the whole ordeal. While drivers license showed the sadness involved with her finally gaining the ability to drive amidst going down his street alone with tears in her eyes and good 4 u was the tizzy she was thrown into from him moving on so fast, deja vu explores another dynamic. Essentially, throughout the relationship, Olivia and her partner had a specific set of special things they would do together such as watching Glee, eating strawberry ice cream, and singing along to Billy Joel, whom he introduced her to by singing her Uptown Girl, and now, not only has he moved on, but he's now doing those same exact things with with new girl, making Olivia wonder if it really meant anything that they were doing those things in the first place. People have compared the premise of this to Want U Back by Cher Lloyd, but what makes that song fail lyrically and this one pass with flying colors is threefold. For one, Want U Back sounded like shit in terms of production and vocals whereas here, this is influence from the psychedelia of the mid-60's melded with an interpolation of Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift, and it sounds gorgeous from the shimmering keys and the roaring, fuzzed out guitar line blended with spurts of choppy drum hits, it's just amazing, and Olivia sells the song with a performance that ebbs and flows with the emotions it needs to perfectly. Second, Cher Lloyd just listed of vague nothings like going to "every restaurant" and asking if her ex "remembers all the things they did 'first'", whereas in Olivia's case, it's actual specific events where yeah, the fact that he's now doing those things with someone else does kinda severely cheapen whatever value those things had to her. Lastly, Olivia never flat out insults her ex and his new girl like Cher Lloyd did. She expresses sadness and is pretty torn up about it, but she also knows there's nothing that she can do outside of just look on and accept the fact that it's just a really bitter pill to swallow. Overall, I've enjoyed most of what I've heard from Rodrigo so far, and I hope she continues to further fulfill the potential I know that she has.

7

I mentioned in my worst list that I regretted not making Said Sum my worst hit of last year. Well, I also regret not talk about this guy on my best list last year. Let's fix that, shall we......

7) Song: Tombstone
    Artist: Rod Wave

    Year-End Position: 98

     Rod Wave is an R&B and hip hop artist from St. Petersburg, Florida that really struck a chord with people when he broke through last year, and it's not hard to see why. His soulful delivery coupled with the smooth instrumentation he's usually paired up with works wonders as they coalesce and create a really easy yet inviting listening experience. This one only barely managed to scrape its way on to the year-end list, but man am I glad it did because holy hell this resonates. In this song, Rod is dealing with the pressures of overworking himself so much that he is missing time away from his friends, family, significant other, and on top of that, the stress of everything happening around him as well as the people close to him passing away is taking its toll, to the point where he is now lamenting and taking solace in the fact that when the end of his life comes, he knows that he will finally be at peace with himself and won't have to deal with any of the negative effects of all the bad going on he can't seem to escape from while he's alive. It really is a crushing sentiment, and even though he's trying to keep his head up best he can, he knows just how bitter and miserable it's all making him, and you can almost hear the tears in his eyes through his performance. It's a heartbreaking tune, and the production consisting of that down-tempo guitar line, those backing choir vocals, and subtle tap of the snares really do their job phenomenally well. And yet, even with how depressing the subject matter is, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel, and that is that when Rod's time comes, despite having some misgivings about certain circumstances being beyond his control, he will still be able to say he did the best he could and worked to his fullest potential, so at least something satisfying came out of it. This is one of two songs I threw on whenever I felt my anxiety getting too high, and we'll get to what the other one was in a bit, but for now, absolutely beautiful song. Hope Rod Wave has many more hits after this.

6

Well, I finally get to talk about this woman on a best list proper. About fuckin' time.

6) Song: Thot Shit
    Artist: Megan Thee Stallion
    Year-End Position: 71

     Megan Thee Stallion is the latest female rapper to become big in the rap game, and holy hell, is she a breath of fresh air. She throws her all into her songs, and you can tell from the assertive, charismatic flows that have so much life and energy to them, the confidence she exudes when she's rapping, and just how well she's able to ride the beats she's given. With that, of course, comes the detractors and people who believe she's a blight on society for how brash and up front she is about her sexuality, but y'know what, the woman knows what she wants, and you can't blame her for knowing who the hell she is. This was that big middle finger to said detractors, and holy hell, it is marvelous. The jagged synth line paired with the mechanical percussion as well as some well placed clanking sounds, Meg being forceful with her flows while still maintaining so much control and riding it as well as she possibly can, and the lyrics are pretty standard flexing and brand names, but with the acknowledgement that she got her fame and success by being as confident in herself as she is, so she does not give a flying fuck who takes shots at her or tries to bring her down because it's simply not gonna happen. Not to mention all the quotables like her stopping at every mirror just to admire her own ass, saying she's the shit as noted by the recording academy (referencing the Grammy Awards she won for Savage Remix with Beyoncé last year), talking about how she was about to graduate, which she actually did recently with her degree in health administration from Texas Southern University, so that is awesome in its own right. Really, there's not a whole lot that can be said about it here. If you haven't heard it yet, I highly recommend doing yourself a favor and checking it out. It's a banger in just about every sense of the word.

5

Well, looks like the public as a whole for a while decided to travel back to 1973 for a period of time......can't say I blame them when this is the era they're returning to.

5) Song: Leave The Door Open
    Artist: Silk Sonic
    Year-End Position: 7

     Well, here was a pleasant surprise. It's no secret that Bruno Mars has been pulling off the retro pastiche shtick for nearly a decade now, so something like this coming from him isn't a shock at all. What is a shock, however, is that he was able to pull off this type of success with Anderson .Paak of all artists, who is an r&b singer who's been floating around in the underground for years just waiting to burgeon out yet never quite getting the recognition he deserves. That is, of course, until this year, when he and Mr. Peter Hernandez himself teamed up to form the superduo known as Silk Sonic, putting out an album full of retro throwback songs that fully embrace what made every aspect of the funk and soul scene of the 70s so inviting, and few songs are as emblematic of that as Leave The Door Open. This is just a really warm song, from the twinkling keys to the elegant strings, the light bass, everything about this just draws the listener in and is just enticing all around. As a matter of fact, you know what this reminds me of?

This is You Make Me Feel Brand New, a 1974 hit by Philly Soul r&b group The Stylistics. This is a song I have been listening to since late last year, a fantastic song about our narrator being incredibly grateful that his significant other came into his life and changed it for the better (think Glad You Exist but done right) over the most romantic sounding soul instrumentation of its era. LTDO's in a similar ballpark, though it's more about the two getting intimate with one another and the narrator doing whatever he can to make the girl comfortable with the acknowledgement that, if she isn't ready yet, that's okay too, but per the song's title, his door is always open. It really is a sweet song, even with how subtly not-so-subtle its lyrics are if you catch my drift. Excellent song, and it's not even the best on the album. Seriously, give An Evening With Silk Sonic a listen if you haven't already. You won't regret it.

4

Just......pure bliss.

4) Song: Good Days
    Artist: SZA
    Year-End Position: 52

     SZA is an artist who I've always thought was good but never quite great. She has a solid voice, that's for damn sure, but often times, her production, guest features, lyrics, and everything else surrounding her, while not being terrible most of the time, don't quite live up to the raw talent she is putting on display. I will say, though, that when she hits, she absolutely hits, and Good Days hits big time. The reverb soaked guitar line set against the enveloping bass and nature sound effects, and SZA's cooing meshing wonderfully with the surrounding elements, it's just so peaceful and elegant, and the more vocoded choir vocals in the background only add to its blissful nature. It's just a very relaxing song to get lost in, and that fits incredibly well with the content. This is about how, in spite of how bad the world around her gets, SZA is still gonna do her damnedest to find her center, clear her head of any negative energy, and knows that, for as many days where she's on the verge of losing her sanity, the light at the end of the tunnel will eventually come, and when it does, all of her worries will be gone. It's a simple song, but the execution is flawless. Let's be real, we've all had days where the world around us feels like it's falling apart, especially with recent events that have been going on for the past couple of years, but as long as we can keep our calm and just do our best to remember that isn't the end of the world quite yet, we'll be okay. Really, this is a song that's all about its atmosphere, and that's where it excels in absolute spades. Any time I needed to relieve some tension, I threw this song on and all of my muscles and nerves instantly lost any extraneous weight and stress put on them. There really isn't a whole lot more to say about this. SZA has always been good at making this kind of more laid back type of r&b that is easy to vibe out to, and this might be her most vibrant effort to date. Fantastic song, hope to hear more like it going forward.

3

My opportunity to talk about this guy in full kinda passed three years ago. Why don't we start that over, okay?

3) Song: Starting Over
    Artist: Chris Stapleton
    Year-End Position: 53

     Now here is something that has been missing from country music for a very long time: just some down home, rootsy southern comfort a la the more folk and bluegrass inspired side of the genre, and who better to deliver just that than our wonderful long haired, magnificently bearded friend, Mr. Chris Stapleton. He had been behind the scenes writing and providing backing vocals for some of the most notable country hits for years, but in 2015, he decided to finally step in front of the mic for himself with his debut album, Traveller, which contained his cover of the country classic Tennessee Whiskey, and instantly, he was a hit. His popularity only continued to grow over the years until finally he was able to achieve a solo YE position in the form of the title track to his fourth studio album, Starting Over. This is just a really sweet tune. The organic acoustic textures washing over the light, sandy percussion provides a nice backdrop for Stapleton's rougher and yet more sentimental vocals to absolutely glide through the instrumentation like a butter knife. This is the sort of stuff the more laid back, neotraditional country hits of the '80's and '90's were made of, and it is what heaven sounds like. Lyrically, this is about moving on with your life and going with your significant other to start anew in a completely different location and environment than you're used to. It details that, yes, it will be scary at first, and there will be trials and tribulations to face, but it's also gonna be exciting to take on the new horizons that await. This is something that just about anyone can relate to, even outside of complete relocation. Sometimes, starting a new chapter in life induces levels of anxiety so high that you have no idea how to face them, but at the same time, you can't keep running from them, and once you find your footing, the sailing can only get smoother with the passage of time. After all, it's like Chris says himself, nobody wins afraid of losing. And the fact that there's also the reassurance that he'll be there for his partner as much as she is for him is just the cherry on top. It really is an awe inspiring song, and I look forward to what Stapleton has in store for us all in the future. Well done, sir. You've certainly earned my respect.

2

For fucks sake, someone just hug her already.

2) Song: Happier Than Ever
    Artist: Billie Eilish
    Year-End Position: 94

    (TW: this section will contain mentions of grooming, abuse, and manipulation of a minor, so if any of that is too uncomfortable for you to read or brings back any traumatic personal memories or experiences, if you feel the need to skip this and just go directly to the honorable mentions and my number one, please don't hesitate to. I will not judge at all.)

     So on top of dealing with the pressures and fame and the detriments that constantly being in the spotlight can bring, it turns out Billie Eilish is equally as capable as talking about relationships she's had in the past, be that for better......or in this case, definitely for worse. Yeah, there's no dancing around this: so in February of this year, a documentary was released about Eilish herself, in which she revealed that, while she was only 16 years old, she was dating someone who was 22 who she refers to as "Q." I'll be honest, I didn't see the documentary, but hearing that only made me worry for her even more, and of course, it was incorporated into her latest album, of which this is the eponymous track. Before this, she had released the single Your Power, which tells him to be careful as he can only get away with his bullshit for so long as well as detailing the hurt that such an experience has left her with. It's a horrific experience that nobody should have to go through, and it's uncomfortable, but the execution was spot on and laid out what needed to be said really damn well. Then, she followed it with this, and while Your Power tackled the root issue head on, this one goes over every other way in which he abused her and made several efforts to control her every move. It starts off slow with this melancholic ukulele line, and Billie almost whispering how, now that she is apart from his tactics and schemes, she can finally be at piece. Everything seems right. Almost...a little too right. That is when something snaps. Suddenly, the soft ukulele turns into a chugging guitar riff, Billie's willowy tone becomes a lot more of a reverb tinged snarl, and out of the blue, he drunkenly decides to call her. He wants back in her life, but she is not having it. Everything crashes at once, the guitars become blown out, and Eilish just rips into this guy about every which way in which he manipulated her, disregarded her feelings, gaslit her, never showed up on time for things they planned to do together, and overall just made her feel worthless. It had been building up for a while now, and this is the soda-exploding-out-of-the-bottle-after-being-shaken moment that had been that agonizing for her to deal with for so long. So for her to just shout the fuck out all of her anger and frustration in order to finally feel like she's free from his grip is cathartic as hell. Again, this is something I hope nobody ever has to go through, and thank god that, at least for Billie, the worst of it is over. So you may be wondering: what could be better than this absolute masterpiece? Well, I think you know what happens now before we tackle that beast.




Honorable Mentions

Song: EVERY CHANCE I GET
Artist: DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Year-End Position: 59

An absolute banger with booming, bright production, energetic flows from both Lil Baby and Lil Durk, and lyrics celebrating their come up in the most fun way possible. Both of these artists have been on quite the winning streak lately, and the fact that DJ Khaled, of all people, was able to help them achieve further success truly is amazing. Well done to all of you.




Song: Streets
Artist: Doja Cat
Year-End Position: 67

This is the type of song I wish Doja Cat would make more often. She has so much talent, and aside from Need To Know, all of her hits from this year prove that. Ultimately, though, I went with this one for how much that deep bass sucks me in, the 90's feelings emanating from those synths and that sample, and a top notch performance from Doja herself in both her cooing vocals and assertive tone when rapping. Quality stuff.




Song: Anyone
Artist: Justin Bieber
Year-End Position: 74

Yeah, Biebs is getting mentioned on both lists this year. While Justice wasn't a great album, or even that good of an album, really, it did have its moments, and Anyone is a prime example of that from the popping production that creates this atmosphere that envelops without being too overwhelming, Bieber actually sounding fairly decent, and while it is a pretty stock love song, it manages to elevate it surprisingly well. So yeah, I'm on board.




Song: Levitating
Artist: Dua Lipa
Year-End Position: 1

That's right, your eyes are not deceiving you, it's not on the list, though believe you me, that is only because I ran out of space. This is Future Nostalgia boiled down to its essence with its melding of disco throwback and outer space and futuristic production as well as Dua's effortless and bubbly delivery, it really does feel like I'm floating in mid air while I'm dancing. Man, the good stuff from this year was just that good.




Song: Take My Breath
Artist: The Weeknd
Year-End Position: 89

I like Save Your Tears (both the original and the remix) just fine, but I dunno, I got pretty tired of it after a while. Take My Breath, on the other hand, grew on me immensely. Yeah, yeah, it does all the things you'd expect a throwback song like this to do, but goddammit it does them so well. I'm just a sucker for these types of sharp grooves and bright, glittery synths. I'm not even gonna try to hide my biases there.




Song: Todo de Ti
Artist: Rauw Alejandro
Year-End Position: 100

This is a funky throwback jam with a tight groove, energetic performance, and lyrics about picking up a girl at a roller rink. So it's basically Skate by Silk Sonic.




Song: Leave Before You Love Me
Artist: Marshmello & Jonas Brothers
Year-End Position: 63

Dammit, this year was excellent for songs with great grooves. Seriously, how do you make something sound so tinny and yet so perfect? Not something I expected from Marshmello, but this is a nice change of pace for the guy, and the Joe Bros don't do too shabby of a job themselves as they give heartfelt performances centering around parsing out their own insecurities and inability to commit. I dig it.




Song: Beggin'
Artist: Mäneskin
Year-End Position: 66

Okay, look, I understand it isn't too popular to like this song (or at least this version of this song), but what can I say, Mäneskin knocked it out of the part with this one. Consistent, pulsating guitar melody, Damiano David's singing, while not exactly the easiest thing to get behind I understand, is gritty and as desperate as the song calls for, and I even like the adaptation of the rap verses from Madcon's version of the song. I get the hate, but personally, I just have a blast listening to this.

Now for five top 20 hits from this year that would've been eligible for this list had they made the YE.

Song: Skate
Artist: Silk Sonic
Peak: 14

This is a funky throwback jam with a tight groove, energetic performances, and lyrics about picking up a girl at a roller rink. So it's basically Todo de Ti by Rauw Alejandro.




Song: Hold On
Artist: Justin Bieber
Peak: 20

Another high point of Justified. That. Fucking. Groove.




Song: 7 Summers
Artist: Morgan Wallen
Peak: 6

Y'know, it really is a shame Wallen had to destroy a lot of the good will with what he did in the beginning of this year because he really did have potential, and a beautiful, wistful song like 7 Summers looking back at a past relationship and wondering what could have been with a somber guitar line contrasting wonderfully with Morgan's raspier voice really is something. Hopefully he makes amends for what he did and comes back because the man is talented. He just needs to clean up his act.



Song: THATS WHAT I WANT
Artist: Lil Nas X
Peak: 10

This is the sort of frantic, anxiety-ridden energy that Lil Nas X pulls off effortlessly, and with the incredibly hyper and melodic production as well as the guy putting in one of his most emotional and expressive performances to date, this easily would've made the top 10 if it made the YE.




Song: Your Power
Artist: Billie Eilish
Year-End Position: 10

This is an emotional song with gentle acoustics, a hushed, tearful performance, and Billie essentially telling the person that groomed her that if he doesn't get his shit together soon, everything he's gotten away with thus far is gonna come back and bite him in the ass. Just, fuckin'......somebody, anybody, PLEASE HUG HER ALREADY!!!!!!

And on that note......

1

This is kinda gonna be a difficult one to explain. I mean, the album it's from wasn't too well received, and even this song in particular has its naysayers, and thinking about it for an extended period of time kinda makes it a little easier to see why. However, if there was one song from this year that I kept returning to again and again and again, it was this one, and y'know what, I'm gonna do my best to fight for it and make my case for this being at the top. So, my favorite hit song of the year is......

1) Song: my ex's best friend
    Artist: Machine Gun Kelly feat. blackbear
    Year-End Position: 23

     Machine Gun Kelly is someone who, for the longest time, was one of the least respected artists in the rap game, and for damn good reason. His flow sucked, he was almost always saddled with production that was an absolute slog to get through, and a lot of what he was saying was what we had heard before done way better elsewhere that just flat gave none of us anything to work with. It all came to a head when he released Rap Devil, a song that, while I still have no strong opinion of to this day, is classified by many, myself included, as the song that killed his rap career, mostly for daring to even try to be a diss to Eminem. While Em's trajectory hasn't exactly been the greatest either, when he put out Killshot, just about everyone came to the collective conclusion that MGK's rap career was pretty much done for. And as it turns out, we were right. Not quite in the way we thought, though, as not long after Em put out Music To Be Murdered By, an album that, while it had its high points, had some excruciating low points as well, MGK put out his own album, Tickets To My Downfall. This album wasn't just a pivot, it was an entire genre switch up as he went full on punk-rock ala bands like Sum 41, Green Day, and blink-182, that last one in particular considering he consistently worked with their drummer, Travis Barker, to make this album. The album received mixed reviews with many saying that MGK making this sort of disposable rock trash wasn't authentic enough, but I dunno, I found myself returning to it a fair bit, mostly for how much it leans into the overcompressed melodrama most of the music reminiscent of the era it's hinting back to had to offer, and my ex's best friend exemplifies this perfectly. For one thing, that guitar melody, while incredibly basic and, again, overcompressed, has just enough manic energy to really get my blood pumping, and it blends incredibly well with the consistent drum groove from Barker as well as the trap skitters scattered throughout. On top of that, MGK shows that while he isn't that great or really even all that good of a singer, he still has the right amount of control and tone to show off the raw emotions that are displayed in what he's saying by showing the conflicting emotions that come with falling in love with someone who was the best friend of someone he used to date where things were messy and ended on a sour note. Hell, even blackbear sounds good here, basically playing the role of the side of the guy who is flat out telling the ex in question who, after hearing about the relationship, now wants to come back into his life, and he is having absolutely none of it. He concedes that while his hands aren't entirely clean in the situation either, he still wants nothing to do with her even if he's gonna be dating someone who's close friends with her. It's a bitter and angry song, and yet it has just enough of an edge and bite to it to be cathartic as all hell. And ultimately, that's why it's topping this list as, anytime I had any sort of negative emotion that I just had to get out in a quick and easy burst, I put this song, bloody valentine, and forget me too on and it did the job instantly. Starting Over and Good Days were maybe the healthier choices for that, but they were more for vibing out and getting lost in them, but sometimes, I don't wanna get lost. I want something as reckless and trashy as I feel like in that moment and just jam the fuck out. Favorite hit song of the year for me, hands down. As always, I hope y'all have a merry Christmas, happy New Year, and may you all stay safe. Take care.