As the world finally begins to open up again following a flurry of COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s heartening to see how 2022 is inviting musicians of all genres to unmask and share joyous and celebratory music for us all to enjoy. From the cathartic rock’n’roll return of Liam Gallagher to the much-acclaimed comeback of electro-pop innovator The Weeknd, in just four months we’ve been treated to a veritable feast of diverse sounds that have done wonders in inoculating us against the misery of the past few years. Helping us bask in the love of new music, here is our list of the best songs of 2022 so far…
Listen to our Chart playlist here, and check out our best songs of 2022, below.
10: Charlie Puth: Light Switch
New Jersey-born viral sensation Charlie Puth has built a hugely strong TikTok following across the past year, teasing his fans with behind-the-scenes glimpses into his songwriting process. After getting 20 million views in less than 24 hours upon sharing a short snippet of Light Switch, the much-anticipated song was released in full in January, accompanied by a quirky music video in which a bearded Puth is put through his paces by a spandex-clad personal trainer. A sparky little fuse bomb that ignites 80s pop nostalgia and is illuminated by Puth’s R&B-tinged falsetto, Light Switch became an instant hit that peaked at No.27 in the US. With its music video reaching almost 50 million YouTube views in just two months, the single wasted no time at all in asserting itself as one of the best songs of 2022. “I’m so excited, I’m very proud of this,” Puth said. “I know it’s been a very, very long time since I put out music, and it’s all come to this.”