Culture Fix’s Top 40 Singles of 2022

We should stress that these are in absolutely no order, because of the sheer incomparable eclectic bunch of cuts which made our highlights of 2022.

Loreen – Neon Lights

Loreen returned with Neon Lights – a juicy synthpop banger, one of 2022’s surprise delights. Hopefully Loreen sticks with this sound for her Melodifestivalen entry Tattoo.

Sigrid & Griff – Head On Fire

Buoyant pop from Sigrid and Griff in Head On Fire – an intoxicating treat that highlighted the empowering appeal of both songwriters.

Omar Rudberg – Moving Like That

The Young Royals star made a surprise Melfest return on irresistible Latin pop jam Moving Like That. This big party number could have seen Eurovision return to Sweden, but sadly the Swedes thought differently with this not qualifying for the main Melodifestivalen final – a move that still leaves us scratching our heads.

Alvan & Ahez – Fulenn

French electronic musician Alvan collaborated with vocal trio Ahez on Fulenn, a fiery attitude packed Breton number that stood as an underrated gem of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.

Calum Scott – If You Ever Change Your Mind

British singer-songwriter Calum Scott returned with his triumphant Bridges album, one of the jewels of which was the touching, vocally impeccable If You Ever Change Your Mind.

Shania Twain – Not Just a Girl

A taster of things to come from Shania’s Queen of Me album, the title track from her documentary Not Just a Girl blended the feel-good empowering country pop sound that the Canadian songstress does so well.

Kygo ft. DNCE – Dancing Feet

Joe Jonas side-project DNCE returned with a smattering of new singles in 2022 – the strongest of which was shiny dancepop gem Dancing Feet with DJ and producer Kygo.

We Are DOMI – Lights Off

Stellar electronic dance music was on the menu from the Czech Republic’s We Are Domi in their Eurovision entry Lights Off – an underrated classic from the 2022 contest.

Carly Rae Jepsen & Rufus Wainwright – The Loneliest Time

A collaboration that no one was expecting, Carly Rae Jepsen and Rufus Wainwright delivered shining lovelorn disco-soul on the magnetic The Loneliest Time.

Björk – Atopos

Acid soaked visuals, frantic beats and disorientating vocals combined on Björk’s earthy magic mushroom trip Atopos.

Brooke – That’s Rich

Irish chanteuse Brooke delighted with defiant girl-pop gem That’s Rich brimming in attitude and swagger. Bye bye fool!

Jessie Ware – Free Yourself

Joyous nineties house was served up by Jessie Ware as she bridges her What’s Your Pleasure era with her upcoming new album.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Wuh Oh – Hypnotized

A standalone collaboration from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and producer Wuh Oh saw the pair provide the sort of icy club banger that Sophie does so well.

Jodie Harsh – Good Time

Jodie Harsh presents a contemporary club anthem packed with bouncing synths, delicious electronic production and epic drops.

Andreas Wijk – Free Fallin’ Love (With You)

One of Sweden’s best kept pop secrets Andreas Wijk impresses with Free Fallin’ Love (With You). Andreas captures the woozy dreamlike adventure of new love. Delivering a vocal packed with a sincere emotional conviction, Andreas shines on the undeniably catchy pop hook with the track’s spirited chorus.

Alvaro Soler & Nico Santos – Candela

Spain and Germany represent on Alvaro Soler and Nico Santos’s latest collaboration Candela – a raucous high energy Latin party anthem.

STEPS – Hard 2 Forget

British pop heroes STEPS celebrated twenty-five years of musical delights with their Platinum Collection, featuring two new covers – Hard 2 Forget and The Runner. The former captured STEPS as the masters of reinvention delivering impeccable vocals atop grandiose pop production.

OREN – In Your Head

Rising talent OREN crafts a woozy electronic pop affair that bounces with springing synths, seductively charming vocals, and soundscapes that feel both introspective and exuberantly confident.

Tom Aspaul – Let Them (It’s All Love)

Let Them (It’s All Love) sees Tom’s silky vocals dance atop highly-charged Europop inspired production with synths and drum-beats that pay tribute to nineties and early-noughties pop classics.

Orville Peck – C’mon Baby, Cry

Orville packs woozy nostalgic country flavours in this melancholic Roy Orbison style country ode to heartbreak.

HRVY – I Wish I Could Hate You

I Wish I Could Hate You sees the twenty-three year old’s soulful vocals come into the fold against smooth, dreamy percussion before channelling its indie-pop flavours in the mixed instrumentation of its chorus.

Sam Ryder – Space Man

Vocal might, rousing production and the sheer infectious joy that Sam brought turned the UK’s fortunes round at the Eurovision Song Contest on the powerful midtempo Space Man.

Ochman – River

With lyrics which he co-writes with Ashley Hicklin, Ochman’s River is a dramatic mid-tempo track produced by Adam Wiśniewski and Mikołaj Trybulec. Ochman sings the track in English with stirring emotional lyrics: “Gonna take my body down right down down / Down to the river / Gonna take my body down…” conjuring up at atmospheric musical creation.

Andrew Lambrou – Electrify

Rising pop heartthrob Andrew Lambrou delivered a fiery performance on the Australia Decides stage with his banger Electrify. The result was a hot club treat that fused English and Spanish vocals against pounding electronic production. And let’s not even talk about when he strips down to his vest.

Måneskin – Supermodel

Fusing raw rock vocals with pop-rock, Måneskin veered into a fiery new territory with addictive Max Martin collaboration Supermodel, performing the track at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest and launching new album Rush! behind it.

Markus Riva – Lose Myself

We dubbed Markus’s Lose Myself a career best track back for the Latvian stud in June and we stand by this. On Lose Myself, Markus sings “I just want to lose myself tonight, I just wanna dance with tears in my eyes…” against pounding electronic club beats. Like all the best songs about the dancefloor, they shine when tinged with a sense of bittersweet emotion and Markus crafts this atmosphere beautifully on the track.

Michele Morrone – Player

With a pounding bassline and near Mediterranean inspired production layered with sharp electronics, Italian hunk Michele’s gravelly vocals sit nicely atop the varied musical tableau. Player follows previous singles Beautiful and Another Day which the heartthrob also released through Universal Music Germany. 

Blue – Haven’t Found You Yet

Radio friendly pop was on the menu for Haven’t Found You Yet, the comeback single from British pop talents Blue.

Max Barskih – Before We Say Goodbye

The handsome Ukrainian star sounds wonderful on the track which conjures up a charming sense of romance alongside some elegant pop production and his always perfect vocal delivery.

Darin – Satisfaction

Packed with a sense of funkiness that recalls George Michael’s output, Satisfaction shines with Darin’s smooth liberated vocal and a variety of hypnotic production effects which draw into this scintillating pop paradise. 

Louise – Super Magic

Super Magic draws influence from classic R&B-infused pop and funk with hints of Janet Jackson and Prince’s inspiration on the track, continuing to assert Louise as one of the UK’s top pop sweethearts.

Ruben – Cry You a River

“I’ll cry you a river for your love / Make myself a sinner if you want / Say you need me and I’ll run for you / Come undone for you, set the sun for you…” Ruben croons against electronic percussion, serving an absorbing vocal that draws us into this tale of romantic longing. Lars Kristian Rossnes and Benjamin Pinkus produce the track, crafting a moody electronic soundscape.

Tom Grennan & Joel Corry – Lionheart (Fearless)

Producer Joel Corry and vocalist Tom Grennan delighted on Lionheart (Fearless), a swaggering and empowering slice of pop that combines Corry’s slick high-energy production and Grennan’s raw, rocky vocals.

Toyah – Slave to the Rhythm

After originally recording the demo of the track popularised by Grace Jones, Toyah lays down a polished studio version of Slave to the Rhythm. The British rock queen soars on the number which pairs her distinctive vocal with grand orchestral production.

Denise Van Outen – From New York to LA

Denise’s cover of this 1976 disco number is a sweeping dance delight packed with feel-good vibes as it celebrates the glamorous night life worlds of New York and LA. With a classy instrumental packed with silky strings and smooth instrumentation, Denise sounds flawless on the track with her powerful vocals helping her shine as a true disco diva.

Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys – The Purple Zone

British synthpop icons Soft Cell and Pet Shop Boys finally collaborated and the results were impeccable. High-energy electronic pop of the finest pedigree bringing the best of the two duos together.

Betty Boo – Get Me to the Weekend

A nineties pop queen returned and brought her signature sound into the 2020s. Betty Boo delivered irresistible nostalgic euphoria on this lead single from her comeback album Boomerang.

Rina Sawayama – This Hell

Pop with some delicious country touches was on the menu from Rina Sawayama and the first offering from her album Hold the Girl.

Bananarama – Masquerade

British pop queens Bananarama returned to the pop sphere with Masquerade – a deliciously icy camp slice of electro synthpop.

Sharon Needles – Flamin’ Hot

Sharon turned her sights to euphoric disco hedonism with Flamin’ Hot – a camp Hi-NRG disco stomper penned by Sharon, Ashley Gordon, Paul Coultrup and Tomas Costanza – the latter who also contributes the scintillating electronic production.