Music was a constant source of comfort for many while the COVID-19 virus was raging all over the world. Thanks to modern technology, new recordings, music videos, concerts and even shorts on digital platforms kept the music going and in a lot of ways everybody happy or at least occupied listening or creating their own sounds.
That is why there was a lot of user-generated content on the Net. The users were creating their own content, singing or dancing and then, uploading their videos on YouTube or TikTok.
Don’t forget Justin Bieber was discovered when his video singing on the street of Toronto was uploaded on YouTube. Same case with the hot group Bandang Lapis out here. They uploaded a video of their song Habang Buhay and bagged a recording contract.
Our music lovers teetered between rage and introspection and this became evident in their choice of songs to listen to or in the case of creators, to cover. So hereabouts the sound of the Year 2022 was the mellow soul of the Harana Boys with a sprinkling of hip-hop and K-pop wannabes.
This year will be remembered for the songs of Zack Tabudlo, Pano, Habang Buhay, Give Me Your Forever; Arthur Nery, Pagsamo, Isa Lang; Adie, Mahika, Tahanan, Paraluman; she may be female but her music is just as soulful, Moira dela Torre, Kumpas, Babalik Sa’yo; and the groups Nobita with Ikaw Lang and Bandang Lapis, Kung Alam Mo Lang, Kung Saan Ka Masaya.
On the other side are the rappers Loki, Kagome and Manifest; Skusta Klee, Solo, Kumpisal, Lagi; Flow G, Praning, Batugan, Kamusta; and Sheyee, Trip Lang, Kuntento.
Then, there is SB19, which is still working hard to be the Pinoy’s version of a K-pop boy group, WYAT, Win Your Heart; and Ben&Ben, Langyang Pag-ibig, The Ones We Once Loved, which thankfully has its own original sound.
After a sold-out reunion concert, it was proven that Pinoys will still be loving the music of the Eraserheads 50 years from now, just like they do Jose Mari Chan’s, which again dominated the holiday season.
Wonder which ones among today’s harvest will still be playing in 2052.
In the U.S. of A., the top song of 2022 as per the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Chart is the melancholy look at loneliness Heat Waves by the British rock band Glass Animals. Take note of that word rock. Despite the big number of pop and hip-hop hits this year, the song that most people chose to listen to is a rock song. Is this a sign that rock music is bracing for a comeback to the charts? Hopefully.
Here, now are the Top 25 titles in the Year-End Hot 100 Songs Chart for 2022:
Heat Waves by Glass Animals; As It Was by Harry Styles; Stay by Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber; Easy of Me by Adele; Shivers by Ed Sheeran; First Class by Jack Harlow; Big Energy by Latto; Ghost by Justin Bieber.
Super Gremlin by Kodak Black; Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) by Elton John and Dua Lipa; Wait For U by Future ft. Drake and Tems; About Damn Time by Lizzo; Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran; That’s What I Want by Lil Nas X; Enemy by Imagine Dragons X JID; Industry Baby by Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow.
abcdefu by GAYLE; Need to Know by Doja Cat; Wasted on You by Morgan Wallen; Me Porto Bonito by Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone; Woman by Doja Cat; Titi Me Pregunto by Bad Bunny; Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) by Kate Bush; We Don’t Talk About Bruno by the Cast of the movie Encanto; and Late Night Talking by Harry Styles.
Top Album of the Year is Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny. Tops in concert ticket sales is Ed Sheeran. Top artists are female, Taylor Swift; male, Bad Bunny; group, Glass Animals; and new artist Latto.