Best Music of 2022

The nominations for the 65th Grammy Awards were announced on November 15. Beyoncé received the most nominations with a total of nine. This ties her with her husband and rapper, Jay-Z, as the most nominated artist. She's certainly the most-nominated, female artist with a total of 88 nominations, since her first, back at the 42nd Grammy Awards. Of all the people who have won Grammys, Beyoncé is the person who has won the most. She's currently won 28. She stands to maintain her lead in that regard with the upcoming ceremony on February 5.

Her song "Break My Soul" is up for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Her Renaissance is up for Album of the Year, an award she's never won. This will be her fourth time vying in that category. The last time she was up for Album of the Year was at the 59th Grammy Awards for Lemonade (2016). She lost to Adele for her album 25 (2015).

Beyoncé is again up against Adele and her album 30 (2021). Adele has the third-most nominations with seven. Her song "Easy on Me" is up for Record of the Year and Song of the Year as well. It was the same case at the 59th Grammys where Adele's song "Hello" was the single in question.

Harry Styles has the fourth-most nominations with six. Styles' song "As It Was" is also up for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Yet, "As It Was" has the distinction of being the most successful single in terms of sales or streams. "As It Was" spent 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which is the longest of any song in 2022. It also makes Styles the longest reigning soloist, since Elton John and Whitney Houston.

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican rapper who does reggaeton, had his album Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) stay at the top of the Billboard 200 for 13 nonconsecutive weeks. That is the longest-reigning album of 2022. Bad Bunny received three Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year, making that album the first Spanish-language album to be named in that category.

Taylor Swift had her album Midnights (2022) become the best-selling record of 2022. Swift has been focused on the re-recording of her previous, country albums. This album though leans more into a more electronic and pop sound. Swift's latest hit didn't make my list, but there is surely something on this list that Swift fans would like.

Of my personal favorites:

Best Folk / Country

FLOATING ON A DREAM by Avi Kaplan
IN THE CANYON HAZE by Brandi Carlile
CHLOË AND THE NEXT 20TH CENTURY by Father John Misty
FREEWHEELIN' WOMAN by Jewel
THE NEW FAITH by Jake Blount
SURRENDER by Maggie Rogers
ROLLING GOLDEN HOLY by Bonny Light Horseman
CARVING CANYONS by Lissie

Best Rock / Alternative

DREAMLAND by Amos Lee
RESET by Panda Bear
YOUNG BLOOD by Marcus King
WHO CARES? by Rex Orange County
GOLD RUSH KID by George Ezra

Best Pop / Electronic

MARRY ME (Soundtrack) by Jennifer Lopez & Maluma
IN REAL LIFE by Mandy Moore
IVORY by Omar Apollo
TAKIN' IT BACK by Meghan Trainor
GIRL OF MY DREAMS by Fletcher
A SONG FOR YOU by Luke Evans
11 by Sault

Best R&B / Soul

SPECIAL by Lizzo
LET'S SAY FOR INSTANCE by Emeli Sandé
CANDYDRIP by Lucky Daye
RENAISSANCE by Beyoncé
GEMINI RIGHTS by Steve Lacy
LIKE NEPTUNE by Son Little
BLUE WATER ROAD by Kehlani
THREE DIMENSIONS DEEP by Amber Mark

Best Rap / Hip Hop

CHEAT CODES by Danger Mouse & Black Thought
TWELVE CARAT TOOTHACHE by Post Malone
MULTIVERSE by Wiz Khalifa
WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS by Shelley FKA DRAM
RTJ CU4TRO by Run the Jewels
IT'S NOT SO BAD by SuperDuperKyle

Best Single from Non-Listed Album

"Stand Up" by Jazmine Sullivan from 'Till'
"Not Alone" by Joe Jonas & Khalid from 'Devotion'
"Time" by Giveon from 'Amsterdam'
"The Forever Now" by Mandy Moore from 'This Is Us'
"Hold My Hand" by Lady Gaga from 'Top Gun: Maverick'
"Lift Me Up" by Rihanna from 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'
"I Love You More Than You Know" by Black Party f/ Childish Gambino
"TV" by Billie Eilish
"Hate To Be Lame" by Lizzy McAlpine f/ FINNEAS
"Popcorn Ceiling" by St. Paul and the Broken Bones
"Mirror" by Kendrick Lamar
"Satellite" by Harry Styles
"Intimacy" by Years & Years
"Beg" by Duckwrth
"Mood Into Object Personified" by Okay Kaya
"I'm Not Crying You're Crying" by Spector
"Stay Together" by Lauv
GETAWAY [EP] by Orion Sun