Ten of the best songs of the year, as selected by Associated Press entertainment journalists.

STEVE LACY, B次元官网网址淏AD HABITB次元官网网址�

It took nearly three months, but Steve LacyB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淏ad HabitB次元官网网址� topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has continued to thrive. The multi-genre song, a single from his album B次元官网网址淕emini Rights,B次元官网网址� became the first record to ever top the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, Hot R&B, Hot Rock and and Alternative songs chart simultaneously. It became popular over the summer after many on social media including celebrities Hailey Bieber and Charlie DB次元官网网址橝melio used the song while promoting their brands. With a funky bassline, Lacy shows some regret after missing an opportunity to approach a love interest. B次元官网网址� Jonathan Landrum Jr.

HARRY STYLES, B次元官网网址淎S IT WASB次元官网网址�

Harry Styles was everywhere in 2022 pop culture, from his much-anticipated new album B次元官网网址淗arryB次元官网网址檚 House,B次元官网网址� to his massive tour and most notably being in the middle of the behind-the-scenes chaos surrounding the film B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 Worry Darling.B次元官网网址� Styles could take some advice from the lyrics to his chart-topper B次元官网网址淎s It Was,B次元官网网址� a bittersweet and brightly packaged bop: B次元官网网址淣othing to say/when everything gets in the way.B次元官网网址� The song is deceptively upbeat with a jingly synth-pop beat and a little kidB次元官网网址檚 voice as the intro and wedding bells at the end. But the lyrics are self-referentially melancholic as he accepts the reality of change that even he is not quite ready for. Thank you to the yearB次元官网网址檚 leading man for giving everyone a lot to talk and sing about. B次元官网网址� Kristin M. Hall

BEYONCE, B次元官网网址淐UFF ITB次元官网网址�

If you scroll through social media, you wonB次元官网网址檛 have to wait long before you see viral videos of groups from young to old performing choreographed routines to BeyonceB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淐uff It.B次元官网网址� The feel good, dance track captures the spirit of fun, romance and infatuation all in nearly four minutes of music, and while thatB次元官网网址檚 longer than most radio hits these days, the song leaves you wishing Queen Bey wouldB次元官网网址檝e extended the track even more. If you feel like falling in love or need a flirty boost, keep this track on repeat. B次元官网网址� Gary Gerard Hamilton

TAYLOR SWIFT, B次元官网网址淎NTI-HEROB次元官网网址�

Self-loathing never sounded so good as on Taylor SwiftB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淎nti-Hero,B次元官网网址� which went to the top of the Billboard singles chart for weeks and only relented its grasp under pressure from a bubbly Mariah Carey before Christmas. It is peak Swift: Confessional to the point of self-horror, depressing in its inevitable tears. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 the problem,B次元官网网址� she sings. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 me.B次元官网网址� The rest of the lyrics are dense and pregnant with meaning B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 a scene with a will reading? Who is a sexy baby? Is she really a monster on the hill? B次元官网网址� all driven by a moody, propulsive electro beat. B次元官网网址淭his song really is a real guided tour throughout all the things I tend to hate about myself,B次元官网网址� she has written about it. And yet it is something to adore. B次元官网网址� Mark Kennedy

KENDRICK LAMAR, B次元官网网址淒IE HARDB次元官网网址� FEATURING BLXST AND AMANDA REIFER

Kendrick Lamar has several standout tracks off his Grammy-nominated album B次元官网网址淢r. Morale & the Big Steppers.B次元官网网址� But one of the most vibrantly enjoyable songs from his masterful project is B次元官网网址淒ie HardB次元官网网址� featuring singer-rapper Blxst and Barbadian singer Amanda Reifer. The three music artists collectively blend their voices on the hit song B次元官网网址� which delves into trust and battling demons. Lamar raps about overcoming his insecurities in hopes of becoming better for a future relationship. B次元官网网址� Jonathan Landrum Jr.

LIZZO, B次元官网网址淎BOUT DAMN TIMEB次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檚 got the moves, sheB次元官网网址檚 got the grooves and sheB次元官网网址檚 used them to great effect on unsuspecting ears and minds as they were emerging from a literal and mental winter. LizzoB次元官网网址檚 infectious bop B次元官网网址淎bout Damn TimeB次元官网网址� hit the indoor-dazed populace right in the solar plexus and shattered the dancefloors. Between lyrics like B次元官网网址淚s everybody back up in the buildinB次元官网网址�? ItB次元官网网址檚 been a minute, tell me how youB次元官网网址檙e healinB次元官网网址滲次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 way too fine to be this stressed, yeah/ Oh, IB次元官网网址檓 not the girl I was or used to be/ Uh,B次元官网网址�, I might be betterB次元官网网址� and her up-tempo flute, Lizzo says itB次元官网网址檚 OK to claw back a little happiness after our collective trauma with the help of some pop music. B次元官网网址� Cristina Jaleru

THE 1975, B次元官网网址淧ART OF THE BANDB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧art of the BandB次元官网网址� is the off-kilter jewel in The 1975B次元官网网址檚 excellent album, B次元官网网址淏eing Funny In A Foreign Language.B次元官网网址� It refuses to follow a tempo pattern as it caroms from cellos to lounge ballad to sax solo, with dense, funny lyrics. B次元官网网址淎m I ironically woke? The butt of my joke? Or am I just some post-coke, average, skinny bloke calling his ego imagination?B次元官网网址� frontman and lyricist Matty Healy sings. It is a song that makes you stop and listen. B次元官网网址淪o many cringes in the heroin binges/I was coming off the hinges, living on the fringes,B次元官网网址� go the lyrics. B次元官网网址� Mark Kennedy

SAM SMITH AND KIM PETRAS, B次元官网网址淯NHOLYB次元官网网址�

If there was one good song to start the cold season, itB次元官网网址檚 the sensuous, risque B次元官网网址淯nholyB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� leaning on Sam SmithB次元官网网址檚 translucent vocals and Kim PetrasB次元官网网址� petulant energy. The club anthem that slinks up on you with its throbbing bass wrapped in Eastern influences kicks off right out the gate with a heavenly choir. The electro-hook is set to catch, stun and haunt. A startling departure from SmithB次元官网网址檚 weepy ballads, this slow but electrifying tune got its general stripes first on TikTok with the singersB次元官网网址� dance challenge and the admiral ones on the airwaves and the dancefloor. One of the most well-matched collaborations of the year, B次元官网网址淯nholyB次元官网网址� has been certified Platinum with the speed of saying a B次元官网网址淗ail Mary.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Cristina Jaleru

YEAH YEAH YEAHS AND PERFUME GENIUS, B次元官网网址淪PITTING OFF THE EDGE OF THE WORLDB次元官网网址�

Post-punk rockers Yeah Yeah Yeahs returned with a new album this year, their first since 2013, and the opening dark synths of their first single B次元官网网址淪pitting Off the Edge of the WorldB次元官网网址� delivered the kind of fist-pumping energy that Karen O and company are known for. Karen OB次元官网网址檚 distinctive vocals on the opening line, B次元官网网址淐owards, hereB次元官网网址檚 the sun, so bow your heads,B次元官网网址� are aptly matched with Perfume GeniusB次元官网网址� delicate and glamorous voice. The song peaks with the banging drums in the chorus inviting a defiance on the precipice of chaos. ItB次元官网网址檚 a great return to form for a band that has always pushed the boundaries. B次元官网网址� Kristin M. Hall

BEYONCE, B次元官网网址淏REAK MY SOULB次元官网网址�

It would be easy B次元官网网址� and possibly understandable B次元官网网址� to only include one Beyonce song on our list. But why punish the Queen for creating phenomenal music? B次元官网网址淏reak My SoulB次元官网网址� was her majestyB次元官网网址檚 royal anthem welcoming her back to her rightful place on the throne after a six-year-hiatus between albums. The house track spanned genres, dominating airplay on R&B, pop and dance formats. Reaching No. 1 on BillboardB次元官网网址檚 Hot 100 chart, the song delivered a variety of DJ versions and remixes, including the B次元官网网址淭he Queens RemixB次元官网网址� with Madonna. B次元官网网址淏reak My SoulB次元官网网址� also reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and along with B次元官网网址淐uff It,B次元官网网址� marked the first time since 2003 that the icon had multiple No. 1s on the chart in the same year. B次元官网网址� Gary Gerard Hamilton