Akini's Top 100 Songs of 2022: [#1]

[Thriller]

Yes to The Shapeshifers! Amazing to see one of their belters in a year-end chart.

Lovely to see lots of Carly Rae Jepsen and Rina Sawayama.

Unholy is one of those songs that just doesn’t get old for me, the hook is so good.

Heated is a treat from Renaissance, underrated even! And yes, the outro is excellence.

Muscle should’ve been a single for Years & Years.

[crystalphoenix]

The Brendon boner was definitely more of the musical form.

"More of" - so not exclusively?

• No. 44 seems pretty respectable for a song that just dropped less than 2 months ago and hasn't gotten any special treatment from the artist (no video, performances, or remixes, AFAIK). I do appreciate a good self-soothing song, and it's fitting that this made for the best medicine during your November affliction. The restorative powers of Taylord!
• OK, this thread might've peaked with that "single cover" for "Muscle" Love the creativity (though a shirtless shot of Olly would've been welcome too)
• I don't follow Todrick super-closely, so I owe RayRay's chart for nudging me to check out that subversive Barbie bop
• I didn't realize you felt so strongly about "Unholy"! The song itself doesn't do a ton for me, but such massive global success for Sam and Kim made it worth rooting for
• 100% agree about that being the peak/most memorable moment in "Heated"

[JSparksFan]

So many good songs so far, I like especially Carly Rae Jepsen, Rina Sawayama and Charli XCX

Quality picks!

Great to see that Carly Rae Jepsen has several entries!

She looks to be the poll-favourite, so let's see if she can go all the way!

Yes to The Shapeshifers! Amazing to see one of their belters in a year-end chart.

Lovely to see lots of Carly Rae Jepsen and Rina Sawayama.

Unholy is one of those songs that just doesn’t get old for me, the hook is so good.

Heated is a treat from Renaissance, underrated even! And yes, the outro is excellence.

Muscle should’ve been a single for Years & Years.

Thanks for the Shapeshifters! Likely would not have known of them without your weekly chart.

Great to see the love for "Unholy" and praise for "Heated". Totes agree on "Muscle".

"More of" - so not exclusively?

I don't think he's ever done it for me, but if he caught me in the right mood...

No. 44 seems pretty respectable for a song that just dropped less than 2 months ago and hasn't gotten any special treatment from the artist (no video, performances, or remixes, AFAIK). I do appreciate a good self-soothing song, and it's fitting that this made for the best medicine during your November affliction. The restorative powers of Taylord!

Well, it was slow-working medicine 'cause I was sick for four weeks and I'm still not 100%, but I guess I'll take it.

OK, this thread might've peaked with that "single cover" for "Muscle" Love the creativity (though a shirtless shot of Olly would've been welcome too)

Glad you liked that pic!

I don't follow Todrick super-closely, so I owe RayRay's chart for nudging me to check out that subversive Barbie bop

Yeah, RayRay's chart is largely why I even checked out Todrick's album.

I didn't realize you felt so strongly about "Unholy"! The song itself doesn't do a ton for me, but such massive global success for Sam and Kim made it worth rooting for

The beat doesn't do it for you? I think it's everything!

100% agree about that being the peak/most memorable moment in "Heated"

At least we're on one accord with this.

[JSparksFan]

035. Kehlani - Everything

Love the way you teach mе
Love the way you listen
You know all my details
You so damn attentive

Despite it being one of my least-favourite qualities about myself, I'm really a cautious romantic at heart and this song's tenderness is tear-inducing warmth, contentment, and peace. To find those qualities - the makings of a home - in a person is a rare gift.

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #3
Play Count: 14

034. P!nk - Irrelevant

You can call me irrelevant, insignificant
You can try to make me small
I’ll be your heretic, you f*ckin’ hypocrite
I won’t think of you at all
Sticks and stones and all that shit
Does Jesus love the ignorant?
I like to think He’d gladly take us all...
Girls just wanna have rights
So, why do we have to fight?

Released off the back of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which ended federal protections for women seeking abortions - a move that turned out to be just bad politics on the GOP's part - "Irrelevant" is a fiery middle-finger-up retort executed in classic P!nk fashion. The "Girls just wanna have rights" bridge was a brilliant retooling of the Cyndi Lauper gem.

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x3)
Play Count: 51

033. Beyoncé - Alien Superstar

Keep him addicted, lies on his lips, I lick it

This is a fantastic song, a dancefloor barnburner, and a ballroom anthem for the ages, so pray tell why her vocal on this is so soft? The lyrics are chest-beating, diva-esque mic drops, and Bey is just there on this killer track whispering throughout. That is the track's singular flaw, in my view.

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x3)
Play Count: 109

032. Nicki Minaj - We Go Up (feat Fivio Foreign)

Bitch, I'm fly, I don't land, though
This they funeral, start the service
Say my name, make 'em nervous

"We Go Up" features Nicki's best bars of 2022. It doesn't hurt that she has featured on the track my favourite hip/hop find of the year either. I will concede that lyrically this song treads well-worn tracks, but her ability to conceive these clever one-liners is unmatched. If only she'd strung enough of those top-tier bars to put out A. NEW. ALBUM!

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x1)
Play Count: 72

031. Ava Max - Maybe You're the Problem

And I think you should take a second just to look at your reflection
Baby, maybe you're the problem

For as much grief I've given Nicki about no new album this year, Ava Max seems to already be the princess of the extended album rollout. At any rate, this solid synth-pop song suggests she's in good stead for her sophomore effort. She could've done a better job with that music video, though I am loving the headless torso - serving grade A Grindr energy.

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 49

[Thriller]

You enjoyed Maybe You’re The Problem more than me. Irrelevant was a step in the right direction for P!nk and then she released Never Gonna Not Dance Again…

[JSparksFan]

You enjoyed Maybe You’re The Problem more than me. Irrelevant was a step in the right direction for P!nk and then she released Never Gonna Not Dance Again…

Agree 100%.

[JSparksFan]

030. The Weeknd - Out of Time

You begged me with your drowning eyes to stay

Shoddy rollout or not, I'm still surprised "Out of Time" flopped on the charts. It's classic Weeknd smoothness and deserved to perform as well as some of his biggest hits have.

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x3)
Play Count: 77

029. Panic! at the Disco - Don't Let the Light Go Out

Who's gonna drive me home tonight?
Who's going to argue 'til they win the fight?
You're the only one that knows how to operate
My heavy machinery

A victim of my all-time favourite album countdown's extended run, "Don't Let the Light Go Out" was blocked from the penthouse first by Katy Perry's "Walking on Air", then by Amy Winehouse's "Wake Up Alone". Despite this, it's a fantastic song, teeming with emotion and brought to life with rich, regal instrumentation. Because I have my filthy moments, I view the "heavy machinery" lyric as a triple entendre for substance abuse, emotional baggage, and more-than-you-ordered endowment.

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #2
Play Count: 29

028. Rina Sawayama - This Hell

God hates us? Allright then
Buckle up, at dawn, we're riding

This playful response to religious-driven homophobia was always gonna score major points with me, but the added 00s references are the cherries on top (well, more like mangoes since I prefer them to cherries).

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 64

027. Todrick Hall - Pre Madonna

Drop it low and walk like a duck do
Question, who do I give the f**ks to?

A fabulous play on words, "Pre Madonna" is informative, fierce, and catchy - an odd trifecta, but a delicious one. He's put out great songs for years, but I think this might be the finest uptempo he's ever done.

Quality Rating: 9/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #2
Play Count: 41

026. Josef Salvat - Islands

And all my friends are getting married
Some are in love, most just gave up
Buying houses, starting families
And I'm just picking up
And they say no man's an island, but I think I am
Lying under cocaine skies
Watching as the years tick by
My mother says it's such a shame
That I only got myself to blame
And still I'm sitting here just hoping that a ship could come and wreck all over me
But the way that things are going I don't know how long that ship is gonna be

I've had an interesting history with Josef Salvat and the FSC. Years ago, in 2016, former UKMixer swiftie13 introduced me to "Open Season", which I submitted to the FSC and earned my first win. Then this year, whilst grappling for an entry to submit in May, and not being aware that my options weren't limited to singles, I submitted Josef's "Promiscuity", which I wasn't even totally sold on. It almost won. Two months later, when Australia was available and I was now armed with the knowledge that non-singles were also eligible as submissions, I submitted this, a track I enjoyed infinitely more. It flopped. Okay, that was a lot of back-story. About the actual song - it is such an expansive ballad. Lyrically, I can relate to the protagonist fully, regarding the feeling of not checking the adulting boxes so many of my peers are and sonically, when you think the song is about to power down, only for it to rev all the way to a new instrumentation high - it's just brilliant production management.

Quality Rating: 9.1/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x1)
Play Count: 20

025. Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John

Threw away my name
It's easier when it sounds the same

This was another of Rina's songs this year that was too specific for me to not enjoy. I've certainly observed the quoted lyric above, which is something I consider heartbreaking for a number of reasons. Then when I put myself in the mother's shoes and consider how, as an immigrant, she likely had to navigate so many challenges and hurdles, possibly solo, and without the tools to nurture a queer son likely didn't give him what he would have needed from her. The point of realisation culminating in an embrace of not only her son but her son's partner is an undeniably powerful, inspiring conclusion. Even if she cancels my tour dates, I have to applaud Rina for these well-written, queer-specific songs because no one these days is doing them as well as she is. This one pulls at all my heartstrings.

Quality Rating: 9.1/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x1)
Play Count: 27

024. Carly Rae Jepsen - Joshua Tree

I need it (Da, da-da-da-da-da)
I feel it (Da, da-da-da-da-da)
I see it (Da, da-da-da-da-da)

That hook nearly rolls me over. It's so damn good! And it's so well-timed too because the melody in the verses is restless and you get the sense that something's about to pounce, but nothing quite as overwhelming as what actually does. This is top-notch pop.

Quality Rating: 9.2/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #3
Play Count: 13

023. Taylor Swift - Karma

'Cause karma is my boyfriend
Karma is a god
Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend
Karma's a relaxing thought
Aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Sweet like honey, karma is a cat
Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me
Flexing like a goddamn acrobat
Me and karma vibe like that

You can tell Taylor paid attention in literature class because no one does these catchy, metaphor-heavy choruses like she does. I do need to recondition my ears from hearing "panties" to "pennies", though.

Quality Rating: 9.2/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x4)
Play Count: 82

022. Rina Sawayama - Frankenstein

Put me together, thread a needle
So I'm like other people, without all of the evil
I'm trying to be normal, but trauma is immortal

I love "Frankenstein" because it seems that so many people, on an individual level, feel like some version of a monster, but as a collective we have this sense of what normal should be when the numbers would suggest most of us don't match the picture of normal. Performative behaviour is likely to blame for this misperception, but I do find the irony stark that the reshaping Rina's requesting is likely from someone who feels in need of the same transformation. I will admit to being slightly let down by its music video, which didn't go nearly as far as it could've gone and which is definitely not of the same standard as her typical excellent visual work. Like CT suggested, it was probably a rush job, but I can't excuse that, which went some way in making this the second of the poll options to fall.

Quality Rating: 9.2/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 67

021. Taylor Swift - Maroon

And I wake with your memory over me
That's a real f**king legacy, legacy
And I wake with your memory over me
That's a real f**king legacy to leave

Melodically, there isn't a 'Midnights' track in the same league as "Maroon" and yet again it was InFamous who pointed out this track's magic to me. There's maturity and class here, and deep longing and hurt interspersed with the scenes of folly and frolic. Fans have pointed out that this is grown-up "Red", which is a striking parallel an exact decade after its prequel.

Quality Rating: 9.2/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x4)
Play Count: 135

[heppolo]

"This Hell" and "Frankenstein" are majestic. Rina really said what's up this year.

[Thriller]

Lots to love in there! Rina had her best year yet, This Hell being the pinnacle.

Pre Madonna was fabulous, Out Of Time and Islands both cool.

[crystalphoenix]

Well, it was slow-working medicine 'cause I was sick for four weeks and I'm still not 100%, but I guess I'll take it.

Ha, oof, nevermind then (officially revoking Dr. Tay's license). Hope you're back to feeling "full Akini" before we hit 2023!

• Just like P!nk's doing on that single cover, this high placement for "Irrelevant" feels like a massive majestic middle finger to all the negativity the song (and P!nk herself lately) garnered over in the Songs section
• "Alien Superstar" is another RENAISSANCE fave, but you make a great point about B's vocals
• "Less Than Zero" >>> "Out Of Time," but apparently going back to a random Starboy track was the only way to salvage Abel's momentum this year anyway
• "Don't Let The Light Go Out" was Brendon's big Paulboard moment in 2022 (though this list has me thinking I need to give the rest of his last album a chance at some point too). We're VERY much on the same page when it comes to his mention of "heavy machinery"
• Lots of love for "Frankenstein" (which really did deserve a better video). I need to revisit "Send My Love To John" after reading your beautiful analysis, and you're quite right about Rina being in a league of her own when it comes to contemporary queer artists directly addressing queer issues in their songs (shout-out to "Holy (Til You Let Me Go)" too)

[JSparksFan]

"This Hell" and "Frankenstein" are majestic. Rina really said what's up this year.

She had a great year indeed. Avoided that ever-dicey sophomore slump.

Lots to love in there! Rina had her best year yet, This Hell being the pinnacle.

Pre Madonna was fabulous, Out Of Time and Islands both cool.

Glad you appreciate a fair few!

Ha, oof, nevermind then (officially revoking Dr. Tay's license). Hope you're back to feeling "full Akini" before we hit 2023!

I'm mostly off from work for the rest of 2022 so I think I'll get to full strength soon with the rest!

Just like P!nk's doing on that single cover, this high placement for "Irrelevant" feels like a massive majestic middle finger to all the negativity the song (and P!nk herself lately) garnered over in the Songs section

True. I think she still has it, but her material is definitely inconsistent. "Never Gonna Not Dance Again", as Mike mentioned, was regression to generic territory.

"Alien Superstar" is another RENAISSANCE fave, but you make a great point about B's vocals

Glad you can see some merit in that point.

"Less Than Zero" >>> "Out Of Time," but apparently going back to a random Starboy track was the only way to salvage Abel's momentum this year anyway

I don't agree with that bolded bit!

"Don't Let The Light Go Out" was Brendon's big Paulboard moment in 2022 (though this list has me thinking I need to give the rest of his last album a chance at some point too). We're VERY much on the same page when it comes to his mention of "heavy machinery"

Yeah, I have you to thank for introducing me to Brendon's heavy machinery! One of the kindest things you've done for me in 2022, tbh. <3

Lots of love for "Frankenstein" (which really did deserve a better video). I need to revisit "Send My Love To John" after reading your beautiful analysis, and you're quite right about Rina being in a league of her own when it comes to contemporary queer artists directly addressing queer issues in their songs (shout-out to "Holy (Til You Let Me Go)" too)

Yeah, if only she could show up to her tour dates I'd love Rina even more!

[JSparksFan]

020. Omar Rudberg - Moving Like That

Sé que tú no eres una buena idea

I'd come across Omar Rudberg in his role of Simon on Netflix's Young Royals. The show is largely obligatory viewing for me, given its depiction of queer romance, but there's hardly anything charismatic about Simon (or his love interest) on the series, so imagine my surprise when CT submits this to the FSC as his April entry , I check it out, and genuinely enjoy it. It'd be 'til my late June revisit that I'd actually fall in love (and mini-obsession) with the track. The beat is so infectious and the choice to switch to Spanish for the super-short, but super-effective bridge was brilliant. Omar's sex appeal in the music video and in live performances is off the charts, and sells the song so well. It takes me back to some of my most fun, pre-covid club encounters.

Quality Rating: 9.2/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x3)
Play Count: 105

019. Jax - Victoria's Secret

I know Victoria's secret
And, girl, you wouldn't believe
She's an old man who lives in Ohio
Making money off of girls like me
Cashin' in on body issues
Sellin' skin and bones with big boobs
I know Victoria's secret
She was made up by a dude

These kinds of body positivity songs have been done ad nauseum the last decade, but I don't think I've ever seen one come with such revelatory receipts as this one. Songs like this one are why pop will always be my favourite genre. Kudos to Matthew's weekly chart for introducing me to this gem.

Quality Rating: 9.3/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x1)
Play Count: 26

018. Harry Styles - As It Was

Answer the phone
"Harry, you're no good alone
Why are you sitting at home on the floor?
What kind of pills are you on?"
Ringin' the bell
And nobody's coming to help

Quirky opening, rich and classic instrumentation, nostalgic and relatable lyrics, "As It Was" saw Harry Styles in fine form and has gone on to become by some margin my most-played song from the former 1D frontman. It's rare that I love any of the big hits these days, but I actually rooted for this song's success, though I'll admit even I thought it had an unnecessarily lengthy run in the US top 10.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x4)
Play Count: 203

017. Drake - Calling My Name

I'm countin' the days 'til you come
I'm countin' the ways to make you...
Your p*ssy is calling my name
So come on, baby, let's stop playing games

Yeah, I was not ready for this from Aubrey. He's had sexy songs before, but his foray into dance saw him scale new heights and this one stuck with me. I think the unspoken bits are just as tantalising as the directly explicit bits, but this is really fantastic, groovy, bouncy magic.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x3)
Play Count: 68

016. MisterWives - Wrongside

I'm getting older, but the fears don't change
It's all the same except my age
I wanna know if I can live a day
Without the shame of my mistakes
Hold them close to my chest
Replay every misstep
But I'm doing my best
Downward spiral again
Losing touch with my friends
Call them back when this ends
'Cause I'm tongue-tied
Tryin' to tell myself I'm alright
Always running on the wrong side of my mind
It's been a long ride
Spinning circles and I'm so tired
Always running on the wrong side of my mind
Sometimes, I wonder if I'd be happy
If I gave up on all of these dreams
The line is getting so f**kin' blurry
With what I want and what I need

Yeah, it's the whole phuckin' song for me. So directly accessible, it feels fashioned from a page of my journal. This is stellar songwriting and its singular flaw is the bridge, which for me is about two or four lines short and not as hard-hitting as the front-end of the track.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x3)
Play Count: 137

015. Ella Henderson - Ugly

It's okay to be lost, to feel lonely
Sometimes I just don't know what I'm doing
One day I'm beautiful, then I'm ugly
But those days, they remind me that I'm human
So go ahead and rip, tear me apart
'Cause I'm not afraid of my flaws
If the scars on my skin make me ugly
Then let's get ugly

Yeah, this is the kind of transparent storytelling that's almost guaranteed to connect and stick with me. It's even more devastating in raw, acoustic form. And what a comeback from Ella eight years after her promising debut!

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 83

014. Demi Lovato - Eat Me (feat. Royal & the Serpent)

Be more predictable
Be less political
Not too original
Keep to tradition, but stay individual
Dirty but washable
Winning but stoppable
All that I'm hearing is you wanna make the impossible possible
Is this what you'd all prefer?
Would you like me better if I was still her?
Did she make your mouths water? Ugh
I know the part I've played before
I know the shit that I've ignored
I know the girl that you adored
She's dead, it's time to f**king mourn
I can't spoon-feed you anymore
I can't spoon-feed you anymore
Dinner's served, it's on the floor
I can't spoon-feed you anymore
You'll have to eat me as I am
You'll have to eat me as I am
Clean and digestible
Less of a spectacle
More one-dimensional
Try to be sexy, but don't be too sexual
Please be presentable
Bit more accessible
Get up on your pedestal, everyone's watching so don't be forgettable

This kind of defiant, unsanitised rock music is exactly the kind of sound that fits Demi's roaring range perfectly. The Alice in Wonderland reference in the title is thoroughly brilliant, given the direct link that creative work and Demi both have to Disney.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 114

013. Saucy Santana - Booty (feat. Latto)

Who else got a ass like this?
Who else throw it back like this?
What else make 'em mad like this?
What else make 'em act like this?
Straight to the 'Ghini when I hop off the jet
Ass so fat but it still match the legs
All peach emojis when he send me a text...
Shake what your doctor gave you
It's a lot of bitches wishin' they could see me fail
Shake what your doctor gave you
I'mma make him pay the second round of this BBL

I love the openness of both parties with respect to cosmetic surgical work, but the obvious big selling point of "Booty" is the "Crazy in Love" sample, which in fact is itself a sample from Chi-Lite's track "Are You My Woman? Tell Me So". Sample aside, both parties shine here and I do wish this had taken off in a significant way. Of course, I had my own special moment with the track when a number of Pride attendees twerked to this track in front of the annoying religious protesters.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x4)
Play Count: 136

012. Diane Guerrero x Stephanie Beatriz - What Else Can I Do?

A hurricane of jacarandas...
What can you do when you are deeply, madly, truly in the moment?
Seize the moment, keep goin'
What can you do when you know who you wanna be is imperfect?
But I'll still be okay
Hey, everybody clear the way, woo
I'm comin' through with tabebuia
Making waves (making waves), changing minds (you've changed mine)
The way is clearer 'cause you're here, and well
I owe this all to you
What else can I do?

Isabela's big moment in the Encanto film, "What Else Can I Do?" is a sweeping mid-tempo ballad where the protagonist unlocks within herself something more than just the pretty stuff for which she's celebrated. I'm inclined towards these kinds of songs because that perfect person archetype always has something beneath the surface that is humanising, and this was a big plot point in the film that there was more than met the surface with Isabela. Interestingly enough, this was blocked twice from the top spot on my daily chart by the same sister Encanto track.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #2
Play Count: 46

011. Beyoncé - Cuff It

Bet you you'll see far
Bet you you'll see stars
Bet you you’ll elevate
Bet you you'll meet God
'Cause I feel like fallin' in love
I'm in the mood to f**k somethin' up
'Cause we gon' f**k up the night
What's in these four walls? You sexy, my love
Don't miss this roll call, is you here or what?

If its SoundClash results are anything to go by, "Cuff It" is UKMix's favourite song of 2022. By virtue of it winning the 'Renaissance' survivor, it's most certainly the forum's top 'Renaissance' track. I was late to the train on this and I'm sure at one point I wielded that "overrated" term, but its magic clicked with me eventually. It's such a crisp dance-funk production that it can stand up to hours of repeated play without you ever tiring of it. If Beyoncé and her team gave half a phuck about promotion for this era, "Cuff It" would've likely gone no. 1 everywhere, but even without them lifting as much of a finger, this seems to have been the organic hit of the era.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 75

[crystalphoenix]

Yeah, I have you to thank for introducing me to Brendon's heavy machinery! One of the kindest things you've done for me in 2022, tbh. <3

Yvw <3 If only I could get Brendon to let us feel the exact weight of that heavy machinery sometime...

Yeah, if only she could show up to her tour dates I'd love Rina even more!

Damn, has she been pulling an Adele?

• I'm with you re: Omar's sex appeal, but "Moving Like That" never managed to stick with me with the way it did with you and Cheap (similar to Alessy's "When I'm Gone": there's nothing really wrong/dislikable about it, it just never reeled me in)
• Eh, I think Thriller had it right with his No. 92 placement for "As It Was" Admittedly, it's hard to remain unbiased after the level of overexposure that song reached this year. Harry's path to global solo superstardom/chart domination has been fascinating to watch, though
• Honestly, Nevermind blew my damn mind: A dance/house album, from Drake, in Pride month, and I genuinely enjoy the majority of its tracks
• Thanks again for encouraging me to re-visit "What Else Can I Do?" It slipped my mind after walking out of the theater (over-shadowed by the likes of "Bruno" and "Surface Pressure"), but you asking me about it later prompted me to add it and realize it's right up there with (if not superior to) those other Encanto highlights
• "Cuff It" truly did reach across the UKMIX aisle. I get that official charts will always be imperfect, but I'm still a bit miffed that Bey's team couldn't be bothered to do more to help this song earn peaks that better reflect how beloved it is (not that she's brand-new to sabotaging her own singles' success, like all that Tidal exclusivity in the past). Questionable marketing tactics aside, I'm extremely happy "Cuff It" clicked with you enough to earn such a high spot here! Aside from "Easy," this will probably be our closest 2022 YEC alignment

[vinnie65]

Great to see Rina, Carly, Demi Lovato, P!nk and Harry Styles !!

[Thriller]

I don’t know most of those, but As It Was dominated the year in the mainstream and Cuff It has become a Beyoncé classic!

[Benny]

'As It Was' is a great pop song, definitely one of the highlights of this year's music.

[JSparksFan]

Yvw <3 If only I could get Brendon to let us feel the exact weight of that heavy machinery sometime...

We can add to the wish list for 2023!

Damn, has she been pulling an Adele?

According to this tweet, yeah.

I'm with you re: Omar's sex appeal, but "Moving Like That" never managed to stick with me with the way it did with you and Cheap (similar to Alessy's "When I'm Gone": there's nothing really wrong/dislikable about it, it just never reeled me in)

Fair enough.

Eh, I think Thriller had it right with his No. 92 placement for "As It Was" Admittedly, it's hard to remain unbiased after the level of overexposure that song reached this year. Harry's path to global solo superstardom/chart domination has been fascinating to watch, though

It was even higher for me throughout the year, as one point I had it rated as a perfect 10/10.

Honestly, Nevermind blew my damn mind: A dance/house album, from Drake, in Pride month, and I genuinely enjoy the majority of its tracks

And despite all that, there was never any direct announcement of any queer influence or intention, so he did lose some points for that. But yeah, he stumbled on some bops in the process.

Thanks again for encouraging me to re-visit "What Else Can I Do?" It slipped my mind after walking out of the theater (over-shadowed by the likes of "Bruno" and "Surface Pressure"), but you asking me about it later prompted me to add it and realize it's right up there with (if not superior to) those other Encanto highlights

Happy to read this! I wonder where the Encanto tracks will end up in your year-end roundup.

"Cuff It" truly did reach across the UKMIX aisle. I get that official charts will always be imperfect, but I'm still a bit miffed that Bey's team couldn't be bothered to do more to help this song earn peaks that better reflect how beloved it is (not that she's brand-new to sabotaging her own singles' success, like all that Tidal exclusivity in the past). Questionable marketing tactics aside, I'm extremely happy "Cuff It" clicked with you enough to earn such a high spot here! Aside from "Easy," this will probably be our closest 2022 YEC alignment

And this is a worthy Venn-Diagram-intersector for us!

Great to see Rina, Carly, Demi Lovato, P!nk and Harry Styles !!

Glad you appreciate those.

I don’t know most of those, but As It Was dominated the year in the mainstream and Cuff It has become a Beyoncé classic!

2/10? I'll take it!

'As It Was' is a great pop song, definitely one of the highlights of this year's music.

Indeed!

[JSparksFan]

010. Carrie Underwood - Wanted Woman

I feel like a wanted woman
I'm done running when you call me, baby
Baby, you got it
Got my heart locked up
It's criminal, you drive me crazy
The way you kiss me, touch me
Chase me, love me
You know how to make a lady
Feel like a wanted woman
Ooh, you know I want you
You know you're wanted too
You know my faults, know my fears, know my tendencies
And still, you're never gonna walk out that door
'Cause you're my rock, making all my insecurities
Disappear ’cause you’re not keepin' score

When I saw this song on the tracklist, I thought Carrie was gonna go high-level fugitive fantasy, so when this warm, mid-tempo imposter ballad showed up, I was caught off-guard. It is absolutely beautiful, though, and even though there is a small part of me that rolls my eyes during the chorus and mumbles "Must be nice!", I don't hesitate to embrace this as one of the very top highlights of the year. And in a way, I do circle back to the Thelma and Louise original interpretation of the title because the active romantic energy of which this track's protagonist is the beneficiary is not totally unlike the resources pumped into by state departments to capture on-the-run targets.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x6)
Play Count: 134

009. The Weeknd - Best Friends (feat. Summer Walker)

Tryna turn the time back
Keep it as a friendship, we already tried that
When you gonna face it?
We're on the other side
Know too much already
Don't wanna fake it, fake it
If it wasn't for the heat of the moment
And if you weren't like that, like that
Don't want to send you right back, right back
Friends no more
Have sex as friends no more
I don't wanna have sex as friends no more
Ooh-ooh, friends no more
Frie-frie-frie-friends no more
Sex as friends no more
I don't wanna have sex as friends no more
We can't ever be friends no more

If anyone thought pregnancy was gonna stand in the way of Summer Walker making a play for best R&B song for a second consecutive year, they thought wrong. The original, solo 'Dawn FM' track was already one of my favourite tracks from the LP, but when Summer added her silky smooth soulful sorcery to the mix, it was a wrap. In fact, I was so excited for this track that I purchased tickets to see the Weeknd's 'After Hours 'til Dawn' tour the day after this came out on the off chance that Summer would make a surprise appearance at the Atlanta stop, that being her home and all. That ended up being a pipe dream, but this track is still one of my favourite surprises of the year. I didn't see a collab between the two coming soon and not one ending up so good! And as for the best R&B song, this just very narrowly missed out, but I think both Abel and Summer would be fine losing out there to a legend.

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 91

008. Beyoncé - Church Girl

I'm warnin' everybody
Soon as I get in this party
I'm gon' let go of this body
I'm gonna love on me
Nobody can judge me but me
I was born free
I'll drop it like a thottie, drop it like a thottie
I said now pop it like a thottie, pop it like a thottie
Me say now drop it like a thottie, drop it like a thottie
Church girls actin' loose, bad girls actin' snotty
Let it go, girl, let it out, girl
Twirl that ass like you came up out the South, girl
I said now drop it like a thottie, drop it like a thottie
Bad girl actin' naughty, church girl, don't hurt nobody...
You know you got church in the mornin'
But you doin' God's work, you goin' in
She ain't tryna hurt nobody
She just tryna do the best she can
Happy on her own
With her friends, without a man...
Must be the cash 'cause it ain't your face
It must be the cash 'cause it ain't your face

So yes, this is the best R&B song of the year! And on a dance album no less. I was slightly disappointed when I saw folks on social media rarely mention this as one of the album's top tracks and absolutely floored when UKMixers rated it dead last in the 'Renaissance' album survivor. "Church Girl" was the immediate standout from my first spin of the album, topping my chart that day, as it's the track with the most of Beyoncé's core essence. If you'd played the melody and showed me the lyrics with no pretext, I'd say yes, this is a Beyoncé song through and through, and the Beyoncé I grew up with, too. The references to southern Baptist consciences on the dancefloor, the gospel fringes that serve as part of the multi-construct of the production, the big vocals, and the 'drop it down low' directives in the chorus - 'Renaissance' is a richer album for this gem's inclusion!

Quality Rating: 9.5/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x2)
Play Count: 73

007. Carrie Underwood - She Don't Know

What she don't know is I know what she's been up to
I bet she thinks she got me played for a fool
But the joke's on her, in that bed she's lyin' in
What she don't know, she don't know
She can have him...
But there's a cruel world awaitin'
Outside of them motel sheets
'Cause he'll find himself another Jezebel
And she'll end up just like me, yeah...
Yeah, she can have this ring I'm slippin' off
And this house I'm tired of cleanin'
She can have it all and have a ball
With this worthless piece I'm leaving

Inspired by the great storytelling country songs of yesteryear, Carrie thought it would be a fun idea to rewrite the story of "Jolene", where the protagonist views the removal of her partner not as a plight against which she must plead, but a gift. I love the use of the various instruments on this track, fiddle included, and the way Carrie expertly weaves through this saucy narrative, it's time that she starts considering herself one of the great country music storytellers alongside her idols Dolly and Martina.

Quality Rating: 10/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x7)
Play Count: 206

006. Beyoncé - America Has a Problem

Heard you got that D for me
Pray your love is deep for me
I'mma make you go weak for me
Make you wait a whole week for me...
Know that booty gon' do what it want to
Can't hit it one time, multiple
Boy, you can't get no higher than this, NO!
'Cause love don't get no higher than this, NO!

Beyoncé has such a hip-hop-driven flow on this, I absolutely love it! And the way she exclaims "No!" with her full chest made this an early 'Renaissance' highlight of mine. This one also got a trash bottom half finish in the 'Renaissance' survivor on the forum.

Quality Rating: 10/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x5)
Play Count: 159

005. Encanto Cast - We Don't Talk About Bruno

We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no
We don't talk about Bruno, BUT!
It was my wedding day (It was our wedding day)
We were getting ready
And there wasn't a cloud in the sky (No clouds allowed in the sky)
Bruno walks in with a mischievous grin (Thunder)
You telling this story or am I? (I'm sorry, mi vida, go on)
Bruno says, "It looks like rain" (Why did he tell us?)
In doing so, he floods my brain (Abuela, get the umbrellas)
Married in a hurricane (What a joyous day, but anyway)
Grew to live in fear of Bruno stuttering or stumbling
I can always hear him sort of muttering and mumbling
I associate him with the sound of falling sand (Ch, ch, ch)
It's a heavy lift with a gift so humbling
Always left Abuela and the family fumbling
Grappling with prophecies they couldn't understand
Do you understand?
A seven-foot frame, rats along his back
When he calls your name, it all fades to black
Yeah, he sees your dreams and feasts on your screams
He told me my fish would die
The next day, dead! (No, no)
He told me I'd grow a gut
And just like he said (No, no)
He said that all my hair would disappear
Now, look at my head (No, no)
Your fate is sealed when your prophecy is read
He told me that the life of my dreams
Would be promised and someday be mine
He told me that my power would grow
Like the grapes that thrive on the vine (Óye, Mariano's on his way)
He told me that the man of my dreams
Would be just out of reach, betrothed to another
It's like I hear him now (Hey sis)
I want not a sound out of you (It's like I can hear him now)
I can hear him now
Um, Bruno
Yeah, about that Bruno
I really need to know about Bruno
Gimme the truth and the whole truth, Bruno
Isabela, your boyfriend's here
Time for dinner

As a man who grew up with the likes of Glee and High School Musical, big ensemble cast numbers are right up my alley and "We Don't Talk About Bruno", the flagship anthem of my favourite film of 2022 (2021 release yes, but I saw it March this year), continues a rich tradition of phenomenal musical numbers in animated film series. Beyond the song's impeccable songwriting and arrangement, the message of the track regarding society's leaning into toxic positivity and the avoidance of anything that isn't flowery positivity and goodness is so well-illustrated here. This was easily my favourite big hit of the year.

Quality Rating: 10/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x4)
Play Count: 132

004. Jessica Darrow - Surface Pressure

I'm the strong one, I'm not nervous
I'm as tough as the crust of the Earth is (*sigh*)
I move mountains, I move churches
And I glow, 'cause I know what my worth is (*sigh*)
I don't ask how hard the work is
Got a rough, indestructible surface
Diamonds and platinum, I find 'em, I flatten 'em
I take what I'm handed, I break what's demanded, but
Under the surface
I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus
Under the surface
Was Hercules ever like, "Yo, I don't wanna fight Cerberus?"
Under the surface
I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service...
Give it to your sister, your sister's older
Give her all the heavy things we can't shoulder
Who am I if I can't run with the ball?
If I fall to
Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh-oh
Give it to your sister, your sister's stronger
See if she can hang on a little longer
Who am I if I can't carry it all?
If I falter

So this was the number that made me cry while watching Encanto in theatres. I saw so much of myself in this, particularly my work self, where I have, frequently in the past and occasionally even now, measured my self-worth by my productivity, my perceived sense of value of my deliverables, and the extent to which I'm able to meet each stakeholders' unreasonable expectations. In recent times, I've realised how all of that is bullshit and have moved away from doing that, but old habits die hard and I still find myself reverting to toxic behaviours. But yes, it's a vicious cycle - working yourself to a near-breaking point, not being satisfied by the end result and as a consequence not sufficiently resting before diving into the abyss with even less energy than before. Wash, rinse, repeat. This track brings me back to a tweet I read earlier this year: "Rest is not a reward. It is a neurological imperative. And does not need to be earned."

Quality Rating: 10/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x5)
Play Count: 106

003. RuPaul - Catwalk (feat. Bosco, Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Daya Betty, Lady Camden, & Willow Pill)

Forgive me father, for I have sinned
I did show some skin
Don’t fight (shhh), give in
You can call me greedy, I feel that
The whole world, I need that
So ass out and horns up (Ass out and horns up)
Check!
From the country to the silver screen
It’s Angie, bitch, livin’ out my dreams
I was always taught to walk with grace
Confidence, poise and tons of face
I’ve never been afraid to live out loud
I just wanted to make my daddy proud
And at the end of the day, I’mma always slay
Never let a bitch take my shine away...
Clawed my way to the top, now I’m taking what’s mine
So I strut to the beat, and even if I fall
I shove a safety pin through it and I stand real tall
Yeah, the mug is stamped and my waist is thinner
So you Betty be ready cause I’ve always been a winner
L to the A to the D to the Y
Like a shooting star straight to the sky
Gonna make you snap, gonna make you say
Step, smack, and a pas de bourrée
Twist, turn, levitate
Act, pose, captivate
When I hit that stage, I’mma drive you crazy
Serve it to you like a lady
Mmm, take a "wiwwow" pill
Do my sick bitch looks have you feeling ill?
Kick it up to the top ‘cause I came to kill
And kick it back in my dreams where I like to chill
Cute, absurd and a touch of ugly
I celebrate life, let's pour the bubbly
We live in a matrix, I'm the solution
Get lost in my sauce ‘cause it's all an illusion

When Tansike praised the original version of this song with Skeltal Ki as one of Ru's best songs, I thought that take was an interesting one and filed it away along with several of our Drag Race differences of opinion. However, as the show's runway theme, I did listen to the song involuntarily every week I watched S14 and eventually the track clicked. Then the top five queens hopped on the RuMix and it was a done deal. Two queens are company, six queens may be a Pride parade at that point, but the top five queen's verses represent themselves so well! Bosco's Seattle demon queen horns are at their sharpest and sluttiest, Angeria is pure country pageant queen pride and family values, Daya's resilience shines through, Lady Camden is precision-perfect, ballet deportment, and Willow is left-of-centre oddball weirdness, like her winning Drag mother. With "You Don't Know Me" finishing runner-up in an impossible finale in 2020 and this getting as far as third this year, I do feel like I'm Shangela-ing Ru, but karma? Semi-jokes aside, this is a top track even outside of the show's context and I wish people would be more open-minded to give Drag Race music a chance because it was good to begin with and has been getting better year over year.

Quality Rating: 10/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x5)
Play Count: 269

[JSparksFan]

And it comes down to these fantastic final two emeralds of artistic expression. Which one takes the crown? Find out tomorrow!


vs.

[crystalphoenix]

According to this tweet, yeah.

Damn, not a good look for her.

And despite all that, there was never any direct announcement of any queer influence or intention, so he did lose some points for that. But yeah, he stumbled on some bops in the process.

Ah, very fair. Definitely a stark contrast to the clear queer acknowledgement/celebration throughout B's big dancey 2022 project.

• I wonder if those rumors about "Church Girl" getting a radio push (before her team officially pivoted to "Cuff It") really soured some UKMIXers on it/turned them against it. I don't think there's any possible alternate timeline where "Church Girl" could've won that Survivor, but I suspect it might not have come dead last if there hadn't been that mini-outrage/drama over it nearly getting picked for single status before dearly-beloved "Cuff It"
• Your enthusiasm for "She Don't Know" definitely helped it become Carrie's biggest Paulboard hit in almost 8 years. Like you mention, I love the way she defies expectations/reclaims her power in this cheating scenario. Instead of succumbing to rage, depression, or humiliation, she just shrugs it off with a "works for me, he's your problem now." Catchy as hell too
• I'm with you on Encanto feeling much more like a 2022 release (I always forget it actually hit theaters in November '21). I generally don't have super-strong feelings about Disney as an adult (fond memories of the Renaissance Era animated classics from my childhood, but haven't cared much about their releases since then, aside from Pixar), but I genuinely enjoyed getting swept up in Encanto hype/rooting for its chart success. Several songs clicked with me in ways Frozen never did (despite trying)

This Grand Finale feels win-win for me: I do prefer "Easy" between those specific songs, but I'll never be mad about Carly Rae earning another accolade.

[heppolo]

"Moving Like That" is super damn catchy, I am still perplexed at how it didn't do better in Swedish national Eurovision selection

[JSparksFan]

Damn, not a good look for her.

Eh, such is life. At least my refund processed without any issues.

Ah, very fair. Definitely a stark contrast to the clear queer acknowledgement/celebration throughout B's big dancey 2022 project.

Indeed.

I wonder if those rumors about "Church Girl" getting a radio push (before her team officially pivoted to "Cuff It") really soured some UKMIXers on it/turned them against it. I don't think there's any possible alternate timeline where "Church Girl" could've won that Survivor, but I suspect it might not have come dead last if there hadn't been that mini-outrage/drama over it nearly getting picked for single status before dearly-beloved "Cuff It"

Oh, I vaguely recall that. People are weird if that's the thing that made them turn against the track so vehemently, though.

Your enthusiasm for "She Don't Know" definitely helped it become Carrie's biggest Paulboard hit in almost 8 years. Like you mention, I love the way she defies expectations/reclaims her power in this cheating scenario. Instead of succumbing to rage, depression, or humiliation, she just shrugs it off with a "works for me, he's your problem now." Catchy as hell too

Exactly. Does it have a shot of making your top 50 this year?

I'm with you on Encanto feeling much more like a 2022 release (I always forget it actually hit theaters in November '21). I generally don't have super-strong feelings about Disney as an adult (fond memories of the Renaissance Era animated classics from my childhood, but haven't cared much about their releases since then, aside from Pixar), but I genuinely enjoyed getting swept up in Encanto hype/rooting for its chart success. Several songs clicked with me in ways Frozen never did (despite trying)

Pleased to see Encanto was able to succeed where Frozen failed. I remember it was basically you, me, and CT as Team Encanto in the Hot 100 game pushing "Bruno" to no. 1.

This Grand Finale feels win-win for me: I do prefer "Easy" between those specific songs, but I'll never be mad about Carly Rae earning another accolade.

You were spot-on with the top two; let's see if you're spot-on with your forecast for the winner.

"Moving Like That" is super damn catchy, I am still perplexed at how it didn't do better in Swedish national Eurovision selection

Yeah, they made the wrong call there for sure!

[JSparksFan]

A note regarding "August" is necessary once more this year as yet again "August" is my most-played track of the year as well as the longest-reigning chart-topper of the year. So it has done the unprecedented and unofficially 'won' another year (2020, 2o21, 2022). Surely this is the last time. But for now let's give the actual top two songs of 2022 their flowers.

002. MisterWives - Easy

I was holding on so tight
All of my knuckles straining white
Pins and needles in my hands
Time to let go of perfect plans
Was it all a premonition?
Saw it coming, intuition's always right
But I wanted to be wrong
Learned to soften all my edges
Tried to bend and take the lessons
I don't fight what would have happened all along
Cut me deep, but I stopped the bleeding
It gets easier, but it's not easy
I'm still standing and my heart's still beating
It gets easier, but it's not easy
But it gets easier
No, it's not easy, believe me
But it gets easier
I'm getting too good at goodbyes
I'm not afraid when I'm alone
I spent a summer with no friends
I'm doing better on my own
Or better than I would be doing before
I'm not crying my eyes out on the bathroom floor
Not pointing the finger, not cursing your name
I'm not hung up on everything I could have changed
I'm not taking it hard, but I'm not taking it lightly
I was in the dark and then you struck me with lightning
Straight to the heart when you said you were leaving
It gets easier, but it's not easy
I'm not taking it hard, but I'm not taking it lightly
I was in the dark and then you struck me with lightning
Straight to the heart when you said you were leaving
It gets easier, but it's not easy

I stumbled across "Easy" thanks to the divine discovery domino effect of our daily/weekly/monthly personal chart community. CT introduced CP to it and whilst popping in to Paul's chart one fateful late July day, I opted to check out the strange track from the strange name since it was the highest-charting entry with which I was unfamiliar. It was love at first listen and "Easy" would spend that day as well as seven of the next eight atop my historically competitive daily chart.

Written during a wave of disappointment and changes, including getting dropped by their label and bandmate Jesse Blum's exit from the group, "Easy" was a cathartic project for the newly independent five-piece act. Its lyrics are inspired by the resilience we derive from overcoming challenges in our lives. The obstacles themselves never stop coming your way, but you do sometimes develop more effective strategies to tackle them, so in a sense, though things are never truly "easy", the growth from past experiences helps life to "get easier".

I love the juxtaposition of the upbeat melodies with the deeply emotionally charged lyrics. ABBA, Mika, and Florence + the Machine have mastered that compelling contrast over their careers and it's a lane I'm always eager to see new acts traversing. Lyrically, this song is without flaw and its arrangement is also perfection. The melody draws back just when it needs to, rejoins the fold at just the right time; the bridge is a worthy, seamless climax. "Easy" is a truly special track and it securing my second win at the FSC this year was just another reason to love it.

Quality Rating: 10/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x11)
Play Count: 223

001. Carly Rae Jepsen - Beach House

Boy number one made a picnic for two
Saw he was nervous, I thought it was cute
Until I found out that his mom made the food
It was good though
Boy number two had a beautiful face
I highly agreed to go back to his place
His wife really had some impeccable taste
She was sweet though
I've been on this ride
This roller coaster's a carousel
And I'm getting nowhere
Boys around the world, I want to believe that
When you chase a girl, it's not just huntin' season
"I can see the future," say it like you mean it
"I got a beach house in Malibu
And I'm probably gonna hurt your feelings"
Boy number twelve had a look in his eyes
Brought up his ex and he started to cry
Told me he loved me the very first night
Oh, no
Who knows what I'm in for with
Boy number I-can't-keep-count-anymore?
I'm probably gonna hurt you
Got a weekend in paradise
And I'm probably gonna never call you
I'm probably gonna hurt you
I got big plans to take care of you
I just need to borrow ten thousand dollars
I'm probably gonna hurt you
I got a lake house in Canada
And I'm probably gonna harvest your organs
I'm probably gonna hurt you
I got a beach house in Malibu
And I'm probably gonna hurt your feelings

Since 2019, each of my year-end no. 1s have dealt with some aspect of my dating woes. 2019's "Juice" spoke to my debilitating self-esteem as I unsuccessfully navigated dating in a new city and among a colder cultural climate. 2020's "August" reflected on the accumulated disappointment from that year as well as all previous years of all the matches that 'should' have worked, but didn't. 2021's "What Doesn't Kill Me" was a survival statement after I got my very first taste of functional quasi-romance that ultimately went up in glorious flames. And in 2022, with nary a phuck left, in stepped "Beach House".

Carly Rae wrote this song after she briefly tried her hand at online dating during the isolation-heavy pandemic period. She gave up shortly after, but not before she'd be able to leverage her experiences, along with those of close family and friends, for this truly stunner of an anthem. At some point, tragedy becomes comedy and I think I was in the perfect headspace to receive this one in 2022. I'd reconciled my dating ambitions with the dating pool, and resigned my active search for something meaningful. It was then and only then that I was able to look at all the awkward meetups, weird requests, dull personalities, misleading intentions, random ghosting, and all else that comes with the dysfunctionality with the guys on the apps and see the humour in it all.

I do want to give due kudos to the excellent music video that accompanies this stellar song. Yes, it features hot men with just the body type that drives me crazy, but beyond that, it captures the humour of the song so perfectly. Even though this song didn't really make any major impact commercially, "Beach House" felt like an event, for which I've been starved, as it's been so long that I've been so excited on multiple fronts by a singular release - epic song, epic video, epic message. I don't know if I'd have forecasted Carly Rae to be the one to satiate me in a year with heavier hitters on the bill, but she continues to exceed expectations and we are all fortunate beneficiaries.

Quality Rating: 10/10
Akini's Daily Top 20 Peak: #1(x12)
Play Count: 315

[Thriller]

Yes Beach House!!! What do I win?

[heppolo]

Biggest MisterWives fan here on UKMix which made me listen to their stuff and it's pretty damn good.