Songs that were popular last year. A collection of iconic tracks that symbolize 2022.
In the music industry, a variety of hit songs are born every year.
There are tracks chosen as theme songs for dramas, movies, and popular anime, songs that went viral on social media, and revival hits from the Showa and Heisei eras, among others.
In this article, we’ll be highlighting the songs that were big last year.
We’ve gathered masterpieces that symbolize 2022: songs released last year, songs that continued their momentum from the year before, tracks released a bit earlier but newly spotlighted, and songs that made a comeback.
Take a moment to look back on last year through music!
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Songs that were popular last year. A roundup of iconic tracks that symbolize 2022 (1–10).
mixed nutsOfisharu Higedan Dism
This is Official HIGE DANDism’s seventh digital-only single, released in April 2022.
It was written as the opening theme for the TV anime SPY×FAMILY, and as of July 2022 it had reportedly surpassed 100 million total streams! Musically, over a slightly jazzy, stylish, and up-tempo backing track, vocalist Satoshi Fujihara’s light, breezy singing resonates beautifully—making its massive success easy to understand.
Personally, I found the rhythmic arrangements of each section to be exceptionally well crafted.
Timing ~Timing~Klang Ruler
Timing by Black Biscuits—a unit born from the variety show “Ucchan Nanchan no Urinari!!.” The original track was released in 1998, but it was covered by the five-piece band Klang Ruler and gained renewed attention on social media in 2022! They rose to popularity through their YouTube project Midnight Session, which started in 2019.
You’ll love the irresistible, distinctly different groove from the original, powered by their full use of cutting-edge gear!
EdisonSuiyōbi no Campanella
Edison by Wednesday Campanella has a distinctive rhythm and lyrics that get under your skin.
Some of you might have found it playing in your head a lot in 2022, right? That’s how striking the chorus rhythm is—so catchy it’s addictive and you can’t help but hum along! The lyrics are themed around Thomas Edison, known as the king of inventors, and despite the catchy sound, they seem to invite deeper interpretation.
It might be worth taking a look at the lyrics and thinking about the message the song is trying to convey!
Songs that were popular last year. A roundup of iconic tracks that symbolize 2022. (11–20)
Bye-Good-ByeBE:FIRST
BE:FIRST is a seven-member male group.
Their song “Bye-Good-Bye” is a pop track that won an Excellence Award at the 64th Japan Record Awards in 2022.
Its easy-to-listen-to melody blends seamlessly with sharp-edged rap, making you want to play it over and over! They were formed through the audition program “THE FIRST,” which aired on Nippon TV’s “Sukkiri” in 2021.
They also performed at the 73rd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2022, and it’s impressive how they shot to stardom in less than two years!
TsukuyomiKing&Prince
Tsukiyomi is King & Prince’s 11th single.
Released on November 9, 2022, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama Kurosagi, starring group member Sho Hirano.
The song surpassed the sales of Cinderella Girl, previously considered King & Prince’s biggest hit, marking the group’s first million-selling single.
It’s a dance track with a mysterious, alluring vibe that perfectly matches the drama’s world.
BlessingYOASOBI
YOASOBI is a musical duo that creates songs based on stories.
They wrote The Blessing as the opening theme for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.
Rooted in the anime’s narrative, the lyrics serve as a passionate cheer for those pursuing their dreams.
The sound also undergoes rapid shifts—such as key changes and a tempo boost in the latter half.
Listen for how the lyrical and musical changes are linked.
New Era (Uta from ONE PIECE FILM RED)Ado
Sung by Ado as Uta, this is both the opening theme and an in-film song for the movie ONE PIECE FILM RED.
With the original work of ONE PIECE—Japan’s pride on the global stage—entering its final saga and generating excitement, the film and its songs, starting with New Genesis, drew major attention.
The fact that the character Uta even appeared on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen shows how the work reached a wide range of generations and became a hit.
The word “New Genesis,” which strongly evokes the story of the series, and Ado’s powerful vocals, which conjure an image of overcoming hardships and forging a path to the future, are especially striking.
Another major attraction is Yasutaka Nakata’s rhythm-forward production, which gives the song a strong sense of stepping forward and conveys a positive, adventurous spirit.
