The 150 Best Songs of 2022

A ranking of the best songs released in 2022 by K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop artists!

Hear more about these picks and some honorable mentions with the corresponding episode of 17 Carat K-Pop, available wherever you get your podcasts and here!

Note: for the sake of variety, no artist was allowed to have more than two songs on this list. However, solo and unit songs were treated as songs from separate artists. For example, NCT DREAM, NCT 127, and solo NCT members were separately eligible for up to two entries each.

#150: Hyolyn & XIA, “Coming of age ceremony”: A soundtrack for three occasions put together: a steamy romance, an EDM dance break, and a grand finale!

#149: Rocking doll, “Heart Rider”: A very peppy and cute song about young love

#148: VIZO, “A HA”: A fast-paced synth joyride

#147: THE 8, “Hai Cheng”: A ballad that is “particularly touching given the metaphors used that also appear in SEVENTEEN’s music. The core metaphor in ‘Hai Cheng’ is ocean waves, representing everything from choppy waters in a relationship to the color of a loved one’s eyes. He also uses the ocean in a simile… Like ocean waves, references to flowers… and shadows… bring to mind SEVENTEEN’s repeated usage of those same metaphors.” Read more here!

#146: VERIVERY, “Undercover”: A groovy but dark and mature turn for the group

#145: fromis_9, “Escape Room”: A fulfilled opportunity for fromis_9 to demonstrate their talent and versatility; their more mature side gets the big reveal it deserves

#144: eill, “Tada no Gyaru”: A refreshing twist in her discography, on which she proves she can work with hip-hop sounds as well as she works with retro flair

#143: WONHO, “Eye On You”: A song perfectly suited to WONHO’s seemingly contradictory strong suits: a mysterious tone and a commanding presence

#142: RAVI, “WARRIOR”: An excellent choice for an album conclusion, exemplifying his impressive blend of pop-rock and electropop soundscapes

#141: CRAVITY, “Boogie Woogie”: A, naturally, boogie-worthy song bursting with joy!

#140: PRIKIL, “SOMEBODY”: A song so upbeat it is hard not to smile about; an incredibly likable release

#139: EPEX, “Anthem of Teen Spirit”: A forceful declaration of rising above life’s challenges, set to a cinematic instrumental

#138: woo!ah!, “Catch the Stars”: An adorable ode to reaching for the sky

#137: NAO AIHARA, “lighthouse”: A hodgepodge of sounds that realign themselves during the flute-backed, hip-hop choruses to give the song movement and memorableness

#136: Kenshi Yonezu, “POP SONG”: An unconventional parade of sounds; an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to making a pop song, with surprisingly catchy results!

#135: TREASURE, “DARARI”: A fan favorite given the extra love it deserves with its rock remix

#134: Ragoon ft. MRSHLL, “Thumb-Nail”: Low-key attitudes and silky-smooth vocals make this relatively mellow tune extra likable

#133: Ayumi Hamasaki, “Nonfiction”: A dance-pop number reminiscent of Rania’s sound

#132: YENA, “SMARTPHONE”: A bouncy and enthusiastic bop

#131: YOSHIKI EZAKI, “RUNNING”: A song that effectively brings to life the song’s theme of breaking into a sprint; an immersive rush of a listening session

#130: Perfume, “Flow”: “... an accessible song for new-to-J-pop listeners that does not betray Perfume’s musical roots either. Perfume manage to bring out universally appreciated elements of pop music in their work in a way that feels inventive rather than compromising.” Read more here!

#129: DUSTCELL, “SANDBAG”: A sonic industrial playground!

#128: JIN, “The Astronaut”: A Coldplay-penned, touching sendoff as JIN enlists in the military and thanks fans for the ways they have helped this “alien” actor feel more at “home” in a band: “‘The Astronaut’ is both the perfect sendoff for JIN specifically and a great way to reflect on the happy accidents that make people believe in fate.” Read more here!

#127: Moon Byul, “C.I.T.T (Cheese in the Trap)”: A jovial mix of pop-rock and computer game sounds; an eclectic mix that perfectly suits the song’s oddball metaphor and charismatic artist!

#126: OWV, “Sound the Alarm”: Multiple catchy hooks put together for a piece of pop perfection

#125: EGOIST, “Gold”: “Many elements come together to make this song pull off its drama: piano and guitar riffs, a choir of backup voices, and EDM breakdowns. As kaleidoscopic, fast-changing images fill the music video, they sing an empowering message, encouraging listeners to not just go for the gold, but to recognize the gold that already exists within themselves and the preciousness of that inner gold...” Read more here!

#124: HAN SEUNG YUN, “Moon Driver”: A well-done synth and acoustic blend with a fun twist in the bridge 

#123: DeVita, “Bonnie & Clyde”: A downright captivating voice sings a well-known story with a personal spin 

#122: ATEEZ, “Cyberpunk”: Title-track material in the form of a techno-pop banger

#121: TEMPEST, “Bad News”: A standout debut for its delightfully ironic tone and weird but catchy main sound effect!

#120: LE SSERAFIM, “The Great Mermaid”: A bass-synth mix made even more fun with its sassy critiques of a Little Mermaid-style, damsel-in-distress narrative

#119: Red Velvet, “BAMBOLEO”: Light and airy instrumental layers paired with angelic harmonies

#118: Crush & j-hope, “Rush Hour”: A nineties-inspired jam that fits the vibe of its music video’s impromptu dance party!

#117: SUIREN, “Ray”: A layered, well-crafted, and downright cinematic number

#116: GARNiDELiA, “Oka Ramman”: A high-speed delight with lots of sonic swerves

#115: Cheng Xiao, “Lonely Beauty”: A thought-provoking rumination on the double-edged sword of being deemed beautiful by society

#114: Daichi Miura, “Le Penseur”: A spaced-out song that leaves room to revel in the instrumental-only intervals; a consistent tempo that somehow also has room to give listeners the sensation of moving forward 

#113: Araki, “Gold Tokio”: A smartly-crafted EDM song in which the high notes rise in time with the tempo

#112: JO1, “YOLO-konde”: A song that impresses for its ability to maintain a very high energy level throughout, pausing only when a dramatic effect is in order

#111: from20, “WEOL”: “‘WEOL’ tightly packs together percussion and synth layers to heighten its sense of suspense and uncontained frustration. from20’s voice adds an emotional edge, coldly stating his firm beliefs in some instances… and lashing out in others…” Read more here!

#110: MC Sniper, “Love Burnout”: Tongue-in-cheek lyrics delivered in an upbeat tone, ensuring sweetness and sourness are doled out equally

#109: Kumi Koda, “anemone”: Simply pop ballad perfection!

#108: lol, “Magic of A Laugh”: One big, sound-effect-filled, over-the-top party!

#107: Billlie, “RING ma Bell (what a wonderful world)”: A rousing pop-punk jam with lots of personal touches

#106: BIGBANG, “Still Life”: A rock ballad both nostalgic in its classic sound and in its lyrics’ theme

#105: SAAY, “Rocky”: An attitude-filled pivot, as SAAY storms into the hip-hop-focused segment of her concept album

#104: NINE.i, “Loner”: The best kind of sad, angsty song! A cathartic listening experience that shows NINE.i’s vocals at their best

#103: SUPER★DRAGON ft. maeshima soshi, “2U”: Warp-speed rapping over interesting electronic distortions

#102: XIUMIN, “Brand New”: A new jack swing song that suits this silky-smooth-voiced singer even better than expected

#101: TEN, “Birthday”: A sultry and compelling R&B track

#100: Nogizaka46, “Actually…”: An unpredictable soundscape that moves from suspense-building percussion into bubblegum pop territory to create the effect of two songs in one

#99: MIYAVI, “Dumb”: An addictive EDM beat paired with killer guitar shredding and a sinister laugh 

#98: AB6IX, “Sucker for your love”: A cathartic and relatable breakup anthem 

#97: MAX CHANGMIN, “Maniac”: A theatrical number that matches the frenetic energy of CHANGMIN’s pleas for someone to leave him alone!

#96: SUHO, “Hurdle”: A foot-tapping good time and a lighthearted spin on feelings of discombobulation and frustration!

#95: KIM WOO SEOK, “Switch”: A personal best for KIM WOO SEOK; this song perfectly suits his high register and contains a longer-than-usual chorus that helps him shine even more

#94: P1Harmony, “Doom Du Doom”: A sing-along-ready party that ensures its repetition is anything but a bore

#93: WONHO, “CRAZY”: An interesting pairing of a relatively quiet voice with an in-your-face, rollicking instrumental

#92: B.I & Soulja Boy & DeVita, “BTBT”: A song that screams “effortless” because of the ways the artists’ voices volley amongst each other; the repetitive instrumental is made interesting thanks to their teamwork

#91: KEY, “Bound”: A quirky, retro-flavored sound backs up a new and mature side to KEY’s voice

#90: TAEYEON, “Toddler”: A mix of levity and heaviness; a disco-pop easy-listening experience featuring deep lyrics about growing more cynical with age 

#89: BOL4, “In the mirror”: A touching message about self-love sent to both BOL4’s past self and to all listeners, sung with a voice that could make reciting the phone book a pleasure to hear

#88: CityNoise, “CopyCat”: A fantastic fusion of EDM, rock, and pop influences

#87: LE SSERAFIM, “FEARLESS”: An impactful debut that contrasts a timid, hushed delivery with self-assured lyrics

#86: SAAY, “Interstellar”: “The unique, raw quality in SAAY’s voice shines the most in this part of S:INEMA. The atmospheric sounds that envelope her voice compound its appeal and keep listeners anticipating her next move, as the album is just getting started!” Read more here!

#85: PURPLE KISS, “SuMMer RaiN”: A tender, guitar-based song favorable to the members’ irreplicable voices

#84: TWICE, “Talk that Talk”: An upbeat song that is tremendous fun from start to finish!

#83: FAKY, “GIRLS GOTTA LIVE”: A great playlist addition for girl group enthusiasts, or just anyone getting ready for a night out with friends!

#82: j-hope, “MORE”: A good entryway into j-hope’s new, grungy musical realm; the right call for a pre-release single

#81: WAGAMAMA RAKIA, “GR4VITY G4ME”: “The rock choruses have the perfect amount of angst to not turn off pop music fans but still appeal to emo fans. The screaming makes for a compelling contrast from the periods when their voices slip into hushed tones. Their whispers come across as ominous instead of calming. Just as fluidly as they slip from yelling into whispering and back again, they also alternate between rapping and singing…” Read more here! 

#80: Stray Kids, “CIRCUS”: A song with as much pizzazz and personality as any Korean Stray Kids single; a song that deserves just as much attention as those have gotten this year

#79: MAMAMOO, “ILLELLA”: A welcome return to the sound of their “Egotistic” era and an aptly-titled track that essentially means “to make a scene”!

#78: TAEYEON, “INVU”: An ethereal voice paired with clever lyrics and a simple but catchy instrumental 

#77: KB from OnlyOneOf, “be free”: A flirty, feel-good song with unexpected vocal filters and layered guitars

#76: KARD, “Ring The Alarm”: A moombahton-inspired single that keeps the dance-worthy vibe of “RED MOON” going

#75: Kep1er, “WA DA DA”: A playful, catchy debut song that deservedly assigned Kep1er “Super Rookie” status! 

#74: VICTON, “Stupid O’clock”: A release that stays original and authentic thanks to DO HAN SE’s signature rap flow, the ways the members’ voices work off of one another’s, and the catchiness of the instrumental

#73: WOODZ, “HIJACK”: A satisfying embodiment of the pop-punk spirit; a song about embracing spontaneity performed with a unique rasp

#72: Weeekly, “Ven para”: A level up from their previous singles in terms of attitude and catchiness

#71: FAKY, “Diamond Glitter”: “This quirky earworm mixes a playful piano with a fiddle and other unexpected details. The group skips their typical emphasis on individual members’ vocal strengths, opting this time for lots of chanting in unison that reinforces the song’s celebratory feel…” Read more here!

#70: BE:FIRST, “Betrayal Game”: An addictive bassline guides both impressive high notes and more cavalier-sounding lines that convey a cool attitude

#69: KEY, “Another Life”: A dance-floor-ready track with a spacial quality to KEY’s voice that matches the song’s immersive nature

#68: KIHYUN, “Youth”: An up-tempo wake-up call to one’s inner child, sung with an ease and buoyancy that a song with this theme warrants 

#67: DAYBREAK & LUCY, “Oh-eh”: A match made in musical Heaven! LUCY’s iconic violins blend seamlessly with DAYBREAK’s voices, bringing out the best in both artists

#66: YOSHIKI EZAKI, “OMAENOSEI”: Rugged guitar riffs thrown on top of an intoxicating EDM beat

#65: Novel Core ft. Aile The Shota, “HAPPY TEARS”: A road-trip-ready jam worth singing along to, about brushing away the small stuff and focusing on the bright side of life

#64: JAEHYUN, “Forever Only”: A swoon-worthy, romantic, guitar-led track 

#63: YOUHA, “Last Dance”: A sultry, rhythmic song with brassy undertones

#62: WOOZI, “Ruby”: Injections of humor, orchestral backup, rock inspiration, electronified vocal distortions, a distinct metaphor, and even more elements, all artfully blended together

#61: &TEAM, “Under the skin”: A pre-debut track that excels as a group introduction; just from this single, listeners know to expect relatable stories of angst, fear, and the desire for connection from &TEAM 

#60: PARK JI HOON, “NITRO”: A top-notch electronic instrumental and a commendable example of how to make something as simple as “Mmm” sound like a catchy and somewhat-complete chorus!

#59: Kawaguchi Yurina, “Look At Me”: Guitar-driven pop perfection with EDM-remix-ready choruses

#58: Younha, “Event Horizon”: A lovely voice sings about embracing a goodbye and treating it as a “See you later” moment before focusing on the better future ahead

#57: NCT DREAM, “Glitch Mode”: A quirky, hip-hop dance song that is very on-brand, with its large personality and sonic twists and turns

#56: MIYAVI, “Futurism”: A much-deserved spotlight on this rock icon’s trademark way of playing guitar

#55: Xdinary Heroes, “Strawberry Cake”: An eerie, punk storytelling session!

#54: Epik High ft. LeeHi, “Rich Kids Anthem”: An artful description of the ways social media can take a toll on mental health and a plea to refocus on what truly matters in life

#53: Epik High, “Prequel”: A clever homage to the group’s humble beginnings, milestone moments, and enduring ethos

#52: Lexie Liu, “MAGICIAN”: “An exhilarating electronic intro leads into a fierce dance beat. Lexie Liu’s vocals and the instrumental, weaving together percussion and electronic layers, are equally intoxicating. She is deft at keeping listeners in suspense, building up drama in unexpected ways and changing her volume on a dime, and the instrumental is similarly varied, at times repetitive and at times definitely not.” Read more here! 

#51: DKB, “24/7”: A smooth R&B sound that accentuates beautiful, underrated vocals  

#50: Stray Kids, “CASE 143”: A charming song with boundless energy and one surprise after another!

#49: Kimberley Chen & Flesh Juicer, “Clouds of Smoke (雲煙)”: A powerhouse vocalist teams up with a screamo-esque rapper for a rock track that is hard to forget

#48: PURPLE KISS, “Nerdy”: Deceptively sinister-sounding vocals accompanied by funky, layered beats and sound effects 

#47: Solar, “HONEY”: A flirty, rhythmic bass-driven jam with a memorable nod to Winnie the Pooh!

#46: Jvcki Wai, “Go Back”: An unapologetic hip-hop/Reggaeton single that pulls zero punches about what she thinks about haters!

#45: SUPER★DRAGON, “Welcome to my hell”: An eerie, intriguing scene-setter, kicking off the album with an enticing tease at the twists and turns to come 

#44: Araki, “Evacuation”: A song that maintains a breakneck pace as it moves from raps to orchestral pre-choruses to maximalist choruses

#43: BoA, “Forgive Me”: A song with dexterity and attitude in spades; a song that misleads listeners into expecting a sorrowful, slow song when this is actually a sassy declaration that BoA doesn’t need anyone’s forgiveness!

#42: NAYEON, “POP!”: A delightful and adorable pop song to which it is hard not to dance along!

#41: PINK FUN, “PFF”: An adorable earworm that’s one of the catchiest and cutest C-pop singles released all year

#40: NCT 127, “Black Clouds”: A rumination on a relationship with unexpected finishing touches and beautiful harmonies

#39: NCT 127, “Crash Landing”: One of the most gorgeous performances vocally on 2 Baddies

#38: ATEEZ, “Guerrilla”: An action-packed, rugged dawn of a new musical era for ATEEZ 

#37: WAGAMAMA RAKIA, “Devil’s Gimmick”: An eccentric rock song with drama-building pre-choruses and electronic mayhem in the post-choruses!

#36: PENTAGON, “The Game”: A chock-full, rock-meets-musical-theater number reminiscent of Block B 

#35: MONSTA X, “Wildfire”: A song that makes room to appreciate each member’s solo strengths in due time, from Joohoney’s irreplaceable rapping to Kihyun’s powerhouse delivery

#34: IVE, “After LIKE”: A fun and flirty song that samples Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”

#33: JUN, “LIMBO”: “... while the lyrics are about seducing someone and getting them to ‘escape into [his] limbo,’ he also indicates a lack of total control over this… While asserting he has the upper hand in a power dynamic, he secretly admits he is not so sure… ‘LIMBO’ leaves each variable up to interpretation, and the ambiguity is what makes this release so impressive... Nothing is what it seems on its surface, and perhaps that is the defining trait of the state of ‘LIMBO’ about which he sings.” Read more here!

#32: TVXQ!, “Epitaph - for the future -”: A song that demands a version with a live band; its multitudes and power make it a full musical production in miniature

#31: ZICO & Zior Park, “Nocturnal animals”: An alternative R&B song that suits its incredibly unique vocal pairing

#30: Dreamcatcher, “Locked Inside A Door”: A sonic diversion from the group’s norms in a good way! A dabbling in jazzy influences for which their voices are well-suited

#29: ONE OK ROCK, “When They Turn the Lights On”: A rock song with theatrical flourishes and stretched-out notes that further emphasize the drama!

#28: KANGDANIEL ft. Jessi, “Don’t Tell”: A Latin pop song that perfectly melds KANGDANIEL’s alluring voice with Jessi’s trademark sauciness

#27: Nissy, “Trippin”: An engaging introduction that kicks off his album with maximum bravado and a host of fun sound effects

#26: Dreamcatcher, “VISION”: A nu-metal song that is at times mystical and eerie and at other times louder and more upfront

#25: ENHYPEN, “SHOUT OUT”: The group’s clearest detour yet into pop-punk territory, which is thematically apt for this point in their discography’s broad storyline: they have progressed from singing about following the “lines” assigned to them to breaking away from those “lines” and “shouting out” who they really are. Read more here!

#24: (G)I-DLE, “Change”: A pained but beautiful diary entry; a vulnerable song about insecurities, loneliness, and how to find the strength within oneself to persevere

#23: PoLin, “Obsession”: “This stirring power ballad is simultaneously heavy and light. It is an emotionally dense story, but it is imbued with a sense of hope. As PoLin sings about forbidden love, he also sings about the need to still believe in and hope for love’s enduring power.” Read more here!

#22: luz, “CARNIVAL”: Marvelous madness! “… it moves at a breakneck pace, some lines are delivered so quickly it is as if his rap-like lyrics are racing against the frantic piano notes, and other moments slow things down to give listeners the sensation of being jolted. This feeling is not a bad thing! It is akin to being delightfully startled when watching a scary movie; feeling unnerved is the point.” Read more here!

#21: IVE, “LOVE DIVE”: A “Song of the Year” winner for a reason, full of both sugar and spice!

#20: Novel Core, “Imaginative Fantasista”: A jovial romp to which it is hard not to dance along! 

#19: Xdinary Heroes, “X-MAS”: A spooky and very unconventional alternative to Christmas music!

#18: WOODZ, “I hate you”: A solidification of WOODZ’s rockstar status and a cathartic, emo breakup anthem 

#17: ENHYPEN, “Polaroid Love”: A mood-boosting fan song with lyrics and vocals that are equally sweet

#16: MAX CHANGMIN, “Devil”: A song that masterfully demonstrates why MAX CHANGMIN’s voice alone is a tour de force; the rousing sensations created by the instruments and background voices are just welcome bonuses!

#15: Official HIGE DANdism, “Anarchy”: “The band plays around with vocal effects and the timing of the song, as voices linger at the end of choruses, acapella-style. There is an unexpected detour during the second verse to make room for mellowed-out guitar strumming and spaced-out drum beats, before the bass comes roaring back. The song ends with drawn-out guitar playing and the sound of microphone feedback, representing both the end of the song and the totality within it...” Read more here!

#14: milet, “Final Call”: She “proceeds to take her voice in unexpected directions that do not detour too much from the tone needed to keep the song’s message intact. Actually, her vocal variation reinforces the song’s message, by proving she does not just say ‘I’ll show you what I’m capable of on my own’ but actually shows it. Her vocal changes align well with the guitar riffs and then complement the quieter tempo of the pre-bridge percussion. After a brief period of whispering, her voice returns to the forefront, a commanding presence as the instruments come together for a climax.” Read more here!

#13: BLACKPINK, “Pink Venom”: A traditional Korean instrument, commanding rap lines, a fun and dance-break-ready bridge, anthemic pre-choruses, and so much more combine to make this single surpass high expectations 

#12: Vincent, “WE ARE YOUNG”: “His guitar-backed vocals are both unassuming and increasingly ominous as the song gains momentum. The second round of the chorus sounds more loud and intense than the first, and a crescendo is reached in an unexpected way in the bridge, when an EDM breakdown puts every other sound on hold…” Read more here!

#11: SEVENTEEN, “HOT”: A scorching “Song of the Summer” choice that impressively finds time for many different voices to individually shine 

#10: ONE OK ROCK, “Save Yourself”: A song with electronic breakdowns and pained delivery that embody the feel of a raging whirlpool of emotions; the song “strikes a defiant tone, repeating the need for one’s significant other to meet them halfway…” Read more here! 

#9: NewJeans, “Hype Boy”: An excellent introduction to a new girl group that revels in early-aughts inspiration and contains one funky detail after another! Each part of this song somehow sounds both carefully chosen and effortless; if one grows tired of one piece of the song, odds are one still finds another part of it catchy!

#8: SEVENTEEN, “Shadow”: A song with a rhythmic, light feel that contrasts nicely with its deeper messages

#7: MONSTA X, “LOVE”: Truly “one of the best K-pop title tracks of 2022… It blends the sounds of several MONSTA X eras into a new concoction that feels both true-to-them and new-to-them, comfortingly familiar yet not derivative…” Read more here!

#6: (G)I-DLE, “TOMBOY”: An attitude-drenched, come-as-you-are anthem that solidifies the group’s new and improved image as confident icons 

#5: BTS, “Run BTS”: A high-energy example of BTS’s expertise at genre and era hybridity 

#4: KIHYUN, “RAIN”: An absolutely astounding vocal performance that conveys the passion, sincerity, and emotional depth this powerful ballad deserves 

#3: TXT, “Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go”: A back-and-forth between synth-focused and guitar-focused segments, bound together by a shared story about what it means to be “Thursday’s Child” 

#2: milet, “Loved By You”: A painfully beautiful ballad, both on its own and in the larger album context: “The pain in her voice and relatively lonely instrumental leave listeners feeling the weight of her words and appreciating the emotional effort it has taken to reach this point of acceptance. She still hopes for ‘Someone [to] tell [her] it will be alright,’ but she no longer asks her lover to be that voice of reassurance. In ‘Loved By You,’ her signature bite is not entirely gone but has clearly softened…” Read more here!

#1: TXT, “Opening Sequence”: A gorgeous, classical-music-inspired number in which listeners can intimately feel the profound pain and conflicting feelings about which the members so mellifluously, yet hauntingly, sing