Awesome Songs: December 2022 | Playlist 🎧

Awesome Songs: December 2022  features Lana Del Rey, PNAU x Troye Sivan, Paramore, Saint Levant x PLAYYARD, and SZA among others.

It’s that time! What time it is? Why, Monthly round-up time, of course! It is the time to select the best songs of the month! All the songs on 🎧 Awesome Songs: December 2022 were released as singles or as an album track in December 2022, or whereabouts (exceptions are possible). Musicians that made our ears perk up in December 2022 include 🎙 Lana Del Rey, 🎙 Paramore, 🎙 PNAU x Troye Sivan, 🎙 Saint Levant x PLAYYARD, and 🎙 SZA among others. The musical styles are all over the map on this 13-song musical compendium that is sure to carry you throughout the remainder of 2022 and beyond. So, without further ado, here are those 🎧 Awesome Songs: December 2022!

1. SZA, “Nobody Gets Me”

💿 SOS • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 📅 2022 

“How am I supposed to tell you / I don’t wanna see you with anyone, but me / Nobody gets me like you.” 🎵 “Nobody Gets Me” arrives as the 14^th track on 💿 SOS, the long-awaited sophomore album by 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, 🎙 SZA. On “Nobody Gets Me,” SZA is heartbroken about the end of her relationship. She attempts to atone with sex with other guys – “Hurry now, baby, stick it in / ‘Fore the memories get to kickin’ in” – but ultimately, SZA understands that nobody else feels right for her other than her ex.

“I pretend when I’m with a man, it’s you.” Woo! SZA clearly adored him and now he is out of the picture. Beyond the relatable narrative and lyrics, the music of “Nobody Gets Me” is a selling point too. The rhythmic guitar accompaniment is a nice touch, giving the record a simple, confessional feel.  Though this is R&B, it is R&B with pop sensibilities. The melody is tuneful throughout, particularly the chorus where her vocals utterly slay.

Appears in 🔻:

• Nobody: 5ive Songs No. 80 (2022)
• 13 Notable Nobody, No One Songs

2. Saint Levant & PLAYYARD, “I Guess”

🎵 “I Guess” • 🏷 2048 LLC • 🗓 2022

“Said I like the way that you talk to me / I like the way you go far for me / I like the way that you look in my eyes / And say, ‘I want you inside me’.” Oh, $h#†, 🎙 Saint Levant (Marwan Abdelhamid)! Abdelhamid, a musician with a diverse background (Palestinian /French/ Algerian/Serbian) has no shortage of confidence, swagger, and dare I say, sex appeal.  Furthermore, he knows how to make a bop – construct a surefire vibe – which he does on 🎵 “I Guess” alongside 🎙 PLAYYARD.

PLAYYARD kicks “I Guess” off, singing the chorus and post-chorus.  “I know you’ve been thinking of us / While you living it up,” he sings memorably, adding, “You said it was never enough / And now you’re thinking of us in the club / But I guess / I guess you know it all, don’t you, baby?” Saint Levant follows with the verse excerpted above, adding Arabic to the mix, before revisiting English, in versatile fashion: “Uh, I was seventeen when I left home / Timbaland to my headphones / Now it’s just Marek and Pedro and we / Ayy, I don’t think you really want me, baby…” Beyond intriguing performances by PLAYYARD and Saint Levant, “I Guess” is well produced, set in a minor key, and pleasing to the ears. Abdelhamid and PLAYYARD shine on this short but sweet joint.

Appears in 🔻:

• Guess: 5ive Songs No. 79 (2022)

3. Lana Del Rey, “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd”

💿 Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2023

Question: “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd?” If not, 🏆 Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter 🎙 Lana Del Rey fills us in. 🎵 “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” serves as the lead single and second track from Del Rey’s ninth studio album, 💿 Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, which arrives March 23, 2023. From the onset, this piano ballad feels like the quintessential Lana Del Rey song, and we would not have it any other way.

Lana Del Rey sings gorgeously – her tone is haunting and one-of-a-kind.  Lyrically, “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” is incredibly poetic, characteristic of the singer/songwriter’s catalog. Del Rey penned this record alongside 🎼 ✍ Mike Hermosa (they also produce alongside  🎛 Drew Erickson, Jack Antonoff, and Zach Dawes). She sings about “Mosaic ceilings, painted tiles on the wall” in the first verse, mentions “a girl that sings ‘Hotel California’” in the second, not to mention the city, Camarillo.  In the third, Del Rey references the 🎙 Harry Nilsson classic, 🎵 “Don’t Forget Me”, which is also sampled. Besides Nilsson, John Lennon is referenced. As intriguing as the verses are, the chorus is the main attraction, intact with the f-bomb.

“When’s it gonna be my turn?

Don’t forget me

When’s it gonna be my turn?

Open me up, tell me you like it

Fuck me to death, love me until I love myself

There’s a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard.”

All told, Lana Del Rey sounds marvelous on this ballad, showcasing her distinct and expressive set of pipes.

Appears in 🔻:

• Know: 5ive Songs No. 81 (2022)

4. PNAU & Troye Sivan, “You Know What I Need”

🎵 “You Know What I Need” • 🏷 etcetc Music Pty Ltd • 🗓 2022

What happens when 🎙 PNAU and 🎙 Troye Sivan collaborate? Magic – sheer magic. PNAU taps Sivan for the fabulous single, 🎵 “You Know What I Need”.  This is the single that you need in your life during those cold, frigid winter months! PNAU and Sivan keep things short and sweet, clocking in just under three minutes in duration. An infectious groove from the onset sets the tone.  As always, Sivan serves up great vocals.  Beyond his awesome pipes, the vocal production is superb as well.  Sivan does the heavy lifting vocally, but he is also assisted by warm supporting vocals. The chorus is everything: the falsetto is ripe, the melody is tuneful, and the production is inviting.

“You’re all that I want

You’re all that I need

And if it hurts baby

I don’t want it.”

Beyond the chorus, the melody in the verses is also strong. So are the lyrics, which are love-centric (“But I’m thinkin’ lately / What’s so concernin’ / Soon as I leave you / I just keep on hurtin’.”). There is excellent contrast during the bridge section, which keeps “You Know What I Need” balanced. This is a superb dance-pop track that is a welcome addition to any winter 2022-23 playlist.

Appears in 🔻:

• Know: 5ive Songs No. 81 (2022)

5. PinkPantheress, “Boy’s a liar”

🎵 “Boy’s a liar” • 🏷 Warner Music UK Limited • 📅 2022 

“Take a look inside your heart, is there any room for me? / I won’t have to hold my breath till you get down on one knee.” Oh my – interesting. After impressing with her short but sweet single, 🎵 “Do you miss me?”, 🎙 PinkPantheress dropped a compelling follow-up with 🎵 “Boy’s a liar”. “Boy’s a liar” keeps things short – two minutes and change – and sweet, of course!

“What’s the point of crying? It was never even love

Did you ever want me? Was I ever good enough?”

PinkPantheress begins singing abruptly – there’s no intro to acquaint the listener with what’s to come. No problem as the record is a surefire vibe from the onset.  The listener is treated to a great groove and plenty of exceptional production touches led by keys and synths. As always, PP has a beautiful voice that’s light and airy. The vocal production is a big selling point too. Other selling points include the quick melodic lines and how they correspond with the tempo. There are also some nice overlapping and layered vocals.  Fittingly, the chorus – brief and uncomplicated – is #winning too (“Thе boy’s a liar, the boy’s a liar / He doesn’t see ya, you’rе not looking at me, boy”). All told, PinkPantheress brings the heat. “Boy’s a liar” features great production, a memorable chorus, and a sweet performance by PP.

Appears in 🔻:

• 15 Riveting Songs About Boys

6. A$AP Rocky, “Shittin’ Me”

🎵 “Shittin’ Me” • 🏷 A$AP Rocky Recordings LLC / RCA • 🗓 2022

“Why they choose my pubes anytime they wanna sit? (Go, go) / Couldn’t ride the wave and now you ridin’ dick (Shittin’ me).” WOO! 🎙 A$AP Rocky dropped a surefire rap banger with 🎵 “Shittin’ Me” which clocks in at just under two-and-a-half-minutes.  It won’t change your life (even if there’s nothing like a good $hi†), but it reminds listener why Rocky stood out in the first place.  “Shittin Me” commences with an interesting, 13 second intro. It is enigmatic, making you wonder where Rocky is going with this record.  He drops some of his signature ad-libs as well as production sound effects. The backdrop is fire, once “Shittin’ Me” settles in (🎛 Kelvin Krash). It sets up the record to be a banger. Even when the production settles in, there are some wrinkles that keep things from being predictable, which is a plus. As you might expect, given the title, the chorus is unapologetic, and pardon my French, filled with shit:

“Shittin’ me? (Woo, shittin’ me?)

Gotta be kiddin’ me

How could you shit on me?

You ain’t got shit on me (Woo, fuck outta here)”

A$AP Rocky drops an agile, cocky, and confident flow. He delivers two verses over the brief duration, with no shortage of ear-catching lines (“I put a hole in her guts and now ho go fast asleep / Since she been owin’ me for months and left my message on seen (Is you shittin’ me? What the fuck?)”).  All told, 🎵 “Shittin’ Me” isn’t shit but rather, a worthwhile, banging two-and-a-half minutes.

7. Paramore, “The News”

💿 This Is Why • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2023

“So, I turn on the news / Turn off the news.” After a five-year hiatus, 🎙 Paramore (Hayley Williams, Taylor York, and Zac Farro) returned in 2022! The comeback began with the spirited single, 🎵 “This Is Why”, the first piece of the puzzle from their 2023 album, 💿 This Is Why.  The 🏆 Grammy-winning collective returned with the fine second single, 🎵 “The News”.

The premise of “The News” is obvious from the onset and relatable.  There is a lot of bad news going down in the world, and escaping it, via television, via the internet, so on and so forth, is difficult.  Per Paramore, it is not only the news itself that is disturbing and troubling, but it is also the MEDIA.  In the bridge, Williams labels media as “Exploitative, performative / Informative and we don’t know the half of it.”  Specifically, the band references the war between Russian and Ukraine.  In the chorus, Williams sings, “Every second, our collective heart breaks / All together, every single head shakes / Shut your eyes, but it won’t go away / Turn on, turn off the news.” Beyond the theme and lyrics, the music is energetic, with ripe guitar, robust bass, and a thrilling groove established by the drums. Paramore are on fire! 🎵 “The News” gives the alternative collective another respectable single released in advance of This Is Why. It benefits from its theme and lyrics, assertive vocals from Hayley Williams, and an energetic backdrop.

8. Latto, “FTCU” (Ft. GloRilla & Gangsta Boo)

🎵 “FTCU” • 🏷 Streamcut / RCA • 🗓 2022

“Man, I’m the VIP, I done walked straight past you hoes / Bitch you ain’t see me?” As you figure out early on the female-helmed rap banger 🎵 “FTCU”, it is an acronym for fuck the club up.  Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Latto taps 🎙 GloRilla and 🎙 Gangsta Boo for the assist. Although the club fucking up lasts just under two-and-a-half-minutes, these ladies make quite the impression. It all begins with hard-hitting, minor-key production (🎛 d.a. got that dope). Gangsta Boo doesn’t get her own verse, but she performs the intro and echoes Latto during the gives no Fs chorus.

“Fuck the club up (Fuck the club up)

Fuck the club up (Fuck the club up)

I might stand up on your shit and fuck a dub up (Bitch)

…I might go off in your shit, you tryna mug us (Bitch).”

Holy $hi†! Unapologetic rhymes by Latto kicks things off with a bang. Her flow kicks ass in both the chorus and the first verse (“Hottest in my city, bitch, me and these diamonds hit / Bet’ not run up Big Latto, give no fuck about no image”). GloRilla takes the second verse.  Her interesting vocal timbre contrasts the higher-pitched Latto.  Where there is no contrast is the unapologetic nature: “Four cars full of shooters just in case they try to follow me (Huh?) / Keep them pistols in the party, we don’t go by policies.” All told, Latto, GloRilla, and Gangsta Boo put in work on “FTCU.” It is safe to say, they have, indeed, fucked the club up!

Appears in 🔻:

• For Under Consent of the King: 5ive Songs No. 78 (2022)
• 15 More Songs, Clearly For Under Consent of the King

9. YG & Lil Wayne, “Miss My Dawgs”

🎵 “Miss My Dawgs” • 🏷 4hunnid / Def Jam / UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 2022

“Man, I miss my dawgs / Thuggin’ on the block, really pistol in the drawers / Tryna make it out the hood, my dawg had a cause.” 🎙 YG is back with an ode to his dawgs, 🎵 “Miss My Dawgs”.  He is joined by 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper 🎙 Lil Wayne, who drops the second verse.  YG handles the chorus, which arrives at the top of the track, as well as the first verse. Fueling both rappers fire is a rhythmic, light, and reflective backdrop courtesy of 🎛 Gibbo and 🎛 Ambezza. YG does a fabulous job of painting a picture of what his dawgs meant to him.  Early on, in his verse, he defines his dawg as “one who ride for me.” Furthermore, he later spits, “My dawgs kept it honest with me, no if, ands, or probablys / You ain’t my dog if we ain’t ever do no robberies.” Riders through thick and thin! In the second verse, Lil Wayne also misses his dawgs (expectedly), mentioning “Bad-ass memories” and making some epic dog references:

“Niggas act like kittens, tryna scratch a nigga off

All my niggas pits, and I spit like a Saint Bernard

I don’t bark though, that’s my dawg show

She a dog ho, she on all four.”

Never change, Lil Wayne. This enjoyable, well-rounded track should add some bite to your playlist.

10. Myylo, “Dogs Shouldn’t Die”

💿 Ahh • 🏷 Myylo • 🗓 2022

“The reaper can fuck off / My dog is staying with me.” That is a mic drop lyric to say the least! Man’s best friend comes through on the fun, infectious, somewhat left of center penultimate cut from 💿 Ahh, 🎵 “Dogs Shouldn’t Die.” Indeed, dogs shouldn’t die and LGBTQ pop artist 🎙 Myylo makes it clear how important it is to have such a loyal, caring bestie – like, woof, woof! Like most Myylo songs, the lyrics are everything, including the likes of, “When my mom got sad in 2012 from a breakup with a psychopath / My dog stuck with her even though he wanted to pass.” Woo! He sings well, matching the energy of the bright, utterly optimistic backdrop. Fancy sufficiently tickled!

11. Dove Cameron, “ Girl Like Me”

🎵 “Girl Like Me” • 🏷 Disruptor / Columbia • 🗓 2022

“You’ve never met a girl like me before…” Okay, 🎙 Dove Cameron, if you say so! On her fourth single from her 2023, forthcoming debut album, Cameron samples 🎵 “A Girl Like You” by 🎙 Edwyn Collins. In her hands, however, Cameron flips the script, presenting the short but sweet 🎵 “Girl Like Me” with positive results. She sings playfully, in an undertone.  Even though she’s calm, cool, and collected in her performance, she still exhibits an energy.  From the onset, there’s an air of enigma and naughtiness as Cameron sings, “Heathen / I could give you something to believe in / Got this self-fulfilling reputation / Talking like you’re God’s favorite creation.” Oh, snap! She’s confident, and while she suggests he’s ‘feeling himself,’ she makes it clear that he is NOT ready for her. “I’d give you a taste,” she sings in the chorus, “but you’d want more.” Why? Because, “Never met a girl like, never met a girl like me.” Besides the fun lyrics and Dove’s unique performance, the production (🎛 Evan Blair) and sound are a selling point. This is ear-catching and picturesque. Once more, Dove Cameron does her thing.

12. Mathew V, “Dancing in the Sky”

🎵 “Dancing in the Sky” • 🏷 604 • 🗓 2022

“Tell me, what does it look like in heaven? / Is it peaceful? Is it free like they say?” 🎙 Mathew V sings thoughtfully in the first few lines of 🎵 “Dancing in the Sky”, a cover of the 🎙 Dani and Lizzi song released in 2015.  Safe to say, Mr. V does it sufficient justice, making “Dancing in the Sky” sound original. He authentically brings the poetic, remembrance-driven lyrics alive. His tone is stupendous as he pays ode to the lost. He asks questions about what heaven is like, shining most on the centerpiece, the chorus.  Here, is where he hopes and imagines heaven truly is everything that so many have imagined it to be:

“I hope you’re dancing in the sky

I hope you’re singing in the angel’s choir

I hope the angels know what they have

I’ll bet it’s so nice up in heaven since you arrived.”

No extensive analysis is needed for 🎵 “Dancing in the Sky”,  where Mathew V sounds utterly sublime and sincere. He sensationally reminds, and perhaps, introduces, this terrific record to a new audience.

13. SZA, “F2F”

💿 SOS • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 📅 2022 

“I been thinkin’ ‘bout you, haven’t got much sleep / Worried that you already done replaced me.” Oh, snap! Once again, on 💿 SOS, 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 SZA is dabbling in matters of the heart.  🎵 “F2F” precedes 🎵 “Nobody Gets Me” (featured earlier) yet encompasses similar themes. On this rock-infused R&B cut, SZA attempts to atone for missing her ex by having sex with other men – a good, old rebound!

In the first verse, SZA adds, “Now I’m ovulatin’ and I need rough sex / Knowin’ you gon’ block me tomorrow, can you still come and get me?” Throughout the verses, SZA is brutally honest though she’s most honest on the centerpiece, the chorus.  “Get a rise out of watchin’ you fall / Get a kick out of misisn’ your call / … Hate that I can’t let go of you enough, this why,” she sings, continuing, “I fuck him ‘cause I miss you.” Welp, you can’t get much clearer than that! “F2F” is a brilliant stylistic shift for SZA while remaining tried and true thematically. It marks one of many awesome moments from SOS, a late gem from 2022.

Awesome Songs: December 2022 [📷: 4hunnid, 604, 2048 LLC, A$AP Rocky Recordings LLC, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Columbia, Def Jam, Disruptor, etcetc Music Pty Ltd, Interscope, Myylo, The Musical Hype, RCA, Streamcut, Top Dawg Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner Music UK Limited, Ivan Babydov, KoolShooters, Pexels, Ricardo Pérez-Saravia, Tazz Vaughn, Tima Miroshnichenko]