List of UK top-ten singles in 2022 explained
The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Since 2004 the chart has been based on the sales of both physical singles and digital downloads, with airplay figures excluded from the official chart.[2] [3] Since 2014, the singles chart has been based on both sales and streaming, with the ratio altered in 2017 to 150:1 streams and only three singles by the same artist eligible for the chart.[4] [5] From July 2018, video streams from YouTube Music and Spotify among others began to be counted for the Official Charts. This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 2022, as well as singles which peaked in 2021 and 2023 but were in the top 10 in 2022. The entry date is when the song appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
Ninety-four singles were in the top 10 this year. Fifteen singles from 2021 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Calm Down" by Rema, "Escapism" by Raye featuring 070 Shake, "Firebabe" by Stormzy and "Let Go" by Central Cee were all released in 2022 but did not reach their peak until 2023. "Seventeen Going Under" by Sam Fender, "Coming for You" by SwitchOTR featuring A1 x J1, "Overseas" by D-Block Europe featuring Central Cee, "ABCDEFU" by Gayle, "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey, Last Christmas" by Wham! and "Come On Home for Christmas" by George Ezra were the songs from 2021 to reach their peak in 2022. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" by Michael Bublé were both released in 2021 and re-entered the top 10 in 2022, but did not reach their peak until 2023. Acraze, Fireboy DML, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Jessica Darrow, Kim Petras and Luude were among the many artists who achieved their first top 10 single in 2022.
"Merry Christmas" by Ed Sheeran and Elton John returned to number-one for a third non-consecutive week during the first week of 2022, while Adele's "Easy on Me" clinched an eighth non-consecutive week at the top spot during the second week of 2022. The first new number-one single of the year was "ABCDEFU" by Gayle. Overall, fourteen different songs peaked at number-one in 2022, with fourteen unique artists hitting that position.
Background
Multiple entries
Ninety-four singles charted in the top 10 in 2022, with eighty-six singles reaching their peak this year (including the re-entries "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and "Last Christmas", which charted in previous years but reached peaks on their latest chart run).
Encanto sets records
Three songs from the soundtrack of the Disney film Encanto charted within the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart this year; "We Don't Talk About Bruno", "Surface Pressure" and "The Family Madrigal". On 21 January 2022 (27 January 2022, week ending), "We Don't Talk About Bruno" rose to number-one, and remained there for seven consecutive weeks, and also made history by becoming the first-ever original song from a Disney film to reach number-one in the 70-year history of the UK Singles Chart.[6] On 4 February 2022 (10 February 2022, week ending), after "The Family Madrigal" entered the top 10 at number seven, Encanto set another record by becoming the first Disney film to have three songs from its soundtrack reach the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart simultaneously.[7]
Harry Styles returns to number-one and achieves career-best
On 8 April 2022 (14 April 2022, week ending), Harry Styles debuted at number-one in the UK Singles Chart with "As It Was", which became his second solo single to top that chart after 2017's "Sign of the Times". "As It Was" recorded a career-best for Styles, as it achieved 94,000 chart sales during its first week of release, the biggest opening week of any single in 2022 so far, as well as notching up 10.5 million streams, the biggest week of UK streams of any track so far during the year. "As It Was" also claimed the biggest first week of any song in the chart since LadBaby featuring Ed Sheeran and Elton John's "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" in December 2021.[8]
Sam Ryder's "Space Man" becomes the highest-charting UK Eurovision entry since 1996
On 20 May 2022 (26 May 2022 week ending), Sam Ryder climbed to number two in the UK Singles Chart with "Space Man", the United Kingdom's entry from the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The song's chart success was attributed to its second-place finish at that year's competition. "Space Man" became the highest-charting UK Eurovision entry since Gina G's "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit", which reached number-one in 1996. Ryder also outperformed the last UK Eurovision winners to date, Katrina & The Waves, whose winning entry from 1997, "Love Shine a Light", peaked at number three.[9]
Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" reaches number-one following use in Stranger Things, while Bush sets records
On 3 June 2022 (9 June 2022 week ending), Kate Bush's 1985 hit single "Running Up That Hill" re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number eight.[10] The song had experienced renewed popularity worldwide after it was prominently featured in the fourth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things, and this resulted in it re-entering the charts of various countries. The following week, the song rose six places to a new chart peak of number two, overtaking its original peak position of number three.[11] On 17 June 2022 (23 June 2022, week ending), "Running Up That Hill" topped the chart, giving Bush her second UK number-one single, and her first since her 1978 debut single "Wuthering Heights". In addition, Bush also set records by claiming the record of the longest time taken for a single to reach number-one in the UK chart, with "Running Up That Hill" topping the chart almost 37 years after its initial release, and also becoming the oldest female artist ever to score a UK number-one single at 63 years and 11 months old.[12]
Eliza Rose reaches landmark number-one
On 2 September 2022 (8 September 2022 week ending), Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal made chart history by becoming the 1400th number-one single with "B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All)". Rose also became the first female DJ to earn a number-one single in 22 years since "It Feels So Good" by Sonique reached the top position in May 2000.[13]
David Guetta returns to number-one with Eiffel 65 sample
On 23 September 2022 (29 September 2022 week ending), David Guetta and Bebe Rexha reached number one with "I'm Good (Blue)", which became Guetta's first UK number-one single in eight years and 7th overall, as well as Rexha's first chart-topper. The song samples "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" by Eiffel 65, which also reached number-one 23 years prior in September 1999.[14] [15]
Taylor Swift achieves prestigious Official Chart Double
On 28 October 2022 (3 November 2022, week ending), Taylor Swift achieved the prestigious chart double, topping both the UK Singles Chart and UK Albums Chart with "Anti-Hero" and Midnights, respectively. The song became Swift's first number-one since 2017 with "Look What You Made Me Do".[16]
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" and "Last Christmas" return to number-one
December 2022 saw both Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and Wham!'s "Last Christmas" return to number-one in the UK Singles Chart, exactly two years after both songs first topped the chart.
On 9 December 2022 (15 December 2022, week ending), "All I Want for Christmas Is You" returned to number-one, having topped the chart for the very first time on 11 December 2020 (17 December 2020, week ending). In the seven days preceding its return to the top spot, the song notched up 10.8 million streams in the UK alone.[17]
On 16 December 2022 (22 December 2022, week ending), "Last Christmas" returned to the top of the chart, having reached number-one for the first time ever on 1 January 2021 (7 January 2021, week ending). The song accumulated 11.4 million streams in the UK alone in the seven days preceding its return to the top spot.[18]
LadBaby make history with fifth Christmas number-one
British blogger couple LadBaby made UK chart history on 23 December 2022 (29 December 2022, week ending), when they became the first-ever act to secure five Christmas number-one singles after their single "Food Aid" debuted at number-one in the UK Singles Chart. In doing so, they surpassed the record held by The Beatles, who secured four Christmas number-ones in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1967. In its first week of release, "Food Aid" shifted a total of over 65,000 chart units.[19]
Chart debuts
Thirty-four artists achieved their first charting top 10 single in 2022, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, three went on to record another hit single in their breakthrough year: Cast of Encanto, Luude and Stephanie Beatriz.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
- NotesColin Hay earned his UK top ten debut as a featured artist in February 2022 with "Down Under", although he was a former member of Men at Work. Amanda Reifer earned her UK top ten debut in May 2022 after featuring on "Die Hard", although she was a former member of Cover Drive.
Songs from films
Original songs from films charted in the top-ten throughout the year. These include "We Don't Talk About Bruno", "Surface Pressure" and "The Family Madrigal" (from Encanto), "I Ain't Worried" (from ) and "Lift Me Up" (from ).
Best-selling singles
Harry Styles had the best-selling single of the year with "As It Was". The song spent ten weeks at number-one, sold 1,550,000 copies and was certified 2x platinum by the BPI. "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran came in second place, while Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran's "Peru", "Go" by Cat Burns and Ed Sheeran's "Shivers" made up the top five. Songs by Kate Bush, Glass Animals, Lost Frequencies featuring Calum Scott, LF System and Sam Fender were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.
Top-ten singles
- Key
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|
| ‡ | Single peaked in 2021 but still in chart in 2022. |
| ♦ | Single released in 2021 or 2022 but peaked in 2023. |
| (#) | Year-end top-ten single position and rank |
| Entered | The date that the single first appeared in the chart. |
| Peak | Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart. | |
Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who have achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2022, including singles that reached their peak in 2021. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 2022 is also shown.
| Entries | Artist | Weeks | Singles |
|---|
| 8 | | 28 | "Shivers", "Merry Christmas", "Peru", "The Joker and the Queen", "Bam Bam", "2step", "My G", "Celestial" |
| 7 | | 9 | "Wait for U", "Jimmy Cooks", "Massive", "Falling Back", "Rich Flex", "Major Distribution", "Circo Loco" |
| 4 | Aitch | 18 | "War", "Baby", "My G", "Psycho" |
| 21 Savage | 5 | "Jimmy Cooks", "Rich Flex", "Major Distribution", "Circo Loco" |
| 3 | Taylor Swift | 15 | "Anti-Hero", "Lavender Haze", "Snow on the Beach" |
| 19 | "Overseas", "Doja", "Let Go" |
| Harry Styles | 20 | "As It Was", "Late Night Talking", "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" |
| 2 | | 12 | "Overseas", "Rocket Science" |
| George Ezra | 14 | "Come On Home for Christmas", "Green Green Grass" |
| 10 | "21 Reasons", "Crazy What Love Can Do" |
| Elton John | 7 | "Merry Christmas", "Hold Me Closer" |
| ArrDee | 3 | "Flowers (Say My Name)", "War" |
| 7 | "Not Over Yet", "Christmas Drillings" |
| Stormzy | 11 | "Hide & Seek", "Firebabe" |
| Beyoncé | 13 | "Break My Soul", "Cuff It" |
| Stephanie Beatriz | 10 | "We Don't Talk About Bruno", "The Family Madrigal" |
| Cast of Encanto |
| Kendrick Lamar | 1 | "N95", "Die Hard" |
| David Guetta | 18 | "Crazy What Love Can Do", "I'm Good (Blue)" |
| Luude | 15 | "Down Under", "Big City Life" | |
Notes
- "All I Want fot Christmas Is You" re-entered the top 10 at number 3 on 9 December 2021 (week ending). The song originally peaked at number 2 upon its initial release in 1994 and reached number-one for the first time ever on 17 December 2020 (week ending).
- "Last Christmas" re-entered the top 10 at number 4 on 9 December 2021 (week ending). The song originally peaked at number 2 upon its initial release in 1984 and reached number-one for the first time ever on 7 January 2021 (week ending).
- "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 16 December 2021 (week ending), having originally peaked at number 6 upon release in 1962. It reached a new peak of number 5 on 6 January 2022 (week ending).
- "Merry Christmas Everyone" re-entered the top 10 at number 6 on 16 December 2021 (week ending), having originally peaked at number 1 upon release in 1985.
- "Fairytale of New York" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 16 December 2021 (week ending), having originally peaked at number 2 upon release in 1987.
- "Seventeen Going Under" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 23 December 2021 (week ending).
- "It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 6 January 2022 (week ending).
- "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" first charted at number 21 in 2007.
- "Driving Home for Christmas" first charted at number 53 upon release in 1988.
- "Easy on Me" re-entered the top 10 at number-one on 13 January 2022 (week ending).
- "ABCDEFU" re-entered the top 10 at number 2 on 13 January 2022 (week ending).
- "Seventeen Going Under" re-entered the top 10 at number 3 on 13 January 2022 (week ending).
- "Coming for You" re-entered the top 10 at number 5 on 13 January 2022 (week ending).
- "Flowers (Say My Name)" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 13 January 2022 (week ending).
- "Overseas" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 13 January 2022 (week ending).
- "Shivers" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 13 January 2022 (week ending).
- "Flowers (Say My Name)" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 27 January 2022 (week ending).
- "The Joker and the Queen" debuted at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart on 24 February 2022 (week ending) following the release of the remix featuring Taylor Swift.
- "Down Under" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 24 February 2022 (week ending).
- "BMW" entered the top 10 at number 9 on 31 March 2022 (week ending) following the release of the remix featuring French the Kid, Mist and Bugzy Malone.
- "House on Fire" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 31 March 2022 (week ending).
- "Bam Bam" entered the top 10 at number 10 on 7 April 2022 (week ending) following Cabello and Sheeran's performance on Concert for Ukraine.
- Figure includes a feature on "Bam Bam".
- "Down Under" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 28 April 2022 (week ending).
- "BMW" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 5 May 2022 (week ending).
- "Bam Bam" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 2 June 2022 (week ending).
- "Running Up That Hill" originally peaked at number 3 upon its initial release in 1985. It re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 9 June 2022 (week ending), having experienced renewed popularity worldwide after it was prominently featured in the fourth season of Stranger Things. The following week, the song rose to a new peak position of number 2. It topped the chart a week later, giving Kate Bush her first number-one single since 1978.
- "Space Man" re-entered the top 10 at number 5 on 16 June 2022 (week ending), following Ryder's performance at the Platinum Jubilee concert, Platinum Party at the Palace.
- "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 23 June 2022 (week ending).
- Figure includes a feature on "Wait for U".
- "IFTK" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 7 July 2022 (week ending).
- Figure includes a feature on "21 Reasons".
- "Last Last" entered the top 10 at number 7 on 21 July 2022 (week ending) following the release of the album Love, Damini.
- "Crazy What Love Can Do" entered the top 10 at number 8 on 21 July 2022 (week ending) following Hill's performance on Love Island.
- Figure includes a feature on "Overseas".
- "IFTK" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 4 August 2022 (week ending).
- "Late Night Talking" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 18 August 2022 (week ending).
- "Not Over Yet" re-entered the top 10 at number 6 on 8 September 2022 (week ending), following the release of the remix featuring Headie One and Nines.
- "Late Night Talking" re-entered the top 10 at number 5 on 15 September 2022 (week ending).
- "Super Freaky Girl" re-entered the top 10 at number 6 on 15 September 2022 (week ending).
- "Doja" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 22 September 2022 (week ending).
- "Big City Life" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 29 September 2022 (week ending).
- "Big City Life" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 20 October 2022 (week ending).
- "Cuff It" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 10 November 2022 (week ending).
- "Psycho" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 24 November 2022 (week ending).
- "Lift Me Up" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 24 November 2022 (week ending).
- Figure includes a feature on "Rocket Science".
- "All I Want fot Christmas Is You" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 8 December 2022 (week ending). The song returned to number-one on 15 December 2022 (week ending).
- "Last Christmas" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 8 December 2022 (week ending). The song returned to number-one on 22 December 2022 (week ending).
- "Merry Christmas" re-entered the top 10 at number 4 on 15 December 2022 (week ending).
- "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" re-entered the top 10 at number 6 on 15 December 2022 (week ending). It reached a new peak of number 4 on 5 January 2023 (week ending).
- "It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 15 December 2022 (week ending).
- "Fairytale of New York" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 22 December 2022 (week ending).
- Figure includes a feature on "Christmas Drillings".
- "It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas" re-entered the top 10 at its new peak of number 6 on 5 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Fairytale of New York" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 5 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Escapism" re-entered the top 10 at number-one on 12 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Anti-Hero" re-entered the top 10 at number 2 on 12 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Messy in Heaven" re-entered the top 10 at number 3 on 12 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Made You Look" re-entered the top 10 at number 5 on 12 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Let Go" re-entered the top 10 at number 6 on 12 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Miss You" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 12 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Calm Down" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 12 January 2023 (week ending).
- "Miss You" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 9 February 2023 (week ending).
- "As It Was" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 23 February 2023 (week ending), following Styles' success and performance of the song at the Brit Awards 2023.
- re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 20 April 2023 (week ending), following the release of Capaldi's Netflix documentary Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now.
- "Green Green Grass" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 20 April 2023 (week ending).
- "As It Was" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 1 June 2023 (week ending) after Styles embarked on his final leg of shows in the UK of Love On Tour.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: The Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. 28 December 2014.
- Book: Roberts, David. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 2005. 1-904994-00-8. 14. . 18th .
- Web site: New singles formats to save the charts. BBC News. 16 October 2003 . 21 February 2010.
- Web site: Official Singles Chart rules are changing to help new bands break through. 26 June 2017. Newsbeat. British Broadcasting Corporation. 26 June 2017.
- Web site: Official Charts Company changes conversion rate to reflect rise in streaming. Ben. Homewood. 19 December 2016. Music Week. 20 January 2017.
- Web site: January 21, 2022. We Don't Talk About Bruno from Disney's Encanto becomes the first ever original Disney song to land the UK Official Chart Number 1. January 21, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: February 4, 2022. Disney's Encanto becomes first film soundtrack in history to land three simultaneous Top 10s on the Official Singles Chart. February 4, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: April 8, 2022. Harry Styles claims career-best debut with second solo Number 1 single. April 8, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: May 20, 2022. Sam Ryder's SPACE MAN becomes highest-charting UK Eurovision entry in 26 years after passionate campaign. May 20, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: June 3, 2022. Kate Bush returns to UK Top 10 for first time in a decade thanks to Stranger Things viral success. June 3, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: June 10, 2022. Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill claims new Official Singles Chart peak as Harry Styles reigns with As It Was. June 10, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: June 17, 2022. Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill is Official Charts Number 1 Single: Singer becomes 3 x Official Charts Record Breaker with Stranger Things success. June 17, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: September 2, 2022. Eliza Rose reaches landmark Number 1 with B.O.T.A (Baddest Of Them All). September 2, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: September 23, 2022. David Guetta and Bebe Rexha surge to Number 1 with I'm Good (Blue). September 24, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: September 29, 2022. Flashback 1999: They're Good (Blue)! Eiffel 65 was Number 1 23 years ago. September 30, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: October 28, 2022. It's a Taylor Swift takeover with an Official Charts Double. October 28, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: December 9, 2022. Mariah Carey makes glittering return to Number 1 with All I Want For Christmas Is You. December 9, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: December 16, 2022. Whamageddon! Last Christmas returns to Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart. December 16, 2022. Official Charts Company.
- Web site: December 23, 2022. Christmas Number 1 2022: LadBaby make UK Official Chart history as Food Aid debuts at Number 1: "A massive apology to The Beatles! The charity wins!. December 23, 2022. Official Charts Company.
