The 10 biggest music moments of 2022 — Beyonce’s rise and it all falls down for Kanye West

This year has been an important year for music. Live shows, which had previously plummeted due to the pandemic, have made a ferocious comeback with concerts and festivals in full swing.

The year also welcomed the release of forward-thinking albums by major pop stars and the appreciation of an enigmatic artist from nearly 40 years ago.

Pakistani singer Arouj Aftab won a grand prize at the Grammy Awards, and Kanye West’s career is fast becoming irredeemable.

That said, here are some of music’s biggest stories for 2022.

1. The Weeknd said no to the Grammys

It was just a week ago this year that The Weeknd dropped one of the Albums of the Year.

Dreamy, pensive synthpop Dawn FMFeaturing narration from actor and fellow Canadian Jim Carrey, was a career-best effort and cemented The Weeknd’s status as the new kings of pop.

Perhaps the only people who were interested in the ascension were the hosts of the Grammy Awards.

The Weeknd’s boycott of competition reacts to previously critically acclaimed album After several hours There were no nominations last year, so next year’s awards ceremony will go uncontested for one of the best albums or songs.

2. Hip-hop was the star of the Super Bowl

Hip-hop was all the rage at the Super Bowl this February.

Held in Los Angeles and headlined by Dr. Dre, the halftime show was not only a celebration of his pioneering career, but also a coronation of hip-hop’s late status in pop culture today.

Special guests from Snoop Dogg and Eminem to Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent served as reminders of the genre’s dominance over the past three decades.

3. The rock world mourned Taylor Hawkins

The death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in March at the age of 50 rocked the band’s global fan base and the music industry.

After complaining of chest pains, an ambulance crew found Hawkins unresponsive in a hotel room in Bogota, Colombia, during the band’s South American tour.

Hawkins was declared dead at the scene, and health officials reportedly said he was suffering from a “cardiovascular collapse.”

Later that year, the Foo Fighters held tribute concerts in London and Los Angeles, with special guests including Dave Chappelle, Liam Gallagher, Nile Rodgers and John Paul Jones.

The Foo Fighters have canceled all remaining dates and have yet to play a full show since the tragedy, aside from two tribute gigs.

4. Arooj Aftab made Grammy history

Arooj Aftab became the first Pakistani woman to win a Grammy Award in April.

Defeating heavyweights like Yo-Yo Ma, Wizkid and Burna Boy, the singer won the Best Global Music Performance award for the song. Mohabat.

“Thank you to everyone who helped make this record,” she said in her acceptance speech.

“To all the amazing collaborators who follow me and make this music, I made it about everything that broke me and put me back together. Listen to it and make it yours.” Thank you.”

5. Kate Bush is No. 1 after nearly 40 years

About 40 years after its release, Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) British singer Kate Bush’s songs still make an impression on me.

First released in 1985, this fantastical track captivated a new generation of fans after being featured on the popular Netflix series. stranger things.

The song topped the UK charts in July and currently holds the record for longest time to reach number one according to the Official Charts Company.

The enigmatic artist says on his website that he is “overwhelmed by the amount of love and support for the song, and everything is going really fast, as if powered by some sort of elemental force.” writing.

“I have to admit that I am really touched by all of it.”

6. Louis Theroux was a TikTok sensation

Another track that took a long time to become an unexpected hit was jiggle jiggle By Louis Theroux.

The host and journalist originally wrote and performed the track in 2002 as part of his television series. weird weekendonly for it to be remixed and transformed into a club hit by Manchester producers Duke & Jones.

Not only was it a viral sensation when it was released in July, it also reached number eight in the top 10 most popular songs on TikTok in the UK.

7. Beyoncé hit the club

Beyoncé owned most of the summer after releasing her long-awaited album renaissance in July.

Chased by Monster Single break my soul, Shedding the personal and social trauma explored in previous releases, the album was a dance-heavy album filled with basslines thick enough to test the most rugged sound systems.

Fans sent messages and responded renaissance Topping the charts in the US and UK, Beyoncé has confirmed that she will be touring again soon.

Beyoncé is set to perform at the opening of Atlantis the Royal next month. The invitation-only concert will be the first since 2018.

8. Mental health was a top priority for Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes

Despite enthusiasm for the return of live concerts, some stars found it difficult to adjust to life on tour.

This year, many major acts have canceled tours for health reasons.

Justin Bieber canceled his Justice World Tour, which included two Dubai shows in September, citing fatigue.

The 28-year-old singer is battling Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which leaves half of her face paralyzed.

Bieber followed Canadian pop star Shawn Mendes, who postponed his world tour for three weeks to focus on his mental health.

Mendez, 24, said he needed to take care of his mental health and continued to pull the plug for the entire tour.

“I started this tour with the excitement of finally getting back to playing live after a long hiatus due to the pandemic, but the reality is that I was completely unprepared for how difficult the tour will be after this time away. I didn’t,” he posted on Instagram.

“It’s become more clear that I need to put in more time than I’ve personally taken to build myself up and come back stronger.”

Both artists were praised by their fans and peers for emphasizing the importance of self-care to their younger fans.

9. DJ Khaled visits Saudi Arabia

American rapper and record producer DJ Khaled in Mecca with boxer Mike Tyson and Tyson’s stepfather Shamsud Din Ali. All photos unless otherwise noted: Instagram / djkhaled

The American artist with Palestinian roots received a heroic welcome at a rare concert at Riyadh’s Soundstorm Festival earlier this month.

Joining him on stage in front of over 150,000 people were Rick Ross, Future and Busta Rhymes.

In addition to visiting UNESCO-listed AlUla, DJ Khaled capped his trip to Saudi Arabia with an emotional visit to the holy city of Mecca, where he performed Umrah with boxer Mike Tyson.

“The moment I walked through Mecca, tears welled up in my eyes… tears of joy,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a video of himself performing the Tawaf around the Kaaba.

“All my life I wanted to go to Mecca to pray and give thanks to Allah.

I prayed for the world for more love, more lives, more peace, more joy, more happiness, more health and protection for all of us. God is the greatest! “

10. Kanye West suffered a public career meltdown

One of the biggest losers of the year is Kanye West, who will end his music and fashion career in 2022 by a string.

Ye, as he now goes by, provoked outrage and condemnation through a blizzard of anti-Semitic comments and offensive metaphors about the Jewish community in interviews.

They were captured by West at Paris Fashion Week wearing shirts with the slogan “White Lives Matter” in what is seen as an attack on the Black Lives Matter racial equality movement. I got

With fashion brands Adidas and Balenciaga cutting lucrative ties with West and the music industry shunning the rapper, it’s hard to see how he’ll make an effective comeback next year.

Updated: December 27, 2022, 8:11 AM