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Live in Concert: The Weeknd’s stage featuring a colorful city skyline, July 21, 2022. Photo Courtesy: Zackary Israelite
By: David Maslar, Staff Writer January 4, 2023
Another year has passed, filled with good times and great music. Many albums were released this year from both classic and up-and-coming artists, and many students have strong opinions about their favorites.
Junior Jack Pia’s favorite album from 2022 was “HEROES & VILLAINS” by Metro Boomin.
He states, “It is very unique with its violins and other orchestral instruments.”
His favorite song off the album is “On Time” because it has an audio sample of Homelander, a show he really likes.
“The opera at the end gives it an ominous feel, not seen in rap,” he explains.
“HEROES & VILLAINS” debuted at number one this week on the Billboard Top 200 chart, ahead of albums like “Midnights” by Taylor Swift, “Her Loss” by Drake and 21 Savage, and “Un Verano Sin Ti” by Bad Bunny.
The album features many popular artists such as 21 Savage, A$AP Rocky, Chris Brown, Future, Gunna, John Legend, Travis Scott, Takeoff, Don Toliver, The Weeknd, and Young Thug.
“HEROES & VILLAINS” is Metro Boomin’s eighth studio album. It is his seventh album to make the Billboard 200, and fifth to break the top 10.
Junior Zack Israelite states that his favorite album from 2022 is “Dawn FM” from The Weeknd.
“It has an 80s retro feel, kinda like Michael Jackson. It’s a lot of transitions that make it feel like it’s a radio station which is really cool,” Israelite comments.
His favorite song is “Less Than Zero” because it was the best song he played live when he saw him live in concert in July of 2022. “It has a great energy, and the lyrics are very meaningful,” Israelite adds.
Dawn FM features some very popular artists such as Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne. It also features Jim Carrey as the narrator who plays the radio host. It peaked at #six on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the Billboard 200.
“Dawn FM” is The Weeknd’s ninth studio album. Of his nine albums, four of them have reached #1 on the Billboard 200, including “Starboy,” “After Hours,” “Beauty Behind the Madness,” and “My Dear Melancholy.”
Junior Aggie Dalton says her favorite album is “Midnights” from Taylor Swift. Her favorite song would either be “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve” or “You’re on Your Own, Kid.”
Dalton says, “The lyricism on both of them is really good and they both have stories with a deeper message.”
“Midnights” was the best selling album of 2022, selling over one million copies. It was #1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums for five straight weeks. It also broke the record for most streamed album on a single day with 186 million streams on spotify the day it was released.
