Building a connection to a song is a different process for everyone, and for every song. For some, it’s instant, but for others, it takes time develop that attachment. Both are valid. The songs that we’ve selected as our favorite Latin songs of the year (so far), are tracks that have not only topped the Billboard charts or have become viral on TikTok for a quirky dance challenge, but have made us feel some sort of way.
Some of the songs that are on the list thrive on an earworm chorus, the type that you connect with instantly because of its catchiness. Take, for example, Camilo‘s “Pegao,” a fun cumbia that at first listen, gets stuck in your head and afterwards leaves you singing “pegao, pegao, pegao.” Then there are songs that stand out for their ability to capture the zeitgeist of post-pandemic liberation. Karol G‘s calypso-powered “Provenza” is an anthem that sings about wanting to feel a special connection, even if that means igniting an old flame again.
Then there are those that marked a moment in 2022 leaving a proper impression not only on us but on the industry overall. Emerging siblings trio Yahritza y Su Esencia was on everyone’s mind after dropping its first song ever, “Soy El Único.” The heartbreak sierreño track hit No. 20 on the Hot 100, making 15-year-old Yahritza the youngest Latin performer ever to enter the chart.
Below, see our editors’ picks for the best 22 Latin songs of 2022. The wide-ranging list is arranged in alphabetical order by artist.