Barack Obama, who served as president of the United States from 2009 to 2013, is keeping cool this summer by listening to a summer playlist that includes more than 40 songs and reflects his varied musical preferences. Obama said on Twitter on Thursday, “Like I do every year, here are some songs I’ve been listening to this summer,” adding that his playlist is “a mix of old and new.
The playlist features a wide variety of old and new music, ranging from the indie rock trio Boygenius’s “Not Strong Enough,” which was just published this year, to oldies such as Tina and Ike Turner’s “River Deep – Mountain High,” which may be an ode to the “Queen of Rock and Roll” who passed away in May.
Throwback songs such as “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles and “California Love” by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman are included on the playlist. Other popular songs from earlier decades, such as “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles, are also featured. Other throwback gems on Obama’s playlist include “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” by Marvin Gaye, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, “Reach Out I’ll be There” by The Four Tops, and “Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)” by Aretha Franklin.
Obama, who is known for his dedication to remaining abreast of the most recent trends in popular music, has been heard bopping along to the single “Princess Diana” by Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj, which was released in 2023, as well as “Vampiros” by Rauw Alejandro and Rosala, which was also published in this year.
There are also some musicians who appear on the list more than once, such as the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, SZA, Michael Kiwanuka, and Bob Dylan, but they are represented here by a different song each time. Obama was listening to these artists during the summer of 2021.
