Barack Obama has shared his annual summer playlist, comprising more than 40 songs that he’s been enjoying this year.
The former US president shared his playlist on social media platforms on Thursday (20 July), writing: “Like I do every year, here are some songs I’ve been listening to this summer – a mix of old and new. Look forward to hearing what I’ve missed.”
Some of the leading tracks in Obama’s playlist this season are from artists such as SZA, Tupac Shakur, Bob Dylan, Burna Boy, J Hus, and Ice Spice.
The first track on the 44th president’s list is J Hus and Drake’s new single “Who Told You”, which was released last month. The song is J Hus’s first release since his 2020 album Big Conspiracy.
Obama’s list also consists of Jorja Smith’s new single “Try Me” and Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj’s hit single “Princess Diana”, which debuted at No 2 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at No 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Some of the nostalgic tracks that Obama has been vibing to this summer are Tupac Shakur’s “California Love”, “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” by Marvin Gaye, Janet Jackson’s “Got ‘Til It’s Gone”, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)” by Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder’s “Golden Lady”.
Obama also showed off his knowledge of several up and comers on the music scene, including Mexican rap Peso Pluma and Nigerian artist Ayra Starr.
Starr released her single “Stability” in February this year. At the time, the single debuted at number one on the TurnTable Top 100 charts.
Pluma on the other hand released her single “La Bebe (Remix)” with Yng Lvcas in March 2023.
Obama’s list is bilingually diverse with Spanish tunes such as Rosalía and her fiancé Rauw Alejandro’s “Vampiros” on the list.
There are also some repeat artists that Obama was listening to in the summer of 2021 including Rolling Stones, SZA, and Michael Kiwanuka, who show up this year with different songs.
Obama’s list also includes Luke Combs’s controversial cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 classic “Fast Car,” which recently reached No 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. With Chapman still credited as the songwriter, it made her the first Black woman to top the chart in its 33-year existence.
Along with his music list, Obama has also released a summer reading list which consists of his favourite novels such as The Wager by David Grann and Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.
