As is tradition, President Barack Obama has unveiled his summer playlist, and in typical form, his selections run the gamut. From viral stars like Tommy Richman and Paul Russell to establishment artists including Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones, the playlist gives a wide breadth of genre and scope, something that we’ve come to expect from the former President year after year.
Released in tandem with his summer reading list, the summer playlist is a hodgepodge of what’s hot right now and what was hot back then, from neo-soul to classic rock. If there was any doubt, then yes, much like Vice President Kamala Harris he’s having a brat summer with the inclusion of Charli XCX’s “365.” Elsewhere, he’s kickin’ up dust with country anthems from Beyoncé (“Texas Hold ‘Em”) and Shaboozey (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”).
But then there’s a spate of classics, however you define those, from Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Digable Planets’ “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” to the Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go” and Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” He includes a few Afrobeats surprises — Rema’s “Yayo,” Tems’ “Love Me Jeje” and Tyla’s “Jump” featuring Gunna and Skillibeng — plus a few curveballs (Bonny Light Horseman’s “Old Dutch,” for one.)
“With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I’ve been listening to lately – and it wouldn’t be my playlist if it didn’t include an eclectic mix,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I hope you find something new to listen to!”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Charli XCX, “365”
Billie Eilish, “Chihiro”
Tems, “Love Me Jeje”
Artemas, “I Like the Way You Kiss Me”
Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”
Hope Tala, “I Can’t Even Cry”
Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre and Queen Pen, “No Diggity”
ENNY, “Charge It”
Carminho, “O Quarto (Soundtrack Version)”
Calimossa, “What’s in the Tea?”
Hubert Sumlin and Keith Richards, “I Love the Life I Live, I Live the Life I Love”
PJ Morton ft. JoJo, “Say So”
Cleo Sol, “Why Don’t You”
The Miracles, “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”
H.E.R., “Process”
2Pac ft. K-Ci & JoJo, “How Do U Want It”
Sting, “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free”
Lucinda Williams, “Unsuffer Me”
Jill Scott, “Golden”
The Rolling Stones, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Saweetie, “My Best”
Charles Mingus, “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting”
Norah Jones, “Come Away With Me”
Common, “The People”
Etta James, “Don’t Cry Baby”
Chris Jedi, Gaby Music & Dei V ft. Anuel AA and Ozuna, “Bad Boy”
Rema, “Yayo”
Bonny Light Horseman, “Old Dutch”
Willow, “Symptom of Life”
Moneybgg Yo ft. Morgan Wallen, “Whiskey Whiskey”
Myles Smith, “Stargazing”
GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion, “Wanna Be”
Tyla, Gunna and Skillibeng, “Jump”
Bad Bunny & Feid, “Perro Negro”
Paul Russell, “Lil Boo Thang”
Digable Planets, “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)”
Bob Marley & the Wailers, “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)”
Nick Drake, “One of These Things First”
Bob Dylan, “Silvio”
Pharoah Sanders, “Love Is Everywhere”
The Supremes, “Where Did Our Love Go”
Beyoncé, “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Samara Joy ft. Pasquale Grasso, “Someone to Watch Over Me”
From Variety US