As per tradition, President Barack Obama has unveiled his summer playlist, and as always, his selections run the gamut. From viral stars like Tommy Richman and Paul Russell to established artists like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, the playlist features a wide range of genres and breadth, something we’ve come to expect from the former president year after year.
The summer playlist was released alongside his summer reading list and is a smorgasbord of what’s hot now and what was hot then, from neo-soul to classic rock. If there was any doubt, then yes, much like Vice President Kamala Harris, he’s having a great summer with the inclusion of Charli XCX’s “365.” Otherwise, he’s kicking up a dusting with country anthems from Beyoncé (“Texas Hold ‘Em”) and Shaboozey (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”).
But then there’s a flood of classics, however you define them, from Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Digable Planets’ “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” to the Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go” and the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” It includes a few Afrobeats surprises – Rema’s “Yayo,” Tems’ “Love Me Jeje,” and Tyla’s “Jump” featuring Gunna and Skillibeng – as well as a few surprises (Bonny Light Horseman’s “Old Dutch,” for example).
“As summer comes to a close, I wanted to share a few songs 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). “Hope you find something new to listen to!”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Charli XCX, “365”
Billie Eilish, “Spirited Away”
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 up”
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 go?”
The miracles, “You really have me under control”
YOU, “process”
2Pac ft. K-Ci & JoJo, “How Do You Want It”
Sting, “If you love someone, set them free”
Lucinda Williams, “Don’t Bear 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, “Yes”
Bonny Light Horseman, “Old Dutch”
Willow, “Symptom of Life”
Moneybgg Yo ft. Morgan Wallen, “Whiskey Whiskey”
Myles Smith, “Stargazing”
GloRilla and 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 has our love gone?”
Beyoncé, “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Samara Joy ft. Pasquale Grasso, “Someone to Look After Me”
