As is customary, President Barack Obama has unveiled his summer playlist, and as always, his selections include a wide range of songs. From big-name stars like Tommy Richman and Paul Russell to established artists like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, the list offers a wide range of genres and genres, something we’ve come to expect from the former president year after year.
Released in conjunction with his summer reading list, the summer playlist is a mix of what’s hot now and what was hot then, from neo-soul to classic rock. If there was any doubt, yes, just like Vice President Kamala Harris, he’s having a wild summer with the inclusion of Charli XCX’s “365.” Elsewhere, he stirs up dust with country tunes from Beyoncé (“Texas Hold ‘Em”) and Shaboozey (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”).
But there's also a handful of classics, whatever your definition, 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.” There are a few surprises from Afrobeats — Rema's “Yayo,” Tems' “Love Me Jeje,” Tyla's “Jump” featuring Gunna and Skillibeng — as well as some more soul-bending tracks (Bonny Light Horseman's “Old Dutch,” for example).
“As summer comes to a close, I wanted to share with you some of the songs I’ve been listening to lately — and these wouldn’t be on my playlist if they didn’t include an eclectic mix,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Hope you find something new to listen to!”
Shabozi, Bar Song (Drunk)
Charli XCX, “365”
Billie Eilish, “Chihiro”
Tims, “Love me, Gigi.”
Artemas, “I love the way you kiss me.”
Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”
Hope Tala, “I Can't Cry”
Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre & Queen Pen, “No Diggity”
Eni, “charge it”
Carminho, “O Quarto (Soundtrack Version)”
Calimosa, “What's in Tea?”
Hubert Sumlin and Keith Richards, “I love the life I live, I live the life I love”
PJ Morton features JoJo on 'Say So'
Cleo Sol, “Why don't you do it?”
Miracles, “You really got a hold of me”
She, “the process”
2Pac ft. K-Ci and JoJo, “How Do U Want It”
Sting, “If you love someone, set them free.”
Lucinda Williams, “Don't Hold Me Back”
Jill Scott, “Golden”
The Rolling Stones, “I Can't Get No Satisfaction”
Sweetie, “My Best”
Charles Mingus, “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting”
Norah Jones, “Come With Me”
Common, “the people”
Etta James, “Don't Cry, Baby”
Chris Geddy, Gabby Music and Dai Vee in collaboration with Anuel AA and Ozuna, “Bad Boy”
Reema, “Yayo”
The beautiful light knight, “Old Dutchman”
Willow, “Symptoms of Life”
Moneybgg Yo ft. Morgan Wallen, “Whisky Whiskey”
Miles Smith, “Stargazing”
Gloria and Megan Thee Stallion, Wanna Be
Teela, Gunna and Skipping, “Jumping”
Bad Rabbit and Fede, “Peru Negro”
Paul Russell, “Lil Boo Thang”
Digable Planets, “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)”
Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Their Bellies Are Full (But We're Hungry)”
Nick Drake, “One of These Things First”
Bob Dylan, “Silvio”
Pharaoh Sanders, “Love Is Everywhere”
The Supremes, “Where Did Our Love Go?”
Beyonce, Texas Hold'em
Samara Joy featuring Pasquale Grasso, “Someone's Watching Me”
