Finally, former President Barack Obama addressed the skeptics who questioned whether he actually listened to every song on his Summer 2024 playlist he released last month. The annual list included a mix of classics, ’90s hits, indie rock and current pop hits like Billie Eilish’s “Chihiro,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” and Charli XCX’s “365.”
During an appearance on the “I’ve Got It” podcast released Thursday, Obama sat down with hosts Angie “Bumps” Sullivan and Jennifer Welch and was asked whether he’s got it or made it on a variety of topics.
Asked to comment on “spoiled summer” — a term that has dominated the cultural conversation since June and was adopted by Kamala Harris’s campaign after Charlie declared Kamala “spoiled” — the former president didn’t hesitate to show his respect for the artist. “Listen to her,” Obama replied. “I just released my playlist, and ‘365’ is on it. It’s a great album.”
“People sometimes wonder if I actually listen to all this music,” he continued. “As I’ve seen before, I do. I get input from my daughters, who are definitely more knowledgeable about day-to-day stuff. I have a group of young employees who make recommendations from time to time. Charli XCX, you know what you’re doing.”
Obama, who endorsed Harris’s presidential campaign, has been releasing annual playlists every summer since 2015, when he was still in the Oval Office. Over the years, he’s included songs by Ice Spice, Gabby Lee, Little Nas X, Rosalía, Harry Styles, Wet League and Boygenius.
Elsewhere in the interview, Obama made light of the controversial tan suit he wore during a live news conference in 2014. “I looked great in that tan suit,” the former president joked. “Obviously some people weren't ready for it, but anyone who's thinking of wearing a tan suit, especially in the middle of the summer, go for it. Live a little.”
