A playlist tells you a lot about a politician.
Presidential candidates have been crafting their images by compiling playlists all summer, and now former President Barack Obama wants to remind us that he, too, listens to more than just John Legend songs.
“With summer winding down, here’s a sampling of what Michelle and I have been listening to — some new, some old, some fast, some slow,” the former president tweeted on Saturday. “Hope you enjoy.”
With summer winding down, here’s a sampling of what Michelle and I have been listening to — some new, some old, some fast, some slow. Hope you enjoy. pic.twitter.com/BS5ri1lvxz
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 24, 2019
The 44th president’s list includes 44 songs ranging from pop to hip hop to jazz, spanning artists from 2019’s breakout star Lizzo to classics such as Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.
By including “MOOD 4 EVA” and “Shining,” Obama proves that Jay Z isn’t canceled, despite his Colin Kaepernick comments. Of course, Obama also threw in a remix to 20-year-old star Lil Nas X‘s “Old Town Road,” which just left the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 after 19 weeks. The rapper was thrilled to be included.
Obama isn’t the only one who loves Democratic artists such as Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, and John Legend, though. In June, presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris of California included the artists in what is actually a pretty good playlist, especially for R&B fans.
This brings up the question: If President Trump made a summer playlist, who would it include?
Certainly not Cher, Miley Cyrus, or any of the other singers who’ve been publicly disdainful of Trump. Definitely not the score to Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, since Warner Bros. was not too happy the last time the president shared its music. Probably not Taylor Swift, now that he likes her 25% less.
It might include some A$AP Rocky, although the rapper reportedly refused to thank Trump after the president facilitated his release from Swedish detention. The playlist might have some Kanye West.
In the end though, these rappers’ egos would probably start to compete with Trump’s own. He would want a song that galvanizes his base and also makes him feel good about himself.
Actually, the playlist might just be Diamond and Silk on loop.
