Barack Obama’s Playlists Drive Streams and Inspire Memes
Since leaving the White House in 2017, former President Barack Obama has filled his days with creative endeavors—producing films and podcasting with Bruce Springsteen. He has also become something of a cultural curator, compiling semiannual lists of his favorite books, movies and music. The music roundups in particular have become a subject of online intrigue and fervent debate.
When Obama released his songs of the summer last week, social media lit up with questions: Who sent him that boygenius song? Does he really listen to Ice Spice? And did he even make this playlist? “It seemed very well curated," said Jeremy D. Larson, reviews director at Pitchfork. “It seems as if everyone on that list went through some kind of security clearance." The playlists have inspired a recurring joke about an imaginary young staff member who surely must be responsible for the picks.
In a June interview with comedian Hasan Minhaj, Obama dispelled that notion. “People seem to think, ‘Well, he must have had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out this latest cut,’" he said. “No, man.
It’s on my iPad right now." Representatives for Obama did not return a request for comment. In addition to Top 40 artists like Nicki Minaj and country singer Luke Combs, Obama included songs by Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder on his playlist. “It’s not like he’s finding deep cuts," Larson said.
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