It’s no secret that Barack Obama is a huge music fan. The former President keeps his supporters in the loop of his diverse music taste with his annual summer playlists, and now, is revealing the powerful songs that provided a soundtrack to his historic presidency.
Just a day before the Nov. 17 release of his political memoir The Promised Land, Obama unveiled a star-studded playlist full of uplifting, inspirational anthems including Beyoncé‘s “Halo,” Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’,’ Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” U2’s “Beautiful Day,” Frank Sinatra’s “Luck Be a Lady,” Phillip Phillips’ “Home,” Gloria Estefan’s “Always Tomorrow,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon,” Jay-Z’s “My 1st Song” and, sweetly, The Beatles’ “Michelle.”
“Music has always played an important role throughout my life––and that was especially true during my presidency,” Obama shared via Instagram on Monday (Nov. 16). “While reviewing my notes ahead of debates, I’d listen to Jay-Z’s ‘My 1st Song’ or Frank Sinatra’s ‘Luck Be a Lady.’ Throughout our time in the White House, Michelle and I invited artists like Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan to conduct afternoon workshops with young people before performing an evening show in the East Room. And there were all sorts of performances I’ll always remember — like Beyoncé performing ‘At Last’ for our first dance at our inauguration or Paul McCarthy serenading Michelle in the East Room with, ‘Michelle.’ So in honor of my book, A Promised Land, coming out tomorrow, I thought I’d put together a playlist with some of those songs. Hope you enjoy it.”
See the former President’s full playlist below.
