POTUS Playlist Gives Shout-Outs To Chicago Acts Wilco, The Impressions, Jennifer Hudson
By Kim Bellware in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 9, 2012 10:30PM
Earlier today President Obama tweeted out the Spotify playlist for his 2012 campaign, and gave props to several Chicago musicians including Wilco, Jennifer Hudson and the Curtis Mayfield-era Impressions.
A description lists the 28 tracks as "picks by the campaign staff-including a few of President Obama's favorites."
The selected songs cover a broad swath of the musical spectrum, with upbeat pop numbers like Florence and the Machine's "You Got the Love," and cool classics like known Obama favorite, "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green. Sandwiched in between are a few head-scratchers like Ricky Martin, or clear Red State pandering cuts like "My Town" by Montgomery Gentry.
In a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone, Obama revealed what he kept on iPod One (we don't know if he really calls it that), and the run-down was pretty typical of any borderline-hip middle-aged dad: Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. POTUS pointed out that his personal aide, Reggie Love, boosted his rap repertoire by sneaking some Nas and Lil' Wayne into the mix.
After Obama's 50th birthday in Chicago last summer, the Fox News opinion blog Fox Nation tried to seize on the president's musical leanings by calling his party — attended by artists like Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and uh, Tom Hanks — a "Hip-Hip BBQ." (The obvious race-baiting aside, it did lead to one of the years more hilarious Twitter hashtag trends.)
It's unclear how the official campaign playlist actually gets used to pump up the staff. (Music the president plays at rallies?) But parsing the meaning behind each choice is kind of fun (though someone on his staff better answer for the not one, but two Darius Rucker inclusions). In the meantime, if Obama does plan to use any of these songs during his rallies, town halls and anywhere else he's stumping, let's hope he avoids the same musical pitfalls of the Gingrich campaign. Ask. Permission. First.
Should Obama win re-election and brings the party to Grant Park again, our victory song of choice plucked right from his playlist is this Electric Light Orchestra classic: