Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Barack Obama selects Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen for personalized playlist

TORONTO – It seems U.S. President Barack Obama's musical taste crosses borders.

Obama on Friday tweeted links to a pair of summer playlists — one for daytime, another for after the sun sets — as the White House launched a channel on Spotify.

Two Canadians were among the president's picks.

Joni Mitchell's jazzy "Help Me" — from her 1974 smash "Court and Spark" — and Leonard Cohen's ballad "Suzanne" were both included on, of course, the nighttime mix.

Artists on the president's sunny side included Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and the Bobs — Dylan and Marley.

On the after-dark list, meanwhile, he also found space for Al Green, Frank Sinatra, Beyonce, John Coltrane, Billie Holiday and others.

OBAMA'S DAYTIME PLAYLIST:

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" – The Temptations

"Live It Up" – Isley Brothers

"Memories Live" – Talib Kweli & Hi Tek

"Tombstone Blues" – Bob Dylan

"So Much Trouble in the World" – Bob Marley

"Paradise" – Coldplay

"Tengo Un Trato (Remix)" – Mala Rodriguez

"Wang Dang Doodle" – Howlin' Wolf

"Another Star" – Stevie Wonder

"Hot Fun in the Summertime" – Sly & the Family Stone

"Boozophilia" – Low Cut Connie

"Wherever Is Your Heart" – Brandi Carlile

"Good Day" – Nappy Roots

"Green Light" – John Legend

"Gimme Shelter" – Rolling Stones

"Rock Steady" – Aretha Franklin

"Down Down the Deep River" – Okkervil River

"Pusher Love Girl" – Justin Timberlake

"Shake It Out" – Florence + The Machine

"La Salsa La Traigo Yo" – Sonora Carruseles

OBAMA'S EVENING PLAYLIST:

"My Favorite Things" – John Coltrane

"Superpower" (featuring Frank Ocean) – Beyonce

"Moondance" – Van Morrison

"Is Your Love Big Enough?" – Lianne La Havas

"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" – Al Green

"Red & White & Blue & Gold" – Aoife O'Donovan

"Nothing Even Matters" – Lauryn Hill

"The Best Is Yet to Come" – Frank Sinatra

"You Don't Know Me" – Ray Charles

"I Found My Everything" – Mary J Blige

"Help Me" – Joni Mitchell

"I've Got Dreams to Remember" – Otis Redding

"Suzanne" – Leonard Cohen

"Feeling Good" – Nina Simone

"Stubborn Love" – The Lumineers

"Until" – Cassandra Wilson

"UMI Says" – Mos Def

"The Very Thought of You" – Billie Holiday

"Flamenco Sketches" – Miles Davis

"Woo" – Erykah Badu

— With files from The Associated Press

News from © iNFOnews.ca, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.