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.