Barack Obama’s Top Songs of 2021: Mitski, Mdou Moctar, Ms. Lauryn Hill, the War on Drugs, and More

Lil Nas X, Bad Bunny, Lizzo and Cardi B, Little Simz, Wye Oak, Yendry, and others also made some of the former President’s favorite music of the year

Former President Barack Obama
Former President Barack Obama, June 2021 (Jeff Neira/ABC via Getty Images)

Former President Barack Obama has released his annual playlist featuring his favorite songs of the year. Among Obama’s favorite tracks of 2021 are Mitski’s “The Only Heartbreaker,” Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill’s “Nobody,” Lizzo and Cardi B’s “Rumors,” Mdou Mcotar’s “Tala Tannam,” Wye Oak’s “Its Way With Me,” Yendry’s “Ya,” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” Listen to “Barack Obama’s Favorite Music of 2021” below (via Spotify).

Earlier this year, Obama released his annual summer playlist, which featured music by Jazmine Sullivan, George Sullivan, Arooj Aftab, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Migos, Rihanna, and more. The former President’s “Favorite Music of 2020” playlist included Megan Thee Stallion, Lido Pimienta, Bob Dylan, Wizkid, Bad Bunny, Phoebe Bridgers, Faye Webster, Mac Miller, Bruce Springsteen, and others.

Read the feature “The Presidential Suite: A Look Back at Obama’s Musical Milestones.”

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Barack Obama’s Favorite Music of 2021:

01 Mitski: “The Only Heartbreaker”
02 The War on Drugs: “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” [ft. Lucius]03 Mdou Moctar: “Tala Tannam”
04 Adia Victoria: “Magnolia Blues”
05 Durand Jones & The Indications / Aaron Frazer: “Witchoo”
06 Esperanza Spalding: “Formwela 10”
07 Brandi Carlile: “Broken Horses”
08 Genesis Owusu: “Gold Chains”
09 Little Simz: “Woman” [ft. Cleo Sol]10 Farruko: “Pepas”
11 Spice: “Go Down Deh” [ft. Shaggy and Sean Paul]12 Jon Batiste: “Freedom”
13 Wye Oak: “Its Way With Me”
14 Nas: “Nobody” [ft. Ms. Lauryn Hill]15 Allison Russell: “Nightflyer”
16 Lil Nas X: “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”
17 Yotuel / Gente de Zona / Descemer Bueno: “Patria y Vida” [ft. Maykel Osorbo and El Funky]18 Tammy Lakkis: “Notice”
19 Teddy Afro: “Armash”
20 Courtney Barnett: “Write a List of Things to Look Forward To”
21 Aventura / Bad Bunny: “Volví”
22 Isaiah Rashad: “Headshots (4r da Locals)”
23 Yebba: “Boomerang”
24 Mo3 / Morray: “In My Blood”
25 Yendry: “Ya”
26 Lizzo / Cardi B: “Rumors”
27 Parquet Courts: “Walking at Downtown Pace”

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