Music
Barack Obama Listened To Beyonce, Eminem, And Jay-Z During His Presidency
Getty Image Obama shared a playlist in anticipation for the release of his presidential memoir ‘A Promised Land.’ …

Not only was Barack Obama the leader of the free world for eight years, but he’s also a talented playlist curator. Every so often, the country’s 44th commander-in-chief flexes his musical knowledge by dropping a playlist of his current favorite songs. Back in August, he shared his 2020 Summer Playlist which boasted tracks by Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Mac Miller, and J. Cole. But now, hes taking a trip down memory lane by sharing a list of his favorite songs from his presidency.
Obama shared the list in anticipation of his upcoming presidential memoir A Promised Land. “Music has always played an important role in my life — and that was especially true during my presidency,” he wrote alongside the playlist. “In honor of my book hitting shelves tomorrow, I put together this playlist featuring some memorable songs from my administration.”
The list bears some recognizable names. Beyonce has two thrown in the mix — her cover of Etta James’ “At Last,” from the soundtrack to the 2008 film Cadillac Records, as well “Halo.” Other artists that were in Obama’s rotation include Eminem, Jay-Z, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, and more.
You can listen to Obama’s full playlist above.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Album Review
Orshina turns personal grief into a powerful message of remembrance on “Requiem for “NOVA”” (album)
Orshina’s new album, “Requiem for “NOVA”,” is emotionally charged, turning personal pain into a message of remembrance, healing, and hope. The result is a blend of ambient and rock that explores the raw emotions of loss and reflection. The album is a journey through a very difficult creative process, crossing grief, rage, trauma, and collective pain, not forgetting the importance of remembering those who are no more.
The album was recorded mostly at Orshina’s home studio and features violinist Maianne Tur, drummer Roey Brosh, and vocalists Idit Eshel and Shiran Tzfira. Additional drums and mixing were done at Leon Sound Pro. The album opens with “Graveyard Blues,” which lays out the core themes of grief and loss. It serves as a reflective launchpad, drawing you into the project’s emotional weight.
“Bread & Circus” looks outward, exploring the dissonance between private grief and a world obsessed with entertainment. The song asks how easy it is to miss serious pain when the attention is elsewhere. With “Hell In Paradise,” Orshina explores the difficulty of carrying trauma in a world that can feel peaceful on the surface.
“Rest In Music” takes music to a place you can visit when it’s hard to understand or put feelings into words. The song is also about the creative process as a way to sit with complicated feelings and begin working through them. “Dressed up for the Devil” is a darker emotional journey, dealing with grief as well as anger, bitterness, and destructive thoughts.
The album moves from the personal to the historical tragedy with “Holocausts and Slavery,” the collective suffering. In a project of remembrance, Orshina places these subjects within a larger responsibility to recognize painful histories and link them to individual grief. Through “Requiem for “NOVA,”” the artist creates a musical statement about healing and the importance of keeping memories alive through a difficult creative process. “Requiem for “NOVA”” is a tribute to the lost, a reminder that hope can exist alongside sorrow.
Artist Spotlight
Map of the Woulds finds meaning in life’s passing moments with “Only For Today”
Life is rarely as we remember it, and Map of the Woulds takes on this uncertainty in “Only For Today,” a rock tune about impermanence, changing relationships, and the limits of human understanding. It’s not about repairing loss or compensating for loss, but about how life is happening. Here, dreams come to an end, memories aren’t so bright, and the things that are forever are gone.
The song is a meditation on life’s transient nature, love, and success. This idea creates a thoughtful atmosphere and a peaceful sense of acceptance. Map of the Woulds includes Andrew Woods (bass/voice) and Adrian Woods (homemade drum kit/voice). It’s a combination that puts the people behind the track at the center of the performance. It was mixed & mastered by Adrian Woods at Ed Shot Studio, all of which add up to a release that’s defined by a strong songwriting vision and a tactile recording process.
“Only For Today” is unique because it asks questions, and Map of the Woulds offers an artistic interpretation of life’s transient nature that ties personal experience to a broader meditation on life. The best line in the song is that change doesn’t make a moment any less important, and it’s even more special to be with those who count.
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