It’s been a while since “president” and “excellent taste” could be used in the same sentence, but President Barack Obama’s recently released playlist of his favorite songs from 2020 makes doing so a lot easier. Mostly because the very first song on his list of music recommendations is the undisputed bop of this whole year, “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé.
The rest of the list vacillates between dad faves like Bruce Springsteen’s “Ghosts” and Bob Dylan’s “Goodbye Jimmy Reed” and cool kid staples including Dua Lipa and DaBaby’s “Levitating” and Bad Bunny’s “La Difícil.” Though to give credit where it’s due, some of the best picks on this list may have come from the Obama “family music guru,” Sasha.
Here are some of my favorite songs of the year. As usual, I had some valuable consultation from our family music guru, Sasha, to put this together. I hope you find a new song or two to listen to. pic.twitter.com/K1NRPYiSg4
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 19, 2020
In addition to his favorite music from 2020, Obama also tweeted lists of his favorite books and favorite TV shows/movies from 2020. Winners there include Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mank, The Good Place, and Better Call Saul.
Like everyone else, we were stuck inside a lot this year, and with streaming further blurring the lines between theatrical movies and television features, I’ve expanded the list to include visual storytelling that I’ve enjoyed this year, regardless of format. pic.twitter.com/a8BS8jDkSs
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 18, 2020
To jump back to the music thing though, can you imagine Sasha Obama showing her father “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé and him going absolutely HAM on the song? You know he danced to that song a lot this year. You know it was a veritable routine of highly embarrassing dad dance moves that would make any Gen Z kid regret showing their parents what the kids are grooving to these days.
Still, can’t fault Sasha or her dad for having good taste. “Savage” is a bop of the highest order.