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What's up and down with former US President Barack Obama?
Photo: Pool/Getty Images
It's already a tradition: at the end of the year, former US President Barack Obama publishes his favorite songs, films and books of the past few months.
"I always enjoy sharing my end of year music playlist with y'all - and this year we heard a lot of great songs," Obama tweeted.
"Here are some of my favorites."
The more or less well-known artists who are on Obama's private list of the best should feel honored above all because of the reach of the former US President: Obama's recently shared playlist alone was viewed by millions of users on Twitter.
Whoever Obama recommends could become famous afterwards.
If he isn't already.
What went up and down with Obama in 2022?
R&B, indie pop, experimental music.
Included are a song by the American rapper and singer Lizzo ("About Damn Time") and a piece by the songwriter Ethal Cain, who makes music inspired by Gregorian chants ("American Teenager").
Who you may already know: Superstar Beyoncé ("Break My Soul"), who is known to love all Obamas, and rapper Kendrick Lamar, whose "The Heart Part 5" Obama apparently can't get enough of.
The Ultimate Obama Playlist follows - also in line with tradition - a list of Obama's favorite films and books.
Before Christmas, Obama had already announced that he had enjoyed reading his wife Michelle's book this year, which was published in Germany under the title "The Light in Us: Finding Support in Uncertain Times".
It's high on Obama's list.
But Obama's tips don't always have just a personal background; his recommendations are also political: For example, he suggests reading the book "Afterlives" by Abdulrazak Gurnah.
The Tanzanian-British author was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2021. In Nachleben, which was published in German, he writes about the colonial era in German East Africa.
Obama's best films include the sci-fi adventure Everything Everywhere All at Once.
It's about the owners of a run-down laundromat in the USA who have to struggle with family problems, the IRS and various parallel universes.
The Democrat traditionally ends his tweets with the question: »And what did you particularly like this year?
Let me know."
Nile