Yes, you have read correctly: POTUS Barack Hussein Obama has released a 28-track Spotify playlist for America (full listing after the jump, Spotify users get audio here). I am not going to over-analyse what is clearly a reflection of diversity-training brainstorm sessions amongst the re-elecation campaigners, not of Obama’s actual tastes. I am pretty sure what Spotify gave Obama in return for this incredible bump (the government should not pick winners in the digital music industry!) is detailed, demographically parsed data about American listening habits, broken right down to the most-played songs in key voting districts in the swing states of Ohio, Michigan and Florida. But two things jump out: 1) no rap? Isn’t this the president who has a “Jay-Z” button on the Presidential red phone? 2) Okayplayer represent! We knew he liked Al Green but in addition to respected soul legends like Aretha Franklin and Booker T. & The MGs, Obama messes with Raphael Saadiq & Ledisi, too. I am by no means suggesting that the POTUS actually spends time on OKP engaging in music discovery. But lets just say maybe he is taking notes from some key tastemakers (see above).

01 No Doubt – “Different People”
02 Earth Wind & Fire Experience feat. Al McKay Allstars – “Got To Get You Into My Life – (Live)”
03 Booker T. & The MG’s – “Green Onions – Single/LP Version”
04 Wilco – “I Got You”
05 The Impressions – “Keep On Pushing – Single Version”
06 Jennifer Hudson – “Love You I Do”
07 AgesandAges – “No Nostalgia”
08 Ledisi – “Raise Up”
09 Sugarland – “Stand Up”
10 Darius Rucker – “This”
11 Arcade Fire – “We Used to Wait”
12 Florence And The Machine – “You’ve Got The Love”
13 James Taylor – “Your Smiling Face”
14 REO Speedwagon – “Roll With The Changes”
15 Raphael Saadiq – “Keep Marchin’”
16 Noah And The Whale – “Tonight’s The Kind Of Night”
17 Zac Brown Band – “Keep Me In Mind”
18 Aretha Franklin – “The Weight”
19 U2 – “Even Better Than The Real Thing”
20 Dierks Bentley – “Home”
21 Sugarland – “Everyday America”
22 Darius Rucker – “Learn To Live”
23 Al Green – “Let’s Stay Together”
24 Electric Light Orchestra – “Mr. Blue Sky”
25 Montgomery Gentry – “My Town”
26 Ricky Martin – “The Best Thing About Me Is You Feat. Joss Stone”
27 Ray LaMontagne – “You Are The Best Thing”
28 Bruce Springsteen – “We Take Care Of Our Own”

spotted at HT