The new year is rapidly approaching and former U.S. President Barack Obama is reflecting on 2021 with some of his favorite songs. Obama released his annual top songs of the year, and there's much to say about his picks.
At the top of this year's list was Mitski with his song, "The Only Heartbreaker," which spent three weeks on Billboard's Adult Alternative Airplay chart, peaking at No. 22. Other artists featured on the well-rounded playlist include Isaiah Rashad, Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill, Lizzo and Cardi B, Bad Bunny and more.
"I've always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music, so it’s no surprise that I listened to a little bit of everything this year. I hope you find a new artist or song to add to your own playlist," he tweeted on Friday alongside a photo of his list.
Lizzo made headlines recently for speaking on her latest hit "Rumors" featuring Cardi B. The singer and musician clapped back at critics of the song, saying that not too many people know the difference between "bad" and "non-viral" music.
"They equate virality with quality and that's just not true," she tweeted. "When I play this song live, thousands of people scream the words."
Now that she's received a major co-sign from Obama, she doubled down on her previous statements in a new instagram post.
"Like I was saying… there’s amazing music that isn’t viral, that isn’t charting, that don’t have a TikTok trend… My music touches people— don’t believe me, ask Obama," she wrote. "Artists don’t be discouraged— make the music YOU love and believe in and the rest will follow!"
Lil Nas X’s song “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” also made the president’s list. After its release in April, it stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 34 weeks and ultimately peaked at No. 1 for a week. Its success was followed by “Industry Baby,” another song featured on the album Montero.
The president released another list of summer anthems earlier this year, which featured music from Jazmine Sullivan, George Harrison, Arooj Aftab, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Migos, Rihanna and others. His "Favorite Music of 2020" playlist included artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Lido Pimienta, Bob Dylan, Wizkid, Bad Bunny, Phoebe Bridgers, Faye Webster, Mac Miller, Bruce Springsteen and more.
