Obama: Jazz and Javanese Flute
Obama says he has “eclectic taste” in music, but his high-school discovery of jazz remains most significant. He told New York radio station Hot 97 in June 2007, “I’m old-school, so generally, I’m more of a jazz guy, a Miles Davis, a John Coltrane guy, more of a Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder kind of guy. But having said that, I’m current enough that on my iPod I’ve got a little bit of Jay-Z. I’ve got a little Beyoncé.” According to his Facebook profile, Obama also listens to Bob Dylan, Johann Sebastian Bach (cello suites), and the Fugees. A recent CD purchase was the Ray soundtrack. On his iPod, you’ll find tracks from Yo-Yo Ma, Frank Sinatra, and blues legend Howlin’ Wolf as well as some toe-tapping “Javanese flute music.”Since coming to the White House, Obama has had to diversify his musical interests. Just in the last two months of 2011, the president and First Lady have hosted a country-music jamboree in the East Room — Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, and Kris Kristofferson, among others — and a hip Christmas special, complete with Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, and Justin Bieber. (After the event, Bieber tweeted to his fans. “Great night! President Obama [sic] is one cool Prez. He told me he was ‘chillin.’”) For the upcoming White House holiday party, First Lady Michelle Obama requested that “pianist to the Presidents” David Osborne pad his repertoire with Adele’s “Someone Like You” and Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky.”
Romney: The British Invasion
All we know is that Romney, who does not own an iPod, is pretty mainstream in his tastes: Mostly sixties and seventies rock, he told NBC’s Today show in late May. “The Beatles, I mean the Beatles were phenomenal.” He does own an iPad, however, on which he listens to John, George, Ringo and Sir Paul — and, apparently, country. If that last bit isn’t some blatant “real” America pandering, we don’t know what is.