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Inside Barack Obama’s iPod

6/25/08, 7:03 am EST

Barack Obama is a Stevie Wonder geek. In the Democratic presidential candidate’s new interview with Rolling Stone editor-in-chief Jann S. Wenner, Obama waxed rhapsodic about his favorite artists, many of whom — Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jay-Z — have shown him love with endorsements.

“If I had one musical hero, it would have to be Stevie Wonder,” says Obama, who grew up on Seventies R&B and rock staples including Earth, Wind and Fire, Elton John and the Rolling Stones. “When I was at that point where you start getting involved in music, Stevie had that run with Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Innervisions, and then Songs in the Key of Life. Those are as brilliant a set of five albums as we’ve ever seen.”

Wonder shares room on Obama’s iPod with “everything from Howlin’ Wolf to Yo-Yo Ma to Sheryl Crow,” he says. “And I have probably 30 Dylan songs on my iPod.” Though he’s partial to 1975’s Blood on the Tracks, “Maggie’s Farm” is “one of my favorites during the political season,” says Obama. “It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric.”

While his musical tastes tend towards the old-school, Obama is in touch with today’s creative top dogs: He’s talked policy with Ludacris, referenced Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” (with a brushing motion in response to Hillary Clinton-hurled criticisms) in a campaign speech, and joined acts ranging from Usher to Will.i.am at rallies. “Every time I talk to Jay-Z, who is a brilliant talent and a good guy, I enjoy how he thinks,” says Obama, who believes that the recent political galvanization of America’s youth will soon be reflected in music. “He’s serious and he cares about his art,” he adds. “That’s somebody who is going to start branching out and can help shape attitudes in a real positive way.”

For the entire interview, check out the new issue of Rolling Stone.

A Conversation With Barack Obama

Barack Obama: Audio From the Rolling Stone Cover Story

Photo Gallery: Barack Obama, a History in Pictures


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Comments

Andrew the English bloke | 6/25/2008, 7:15 am EST

its cool that Obama made the cover of RS, but why hasn’t Bo Diddley made the cover – i’ve been waiting for a tribute…

Obamaniac | 6/25/2008, 9:34 am EST

Urkel for President!

wrecksracer | 6/25/2008, 12:46 pm EST

anyone who has Howlin’ Wolf on his ipod is alright with me……

Sean Robertson | 6/25/2008, 1:02 pm EST

Stevie Wonder rocks. I wonder what Obama thinks of “As”. That’s my all time favorite song. My favorite dance remix is the Jonathan Peters remix of the George Michael and Mary J. Blige version of As.

I also used to like Gangsta’s Paradise until I heard the original Pastime Paradise and was promptly blown away. ;-)

BREANNA LOVES SHAWN | 6/25/2008, 1:50 pm EST

ITS COOL THAT HES LIKE THAT KIND OF LIKE MY MOM IS SHE LISONS TO WHAT I DO. ITS NICE TO SEE THE OLDER PEOPLE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND USE A LITTLE BETTER.

Jon | 6/25/2008, 2:27 pm EST

To Andrew the English bloke:

You’ll probably keep waiting… RS only seems to worship the white guys that ripped Diddley off.

Glad to know Obama digs on Stevie, but I cringe at the Sheryl Crow mention.

mr roboto | 6/25/2008, 6:25 pm EST

i wonder if he has “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” on his iPod. I love that song.

BRIAN AKA TGI101 | 6/25/2008, 7:42 pm EST

WHAT THE FUCK HES BEEN ON THE COVER TWICE

IS IT BECAUSE OF HIM WINNING THE DEMACRATIC SPOT OR IS IT BECAUSE OF STEVIE WONDEWR?!?!?!?!?!

WHATS NEXT JOHN MCCAIN ON THE COVER FOR BEING A BOB DYLAN NERD!!!

PS BREANNA LOVES SHAWN | 6/25/2008, 1:50 pm EST

ITS COOL THAT HES LIKE THAT KIND OF LIKE MY MOM IS SHE LISONS TO WHAT I DO. ITS NICE TO SEE THE OLDER PEOPLE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND USE A LITTLE BETTER.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!! GET A DICTIONARY!

Texans_For_Obama | 6/26/2008, 10:32 am EST

Obama will put Grandpa McCain where he belongs, on the front porch in his rocking chair, drinking his wife’s free beer!!

“Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.”

Tom B. – Fort Worth, TX

Screw AIPAC | 6/26/2008, 2:46 pm EST

No more wars for Israel. Fuck AIPAC. Fuck the Israel lobby. Go Obama!

robert | 6/26/2008, 3:47 pm EST

My wife and I got married to ‘Songs in the key Of Life’ released in 1977. I agree with Obama those 5 records Stevie released are each classics. Not even the Beatles or Stones were that consistent in the studio. I love Dylan so anyone who digs ‘Maggies Farm’ gets my vote!! America desperately needs a change in direction if we are to survive the coming apocalypse. Stop the War and demand energy independence.

Angel | 6/26/2008, 6:20 pm EST

TLC hasn’t even made the cover!! just sayin

Fozzie Bear | 6/26/2008, 6:25 pm EST

SCREW AIPAC:

“No more wars for Israel. Fuck AIPAC. Fuck the Israel lobby. Go Obama!”

Barack Obama:

“I think that the U.S. has a special relationship with Israel that is both strategic and historical and cultural. Israel is a long-standing democracy, a powerful ally of the United States There are a lot of connections between us that go back a long way. And I think that our willingness to ensure their survival is always going to be a central aspect of, of our Middle East policy.”

WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA!!!

Fozzie Bear | 6/26/2008, 7:43 pm EST

Screw AIPAC | 6/26/2008, 2:46 pm EST

No more wars for Israel. Fuck AIPAC. Fuck the Israel lobby. Go Obama

Barack Obama, March 11, 2007

I think that the U.S. has a special relationship with Israel that is both strategic and historical and cultural. Israel is a long-standing democracy, a powerful ally of the United States There are a lot of connections between us that go back a long way. And I think that our willingness to ensure their survival is always going to be a central aspect of, of our Middle East policy.

In other words, to paraphrase Leo Goetz (Joe Pesci), whatever Israel wants, Israel gets!!! WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA!!!

Get used to it, America.

Virgil Caine | 6/27/2008, 2:43 am EST

I am happy to hear that Howlin’ Wolf is on his iPod and Bob Dylan and the Boss are a given for a liberal politician.

I am not happy with the picture that Rolling Stone paints of politics in Rock n Roll as being one hundred percent liberal, and yes it largely is obviously, but there is a breed of Rock n Roller who owns guns and hates the IRS that doesn ‘t attend church or have ties to corporate America. I always thought Libertatianism was fitting with the Rock n Roll culture and less the snooty liberalism of Obama and not the neo con politics of Bush (and to a lesser extent McCain) either. Obama’s comments in Pennsylvania in April greatly offenend me. For those of you who do not remember, he stated that the economic downturn has turned small town Americans bitter and driven them to cling to their guns and religion as well as hate immigrants.

I voted Ron Paul in the primary, but will vote for McCain in the general election. I don’t neccessarily think we should be in Iraq, but Lyndon Johnson didn’t think we should’ve stayed in Vietnam, yet we stayed in Vietnam all the time he was in office though he promised otherwise.

Thoughts on the liberal uniformity Rolling Stone paints? And I know many of you are liberals, it is true, but the closed mindedness of this publication to anything but liberalism is a far cry from the liberal ideal, and Rock n Roll ideal, of openess to other ideas.

PJ | 6/29/2008, 9:51 pm EST

Obama is passionate about music for real and open minded. He’s our best bet and we will be so lucky to have him as president. What a class act.

JEROME | 6/30/2008, 4:57 pm EST

No surprise ! Most “old” americain singers ! I am worry, no cesaria evora, no damien rice, no feist, no antony and the johnsons. Worry… for is “music communication office”.

Is it just me....or... | 7/1/2008, 2:01 pm EST

Does it kinda look like it says

Roll one

behind his head?

vice grip | 7/5/2008, 12:14 pm EST

i know that obama will make this world be a better place to live

Wondering | 7/6/2008, 12:43 am EST

What do you suppose McCain has in his I-Pod? Assuming he knows what one is?

skeletor | 7/16/2008, 9:05 pm EST

lol “roll one”

M Dubb | 9/8/2008, 10:19 pm EST

Everything that comes out of a politicians mouth is manipulated by a hand up their a..

Puppets

Don’t believe anything a politician says

Notsosure | 10/22/2008, 3:32 pm EST

Inside Barack Obama – who knows, it’s either being suppressed by the liberal media or denied by (Obama) himself. Rock on!

Mike Hussein Cohen | 11/2/2008, 8:27 pm EST

I don’t give a flying fig about Israel. I’m American, and although my family was jewish, I’m agnostic. In fact I feel a much stronger connection to Senegal through its music, even though I’ve never been there, than I do for Israel.

BK | 1/16/2009, 11:39 am EST

I’m sure B.O. has time to listen to his ipod while dealing with the problems of the country!

grannyapple | 1/16/2009, 7:29 pm EST

never cared for or voted for bo, but his choice for the inaugural ball has changed this old “deadhead’s” mind!
go dead! go BO! good luck!

K | 1/17/2009, 5:15 am EST

Maggie’s Farm is from Bringing it all Back Home not from Blood on the Tracks. I hope you didn’t print that.

theotherone | 1/18/2009, 11:13 am EST

Roll one?…Looks like he just burned one. Look at the droopy eyes and that smile smile smile
;-)

Glenn | 1/18/2009, 7:26 pm EST

K, you misunderstood – the writer was saying that although he’s partial to Blood, Maggie (not on Blood) is one of his favorites during these times.

Delvin | 1/19/2009, 3:25 pm EST

“Obama is in touch with today’s creative top dogs: He’s talked policy with Ludacris, referenced Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” … and joined acts ranging from Usher to Will.i.am at rallies.”

There must be a sentence or two missing from this story. It starts talking about music’s current “creative top dogs,” but then goes on to talk about how Obama has spent time with a lot of mangy mutts.

desmond brown | 1/20/2009, 12:12 pm EST

so im so glad your mr. p

Jenn | 1/21/2009, 8:18 am EST

Dude.. Obama is a Deadhead and thats just awesome.. love the fact he’s into all kinds of music. Thats just wickedly awesome! \m/

Jenn | 1/21/2009, 8:33 am EST

To Virgil Caine,

Yes immigrants would make the now “poor” America pissed.. THEY ARE TAKING OUR EFFING JOBS… should that make us happy that while my child starves some Mexican that couldn’t bother taking a damn test to get in the country is getting jobs because they are willing to work for less.. all they are doing is playing the damn rich people of the country .. because the wealthy don’t want to give all their precious mullah away! so yes WE ARE PISSED !

Tammy girl. | 1/28/2009, 10:04 am EST

Immigrants aren’t taking our jobs. AMERICAN Corporations are sending them to other countries.

Tammy girl. | 1/28/2009, 10:10 am EST

i love that obama likes new as well as older artist. He’s not some “crazy liberal” as one post seems to portray him as.

another thing
Immigrants aren’t taking our jobs. AMERICAN Corporations are sending them to other countries.

tracyb | 3/1/2009, 4:31 pm EST

Go Obama go!!! Just knowing that he is into Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, etc. just reiterates the fact that he is the most real, down to earth, truly caring President we have ever had.

andy | 3/28/2009, 6:20 am EST

who really gives a fuck!?! ain’t his job to be cool! keep u’re campain promises bitch! thats all…

i | 4/24/2009, 12:30 pm EST

stupid

briana | 7/2/2009, 11:39 pm EST

i love you Obama. the best president in U.S

briana | 7/2/2009, 11:39 pm EST

i love you Obama. the best president in U.S

Bob | 7/20/2009, 8:47 pm EST

any man who listens to mr.bob dylan is intelligent because he is

Andy the Mayberry bloke | 7/31/2009, 6:09 pm EST

Look at the cover in thumbnail.
He looks exactly like Peewee Herman and no way RS cultivated that.

Hey BAMster.. how do you feel about Talking Heads?

“My God, WHAT have I done”

Same aS IT EVER was.
SaMe As IT EVER was.
SAmE as IT EVER was.
Things are more like they are now than they have ever been.
-Gerald R. Ford

Look out Mt. RUSHMORE, BABY! | 7/31/2009, 6:26 pm EST

yip.
dynamite that Washington RIGHT outta there.. we’re making room fer ppl that don’t look like the ones on the money.

Presuming anyone can remember what U.S. money looked like.

Oh, Come ON. He belongs up there on Big Gigantic Head Mountain, Roll one.

Crasty | 8/3/2009, 9:29 am EST

Are you a professional journalist? You write very well.

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