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Obama Honors Late Irish Musician in Seasonal Playlist
Barack Obama pays tribute to Irish musician Glen Hansard in his latest summer 2026 playlist, sharing a personal message about the beloved artist. The former U.S. president recently unveiled his seasonal music compilation, which features an opening track dedicated to Hansard, who passed away under tragic circumstances this week. Obama noted that the collection includes “some of the songs I’ve been listening to this summer,” and specifically highlighted a song that holds special meaning for both him and his wife Michelle.
“It starts with a song Michelle and I love by Glen Hansard, a great musician who passed tragically this week.”
The featured piece is titled ‘Song Of Good Hope,’ drawn from Hansard’s first solo record released in 2012, called ‘Rhythm And Repose.’ Following the announcement of the musician’s death, Obama expressed sympathy toward the family. The artist was widely recognized for multiple accomplishments throughout his career. He served as lead singer for The Frames, formed one half of The Swell Season partnership, and helped write and perform ‘Falling Slowly,’ which earned an Academy Award for its appearance in the movie Once. Tragically, Hansard lost his life in a motorcycle accident on Wednesday, leaving behind a legacy at just 56 years old.
A Diverse Musical Selection
Consistent with previous compilations from Obama, this collection features an eclectic mix spanning various musical styles. Listeners will encounter rock, folk, R&B, and hip-hop alongside both modern selections and timeless favorites. Recent releases make up part of the contemporary offerings, including ‘Going Shopping’ by The Strokes, ‘White Flag’ from Vince Staples, ‘girl, get up’ featuring Doechii and SZA, and Kelela’s ‘idea 1’ from her album ‘New Avatar’—which ranks among our top selections for Best Albums of 2026 So Far.
The classic selections prove equally impressive. The list includes Nina Simone’s ‘In The Dark,’ The Beatles’ ‘Revolution,’ Neil Young’s ‘Heart of Gold,’ Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On,’ David Bowie’s ‘Modern Love,’ Buena Vista Social Club’s ‘Candela,’ and A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Award Tour.’
Personal Curation Confirmed
This musical release follows closely on the heels of Obama’s 2026 summer reading recommendations, continuing his established practice of suggesting both literature and music to audiences. Having served as president from 2009 through 2017, Obama has provided cultural suggestions for many years. Some observers have wondered whether he personally selects the tracks or relies on assistance. In 2023, the former leader addressed these questions directly during a conversation with comedian Hasan Minhaj:
“I am so glad that I have this opportunity. People, they believe the books and the movies, but the playlists, they somehow think – and this is mostly coming from young people like you – somehow, y’all think you invented rock ‘n’ roll. You invented hip-hop. And so the fact that my lists are, you know, pretty incredible – people seem to think, well, he must’ve had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out this latest cut. No, man! It’s on my iPad right now.”
After exploring Obama’s selections, readers may wish to visit Euronews Culture’s rankings of the Best Albums of 2026 So Far and our picks for the Best Movies of 2026 So Far.
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