Former U.S. President Barack Obama has shared his annual list of his favorite songs of the year, featuring Kendrick Lamar’s GNX track “Squabble Up,” “Yayo” by rising Nigerian star Rema, and the Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman duet “Right Back to It.” Billie Eilish, Tyla, Fontaines D.C., Shaboozey, Beyoncé, Moses Sumney, Sturgill Simpson’s Johnny Blue Skies alias and more all appear among the picks as well. See the full 25-song list below.
“Here are my favorite songs from this year,” Obama wrote in Instagram and X posts alongside his selections. “Check them out if you’re looking to shake up your playlist.” Earlier this year, he also shared his 2024 Summer Playlist, which included Charli XCX’s “365” and Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby.” The latter also appears on the year-end list, while the former does not.
Kendrick Lamar: “Squabble Up”
Billie Eilish: “Lunch”
Rema: “Yayo”
Tyla, Gunna & Skillibeng: “Jump”
Central Cee & Lil Baby: “Band4Band”
Ezra Collective & Yazmin Lacey: “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing”
The Red Clay Strays: “Ramblin’”
Fontaines D.C.: “Favourite”
Asake & Travis Scott: “Active”
Shaboozey: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Bonny Light Horseman: “Old Dutch”
Rae Khalil: “Is It Worth It”
Beyoncé: “Texas Hold ’Em”
Jordan Adetunji: “Kehlani”
Artemas: “I Like the Way You Kiss Me”
Johnny Blue Skies: “Scooter Blues”
Hozier: “Too Sweet”
Leon Bridges: “Peaceful Place”
Tommy Richman: “Million Dollar Baby”
Waxahatchee & MJ Lenderman: “Right Back to It”
Myles Smith: “Stargazing”
Jack White: “That’s How I’m Feeling”
Moses Sumney: “Gold Coast”
Karol G: “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
FloyyMenor & Cris MJ: “Gata Only”