This archive report was first published on 25 December 2019.
Former US President Barack Obama has a secret talent - he's a music critic. In a recent year-end list, he showcased his unique taste and ability to discover fresh voices, leaving many music enthusiasts impressed.
Unlike many professional critics, Obama's taste in music leans towards fresh voices, which is an asset that eludes many. He has been instrumental in introducing many to the Congolese singer Jupiter Bokondji, the hirsute country star Chris Stapleton, and the unadulterated joy of Cardi B, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny's 'I Like It.'
Obama's prose is electric, and when applied to music, it assumes an extra whiff of fire. He once wrote, 'American history wells up when Aretha sings,' in a 2016 article for The New Yorker. He also praised Aretha's ability to capture the fullness of the American experience, saying, 'It captures the fullness of the American experience, the view from the bottom as well as the top, the good and the bad, and the possibility of synthesis, reconciliation, transcendence.'
