The annual review of the former president's favorite music, films and books is here.
The annual list of year-end favorites Barack Obama has finally arrived, with its 2025 music playlist including selections from Lady Gaga, Olivia Dean, Rosalia and many others.
“Nice to Each Other” of Dean, “Abracadabra” of Gaga And “Sexo, Violencia Y Llantas” of Rosalia played on a loop with the former president, just like the great successes of Chappell Roan (“The Giver”), Alex Warren (“Ordinary”), Drake (“Nokia”) and the duo Kendrick Lamar And SZA (“Luther”). Obama also greeted his old podcast accomplice Bruce Springsteen (“Faithless”), and included tracks from Jason Isbell, Burna Boy with Travis Scott, Chance the Rapper, Jamila Woods, Victoria Noelle And blackpink.
As always, the list ofObama features several classic selections like “which of his daughters introduced him to this?” “. We find there “Float” indie darling Jay Som And Jim Adkins, ” Metal “ of The Beths And “Sycamore Tree” of Khamari. Obama even added a viral hit released just last week: “Pending” of Lil Naay And Mike Towers.
Films and readings: the favorites of 2025
In addition to his music list, Obama shared his favorite films and books of the year. Much of its slate of films could very well end up looking like this year's Oscar nominations for Best Picture, with selections like One Battle After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, Jay Kelly, Train Dreams And It Was Just an Accident. He also included No Other Choice of Park Chan-wook, Good Fortune ofAziz Ansari and the documentary of Raoul Peck, Orwell: 2+2=5.
For books, Obama highlighted novels like What We Can Know of Ian McEwan, Flash light of Susan Choi And North Sun ofEthan Rutherford. His nonfiction selections included 1929 ofAndrew Rose Sorkinthe memoirs of Beth Macy, Paper Girland the new collection of essays by Zadie Smith, Dead and Alive. And, like the good husband that he is, Obama of course welcomed the new book by Michelle Obama, The Look.
