This past Thursday afternoon, July 20, 2023, an unexpected post by former U.S. President Barack Obama caught his social media followers off guard. It was his now annual tradition of sharing a list of summer tunes, a blend of eclectic music that has been a part of his personal playlist this season.
The ex-commander-in-chief, who served between 2009 and 2017, curated a list of 41 songs from a variety of genres, representing different nationalities and spanning various eras. His selection showcased his wide-ranging musical tastes, with tracks from commercial favorites, cult musicians, deceased artists, under-the-radar talents, and current pop culture sensations.
“Like I do every year, here are some songs I’ve been listening to this summer — a mix of old and new. Look forward to hearing what I’ve missed.,” penned the Democratic Party figurehead. His playlist featured names like SZA, The Pretenders, and 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman, The Bangles, Pearl Jam, Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj, and The Rolling Stones.
However, what raised eyebrows was his inclusion of a few Spanish-language songs. One of them was the hit track “La Bebé (Remix)” by Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma, a Latin urban genre song that was launched in March 2023 and quickly crossed Mexican borders to achieve international recognition.
The Spanish-language tune, a reimagined version of Yng Lvcas’s 2021 release, made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week of April 1, 2023, at position 77. This marked Lvcas’s first appearance and Peso Pluma’s fifth on the prestigious U.S. chart.
Apparently, the former Illinois state senator in 2005, Obama, has been swept up in the “Peso Pluma fever.” In recent months, Peso Pluma’s Spanish-language music has resonated in the U.S., a success that even led to his guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on April 28th.
The only Spanish-language artists that made it to Obama’s summer list were Peso Pluma and La Doña.