Obama Loves Jazz!

[ValerieB]

as well as other kinds of music!

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bob Dylan. Yo-Yo Ma. Sheryl Crow. Jay-Z. These aren't musical acts in a summer concert series: They're artists featured on Barack Obama's iPod.

Barack Obama says he has "pretty eclectic" musical tastes.

"I have pretty eclectic tastes," the Democratic presidential contender said in an interview to be published in Friday's issue of Rolling Stone.

Growing up in the '70s, Obama said, he listened to the Rolling Stones, Elton John and Earth, Wind & Fire. Stevie Wonder is his musical hero from the era. The Stones' "Gimme Shelter" tops his favorites from the band.

The Illinois senator's playlist contains these musicians, along with about 30 songs from Dylan and the singer's "Blood on the Tracks" album. Jazz legends Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker are also in the mix.

"Actually, one of my favorites during the political season is 'Maggie's Farm,' " Obama said of one of Dylan's tracks. "It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric."

In the song, Dylan sings about trying be himself, "but everybody wants you to be just like them."

Several musicians on Obama's iPod support his bid for the White House, including Bruce Springsteen. Earlier this month, Dylan told a British newspaper that he believes Obama is redefining politics in the United States and could deliver change to a nation in upheaval.

"I've got to say, having both Dylan and Bruce Springsteen say kind words about you is pretty remarkable," Obama said. "Those guys are icons."

Obama said he hasn't met Springsteen, but the two have talked over the phone.

"Not only do I love Bruce's music, but I just love him as a person," Obama said. "He is a guy who has never lost track of his roots, who knows who he is, who has never put on a front."

And did he address him as the Boss?

"You've got to," the candidate said.

Asked what he thought of rap, Obama said the genre has broken down barriers within the music world, though he's concerned about his daughters -- Malia, 9, and Sasha, 7 -- listening to it.

"I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics," he said, "but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."

He said hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris were "great talents and great businessmen."

"It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying that they were getting bad images of themselves," he added.

Obama appears on the cover of the magazine, which endorsed him for president in March.

[Jim Alfredson]

How about organissimo playing a rally for him in Michigan?

[ghost of miles]

How about organissimo playing a rally for him in Michigan?

Damn, talk about a "swing state!"

[Hot Ptah]

I wonder if Obama really loves jazz, or if a team of highly paid consultants put together a list of artists for his imaginary IPod which would appeal to every demographic.

[ValerieB]

I wonder if Obama really loves jazz, or if a team of highly paid consultants put together a list of artists for his imaginary IPod which would appeal to every demographic.

boy, what a skeptic you are!

[Hot Ptah]

I wonder if Obama really loves jazz, or if a team of highly paid consultants put together a list of artists for his imaginary IPod which would appeal to every demographic.

boy, what a skeptic you are!

Thanks!

[ValerieB]

I wonder if Obama really loves jazz, or if a team of highly paid consultants put together a list of artists for his imaginary IPod which would appeal to every demographic.

boy, what a skeptic you are!

Thanks!

that's funny!

[AllenLowe]

I'll bet he listens to Kenny G, Gandhi Jee and Najee -

[ValerieB]

I'll bet he listens to Kenny G, Gandhi Jee and Najee -

gee, what would make you say that?!?

[AllenLowe]

also I have it on good authority that he had Jews in Hell on there until the Israel Lobby forced him to take it off -

of course, Hot Dog is number one on his play list -

and any Bird with Walter Bishop (definitely all the Verves) -

[Christiern]

Yeah, let's throw in Miles and Trane, to show that we're hip. I like Obama and he gets my vote, but I wouldn't put too much faith in this being a totally honest list. The man is, after all, a politician.

[AllenLowe]

I do have this image of them all sitting around and saying - "well, here's one for the young people; allright, another for the Greeks; can't forget the Unitarians; yikes, who the hell do the Jews listen to? Hey, how about the baby boomers? My god, we almost forgot about all the crazy women who voted for Hillary - "

[AllenLowe]

"and let's not forget young white urban transvestites - "

[robviti]

I wonder if Obama really loves jazz, or if a team of highly paid consultants put together a list of artists for his imaginary IPod which would appeal to every demographic.

boy, what a skeptic you are!

perhaps a skeptic, or maybe a narcissist to think that jazz fans are even considered a demographic.

i think more people dislike jazz than like it, so putting Miles et al on the list could backfire and cost him the election.

[DukeCity]

On this site Obama answers a questionnaire including his favorite musicians, and personal heroes. Trane makes it onto both lists.

Favorite Musician

Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Johann Sebastian Bach (cello suites), and The Fugees.

Personal Hero and Why

Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, Pablo Picasso, and John Coltrane.

Of course, the next question should be "What are some of your favorite Coltrane albums?" It's one thing to know enough to say that Trane or Miles are important musicians; it's another thing to know enough to be more specific (hopefully something besides KOB ).

[Rooster_Ties]

I specifically remember reading well over a year ago that he was a jazz fan. How deep, I can't say, but Coltrane was definitely one name I remember seeing mentioned.

When I met Barack in person (briefly), behind the scenes at a rally/fundraiser in May '07, I was *very* temped to ask him a bit more about his tastes in jazz. I didn't work up the nerve to ask him, but wish I had - in retrospect, or course.

Edit: Just did a google search on "Barack Obama Jazz". From the Rolling Stone article itself...

"When asked "What is on your iPod?", Mr Obama plunges ahead with a description of the jazz he learned to love while a somewhat disconnected high school student in Hawaii. "I started getting into jazz," he explains, "so I've got a lot of Coltrane, a lot of Miles Davis, a lot of Charlie Parker. I've got all the artists we've already talked about, but I've got everything from Howlin' Wolf to Yo-Yo Ma to Sheryl Crow to Jay-Z.

Edited June 27, 2008 by Rooster_Ties

[Rooster_Ties]

A childhood friend of Obama's confirms Obama's interest in jazz was at least somewhat deep (or deeper than average, it would seem)...

http://starbulletin.com/2007/02/08/news/story02.html

His maturity for someone their age also was notable.

"Barry was into things that other kids our age weren't into," says Ando, 46, recalling a time in middle school when they went to a record store just to browse.

"He went through the entire jazz section while we were there. ... That affects me to this day -- he's the one who introduced me to jazz."

[BruceH]

Yes, but where's the Mobley, Stitt, and Tina Brooks?

Where's the Beefheart, Television, Eno, and They Might Be Giants?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Yes, but where's the Mobley, Stitt, and Tina Brooks?

Where's the Beefheart, Television, Eno, and They Might Be Giants?

Or even Duke Ellington, Armstrong, Bechet, Baby Face Willette or Fred Jackson.

I have to agree that much of what politicians say of their personal preferences is tailored. The only one I know likes jazz, because he's often seen in clubs, is Ken Clarke.

MG

[Mark Stryker]

Yes, but where's the Mobley, Stitt, and Tina Brooks?

Where's the Beefheart, Television, Eno, and They Might Be Giants?

Or even Duke Ellington, Armstrong, Bechet, Baby Face Willette or Fred Jackson.

I have to agree that much of what politicians say of their personal preferences is tailored. The only one I know likes jazz, because he's often seen in clubs, is Ken Clarke.

MG

On the subject of politicians and jazz, Rep. John Conyers' affection is honest. He's old friends with many of the great Detroiters of his generation (Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, etc. -- went to high school with some of them). I've seen him at Baker's Keyboard Lounge. Jimmy Carter was also truly a jazz fan. There was, of course, the famous White House jazz festival in 1978. Plus, there's this: At some point in the '80s on a trip to Chicago, he asked some folks where to go to hear some great live jazz. He got directed to the Get Me High Lounge where saxophonists Ed Peterson and Lin Halliday were playing. The story as I heard it was that the secret service agents came in and cased out the join right before Carter entered. What's hilarious is that the Get Me High was among greatest dives you can imagine. Our Chicago friends could fill in details, but it was a crackerbox. I remember people having to not only walk on the bandstand to get to the men's room but sometimes actually having to walk through the band. The idea of a former President of the United States in a joint like that gives me the giggles.

Related note: Conyers isn't the only hip member of our Michigan delegation. I saw Sen. Carl Levin at a Chamber Music Society of Detroit concert a couple months ago and we were introduced. When he found out I was the classical critic with the Free Press, he started asking me questions about relatively obscure American composers and a couple weeks later a CD showed up in my mail from him with a handwritten greeting. I'm sorry, I'm temporarily blanking on the name of the ccomposer; he had Jewish roots and died young in the 1950s; when I think of it I'll update this post.

Edited June 27, 2008 by Mark Stryker

[sidewinder]

The only one I know likes jazz, because he's often seen in clubs, is Ken Clarke.

MG

Doesn't William Hague frequent Ronnie's? Not sure if he does any of his 18 pint drinking sessions there though

[Rosco]

What? No Peter Brotzmann?

[Big Al]

I wonder if Obama really loves jazz, or if a team of highly paid consultants put together a list of artists for his imaginary IPod which would appeal to every demographic.

boy, what a skeptic you are!

perhaps a skeptic, or maybe a narcissist to think that jazz fans are even considered a demographic.

i think more people dislike jazz than like it, so putting Miles et al on the list could backfire and cost him the election.

Right, as if McCain has anything beyond "Sing Along with Mitch" on his iPod.

Assuming he even HAS an iPod.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The only one I know likes jazz, because he's often seen in clubs, is Ken Clarke.

MG

Doesn't William Hague frequent Ronnie's? Not sure if he does any of his 18 pint drinking sessions there though

William Hague isn't a jazz fan. His Press Secretary in the nineties was a jazz fan and a neighbour of mine. He reported nothing of that nature. (And Ffion ain't a jazz fan either, so I doubt she's converted him )

MG

[AllenLowe]

I did spot John McCain at the recent Jonas Brothers concert -