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Barack Obama and John McCain's favourite songs revealed

Rolling Stones, ABBA, will.i.am all make the presidential hopefuls' iPods

August 13, 2008 | 12 Comments
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US Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain have each revealed their ten favourite songs to Blender magazine.

Despite claims Obama approaching Joss Stone to record a song for his election campaign, the Devon-born soul singer is absent from his list.

Barack Obama's Top Ten:

Fugees - 'Ready Or Not'
Marvin Gaye - 'What's Going On'
Bruce Springsteen - 'I'm On Fire'
The Rolling Stones - 'Gimme Shelter'
Nina Simone - 'Sinnerman'
Kanye West - 'Touch The Sky'
Frank Sinatra - 'You'd Be So Easy To Love'
Aretha Franklin - 'Think'
U2 - 'City of Blinding Lights'
will.i.am - 'Yes We Can'

John McCain's top ten:

ABBA - 'Dancing Queen'
Roy Orbison - 'Blue Bayou'
ABBA - 'Take A Chance On Me'
Merle Haggard - 'If We Make It Through December'
Dooley Wilson - 'As Time Goes By'
The Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'
Louis Armstrong - 'What A Wonderful World'
Frank Sinatra - 'I've Got You Under My Skin'
Neil Diamond - 'Sweet Caroline'
The Platters - 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'

The US election takes place on November 4.

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Comments (12)

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Modjordan83

Aug 13, 2008

If anyone over here in the states knew what they were doing, they'd vote for Obama based on this article. I, personally, would rather not have a president whose favourite song is 'Dancing Queen' by Abba.

rubbersoul7

Aug 13, 2008

Everyone knows that Obama is the better choice for President regardless of these lists, but he goes even more up in my estimation just for having 'Gimme Shelter' alone. To be honest there's some good stuff in McCain's list too.

JacobS666

Aug 13, 2008

why do politicians insist on trying to appear 'down with the kids'? as much as i'd rather see obama win the election at least mccain as a believable list- will.i.am? really? obama's 47, its almost as bad as gordon brown saying he likes the artic monkeys.

TheJeanGenie

Aug 14, 2008

The Will.I.Am song was written especially for Obama. No suprise it's there really.And his list is believable. Look up his interview with Rolling Stone. The man knows his Dylan...

we also ran

Aug 14, 2008

In Obama's defense, the will.i.am song in question is a mashup of Obama's "Yes We Can" speech.

CrashingBlimp

Aug 14, 2008

will.i.am wrote that song for obama which is probably why its on there. Honestly those two lists are a toss up. Obama's got springsteen and the stones but McCain's got Good Vibrations, Blue Bayou AND is manly enough to admit that ABBA hold TWO of his top 10 spots. Ballsy.

pmella

Aug 14, 2008

I must admit - as old-fashioned and fusty as McCain's list is, as least you can believe he actually wrote it...Two ABBA songs, though! Blimey!

stewhe1979

Aug 14, 2008

I knew that the U.S. Army had massive amounts of weed, opium n hallucinagens but this is ridiculous. Dancing Queeen surely this is a mis quote. Truly awful top 10 from McCain I suppose he was affected by all the torture he endured as a P.O.W. Maybe he receive a lot of ABBA torture. Non stop ABBA - ouch!

cbeevers94

Aug 14, 2008

Marvin Gaye, Springsteen AND The Stones?! And it's Gimme Shelter at that - in my opinion their finest hour. That's gotta be one up to Obama...

cantona89

Aug 14, 2008

uhhhh, wow.... im american and was planning on voting for barack anyways but now looking at this list.... NO MAN SHOULD LISTEN TO THAT MUCH ABBA... would have never guessed old ass mccain enjoyed shaking it to abba hahaah

gavo

Aug 14, 2008

Do you really want your Presidents to pretend to be "up with the kids' music"? At least McCain is telling the truth rather than Obama telling you all what you want to hear with a list clearly chosen by his PR man!

decibel

Aug 15, 2008

obama's public relations machine tries too hard to appeal to young voters. fine-tuning his musical tastes to match that of young voters is one of the tasteless tactics. his tax report contains more truth than this made-up list.does honesty make mccain anymore uncool?