Barack Obama includes U2 on his 'A Promised Land Playlist'

On the eve of the release of his highly anticipated new book, A Promised Land, Barack  Obama has shared a star-studded playlist – featuring U2, alongside the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, Beyoncé, Miles Davis and more.

Taking to social media last night, Obama noted: "Music has always played an important role in my life – and that was especially true during my presidency."

"In honour of my book hitting shelves tomorrow, I put together this playlist featuring some memorable songs from my administration," he continued. "Hope you enjoy it."

The playlist features Aretha Franklin's 'The Weight'; B.B. King's 'The Thrill Is Gone'; Beyoncé's 'Halo'; Beyoncé's 'At Last'; Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are A-Changin'; Brooks & Dunn's 'Only In America'; Bruce Springsteen's 'The Rising'; Eminem's 'Lose Yourself'; Frank Sinatra's 'Luck Be A Lady'; Gloria Estefan's 'Always Tomorrow'; Fleetwood Mac's 'Rhiannon'; Jay-Z's 'My 1st Song'; John Coltrane's 'My Favourite Things'; Miles Davis' 'Freddie Freeloader'; Phillip Phillips' 'Home'; The Beatles' 'Michelle'; Sade's 'Cherish The Day'; Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours'; Stevie Wonder's 'Sir Duke'; and U2's 'Beautiful Day'.

Music has always played an important role in my life—and that was especially true during my presidency. In honor of my book hitting shelves tomorrow, I put together this playlist featuring some memorable songs from my administration. Hope you enjoy it. pic.twitter.com/xWiNQiZzN0

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 16, 2020

On Instagram, Obama revealed the reason behind some of his selections:

"While reviewing my notes ahead of debates, I’d listen to Jay-Z’s 'My 1st Song' or Frank Sinatra’s 'Luck Be a Lady'. Throughout our time in the White House, Michelle and I invited artists like Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan to conduct afternoon workshops with young people before performing an evening show in the East Room. And there were all sorts of performances I’ll always remember—like Beyoncé performing 'At Last' for our first dance at our inauguration, Paul McCartney serenading Michelle in the East Room with, 'Michelle' and Bob Dylan flashing me a grin before vanishing after his performance of 'Times They Are a-Changin'.”

U2's music featured prominently on Obama's presidential campaigns. He celebrated his victory in the Democratic presidential candidate race by walking out to 'Beautiful Day', and for his farewell address in 2017, he walked out to 'City Of Blinding Lights'. He also included 'Ordinary Love (Extraordinary Mix)' from U2's Songs of Experience on his list of "favourite songs of 2017".

A Promised Land, the first volume of Obama's presidential memoirs, is out today.

Listen to 'Beautiful Day' below: