6/25/08, 7:03 am EST
Barack Obama is a Stevie Wonder geek. In the Democratic presidential candidate’s new interview with Rolling Stone editor-in-chief Jann S. Wenner, Obama waxed rhapsodic about his favorite artists, many of whom — Bruce Springsteen , Bob Dylan , Jay-Z — have shown him love with endorsements.
“If I had one musical hero, it would have to be Stevie Wonder,” says Obama, who grew up on Seventies R&B and rock staples including Earth, Wind and Fire , Elton John and the Rolling Stones . “When I was at that point where you start getting involved in music, Stevie had that run with Music of My Mind , Talking Book , Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Innervisions , and then Songs in the Key of Life . Those are as brilliant a set of five albums as we’ve ever seen.”
Wonder shares room on Obama’s iPod with “everything from Howlin’ Wolf to Yo-Yo Ma to Sheryl Crow ,” he says. “And I have probably 30 Dylan songs on my iPod.” Though he’s partial to 1975’s Blood on the Tracks , “Maggie’s Farm” is “one of my favorites during the political season,” says Obama. “It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric.”
While his musical tastes tend towards the old-school, Obama is in touch with today’s creative top dogs: He’s talked policy with Ludacris , referenced Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” (with a brushing motion in response to Hillary Clinton-hurled criticisms) in a campaign speech, and joined acts ranging from Usher to Will.i.am at rallies. “Every time I talk to Jay-Z, who is a brilliant talent and a good guy, I enjoy how he thinks,” says Obama, who believes that the recent political galvanization of America’s youth will soon be reflected in music. “He’s serious and he cares about his art,” he adds. “That’s somebody who is going to start branching out and can help shape attitudes in a real positive way.”
For the entire interview, check out the new issue of Rolling Stone .
• A Conversation With Barack Obama
• Barack Obama: Audio From the Rolling Stone Cover Story
• Photo Gallery: Barack Obama, a History in Pictures
More Rock News
Wondering | 7/6/2008, 12:43 am EST
What do you suppose McCain has in his I-Pod? Assuming he knows what one is?
vice grip | 7/5/2008, 12:14 pm EST
i know that obama will make this world be a better place to live
Is it just me....or... | 7/1/2008, 2:01 pm EST
Does it kinda look like it says
Roll one
behind his head?
JEROME | 6/30/2008, 4:57 pm EST
No surprise ! Most “old” americain singers ! I am worry, no cesaria evora, no damien rice, no feist, no antony and the johnsons. Worry… for is “music communication office”.
PJ | 6/29/2008, 9:51 pm EST
Obama is passionate about music for real and open minded. He’s our best bet and we will be so lucky to have him as president. What a class act.
Virgil Caine | 6/27/2008, 2:43 am EST
I am happy to hear that Howlin’ Wolf is on his iPod and Bob Dylan and the Boss are a given for a liberal politician.
I am not happy with the picture that Rolling Stone paints of politics in Rock n Roll as being one hundred percent liberal, and yes it largely is obviously, but there is a breed of Rock n Roller who owns guns and hates the IRS that doesn ‘t attend church or have ties to corporate America. I always thought Libertatianism was fitting with the Rock n Roll culture and less the snooty liberalism of Obama and not the neo con politics of Bush (and to a lesser extent McCain) either. Obama’s comments in Pennsylvania in April greatly offenend me. For those of you who do not remember, he stated that the economic downturn has turned small town Americans bitter and driven them to cling to their guns and religion as well as hate immigrants.
I voted Ron Paul in the primary, but will vote for McCain in the general election. I don’t neccessarily think we should be in Iraq, but Lyndon Johnson didn’t think we should’ve stayed in Vietnam, yet we stayed in Vietnam all the time he was in office though he promised otherwise.
Thoughts on the liberal uniformity Rolling Stone paints? And I know many of you are liberals, it is true, but the closed mindedness of this publication to anything but liberalism is a far cry from the liberal ideal, and Rock n Roll ideal, of openess to other ideas.
Fozzie Bear | 6/26/2008, 7:43 pm EST
Screw AIPAC | 6/26/2008, 2:46 pm EST
No more wars for Israel. Fuck AIPAC. Fuck the Israel lobby. Go Obama
Barack Obama, March 11, 2007
I think that the U.S. has a special relationship with Israel that is both strategic and historical and cultural. Israel is a long-standing democracy, a powerful ally of the United States There are a lot of connections between us that go back a long way. And I think that our willingness to ensure their survival is always going to be a central aspect of, of our Middle East policy.
In other words, to paraphrase Leo Goetz (Joe Pesci), whatever Israel wants, Israel gets!!! WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA!!!
Get used to it, America.
Fozzie Bear | 6/26/2008, 6:25 pm EST
SCREW AIPAC:
“No more wars for Israel. Fuck AIPAC. Fuck the Israel lobby. Go Obama!”
Barack Obama:
“I think that the U.S. has a special relationship with Israel that is both strategic and historical and cultural. Israel is a long-standing democracy, a powerful ally of the United States There are a lot of connections between us that go back a long way. And I think that our willingness to ensure their survival is always going to be a central aspect of, of our Middle East policy.”
WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA!!!
Angel | 6/26/2008, 6:20 pm EST
TLC hasn’t even made the cover!! just sayin
robert | 6/26/2008, 3:47 pm EST
My wife and I got married to ‘Songs in the key Of Life’ released in 1977. I agree with Obama those 5 records Stevie released are each classics. Not even the Beatles or Stones were that consistent in the studio. I love Dylan so anyone who digs ‘Maggies Farm’ gets my vote!! America desperately needs a change in direction if we are to survive the coming apocalypse. Stop the War and demand energy independence.
No more wars for Israel. Fuck AIPAC. Fuck the Israel lobby. Go Obama!
Texans_For_Obama | 6/26/2008, 10:32 am EST
Obama will put Grandpa McCain where he belongs, on the front porch in his rocking chair, drinking his wife’s free beer!!
“Come senators, congressmen Please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway Don’t block up the hall For he that gets hurt Will be he who has stalled There’s a battle outside And it is ragin’. It’ll soon shake your windows And rattle your walls For the times they are a-changin’.”
Tom B. - Fort Worth, TX
BRIAN AKA TGI101 | 6/25/2008, 7:42 pm EST
WHAT THE FUCK HES BEEN ON THE COVER TWICE
IS IT BECAUSE OF HIM WINNING THE DEMACRATIC SPOT OR IS IT BECAUSE OF STEVIE WONDEWR?!?!?!?!?!
WHATS NEXT JOHN MCCAIN ON THE COVER FOR BEING A BOB DYLAN NERD!!!
PS BREANNA LOVES SHAWN | 6/25/2008, 1:50 pm EST
ITS COOL THAT HES LIKE THAT KIND OF LIKE MY MOM IS SHE LISONS TO WHAT I DO. ITS NICE TO SEE THE OLDER PEOPLE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND USE A LITTLE BETTER.
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!! GET A DICTIONARY!
mr roboto | 6/25/2008, 6:25 pm EST
i wonder if he has “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” on his iPod. I love that song.
Jon | 6/25/2008, 2:27 pm EST
To Andrew the English bloke:
You’ll probably keep waiting… RS only seems to worship the white guys that ripped Diddley off.
Glad to know Obama digs on Stevie, but I cringe at the Sheryl Crow mention.
BREANNA LOVES SHAWN | 6/25/2008, 1:50 pm EST
Sean Robertson | 6/25/2008, 1:02 pm EST
Stevie Wonder rocks. I wonder what Obama thinks of “As”. That’s my all time favorite song. My favorite dance remix is the Jonathan Peters remix of the George Michael and Mary J. Blige version of As.
I also used to like Gangsta’s Paradise until I heard the original Pastime Paradise and was promptly blown away.
wrecksracer | 6/25/2008, 12:46 pm EST
anyone who has Howlin’ Wolf on his ipod is alright with me……
Obamaniac | 6/25/2008, 9:34 am EST
Urkel for President!
Andrew the English bloke | 6/25/2008, 7:15 am EST
its cool that Obama made the cover of RS, but why hasn’t Bo Diddley made the cover - i’ve been waiting for a tribute…
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