This year was no different, with several indie hits, namely ‘Float’ by Jay Som and Jim Adkins, ‘Metal’ by the Beths and ‘Sycamore Tree’ by Khamari also making the list – last year’s edition of which saw tracks by Beyoncé, Shaboozey, Billie Eilish, Jack White, Leon Bridges, Central Cee, Artemas, Hozier and featured.
In NME’s own round-up of the 50 Best Songs of the Year, tracks by artists featured on Obama’s playlist also cinched the top spots, with Rosalía’s ‘Reliquia’ coming in at Number 7, Olivia Dean’s ‘Man I Need’ at 17, and Lady Gaga’s ‘Abracadabra’ at Number 20.
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Elsewhere, Obama had Jay Kelly, Orwell: 2+2=5, Good Fortune, Sinners, Hamet and One Battle After Another ranked as his favourite films of the year, mirroring some of NME’s top picks. The latter earned the Number 1 spot on our 20 best films of 2025 list, with Sinners in at Number 3.
Elsewhere, he listed some of the year’s best reads, among them Paper Girl by Beth Macy, The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy, North Sun by Ethan Rutherford and The Look by his wife, Michelle Obama.
The former President’s list arrives after Michelle recently revealed that she and her husband were due to see Rob and Michele Reiner on the night of their death. The esteemed director, photographer and producer Michele, were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday (December 14).
Their son, Nick, has been charged with their murders. Former first lady Michelle appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live the following night and said that they were supposed to have dinner together on the day they died. The Reiners were friends of the Obamas, Michelle told Kimmel: “We’ve known them for many, many years and we were supposed to be seeing them that night – last night – and we got the news.”
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Following Rob and Michele’s murders, numerous famous figures paid tribute to the couple – Barack among them. He wrote on X (Twitter): “Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen.
“But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action. Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.”