Image Credit: Susan Walsh/AP
It’s not exactly clear why the listening habits of political figures are so fascinating. But they are fascinating, aren’t they?
Thanks to inquiring minds, we now know that Barack Obama is into Lil Wayne and Bill Clinton has a weakness for Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel.”
The latest iPod revelation comes from First Lady Michelle Obama, who while promoting her “Let’s Move” campaign (which encourages young people to exercise and eat right), noted that when it comes to her own workouts, Beyoncé is tops.
“I always love Beyoncé, so anything that’s fast-paced that she’s doing is a good one for me,” the First Lady noted in response to a Twitter question during a video Q&A. “I have very eclectic taste, so my playlist on my iPod runs from fast-paced to a little more mellow.”
Of course, Bey’s “Move Your Body” is one of the big anthems for “Let’s Move,” and in the past has inspired both the First Lady’s Dougie and a Beyoncé-assisted flash mob. And if it’s a faster pace she’s looking for, it’s likely that Mrs. Obama’s favorite 4 tracks include “Countdown” and “Party.”
As somebody who is occasionally maniacal about working out, I can tell you that a gym-related playlist is pretty serious business. Some people prefer the adrenaline spike of hard rap or metal, while I’ve talked to others who prefer something they can get lost in (I knew one guy who swore that Air’s Moon Safari was the best workout album he had ever heard).
My personal playlist includes a lot of ’90s R&B, like Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Bel Biv Devoe’s “Poison.” However, when I get into really serious running, I end up listening to a lot of Guns N’ Roses and Eminem. In fact, looking at my workout playlists on my iPod, I see that the two most-played songs are both Slim Shady tunes: the Pink-assisted “Won’t Back Down” and the Ja Rule dis “Go to Sleep.”
So on this Friday, we here at the Music Mix wonder: What songs help you blast your glutes and push you through the end of that 5K? Leave your favorite workout tracks in the comments below.
Read more:
Beyoncé Leads the Bé-Boys in ‘Love On Top’: Watch it Here
Bill Clinton’s favorite music — check out his presidential playlist
Seth Meyers cracks up the White House Correspondents’ Dinner








My workout playlist contains copious amounts of Girls Aloud and Xenomania productions.
Me too!!! “Wake Me Up” “The Show” and “Who” are some of my fav work out jams!
I call mine, ‘My Strutting List’. That is when I am on the treadmill or walking outside.
Superstition-Stevie Wonder
Jive Talkin, Night Fever, Staying Alive-Bee Gees
Let Me Entertain You-Robbie Williams
And then I mix up the pop music in my quere.
When I am on the elipical machine. The entire Fuel album, ‘Sunburn’. It just keeps me going.
For my cooling down period, a rotation of Coldplay. What can I say, they relax me.
BRITNEY.
Otherwise usually my big pump up songs are “Edge of Glory”, anything Nicki Minaj, “Crazy in Love”, “Dynamite”, “Live Your Life”, and J.Lo’s “On the Floor”
The gayest list EVER and I don’t mean that as a prejorative for stupid. I would probably work out to all of those songs too but I never excercise.
old school pop is really good.
La mia es parecida a la tuya.
I am a little embarrassed by this, but my runs always go so much better when backed by some Britney and Backstreet Boys.
I like a lot of guilty pleasures when I’m running: Club Can’t Handle Me, Party in the U.S.A., etc.
The new band Icon For Hire- their entire first album “Scripted” is amazing for a hard-core cardio routine.
WOW you mean to tell me even the FLOTUS couldn’t stop Adele from kicking Bs butt on the charts…RAW talent wins EVERYTIME over da played out leotrad!!!! I was jammin in my car to “Rumors” by Adele (CD given to me by my athlete daughter)..A GREAT beat!!! My 17month old grandson and I jam to Chris Breezy’s She Aint You!
Michelle Obama is clearly a very big Beyonce stan. She is constantly talking about her, from giving testimonials about her magnificence at this year’s Billboard tribute to signing her up for the fat kids campaign it is Beyonce 24/7. Why is she the only artist Michele Obama references. What about Lady Gaga, who is someone who is always more politically outspoken advocating for equal rightz or healthier lifestyles in general. Alicia keys is another artist more political than Beyonce, There’s also India Arie jill Scott, Diana ross, Tina Turner, etc. There are more qualified artists in this world aside from Ms. “King” Beyonce, I mean come on!!!!!!
why she’s into nonpolitical beyonce? well, because her pop music education is limited. and speaking of knowledge (and taste), remember her vogue magazine pic wearing white gold jewelry instead of yellow gold for her brown clothes? she can’t match colors and they call her the best fashionista ever in the white house. enough said.
Wow, you both are idiots.
I agree the FLOTUS constant promotion of B has irritated a lot of us but something tells me as a mother of girls myself there is more to this story!!!! I felt college educated athletes were better role models for the move campaign than a mindless self promoting pop tart then FLOTUS brought aboard the Olympic gymnast from my alma mater. B still flopped on the charts so I’m happy TALENT won!
Ms.Obama has every right to publicly admit to being a Beyonce fan whether the haters like it or not.
I love how we are called the high school childish name “haters” because B is played out and we prefer TALENT over a sexed up image!!! If loving Adele, Ledisi etc. is hate then CROWN ME baby!!!! hahaha
Plus I’m a little sick and tired of RICH performers using kids to promote themselves. B could have done this campaign without attaching a CD as well. It screamed SELF PROMOTION not the health of overweight unhealthy children!!!
When I’m doing zumba (which I adore), obviously a lot of Latin (Shakira, Pitbull, and Don Omar are popular with the Z crowd). When on the elliptical or biking (knee injury, so I’m not allowed to do zumba right now), I use a lot of Eminem, Linkin Park, Pink, Metallica, Fuel, NIN, and strangely, the Bee Gees. Strength training, I’ve seen a lot of rock used (my favorite trainer uses a Shinedown track as her cool-down). And at one of my yoga meetups, the instructor, rather than use typical yoga music, the instructor played Coldplay, which I found very clever for some reason.
Oh Michelle loves her some Beyonce! I’m sure she’s the biggest fan of her 4 album and will defend it to the fullest. I’m sure she’s playing the danceable numbers of Beyonce’s first 3 albums, a little of Single Ladies, Crazy In Love, Sweet Dreams, Deja Vu and even Countdown from the new album!
Mariah has put out some serious “move” your butt music. Jammin her Greatest Hits (as well as Janet’s).
It was such an honor to learn that “No Diggity” (Blackstreet) Produced by my client The King of New Jack Swing Teddy Riley was on the music playlist First Lady Michele Obama. He was thrilled and honored as well.
A New and Exciting Track for me is “Believe” by Boyz II Men Produced by Music Producer Icon Teddy Riley as it is an excellent dance track that brings back the New Jack Swing music movement in refresh mode for today’s sound! “Believe” is the first song on their new “Twenty” CD
Great article. I can¡¯t wait to hear more about your research tool. If it is as good as your other products, then you will have another winner. Your article pretty much summed up what I have been seeing too. Great to see some hard data.