Politicians aren’t often the first people you’d expect to get on stage with some of the world’s most iconic musicians to join them for a performance. However, in 2012, Barack Obama defied expectations by doing precisely that, surprising viewers with his tuneful singing voice. During a performance at the White House, which included legends such as B.B. King, Mick Jagger, and Buddy Guy, Barack Obama was invited to join in with their rendition of ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ by Robert Johnson.
Sharing the microphone between himself and B.B. King, Obama amazed the audience with his bluesy vocals. Not many can hold their own amongst the greats, but Music Man readers will be amazed at his ability to do just that. With his wife Michelle and their two daughters dancing along at his side, the small crowd cheered enthusiastically for the then-president’s performance. Online viewers were just as amazed by his surprise talent as the video reached 10M views despite being only forty seconds long.
This was not the first time Obama had showcased his hidden musical abilities. During the same performance at the White House, Buddy Guy called out his knowledge of Obama’s singing prowess, telling him, “I heard you sing that Al Green, so you done started something. You’ve gotta keep it up now!” He was referring to the moment earlier in the year when Obama had delivered an impromptu performance of Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’ during a fundraiser at the Apollo Theatre in New York.
Taking to the podium, Obama expressed how pleased he was to hear that Al Green had attended the fundraiser. Then, without hesitation, he stunned the crowd by singing a few lines from the iconic song. The audience erupted into surprised applause as he showcased a soulful falsetto voice that no one could have expected from the former president. The moment was so remarkable that it was even featured on news stations across the US, spreading widespread conversation about the unexpected performance.
It’s not every day the Music Man features a world leader singing the blues or sharing their secret soulful vocal talents, but clearly, Barack Obama was able to pull it off. Known for his down-to-earth attitude and sense of humour, Obama earned popularity amongst voters because of his “cool” persona. Singing the blues with some of the greatest musicians in the genre is sure to have only solidified that reputation and was most certainly an impressive way for the former president to earn a few extra cool points.
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