Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are Listening to These Musicians

From Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar to Led Zeppelin to the late MF Doom, newly-elected President Joe Biden and Vice President have an eclectic mix of musical artists on their playlists.

Exceptional times cause for exceptional measures. With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full effect, yesterday's Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had to happen under different circumstances. The parties that are typically held the night before the event were canceled, as well as the parade that usually winds down Washington DC's Pennsylvania Avenue. At a time when nearly all forms of events are now experienced virtually, one tradition of the past has been saved: the presidential playlist. Popularized by former President Barack Obama, who often includes Beyoncé among his musical preferences, this ritual has become a real tool of political communication. "This playlist represents the diversity of our country, our strength, and resilience as we look forward to entering a new era in America,” said the Biden-Harris team.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at the recent Presidential Inauguration

In addition to promoting many artists, this playlist transmits a strong message of unity to the American people and other countries of the world, through one of the most powerful vectors of emotions: music.

The result of a partnership between PIC, DJ D-Nice, and Raedio, the label launched by the actress and creator of the HBO series Insecure Issa Rae, the set of 46 songs (a nod to the title of the 46th President of the United States) is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, and as an unreleased remix on SoundCloud. It contains an eclectic mix including the following songs: