Former President Obama Includes Israeli Band Temper City in Summer Playlist

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has continued his annual tradition of sharing a summer playlist, this time featuring the Israeli band Temper City. Announced on July 30, 2026, the playlist includes the song "Self Aware" by Temper City alongside iconic artists such as The Beatles, David Bowie, Nina Simone, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Drake, and SZA. Obama shared the playlist on social media, describing it as a mix of classic hits and contemporary tracks across various genres including rock, soul, R&B, hip-hop, folk, and jazz.

Temper City is a young Israeli trio composed of Eitan Feld, Chen Cordova, and Aviv Bernholtz. Cordova and Bernholtz are also known as the production duo Sync, credited with producing hits like "Shalosh Banot" for Noa Kirel and Gitit Fisher, and "Paradise" for Margi. Feld is a musician who blends Hebrew, English, and Arabic in his work, though their single "Self Aware" is performed entirely in English. The inclusion of Temper City in Obama's playlist marks a notable recognition of Israeli contemporary music on an international stage.

The playlist, which Obama has made an annual tradition, features a diverse selection of songs such as "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young, "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash, "Modern Love" by David Bowie, "Revolution" by The Beatles, "Charlie Brown" by Coldplay, "Message in a Bottle" by The Police, and "In the Dark" by Nina Simone. This eclectic mix reflects Obama's broad musical tastes and highlights emerging artists alongside legendary figures.