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. The playlist, published on July 30, 2026, includes a mix of classic and contemporary songs from renowned artists such as The Beatles, David Bowie, Nina Simone, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Drake, and SZA. Among these, Obama included "Self Aware," the only single released by Temper City so far.

Temper City is a young Israeli trio consisting of Eitan Peled, Chen Cordova, and Aviv Bernholtz. Cordova and Bernholtz are also known as the producer duo Sync, who have worked with prominent Israeli artists like Noa Kirel and Gitit Fisher, as well as Margi. Peled is a musician blending Hebrew, English, and Arabic in his work, though "Self Aware" is sung entirely in English.

Obama shared the playlist on social media, describing it as a collection of songs he is listening to this summer. The list spans various genres including rock, soul, R&B, hip-hop, folk, and jazz, featuring tracks like "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 inclusion marks a notable recognition for the Israeli band on an international platform.

The playlist reflects Obama's eclectic taste and his effort to blend timeless classics with fresh and unexpected music choices, highlighting emerging talents alongside legendary musicians.