Former US President Barack Obama has included “Metal” by The Beths in his Favourite Songs of 2025 list, placing the Auckland power-pop band among a typically eclectic mix of global heavyweights, viral hits, and left-of-centre discoveries.
Released annually, Obama’s year-end playlists have become a closely watched cultural moment, prized as much for their unexpected inclusions as for their A-list selections.
This year’s list features tracks from Lady Gaga, Olivia Dean, and Rosalía, alongside chart-dominant releases by Chappell Roan (“The Giver”), Alex Warren (“Ordinary”), Drake (“Nokia”), and Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s collaborative cut “Luther”.
Elsewhere, Obama tipped his hat to long-time favourites and collaborators, including Bruce Springsteen (“Faithless”), while also spotlighting Jason Isbell, Burna Boy with Travis Scott, Chance the Rapper, Jamila Woods, Victoria Monét, Blackpink, and a buzzy late-breaking viral release from Lil Naay and Myke Towers (“Pending”).
As ever, the list also leaned into what has become a familiar sub-genre of Obama’s playlists: the “which of his kids put him onto that?” picks. Among them were Jay Som and Jim Adkins’ “Float”, Khamari’s “Sycamore Tree”, and “Metal” by The Beths.
As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy—and please send any recommendations for me to check out! pic.twitter.com/T9LFt5fnKG
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 18, 2025
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Notably, The Beths are the only New Zealand act to appear on the 2025 list, a distinction that further underscores their growing international reach.
In 2025, The Beths returned with Straight Line Was A Lie. Lead single “Metal” distils the album’s emotional core into a tightly wound, instantly engaging track, pairing bright guitar lines with unguarded reflections on vulnerability and self-awareness. Its inclusion on Obama’s playlist feels like a natural extension of the band’s slow-burn global rise this year.
Backed by extensive international touring and past support slots with Death Cab for Cutie and The National, The Beths have continued to convert curiosity into long-term fans through disciplined, generous live performances.
Obama’s Favourite Songs lists have long functioned as a bridge between generations, genres, and scenes. With “Metal” sitting comfortably alongside pop, hip-hop, indie, soul, and viral releases in 2025, The Beths’ presence signals a band whose appeal now stretches well beyond their Auckland beginnings.
