Granted, President Obama is already a star. No matter where he goes, everyone recognizes him. And that will continue even after he leaves office next January, if only because he will be surrounded by Secret Service agents for the remainder of his life.
But now the President is about to become a featured player on an upcoming album by British megaband Coldplay, who were part of this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. They are, it’s safe to say, one of the biggest, most popular groups in the world today.
Lead singer Chris Martin told a British newspaper:
“We have a tiny clip of the president singing ‘Amazing Grace.’ Because of the historical significance of what he did and also that that song being about, ‘I’m lost but now I’m found.'”
The President did a version of the Christian hymn at a memorial service for the slain African-American church members who were shot by Dylann Roof last year in Charleston, South Carolina. Nine people died as a result of the senseless attack.
Why did the President consent to the clip being used on the Coldplay album, which is tentatively entitled “A Head Full of Dreams?” Because he’s a huge fan of the band, as British tabloid the Sun noted:
“A source close to the band added: ‘Barack Obama wouldn’t let just anyone feature his vocals on the record, especially considering what a deeply emotional moment it was for him.
“‘But he clearly loves Coldplay and is happy to be a part of their music history. The band were obviously thrilled.'”
Martin met the President last summer, and he recalls:
“I met Barack Obama in the summer and one thing he said to me was, ‘Oh I have your songs on my iPod,” but I just thought, ‘Oh I bet he says that to every pop star he meets. I can’t get my head around the notion that the President of the USA would have any of my songs on his playlist. It is just too surreal.”
Here’s a video of the President from the Charleston memorial service:
Featured Image Via Wikimedia available under Public Domain
