World leaders singing

President Obama impressed crowds at the Apollo Theater yesterday by singing a few bars of Al Green’s "Let’s Stay Together": Only one line, but hey, credit for picking a tough song. But Obama’s hardly the only head of state known to burst into song from time to time. Hugo Chavez often slips into song on ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

President Obama impressed crowds at the Apollo Theater yesterday by singing a few bars of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together":

President Obama impressed crowds at the Apollo Theater yesterday by singing a few bars of Al Green’s "Let’s Stay Together":

Only one line, but hey, credit for picking a tough song. But Obama’s hardly the only head of state known to burst into song from time to time.

Hugo Chavez often slips into song on his weekly program Alo Presidente: 

There was Vladimir Putin’s famous "Blueberry Hill" performance:

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper can do a decent Beatles cover with a little help from Yo-Yo Ma:

South African President Jacob Zuma periodically leads crowds in the old ANC fighting anthem, "Bring Me My Machine Gun":

Hu Jintao can get sentimental with an old folk song now and then:

Silvio Berlusconi began his career as a night club singer and still shows off now and then:

Haitian President Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly was a highly-successful carnival singer before going into politics:

Of course, they’ll all be put to shame if global music superstar Youssou N’Dour is successful in his bid for the presidency of Senegal. 

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.