If youre looking for an upbeat playlist this summer then you may be surprised to learn that Bill Gates has got you covered.
The Microsoft co-founder has released his yearly book recommendations on his blog but added this year he wanted to mix it up by adding not only TV recommendations but also a Spotify playlist.
In previous years Gates has recommended the likes of The Power, Why Were Polarized and Hamnet to read over the warmer months.
For 2023, the billionaire philanthropist has suggested one fiction and one non-fiction read.
Gatesworth $128 billion according to Bloombergs Billionaires Indexhas chosen Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Savin as his fiction read. The story follows two friends who bond over Super Mario Bros and then begin making games together while they study at college.
The story, Gates said, reminded him of his friendship with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen who died in 2018 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin disease.
Gatess pick for non-fiction is Born in Blackness by Howard French, which explores Africas role in the creation of modernity, something largely obliterated from the history books.
A self-described student of Africa, Gates said he learned a lot from the book, adding: I mean it as a compliment when I say that Born in Blackness left me wanting to know more.
It also turns out that Gates is just like the rest of ushes partial to binging series on Netflix.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation creator said he has made his way through all four seasons of Danish political drama Borgen, which follows the story of the countrys fictional first female prime minister named Birgitte Nyborg.
Im fascinated by how political coalitions come together and stay together, and I loved watching the PM, Birgitte Nyborg, figure it all out, Gates wrote.
Shes a principled and talented leader whos also fallible and sometimes misguided. Borgen is entertaining above all else, but Ive learned a ton from watching it too.
Bill and Bono
Sharing his summer playlist Gates disclosed more personal anecdotesfrom childhood memories with Allen to more recent conversations with his children.
The 67-year-old said he cant imagine [his] life without music adding some of his fondest memories are of listening to Jimi Hendrix records in Allens basement.
He told readers that since then he has picked up inspiration from his childrennamed Phoebe, Jennifer and Roryand also friends like U2 lead singer Bono.
The result is a playlist that Gates hopes is not bad for a granddad (he became a grandfather for the first time in March), adding that as he has got older he has discovered the joys of listening to a great song while going for a drive.
Whether youre hosting a backyard BBQ, sitting on the beach, or just driving around with the windows down, feel free to make it part of the soundtrack to your summer, too, Gates says.
Gatess summer soundtrack
The two-hour playlist is made up of 34 songs featuring artists from Nat King Cole to Enrique Iglesias.
The full list is:
- Holiday Vampire Weekend
- Feels This Good Jon Mero, LÒNIS
- Feeling Good Nina Simone
- On The Sunny Side Of The Street Billie Holiday
- Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day Stevie Wonder
- The Wind Cries Mary Jimi Hendrix
- Lean on Me Bill Withers
- Its a New Day Skull Snaps
- This Love Maroon 5
- Lady Tune-Yards, Angelique Kidjo, ?uestlove, Akua Naru
- Bailando (English Version) Enrique Iglesias, Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno, Gente De Zona
- Dont Fade Vance Joy
- One U2
- Eraser Ed Sheeran
- Total Eclipse of the Heart Bonnie Tyler
- No One Alicia Keys
- Hercules Sara Bareilles
- One Fine Day (Remastered) Natalie Merchant
- Dont Rain On My Parade Barabara Streisand
- Set Fire to the Rain Adele
- Hey Jude (Remastered 2015) The Beatles
- Daydream Believer The Monkees
- Oogum Boogum Song Brenton Wood
- A Whiter Shade of Pale (Original Single Version) Procol Harum
- The Windmills of Your Mind Dusty Springfield
- Its Only A Paper Moon Ella Fitzgerald
- Get Out Of My Life Woman Joe Williams
- Orange Colored Sky Nat King Cole
- Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Willie Nelson
- Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers
- Redemption Song Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Weather Bird Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines
- St. Louis Rag Max Morath
- The Impossible Dream (The Quest) (Man of La Mancha/1965 Original Broadway Cast/Remastered 2000) Joseph Darion, Mitch Leigh, Richard Kiley
