Jamaica Gleaner

BARACK OBAMA A ‘FAILED ROCK STAR’?

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PRESIDENT BARACK Obama is a “failed rock star”. The former US leader claimed all politician­s envy the lifestyles of musicians, such as his friend Bruce Springstee­n, but they never had the “talent” to pursue such a career path.

Asked if he’d like to go on tour with Springstee­n, he quipped: “There is no doubt that politician­s are just failed rock stars! We’d all like the life Bruce has but we don’t have the talent.”

But while he may not live a rockstar life, the 60-year-old former president admitted he and wife Michelle used to throw some wild parties at the White House.

Joining Springstee­n for a prerecorde­d chat with UK TV talkshow host Graham Norton, he said: “What is true is that we did have some good parties there, and it turns out that if folks are at a good party, they don’t want to go home so it would go late sometimes.”

He jokingly added: “People certainly misbehaved in ways I would not have expected under the portraits of George and Martha Washington!”

Obama admitted his wife was “not thrilled” when he decided to run for president, but once he’d taken office in 2009, he was able to spend more time with her and their daughters Malia, now 23, and Sasha, 21.

He admitted: “I think it is fair to say that Michelle was not thrilled with the initial idea of my running for president.

“Once I became president you are living above the store, so I ended up having more time with her and the girls because everyone comes to you and at the end of the day you just go upstairs – there is no commute. That period was easier, but campaignin­g was rough.”

 ?? FILE ?? Then President of the United States, Barack Obama, strikes the ‘lightning’ pose with fastest man, Jamaican, Usain Bolt, on his visit to the island in 2015.
FILE Then President of the United States, Barack Obama, strikes the ‘lightning’ pose with fastest man, Jamaican, Usain Bolt, on his visit to the island in 2015.
 ?? AP PHOTOS ?? US President Barack Obama visits the Bob Marley Museum with tour guide Natasha Clark. Wednesday, April 8, 2015 in Kingston, Jamaica
AP PHOTOS US President Barack Obama visits the Bob Marley Museum with tour guide Natasha Clark. Wednesday, April 8, 2015 in Kingston, Jamaica
 ?? ?? Former US President Barack Obama, centre left, and Britain’s Prince Harry watch wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September 2017.
Former US President Barack Obama, centre left, and Britain’s Prince Harry watch wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September 2017.

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