What does Lawrence Wong’s Spotify Wrapped look like?

It is well known that Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is a guitar-playing music lover.

And on Dec 11, he posted on social media a screenshot of the top five artistes he listened to on music streaming Spotify in 2024, the first time a Singaporean prime minister has done so.

“My Spotify wrap for the year. A change from my usual playlist. Enjoying some variety this time round,” the 51-year-old wrote, without elaborating.

At the top of the list is the late American rock and roll crooner Roy Orbison, best known for Oh, Pretty Woman. The 1964 hit had a new lease of life after it was used in the 1990 romantic comedy film Pretty Woman.

Orbison, who died in 1988 at the age of 52, was also known for the posthumous hit You Got It (1989), and was a noted guitarist who almost always performed with either an electric or acoustic instrument.

Second on PM Wong’s list are British duo Erasure, known for songs of a completely different genre. Formed in 1985 and still active, they were one of the most successful synth-pop groups from the 1980s to mid-1990s. Their most famous tune, A Little Respect (1988), is an evergreen club classic that has spawned several covers over the decades.

Next is English singer-songwriter Elton John, a certified pop icon and one of the best-selling artistes of all time. Since releasing his debut album in 1969, John has consistently scored pop hits each decade, including Rocket Man (1972), I’m Still Standing (1983) and, most recently, Cold Heart (Pnau remix), a 2021 hit with British-Albanian star Dua Lipa.

No. 4 on PM Wong’s list are Britpop icons Oasis, whose upcoming reunion in 2025 has sparked a massive resurgence of interest in the band that were originally active from 1991 to 2009. The Oasis Live ‘25 Tour, which includes dates in England and North and South America, led to a mad rush for tickets.

The only Asian stops on the tour so far are South Korea and Japan, and their inclusion in PM Wong’s list has led to netizens asking if he could help get Oasis to play in Singapore too.

The fifth act on the list, US alt-rock band Soul Asylum, are a bit of a surprise and probably the least commercially successful of his Top 5. Formed in 1981, they are best known for folk-rock song Runaway Train (1993), winner of the Grammy for Best Rock Song in 1994. The band are still actively making new music, and released their 13th album, Slowly But Shirley, in September.

PM Wong’s post has garnered many positive comments, although some wondered why contemporary pop stars like American singer Taylor Swift did not make his list.

With more than 26.6 billion streams worldwide, she is the most listened to artiste on Spotify in 2024, followed by Canadian singer The Weeknd, Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny, Canadian rapper Drake and US singer Billie Eilish.

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.