Canadians select songs for Obama

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Canadians are being asked to select 49 songs that best define their country to US President-elect Barack Obama.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) issued the challenge saying Mr Obama's playlist "could definitely benefit from some Canadian content".

Listeners can vote for songs including Leonard Cohen's 'Democracy', Neil Young's 'Rockin' in the Free World' and 'Rebellion (lies)' by Arcade Fire.

The final list will be unveiled on the day of the presidential inauguration.

We're excited about the new president and we want him to be excited about us Denise DonlonCBC Radio Executive Director

CBC public radio said it was looking for "49 songs from North of the 49th parallel that define Canada to the new President".

It described Canada's musical offerings as "spanning a wide variety of genres and representing our culture from coast to coast".

"One of the best ways to know Canada is through the depth and breadth of our artistic expression," said CBC Radio Executive Director Denise Donlon.

"We're excited about the new president and we want him to be excited about us, so we're asking our audience to help compile the list of our most definitive Canadian songs!"

Voting began on 5 January, and the winning list will be played by CBC radio on the day Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th US president.

Canada is due to be Mr Obama's first official foreign destination as president. No date for the trip has yet been announced.