Obama listened to Prince to get warmed up for a meeting with the British prime minister

11:26 A.M. Reporting from Washington

Obama listened to Prince to get warmed up for a meeting with the British prime minister

Christi Parsons

President Obama started his day of diplomacy in London on Friday with an important moment of meditation — with the U.S. ambassador, listening to Prince hits “Purple Rain” and “Delirious” on vinyl.

It was a fitting start for Obama and Ambassador Matthew Barzun as their generation mourned the death of the multi-genre superstar whose work was often political. Prince’s 1980s-era music mourned nuclear proliferation and exhorted President Reagan to talk to Russia before it was too late.

But Obama cited simpler reasons for his kinship with the performer, who last summer put on a show at the White House for the Obamas and a few of their closest friends.

“I love Prince because he put out great music,” Obama said.

He didn’t know the artist well, he said, but was struck by his power as a performer.

“He was extraordinary and creative and original and full of energy,” Obama said.

The ambassador has a turntable at Winfield House, his residence in London, Obama said, and put on the two songs from two different albums, both vintage ’80s.

“Just to get warmed up before we left the house for important bilateral meetings like this,” Obama joked.

Prime Minister David Cameron took no offense.

“In the name of great music,” he said.