Condi Rice's Random Ten

In a recent issue of the London Independent, U2's Bono passed along the top ten favorite pieces of music from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Given that she's trained as a classical pianist, the piano concertos aren't a big surprise at all. But some of the other pieces are, well, a little interesting. She's already given them a coolness self-audit, but I thought I might give an audit of the self-audit.

1. Mozart, Piano Concerto in D minor
"I won my first piano competition at the age of 15, playing this work."

Ahem. Nerrrrrrdddddd.

2. Cream, 'Sunshine of Your Love'
"I love to work out to this song," says Rice. "Believe it or not, I loved acid rock in college - and I still do."

Am I the only one who has a hard time imagining Condi Rice rockin' out to Cream? Maybe she did the same dance that Randall "Tex" Cobb did to this very same song in the outdoor shower scene from Uncommon Valor. Christ, that would be priceless.

3. Aretha Franklin, 'Respect'

4. Kool and the Gang, 'Celebration'
"It's just such a great song."

No commentary for "Respect," but a shout out for both Kool and the Gang. Not very inspired, but what can you do?

5. Brahms, Piano Concerto No 2

6 Brahms, Piano Quintet in F minor

ZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.

7. U2, Anything
Rice, a big fan, is happy to listen to any of their tunes.

....or so reported Bono, the lead singer of said band.

8. Elton John, 'Rocket Man'
"It brings back memories of college, friends, my first boyfriend."

"She packed my bags last night pre-flight / Zero hour nine a.m. / And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then." Between this favorite and the love for acid rock, I'm starting to think we should institute some urine testing at the State Department.

9. Beethoven, Symphony No 7
"Quite simply the greatest symphony of all time," is how Rice describes Beethoven's Seventh.

10. Mussorgsky, Boris Godunov

Well, that last one's Godunov for me. Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.

I hope this is the start of a trend for the administration. I'd love to know what music Dick Cheney likes to groove to when his heart medication kicks in, or when he engages in the ritualistic sacrifice of newborn puppies. I'm betting a lot of Goth stuff in there.