“Let me say this on a personal note. Without the United States of Ameri...” — Angela Merkel Quote

Let me say this on a personal note. Without the United States of America, I would in all probably not be able to stand here before you today.

If we remind ourselves of the fact that every fifth American today rightly points and perhaps also with a certain degree of pride to his German ancestry or her German ancestry, we can safely say that we, indeed, share common roots.

In many regions, war and terror prevail. States disintegrate. For many years, we have read about this. We have heard about it. We have seen it on TV. But we had not yet sufficiently understood that what happens in Aleppo and Mosul can affect Essen or Stuttgart. We have to face that now.

Personally, I think that for example the chemical directive in its present form does too much damage to the chemical industry - especially the medium sized businesses - and will hurt our worldwide competitiveness.

People should look up to me. Young kids. I am a good role model. I'll show them how men should really be. And kids can take note from that. I am a good role model. Lots of kids look up to me.

I can hold a note, but that's about it.

I hear entire symphonies, oratorios, in my head, but I can't write a note.

I don't know one note from another.

It's always hard for me to put the pieces together when listening to a finished album that I was a part of writing and playing. There are so many memories wrapped up in each note and each song that it's hard not to constantly flash back to what made that musical event happen while listening.