Big tattoo
From church to punk: that’s what the songs Angela Merkel wishes for goodbye say about her
Angela Merkel at an election campaign appearance in Bavaria
© Matthias Schrader / Picture Alliance
Angela Merkel is adopted as Chancellor with a big tattoo of the Bundeswehr. For the occasion, she asked for three songs – the list gives an insight into her past, but also leaves room for speculation.
Traditionally, outgoing federal presidents, federal chancellors and defense ministers are adopted by the armed forces with a big tattoo – a solemn military ceremony. The great tattoo is considered to be the highest distinction that the army can bestow on a civilian. Chancellor Angela Merkel will also be adopted this way on Thursday evening.
An integral part of the ceremony is the so-called serenade, which immediately follows the march and the message to the person to be honored. These are up to four pieces of music that the honoree can choose in advance and which are then voiced by the music corps. Merkel has, according to one “Mirrors”– Report for the hymn “Great God, we praise you”, “It should rain red roses for me” by Hildegard Knef and “You forgot the color film” by Nina Hagen. A well-considered selection that shows connections to the Chancellor’s biography.
Big tattoo for Angela Merkel: “Great God, we praise you”
In addition to military marches, church hymns are the classic at the Great Zapfenstreich – especially among CDU politicians. With the ecumenical song “Great God, we praise you”, written by Ignaz Franz in 1771, Angela Merkel places herself in a tradition. For example, when Helmut Kohl was saying goodbye in 1998, the chorale “Nun danket alle Gott” was played, and other politicians also wanted songs of faith to say goodbye: Former Federal President Joachim Gauck chose “A strong castle is our God”, former Defense Minister de Maiziére Like Merkel, she said goodbye with “Great God, we praise you”.
The fact that Merkel is putting a hymn on her wish list is not surprising given her origins. The 67-year-old grew up as the daughter of a Protestant pastor and is of the Evangelical Lutheran denomination. Even during her chancellorship, Merkel never made a secret of the fact that the Christian faith shaped her life and her political orientation – especially during the refugee crisis in 2015. That Merkel chooses a song that is sung in both Protestant and Catholic churches is also quite typical of a chancellor who has avoided polarizing in any way in the 16 years in office.
“It should rain red roses for me” (Hildegard Knef)
The chanson from 1968 can be understood as a little wink from the politician, who has always created a good mood with her dry sense of humor. Anyone who would like to draw conclusions from this selection of songs about possible messages from the resigning Chancellor, can puzzle cheerfully. Is the song a subtle reference to your career, from “Kohl’s Girls” to the formative personality of world politics? Interpret lines like “I should submit, be content / I cannot submit / Can not be satisfied / I still want to win / I want everything or nothing” but rather towards upcoming tasks? And is that feminism? Or should the title simply express anticipation for the upcoming retirement? One can imagine how Angela Merkel would simply smile away from such questions – and everyone can think of their part.
“You forgot the color film” (Nina Hagen)
The surprise on Merkel’s wish list: a GDR hit by punk singer Nina Hagen from 1974. Although the music style is at most surprising, less the fact that Angela Merkel is the first East German Chancellor to send a greeting to the country where she grew up . During the celebrations for the Day of German Unity this year, Merkel spoke unusually personally about her GDR origins and the experiences that came with it.
The song is about a woman who blames her partner for neglecting to take the color film for the camera on vacation. Now some are speculating about whether this would be a last tip from the outgoing Chancellor in the direction of the many politicians who have made life difficult for her in recent years or who wanted to compete with her (in vain). But of course Angela Merkel would never admit that either.