Producer Yuriy Nikitin, in an interview with blogger Vasyl Tymoshenko, explained in detail why Andriy Danylko, who performs as Verka Serduchka, has no intention of translating his Russian-language hits into Ukrainian. According to Nikitin, the artist adheres to a steady creative principle: every composition belongs to the period of life in which it was created, and that is precisely why he sees no need to change its language. At the same time, the producer announced new musical premieres in the Ukrainian language, which he said are being prepared for listeners.
“A Song Must Remain in the Period It Was Written In”
Nikitin emphasized that Danylko has “a very consistent position on many things” and is not inclined to abandon it. The producer cited his own biography as an example: “Well, I was born in the USSR. You can feel differently about this... Why should I translate what I played back then into Ukrainian?” Thus, according to him, the artist perceives old songs as part of a specific stage of his life, rather than as material subject to linguistic revision.
Respect for the Artist's Creative Choice
The producer stated that he respects Danylko's decision and does not consider it permissible to interfere with his creative choice. “I deeply respect his position. This is the position of an artist taking the stage, a great artist, practically a genius. How can one influence it?” Nikitin noted. He also emphasized that Serduchka's creative path should be treated with an understanding of the context in which her songs were created.
A New Ukrainian-Language Stage and Anticipated Premieres
At the same time, Nikitin pointed out that Danylko is not limited to his old repertoire. According to him, the artist has already released several songs in Ukrainian, is working on his own material, and is reinterpreting well-known compositions by Ukrainian authors, in particular Ihor Poklad and Yuriy Rybchynsky. “He is writing songs in Ukrainian, has already released more than one... I hope that a premiere of a new song awaits us any moment now. All these songs are in Ukrainian,” the producer stated, although he did not name a specific release date.
The Place of the Persona in Ukrainian Culture
Nikitin also emphasized that he does not consider Verka Serduchka to be an ordinary stage project, calling Danylko's persona and work a part of Ukrainian culture with a special place in the history of national pop music. Reminding audiences of the language of the artist's work is also important in a historical context: among the early works are compositions with characteristic surzhik, as in the song “Gop-gop, chida-gop,” while in 2022 Danylko presented the Ukrainian-language track “Ye propozytsiya” (There Is a Proposal), which became one of the markers of his new creative stage.
Previously, the language issue surrounding the artist had been raised repeatedly: after the performance of Russian-language hits at a Kyiv complex, an inspection was initiated by the language ombudsman, while representatives of the star's team explained that Serduchka spoke “Poltava surzhik,” performed original songs, and regularly helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ultimately, no punishment followed, though the ombudsman noted the situation for “ethical reasons.” Nikitin's statement became a new public explanation of the artist's own position regarding his old repertoire.
