The euro for me is like a new shoe – it makes corns, but you know you’re good with it, explains Nightingale to Pirin
At the very beginning of her career, the public recognized her as “the woman with the cap”, as her last name is difficult to remember. Today, 40 years after the beginning in the Nevrokopsky ensemble for folk songs and dances, where she joined at the age of 16, Nikolina Chakardakova is already affectionately called the Nightingale of Pirin.
She became the most successful musical export of Gotse Delchev and the artist who harmoniously united folklore and show business, without, however, making a compromise with the folk song. And on a personal level, she is also a true fighter who overcame death three times and realized what is the greatest wealth – health.
The show that she is preparing on February 7 at “Arena 8888” in Sofia will be her most large-scale production so far in terms of technique and organization, and Nikolina is looking forward to it.
“After three times God gave me the chance to live and after overcoming cancer, I can say that my value system has been rearranged. Now I value every moment and I am very happy to give people happiness with my songs. And
my concert will be very different – the stage will be in the center,
and around her there will be four more assistants. Many dancers, musicians, vocalists also participate. I hope it’s a holiday for people, that’s why I live”, says the singer with a smile.
Her daughter Maria, who will have a solo concert next year in hall 1 of the NDK, will join her on stage for just one song.
“We are now going our separate ways, the concert on February 7 is my personal concert,” says Chakardakova.
They compare the 56-year-old singer with Lili Ivanova – both are among the few who fill the two largest halls in our country on several consecutive days. “This is a great compliment for me. I learned from this great singer. Even 25 years ago, I didn’t just listen to her with my mouth open, but admired the way she expresses and experiences every word she sings. That’s how I learned and adapted her way to mine. Because a song is not only text and music, but above all the performer gives it life and tells stories with it. And not only that – with our songs we heal people,” he says Chakardakova.
And it’s true – her admirers constantly write to her that they got rid of all kinds of ailments after listening to her albums.
“I myself, when we have a show, I feel this strong energy. I vibrate, I experience every concert. Then it doesn’t even matter to me if I can expose myself by falling, for example”, laughs the singer. Because he can think of just a few such blunders over the years.
“I had a fall in Pirdop. I didn’t know the floor was slippery, and while I was dancing I fell flat. Not only did I fall, but I also dragged three of the dancers,
then I got up, continued and laughed”, says the folk singer.
Another time, she went on stage with two different cocks, one even bigger than the other. Good thing she was wearing a long dress, so it wasn’t noticeable. “There was another thing – once, when I lifted my foot, I threw the shoe into the audience. Well, I took it. But it’s all white crap,” she waved her hand. The audience accepted these small incidents with a smile.
The attempt to get involved in politics is behind her. “I tried to make my contribution to Georgi Parvanov’s party – ABV, with the clear thought that, in addition to myself, I can work for society, because I was taught to give. But then we failed and I will no longer participate in politics,” she says.
But like every Bulgarian, topics like the euro excite her at the moment. He admits that he has a strange feeling about its introduction. “I compare it to new shoes, which you both want and give you terrible pimples, calluses, but you know that you look good with them. The old shoe, no matter how old it is, is comfortable, practical, it is a part of you. My heart is sad for the levche, because I am used to it, although I know that the direction must be the one we took”, explains the singer.
Besides music, she is energized by family harmony at home. Nikolina’s husband is a restaurateur by profession, they are proud of their children. Her daughter Maria has already succeeded her in singing, and her son Vasko is engaged in business. From their famous mother, they both took workaholism and resourcefulness, and all five of her grandchildren sing and dance just like her.
“They are still young and it is not known what they will choose in this life. For now, I am a superman grandmother. I have been called more than once to resolve their disputes.
Grandma is superman, you’ll see when she comes
how will she scold you – she is strict, but fair, they say”, laughs the singer.
The family lives in a four-story house in Gotse Delchev, and Nikolina takes care of the cleanliness and comfort in each of the 12 rooms. She jokes that if she hadn’t gone professionally with music, she would have become a gardener. The first thing he does when he gets home is mow the lawn in the garden. Her ritual is soothing and she keeps it to herself.
The singer’s obsession with cleanliness goes so far that if she spins a broom in front of her own garage, she also sweeps in front of the neighbors’. She is categorical that she would not move her permanent address to Sofia for anything in the world, because the outlook of the people from the small town is more positive. When they meet on the main street, they say “Good day” to each other, even if they don’t know each other, and the dynamics and stress of the capital suggest only bumping elbows and frowns.
“I travel all over Bulgaria and if I’m away longer, I feel that I’m becoming a bad person. I’m always in a hurry to come back to get my smile and humanity back,” admits the magnificent Nikolina Chakardakova.
