Nikita (song)

"Nikita" is a love song by English singer Elton John set in the Cold War from his 1985 album Ice on Fire. Released late in the year, the song was a top ten hit in many countries.

"Nikita"
Single by Elton John
from the album Ice on Fire
B-side
  • "The Man Who Never Died" (UK)
  • "Restless" (US)
Released
  • 29 October 1985 (UK)
  • February 1986 (US)
RecordedJanuary 1985
Genre
Length
  • 5:44 (album version)
  • 4:54 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Act of War"
(1985)		 "Nikita"
(1985)		 "Wrap Her Up"
(1985)
Music video
"Nikita" on YouTube

Song synopsis

In the song, Elton John describes his crush on a person called Nikita, an East German border guard whom he cannot meet because he is not allowed into the country. It features George Michael on backing vocals and Nik Kershaw on guitar.[1] The song charted at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart,[2] and at number 7 in the US.[3]

Composition

The song is composed in the key of G major in 4/4 time. The song employs a verse-chorus-verse format, with the second chorus being shorter than the first, plus a mechanically-themed breakdown halfway through the second chorus.

Music video settings and song information

The video for the song was directed by Ken Russell. Elton John accepted the proposed script written by Russell which was a male-female love interpretation of the song, depicting his attempted romance of a blonde woman East German border guard with short hair. Scenes showed the two together in various happy situations, including wearing the colours of Watford FC of whom John is a supporter and former Chairman. In interviews, John has said that he was aware that Nikita was a male name in Russian.[4] Anya Major plays the role of Nikita; Andreas Wisniewski plays a male border guard. In 1986, in the wake of the song's success, Major recorded a spin-off song titled "Moscow Nights" which she released under the stage name "Anya".[5]

Allegation of plagiarism

Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Big Pig Music were accused of plagiarism by South African photographer and songwriter Guy Hobbs. Hobbs wrote a song in 1982 entitled "Natasha", about a Russian waitress on a cruise ship, who was never allowed to leave it. The song was copyrighted in 1983, and sent to Big Pig Music (John's publisher) for a possible publishing deal, but Hobbs never heard back from the publisher. In 2001, Hobbs came across the lyric book to "Nikita" and noticed similarities with his song. Despite repeated attempts by Hobbs to contact John over the issue, he never heard from him and so commenced legal action in 2012.[6]

On 31 October 2012, a US federal judge granted John and Taupin's motion to dismiss, finding that the song did not infringe Hobbs' copyright because the only similar elements were generic images and themes that are not protected under copyright law.[7][8]

Track listings
7" single
  1. "Nikita" — 4:54
  2. "The Man Who Never Died" — 5:10
or "Restless" — 4:26
or "I'm Still Standing" — 3:03
or "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" — 6:12
12" maxi
  1. "Nikita" (album version) — 5:43
  2. "The Man Who Never Died" — 5:10
  3. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (live) — 3:26
  4. "I'm Still Standing (live) — 4:38

Personnel

Charts and sales

Certifications
Sales certifications for Nikita
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[47] Gold 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[48] Gold 100,000*
France (SNEP)[49] Silver 250,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[50] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[48] Platinum 100,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[51] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Silver 250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions
  • In 1986, the Argentinian singer Carlos Javier Beltrán released his version of "Nikita" with spanish lyrics, titled "Si me quitas ese amor" (If you take that love from me).

References
  1. "Elton John Song Lyrics: Nikita". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  2. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  4. Bernardin, Claude; Stanton, Tom (1996). Rocket Man: Elton John From A - Z (Paperback ed.). Praeger. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-275-95698-1.
  5. Anya (2) Discogs
  6. Voelker, Daniel (26 April 2012). "Guy Hobbs (Plaintiff) versus Sir Elton Hercules John, Bernard John Taupin, & Big Pig Music (Defendants)" (PDF). Entertainment Law Digest. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  7. Heller, Matthew (31 October 2012). "Elton John Kicks Copyright Suit Over 'Nikita' Lyrics". Law360. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  8. Sullivan, Shawn (3 November 2012). "Elton John's 'Nikita' Didn't Infringe Copyright In Earlier Cold War Love Song". SullivanLawNet. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  9. bulion. "Forum — ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts — CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". ARIA. Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  10. "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Nikita" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Nikita" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  12. "Radio 2 Top 30" (in Dutch). Top 30. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Nikita". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Nikita". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 49, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Nikita" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Nikita". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  18. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9445." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0655." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  20. "CHART NUMBER 1528– Saturday, April 05, 1986". Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2016.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) CHUM
  21. "Lescharts.com – Elton John – Nikita" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  22. "Charts.nz – Elton John – Nikita". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Nikita". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  24. "Lista Przebojów Programu 3" (in Polish). Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  25. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts J". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  26. "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Nikita". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  27. "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  28. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 29, 1986". Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2014.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Cash Box magazine
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  30. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  31. "Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1985". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  32. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  33. "Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1985". Single Top 100 (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  34. 1985 in British music#Best-selling singles
  35. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1986". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  36. "Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1986". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  37. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0760." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  38. "Single-Jahrescharts 1986". GfK Entertainment Charts (in German). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  39. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  40. "Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1986". Single Top 100 (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  41. "The Official NZ Music Charts — End of Year Charts 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  42. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1986". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  43. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986". Swiss Singles Chart (in German). Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  44. "Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98 no. 52. New York, NY, USA. 27 December 1986. p. Y-21. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
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  46. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1986". Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2014.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Cash Box magazine
  47. "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 26 December 1987. p. 44. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  48. "Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 27 December 1986. p. 33–34. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  49. "French single certifications – Elton John – Nikita" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 27 January 2021. Select ELTON JOHN and click OK. 
  50. "Authentic Dutch Double Platinum Award – "Nikita" in Holland". gettyimages.com. April 1986. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  51. "Elton On Fire" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 3 May 1986. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  52. "British single certifications – Elton John – Nikita". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 January 2021. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Nikita in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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