| Kirka | |
|---|---|
Kirka during his last public performance in January 2007 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kirill Babitzin |
| Born | 22 September 1950 Helsinki, Finland |
| Origin | Helsinki, Finland |
| Died | 31 January 2007 (aged 56) Helsinki, Finland |
| Genres | Finnish rock Hard rock (1986–1987) Pop |
| Occupations | singer |
| Years active | 1962–2007 |
| Associated acts | Creatures Islanders |
| Website | Kirka.com in English |
Kirill "Kirka" Babitzin (22 September 1950 – 31 January 2007) was a popular Finnish musician.
Contents |
Kirill Babitzin was born in Helsinki in 1950 to a Russian emigrant family. He first got into music at the age of five when his grandmother gave him an accordion. He won an accordion competition at the age of ten, but soon ditched the squeezebox for rock and roll music. His first band was The Creatures, which he joined in 1964 assuming stage name Kirka.
Kirka got his big break in 1967 when he joined the band The Islanders, originally led by would-be pop stalwart Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen, and went on to become a household name in dance halls and festivals all over Finland. Kirka also recorded with Blues Section. His trademark was to be his powerful, throaty voice; simultaneously shrill and soulful, it is instantly recognizable to generations of Finnish music lovers.
Several Babitzin siblings are established musicians in their own right. In 1978, Kirka released a duet album with sister Anna; the next year, another sister Marija ("Muska") joined in. Kirka's brother was popular rock musician Sammy Babitzin, who was killed in a car crash in 1973. Eerily, Sammy's signature hit Daada daada tells a story of high-speed automotive cruising.
Kirka represented Finland in Eurovision Song Contest 1984, finishing a strong ninth with the song Hengaillaan. Four years later, he got his greatest chart success with Surun pyyhit silmistäin, a melancholic pop-schlager. True to his rock'n'roll roots, however, he never fully appreciated this success, repeatedly citing 60's breakthrough Hetki lyö (orig. Beat The Clock by Gottehrer-Stroll) with The Islanders as his greatest achievement.
Babitzin was awarded the Emma award for best male singer twice, first in 1984 and then in 2000. He died suddenly on 31 January 2007 at his home of undisclosed acute illness. His widow Paula Nummela is a jewellery designer.
Kirka Babitzin released 78 singles and almost 60 albums, including 15 collections. Kirka's album Surun pyyhit silmistäni (1988) became the biggest selling album in Finnish history; it has now been relegated to all-time third place.
| Preceded by Ami Aspelund with Fantasiaa |
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 |
Succeeded by Sonja Lumme with Eläköön elämä |