Kirill "Kirka" Babitzin (22 September 1950 – 31 January 2007) was a popular Finnish musician.
Kirka's most famous songs include "Hengaillaan", "Leijat" (Kites) and "Varrella virran" (Down by the River)"
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.
Where did it go? The storm of love
Thunder of flesh, hurricane of blood
Hail of sweat, the cleansing rain
It used to come and lick the pain
Fingers search, the private space
Promise fills your face
Treasure chest, a beautiful back
Kiss every crack
Sit around the fame, crack
Slowly I became, crack
I'll do it, I'll do [Incomprehensible]
Anything you tell me to
Stick it on or stick it through
Anything you want me to
Any ship, put through
Any port I'm coming to
Anything you tell me to
Anything you tell me to
[Incomprehensible]
Where did it go? The storm of love
Thunder of flesh, hurricane of blood
Hail of sweat, the cleansing rain
It used to come and lick the pain
Sit around the fame, crack
Slowly I became, crack
Fingers search, the private space
Promise fills your face
A treasure chest, a beautiful back
Kiss, kiss every crack
Kiss, kiss every crack
Sit around the fame
Crack, crack, crack
[Incomprehensible]
Slowly I became
Crack, crack
Crack, crack