Kirka (Finnish heavy metal from the 80's)

I thought to introduce you to a singer no-one outside of Finland seem to know.
Kirka (Kirill Babitzin) was a singer who mostly did some soft pop and schlager songs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlager_music - "Typical schlager tracks are either sweet, highly sentimental ballads with a simple, catchy melody or light pop tunes. Lyrics typically center on love, relationships and feelings. Musically, schlager bears similarities to styles such as easy listening music.").

He made over 30 pop and schlager albums (a few of them are best of compilations) but two of them were hard rock and heavy metal albums.
R.O.C.K. (1986)
The Spell (1987)


Here are a few songs from his heavier side:

Oneday from The Spell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT_mo26jxdc

No Return from The Spell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-vrJBmn6Gs

Strangers in the Night from R.O.C.K.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOkAsJVXKKU

R.O.C.K. (live - check out the double bass drums during the guitar and keyboard solo )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjMDpxxz648




And for reference here are a couple of examples of the non-rock songs he was the most famous for:
Surun pyyhit silmistäni from the album by the same name (1988)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5CE4bpU1N0

Leijat (this version is slightly "rockier" than the first recording he made in 1968 though - and it's a cover of Simon Dupree & the Big Sound's song Kites which was recorded in 1967)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZE0cxKcOnU



So, what do you think of his heavier offerings?
Personally I find it really cool to think that the favourite artist of grown-ups, grannies and grandpas made two full-blown rockers in the middle of his career

Let's not forget Kirka also sang on the amazing and well ahead of its time Moottorilinnut album from 1982 by Kimmo Kuusniemi band: