Kids Love to Ute Upples and Bununus and Quack Along with Raffi

My 14-year-old brother’s favorite band is the Beatles, and he enjoys listening to our local Oldies station daily. But up until a couple years ago, music of any kind generally made him crabby, an unexpected situation because he derived such thorough enjoyment from repeated playings of Raffi in Concert during the first few years of his life. Now that he’s a fan of music once again, Raffi doesn’t entrance him anymore, but the energetic children’s performer retains a spot of honor in our CD collection.

This album, which features Raffi originals (R) and traditional songs (T), is especially vibrant because it was recorded live and the interaction level with the enthusiastic audience is through the roof. It’s clear that Raffi, the throng of kiddies, and the parents are all having a blast. It’s easy to catch the mood listening in.

Time to Sing - (R) This catchy number is a way of getting things started and preparing for a concert full of activity. Raffi encourages the children to clap their hands, tap their toes, and make a sound they like, and the children are more than happy to oblige. The little ones at home are, of course, welcome to join in the fun!

Tingalayo - (T) This traditional tune has a sort of Jamaican beat with an accent to match. It describes the various actions of the narrator’s donkey, beginning with the practical (coming and going, sleeping in a bed of straw) to the outlandish (wearing a diamond ring, skiing, dressing elegantly).

Rise and Shine - (R) This gentle song urges children to face the new day and make the most of it. “Shine like a pearl, rise and show your love all around the world.”

Five Little Ducks - (T) Definitely one of my favorites, and it allows for some fun audience participation. Following a simple formula, the first five verses are the same, with one minor adjustment. “Five little ducks went out one day over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, ‘Quack, quack, quack, quack,’ but only four little ducks came back.” With each passing verse, the number embarking and the number returning is lessened by one. By the end of the song, it is just Mother duck, but when she wanders off by herself and calls her ducklings, they all return at once. Children can help Mother duck in her quest by calling the ducklings along with her and celebrating with a few more happy quacks once they are found.

Bathtime - (R) A song about the joys of taking a bath, with particular emphasis on the “bubbly bubbles.” Makes bathtime sound appealing even if it isn’t an activity a child particularly enjoys.

Apples and Bananas - (T) Another favorite, also very simple. It’s basically a lesson in phonics. It begins with a simple sentence, “I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas,” and carries it throughout the entire song. However, in each verse all of the vowels are changed to one of the five long vowels, in the order they’re found in the alphabet.

De Colores - (T) Ack! It’s in Spanish! Not a sing-along here. But Raffi’s vocals on this color-themed song are soothing and a nice break from the energy of the previous song. An enjoyable tune, as well as a phrase often found on bumper stickers.

Day O - (T) Whenever I think of this song, I first think of Beetlejuice. I loved that movie, and I especially got a kick out of the scene in which the resident ghosts caused their unwelcome guests to perform an otherworldly version of this song. It’s got a great calypso beat and is fun to sing along with, Jamaican-style: “Day o, me say, day o, daylight come and me wan go home.”

Knees Up Mother Brown - (T) Another action-oriented song, this one tells the tale of a girl who couldn’t dance other than this one rather interesting series of motions. Here, Raffi encourages his listeners to hop on one foot, then the other, and finally twirl around.

Like Me and You - (R) This song has a multi-cultural message teaching children about the different names children have in other countries (such as Ahmed, Moshe, Ching, Gita, Koji, Zosia, Kofi, and Meja) and pointing out that no matter where they’re from, children have a lot in common. Slow and pretty, this is one to just sit back and listen to.

Baby Beluga - (R) This may be the most famous song Raffi has written. It was once the centerpiece of a Full House episode, in which Michelle received a Raffi tape and played Baby Beluga over and over again until everyone got completely sick of it and had to sabotage her tape. I got a good laugh out of that one, because that was pretty much the case in our house too. Nathan loved this song about a baby whale, and I am sure I let out a groan or two upon hearing the all-too familiar opening “Baby beluga in the deep blue sea…” Great song, though.

Shake My Sillies Out - (R) One of the most energetic songs on the album, it takes kids through a variety of activities: shaking, clapping, jumping, yawning, and stretching. Each verse also concludes with the declaration of having to “wiggle my waggles away.” I’m not entirely sure what waggles are, but it sure is fun wiggling them out!

All I Really Need - (R) A low-key song stating a list of simple needs. These include sun, rain, food, air, and water, but above all “a song in my heart and love in my family.” A nice song with sweet sentiments.

Medley (T-R-T) This three-song medley moves from the Sunday School classic He’s Got the Whole World into One Light, One Sun, Raffi’s song of unity, and finishes with This Little Light of Mine, another Sunday School classic, this one allowing an opportunity for children to wave around their “candles,” formed by holding up one finger.

The More We Get Together - (T) It’s nearly the end of the concert now, but this song promises future gatherings between the delighted children and the engaging Canadian running the show. The song’s promise – “The more we get together the happier we’ll be “ – certainly proved itself to be true many times in my household.

Everything Grows - (R) An appropriate ending to this collection, this song acknowledges that everything, from grass to animals to babies, grows. The members of this recording’s target audience, young children, are in a stage of constant growth and change, and new changes may well occur between the first and second time, or the 45th and 46th, time this album is played. And one day, it is likely that the growth will take those children out of the realm of liking Raffi. His songs, while perfect for toddlers, are, for the most part, quite simple and not likely to hold the attention of older children. But if your children are just edging their way out of the baby stage, this would be the perfect time to introduce Raffi. Your toddler will thank you.