Raffi, the Bob Dylan (One of his favorite musicians)of our childhood. How could you not like his charm, his singing, his humor and turning classic children songs into something cool and better than any versions you've heard of that song. He not only sings covers on children songs, he also writes his own material and most of his own material is on the environment, animals and saving the world. His songs are not just fun but are also inspiring. To honor him, I'm going to review his first concert video called...
THE INTRO
Our intro starts out with Raffi rehearsing some songs as he looks at drawings of the songs. While he's rehearsing, we see kids outside waiting eagerly to see him. I love that we see him rehearse a little bit before he enters, I enjoy the drawings we see in the background and I really think its a great opening for the video.
THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER
As we see him enter the stage we hear a great applause, see children searching for him and Raffi gives his famous hello which is "Hello, hi Boys and Girls...Hi Moms and Dads...Grandmas and Grandpas..." and he breaks the fourth wall and says "Hello to you". Raffi opens the concert with the song "The More We Get Together"(Which was his first song on his first album for children).It's very settling, its a warm opening, its nice hear the audience sing with him and you got to enjoy his little corny joke to the kids.
YOU GOTTA SING
Raffi has the little children move to the song "You Gotta Sing". He sings that the spirits want them to "Sing, Clap, Stomp, Hum" and more. Raffi sings and performs the song so well that it not only encourages the kids in the audience to "Sing right along" but I'm sure the children who are watching this video at home will do the same. By the way, I love the kid in the audience who's trying to snap.
SIX LITTLE DUCKS
Raffi thinks he hears some ducks singing in the audience and proceeds by singing "Six Little Ducks". This is another fun song and Raffi of course is the reason why it is fun. He sings the song while doing a good impersonation of quacking like a duck, does a little dance during the "Wibble Wobble" part, hums a part of the medley and more. It's also cute seeing the kids in the audience singing, quacking and even one of them flapping like a duck. At the end of the song, Raffi makes a funny face while quacking but to be honest I find it more creepy than funny but I still adore Raffi.
BUMPIN' UP AND DOWN IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON
Raffi sings the song about a busted red wagon and asks the kids in the audience to figure out how to fix it. Raffi once again makes everything fun for the kids and gets a lot of kids "Bumpin' Up And Down" in their seats and has them moving their arms to make the motion and movement of the imaginary tool they're using. The kids in the audience are really smart for their age and come up with ways to fix a wagon. Raffi not only takes a few suggestions but also brings in a little of his fun humor to the kids.
BAA, BAA BLACK SHEEP
Raffi sings a song "That no one will know" and as he sings the song, Raffi finds out that almost everyone in the theater knows the song and stops playing and listens to them. Raffi then begins to sing the song his way and plays the same tune only with different animals. I love the way he changes the songs lyrics and I love how he interacts with the audience with the song. A really good act and the kids in the audience sing so well.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE RAILROAD
Raffi begins to play and sing the song "I've Been Working On The Railroad" and almost every kid in the audience sings along with him. I love how the song starts out the way how almost everyone sings the song to a catchy guitar rhythm of Raffi singing the line "Dinah won't you blow your horn" which makes the audience clap along. This is of course is a classic tune that I'm sure your kid won't hesitate to sing along too and of course is hard for your child to resist to not clap along with the audience. Defiantly a great version of this timeless song.
PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH
Now's a good time to give your child a Peanut Butter Sandwich (Jelly Sandwiches are acceptable too) like it says on the box. Raffi starts playing the chords for his next song and begins to sing the words to the song "Peanut Butter Sandwich". This is a really catchy song, Raffi puts a lot of fun into the song epically how he makes the noise of the Sandwich sticking to his mouth and the munching noises to the different kids who eat it differently and I love his Kazoo solo. Defiantly a fun song to listen and indeed can work up your kids appetite for one.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH
Raffi quickly jumps to his next song, snaps his fingers and sings an acapella version of "Brush Your Teeth". The tune is catchy, the song is something you can sing along too and Raffi brings some of his childish humor for the kids. I also love that the kids participate with him by pretending to brush their teeth and make that brushing rhythm. It's short but very enjoyable.
YA UN RAT/SUR LE PONT D'AVIGNON
Raffi tells the children about a song he learned out of a book in school when he was a kid called "There's A Rat". Instead of singing the song in English, he sings it in french but don't worry he does sing the English lyrics too. As a kid and even now, I find it to be a very catchy french song for children and educational as well, since he sings it in English too. It's defiantly one of my favorite performances in the concert.
MR.SUN
Raffi decides to put the guitar down for a little while and decides to have the audience do a hand play with him. His first song is Mr.Sun and he has the audience stretch their hands in the air and make a sun. This is a fun song that your child will enjoy interacting too and yes you're allowed to join in too cause Raffi asks for the grown ups to play along too.
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS
Raffi decides to sing another song with the audiences without his guitar and that song is "The Wheels On The Bus". He once again has the audience sing along with him while having them interact with the song. Your child will defiantly enjoy moving their hands like the wheels, moving their hands like a windshield whipper, acting like the driver, making the beeping noise, jumping up and down, cry like a baby and making the shhh noise. Deferentially fun for kids.
THE CORNER GROCERY STORE
Raffi picks up his guitar and sings an unusual song about a Grocery Store. The song is more than unusual, it's surreal but very fun for kids. The part where kids play a big part in the song is when they sing about the person who's seeing this who doesn't have his specs, which I guess explains all the surreal things happening. What surprises me are how well the kids in the audience sing that line, they almost sound like a choir.
SOMETHING IN MY SHOE
Raffi starts making his famous trademark trumpet sound with his lips. He then plays the guitar while making the noise and sings another bizarre song about things in a persons shoe. This another fun song for kids to sing along too, scream out "What fell out", clap twice, making the noise of the things falling out of the shoe and make Raffi's trumpet noise. I also laugh at the moments when Raffi tries to tell the audience what to do during the song, you can almost swear he's losing his cool. It's a fun song, very playful and has some funny moments.
THANKS A LOT
Raffi tells the audience to close their eyes and listen to his song "Thanks A Lot". This is a very peaceful and relaxing tune about being thankful for the things we have. Raffi sings beautifully and while you hear the song you feel at peace. One of the highlights of the concert.
BABY BELUGA
Raffi sings his hit song about a whale called "Baby Beluga". What can I say, it's a classic kids song, it's fun to sing along to it and it's always awesome hearing Raffi sing it. You just can't have a concert with Raffi without him singing this song.
SHAKE MY SILLIES OUT
Raffi tells everybody to stand up to shake their sillies out. This is a very very fun song for you and your kid to dance too. Raffi puts so much energy and 50's style rock into it that it's hard for your kid not to resist dancing too. You'll shake, clap, jump, yawn. stretch and "Wiggle your Waggles away".
DOWN BY THE BAY
Well Raffi tells the audience that the shows almost over but he "Dare Not Go" without singing another song the kids won't know. He starts singing "Down By The Bay" and the kids immediately sings along. Raffi once again brings so much fun and humor into this song that your kid will laugh and sing along. He even has the audience rhyme it for him. A simple kids song but it's done great by the master of kid songs Raffi.
HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD
Raffi claps for how well the kids and their guardians have sung and sings his final song "He's Got The Whole World". Raffi really sings his heart out with this song and so does the audience. It's a very beautiful finale to the concert and I love the freeze frame image when Raffi leaves the stage.
CREDITS/OUTRO
As the credits role, we see the kids in the audience meet Raffi. This is a really heartwarming ending, we finally see how well Raffi handles the children off the stage and just seeing him with them is so beautiful that I cry. Raffi is a wonderful man and this ending shows it.
OVERALL
Raffi is and always will be the best children's entertainer of all time. He's playful, sweet, fun, lovable and this video shows it. For you parents reading this, show this to your kids and not only will they have fun but they'll also see a legend at work.
RATING 5/5
MESSAGE TO THE GROWN UP CHILDREN WHO MET HIM AND SAW HIM LIVE...YOU'RE VERY LUCKY!!!!!!
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