Raffi’s classic album, “Baby Beluga”, was released nearly 40 years ago. Millions of people grew up singing along to the words of the title song which follows a little white whale through his happy day. Raffi’s music has helped spark both a public appreciation of a threatened species and Raffi’s own climate activism. 

To celebrate the anniversary of the song and album, Raffi sings “Baby Beluga” accompanied by cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a new video which was recorded in their own homes. This continues the series of recorded at-home musical offerings that Ma began in March. This unique performance includes a new verse for adults, ““Now you’re grown and you’re on your way, making waves in the boundless bay, with your shining light and your dreams alive, for the ones you’ve brought this way. Grown up beluga, grown up beluga…”

The video will also be available on the brand-new official Raffi You Tube channel, and the audio will be available as a digital single on all services later this month. Profits will benefit  The Climate Mobilization, a grassroots group working to restore a safe planet, and which has contributed to more than 1700 Climate Emergency Declarations around the world.

Raffi also invites #BelugaGrads and children of all abilities to submit their drawings for an upcoming “Baby Beluga” music video. Sketches of belugas or anything else they find inspiring are welcome. Go to BabyBeluga40.com for more information about how to submit artwork.

The celebration continues with the first official Raffi store, offering a range of special bundles around the beloved little white whale. The collection includes the longtime best-selling Baby Beluga book from Knopf/Random House Children’s Book which was recently re-issued with a fresh, updated cover and is included in a boxed set with two other Raffi favorites, Wheels on the Bus and Down By The Bay. An award-winning “Baby Beluga” cooperative board game is also available, offering social-emotional learning, environmental education, plus lots of fun. Explore more albums, books, games, videos and free printables now through www.Raffistore.com

Since 2015, Baby Beluga has been streamed more than 25 million times on Apple Music and Spotify, and more than two million copies of the album have been sold since the original release on Jul. 10, 1980. “I think that kids love how the song makes them feel,” Raffi says. “The song plants a seed of love in young children, love for a magnificent aquatic creature. What you love, you want to protect. So, love for a beluga is symbolic for a greater love of our world of wonders, our big beautiful planet.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Raffi

RELATED STORIES

Raffi’s Label Releases Lindsay Munroe’s New Album “I Am Kind”

My Name Is Inigo Montoya; Prepare to Buy This Book!

Little Feminist Releases 3 New Inclusive Board Books for Toddlers

Advertisement
phone-icon-vector
Your daily dose of joy and connection
Get the Tinybeans app