It's been some time (seven years, but who's counting?) since Raffi has recorded a new album. This latest, entitled Let's Play, features Raffi originals and a handful of children's favorites presented in fresh ways.
Featuring good-humored songs, Let's Play is a family pleaser. Raffi's sensitivity and commitment to both children and nature comes shining through on tracks like Raining Like Magic ("it's raining life") and It Takes a Village, which reminds us of all that goes into raising healthy and strong children. Though there are plenty of buoyant, just-for-fun songs in the collection, many are subdued and heartfelt. Raffi has made Yellow Submarine especially child-friendly with fun sound effects; and he weaves some simple but beautiful imagery into Eensy Weensy Spider with his reworked lyrics. The classic, What a Wonderful World, seems right up Raffi's alley, and two songs that honor Dr. Jane Goodall for her forty-year study of chimpanzees are included. A traditional Tibetan playground song, Tsetang Gangla, adds an international flavor to the collection, and Raffi sings the lyrics to May There Always Be Sunshine in a number of languages.
Raffi celebrates play because, after all, even lion cubs, elephants, and baby belugas do it! There's an all-around pleasing message here that will appeal to both the young and young at heart. Those new to Raffi may want to start with his classic debut album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, but fans should take to this new album well.
