The sweet simplicity of Raffi – Mother Jones

Mother Jones illustration; Billie Woods

The employees of Mother Jones summarizes the heroes and monsters of the past year once again. Importantly, this is a completely non-exhaustive and subjective list, giving our reporters the opportunity to write about something that caused joy or dissatisfaction. Enjoy.

Forget the YouTube sensations Mrs. Rachel or CoComelon: My household is still blissfully lazing around in the sweet cocoon of Raffi, the purveyor of gentle, folksy children’s songs and covers that became popular in the 1980s. Only a few days go by when my almost two-year-old son doesn’t ask for a round of “Baby Luga,” Raffi’s cheerful 1980 hit “Baby Beluga” about the “little white whale on the move.” My child named his plastic whale toy “Baby Luga” and it’s as if this nickname has given him a magnetic charm and transformed him into his favorite companion when bathing.

For me this is all very comforting. I am a so-called “Beluga graduate,” a millennial whose early childhood memories include a Raffi soundtrack. Many of us Beluga graduates now have children of our own, as author (and fellow student) Emma Silvers pointed out when she interviewed the Canadian musician Mother Jones Earlier this year. In her article, Silvers informed us about Raffi Cavoukian’s whereabouts and his recent publications:

Although he has faded somewhat from the spotlight, Raffi, now 75, has never stopped making music; his 24th album, Penny penguinwas discontinued on April 19th. Over the past three decades he has also become a vocal climate activist, speaking out for Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, turning down an offer to make money off an ungodly sum Baby beluga Film from the producers of Shrekand founded the Raffi Foundation for Child Honoring, a nonprofit organization centered around the singer’s “children first” vision for sustainability.

In other words, aside from creating catchy but non-offensive singalong hits, Raffi is clearly a stand-up guy. That’s not all, writes Silvers. On In December, eight months after we conducted Silvers’ interview, he posted a message about overthrowing the Syrian dictator and urged us to “set your hearts on everything you care about.” to everything that is precious. stay strong.”

But none of this really explains why Raffi is my hero this year. In these troubled times of political unrest, anger and fear of violence and climate catastrophe, Raffi’s peaceful and calming songs have become a kind of bulwark, a necessary one Reminder that simple melodies sung together can connect us and rise above chaos.

Perhaps more importantly, they can keep my son busy so he doesn’t fall asleep in the car and ruin nap time when we get home. To that end, we recently listened to “Baby Beluga” eight or nine times in a row while sitting in traffic. It worked.

Which brings me to a slight fear: Although Raffi is currently my hero, will repeated listening soon turn him into a monster? Only time will tell. Right now there’s “The More We Get Together,” “Down by the Bay” and “Apples and Bananas.” In short: I have the whole world in my hands.