Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34540 in VHS
• Released on: 1993-10-12
• Rating: Unrated
• Formats: Color, Full Screen, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 63 minutes

Amazon.com
Raffi's parent fan base enjoys his messages about protecting the rain forest, banning nuclear weapons, and saving beluga whales. But his kid audience just likes the fact that his songs are fun and melodic and have a beat they can dance to. Kids and parents join together in the audience for this hour-long Broadway concert to listen to the troubadour's classics including "Rise and Shine" and "Down by the Bay," as well as his versions of such standbys as "Day-O" and "This Little Light of Mine." Whether he's making puns, purposely messing up rhymes, or adopting a hip posture as "Rappin' Raffi," the audience cracks up almost as often as they applaud. (Be warned: When he speaks into a banana, it's "an organically grown banana.") He invites a group of kids to join him onstage for the finale, a reprise of "Love in My Family." But stay tuned after the credits for a 4-1/2 minute encore from the artist also known as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program. Safe for infants and up, but will mostly appeal to those over 5. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

A nice, quiet time Raffi video
We bought our first Raffi video (In concert with the rise and shine band) on a whim, and my 2 yr old sons were hooked. After listening to it at least twice a day for weeks, we checked out his other two videos at the library. I let the boys pick which one they want to watch, and it is evenly split between our two "new" ones.

While this video is more subdued and offers a message that is not found with the others, that's what makes it perfect for quiet time. I usually encourage this one after their nap while I'm getting dinner ready. The boys love it when the other children come out to sing. And they love the planets in the background. I think their favorite part is the "rap" song (and the sunglasses involved) that Raffi does. He also offers lots of old favorites like Baby Beluga, Day-O, and Down By the Bay.

Personally, I find this one a little more interesting because of the message, the "timeliness" of it, and the sense of humor with the band members. The only part that is annoying is the long encore after the credits. Ordinarily, I would start rewinding at the credits, but my husband told me about the music afterwards. I'm sure many people miss out on the extra songs until they just happen to let the video go to the end.

Disappointing for fans
We are HUGE Raffi fans -- well, our 15 month old daughter is, and we like him too, for his gentleness, humor and sweet catchy melodies. We like his environmental and peace message too, but on this video it's a bit heavy handed. He seems stiff and akward compared to his charming, light performance on "Raffi in Concert," and there is much less audience participation because it's a big broadway theater. Personally I found his rap version of "Brush Your Teeth" excruciating and embarrassing. I will say that my daughter seemed to enjoy it just fine and that's what counts. Although if she comes to like it as much as our other Raffi video we'll have to sit through it endless times, so it would be nice it was as good.

Raffi on Broadway
My husband and I thought this was Raffi's BEST video! Not to mention how our 8 month-old daughter is still mezmerized by his music and his spoken word. (He's the only musician she would listen to and watch starting at 2 months!)

We appreciated the important messages Raffi includes about peace and the environment. And how he invites and empowers already active children to be a part of his show. We hope our daughter continues to enjoy watching as she grows so the messages he shares in this video can really take hold.

Our daughter led us to Raffi and we are so glad she did! She (and we) also very much enjoy his other two videos.