Baby Beluga

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Baby Beluga is a children's music album by children's entertainer Raffi, released in 1980. The title track was inspired by Kavna, a Beluga whale that Raffi saw at the Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, BC, and is considered by many to be his greatest hit.

The album begins with the sounds of whales communicating and includes compositions that create pictures of the ocean and whales at play. An illustrated sing-along book was also published and sold separately as a companion to the first track.

During the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1993, the song was sung and a blue screen featured blue belugas swimming.

On April 18, 2011, Raffi published a video that included an updated verse encouraging young people to vote in the 2011 Canadian federal election.

Children who grew up listening to Raffi's songs are referred to as "Beluga Graduates", or "Beluga Grads", after the title song.

Other performances

In the original 1993 release of the "Raffi on Broadway" concert video, Raffi acted Bob Dylan's cover version of the song.

In October 2004, Pearl Jam's lead singer Eddie Vedder performed the first verse and chorus of "Baby Beluga" at the annual Bridge School Benefit Concert in Mountain View, CA. He dedicated it to a young boy at the school who claimed it was his favourite song.

The Wiggles sang this song on their Wake up Jeff CD and Wiggledance! (Live in Concert) video, as part of a Henry the Octopus song.

Billy Gilman performed "Baby Beluga" on the 2001 tribute album Country Goes Raffi.

"Baby Beluga" was Michelle Tanner's favorite song on Full House, as shown in the season 3 episode "Just Say No Way".

On August 7, 2012, the whale that inspired Raffi to make the song, Kavna, died at age 46 in Vancouver.

Track listing

1. "Baby Beluga" – 2:42
2. "Biscuits in the Oven" – 2:26
3. "Oats and Beans and Barley" – 1:27
4. "Day-O" – 3:01
5. "Thanks A Lot" – 2:28
6. "To Everyone in All the World" (Traditional) – 1:46
7. "All I Really Need" – 3:46
8. "Over in the Meadow" – 2:18
9. "This Old Man" (Traditional) – 2:25
10. "Water Dance" – 1:55
11. "Kumbaya" – 2:23
12. "Joshua Giraffe" – 6:05
13. "Morningtown Ride" (Malvina Reynolds) – 2:24

Personnel

Raffi - Lead vocals, guitar, bells, producer, arranger, mixer

Ken Whiteley - Guitars, vocals, banjos, bass, accordion, mandolin, organ, piano, percussion, ukulele, mixer, producer

Chris Whiteley - Trumpet, harmonica

Dennis Pendrith - Bass, vocals

Bucky Berger - Drums

Bruce Pennycook - Clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone

Dick Smith - Drums, percussion

Patrick Godfrey - Piano, vocals

Mike Gardner - Bass

Grit Laskin - Accordion, concertina, dulcimer, mandolin, penny whistle

Daniel Lanois - Mixer, engineer

Children's chorus: Jenny Whiteley, Dan Whiteley, Elizabeth Macay, Chris Thompson