RAFFI RELEASES “ABC DEMOCRACY”

Upbeat anthem celebrates liberty with a fun, up-tempo spirit for young and old

“To defend liberty, why not inspire the young to love it?

With democracy under attack, one way to stand up for freedom

is with an upbeat, danceable song young kids will love and grow into.”

—Raffi

24 October 2025 (Toronto, ON) – Today, beloved singer-songwriter Raffi shares the release of his brand-new song “ABC Democracy” via Troubadour / Universal Music Canada. Written and produced by Raffi, the upbeat anthem celebrates the spirit of liberty through his signature warmth and melodic joy_— inviting parents, teachers and children to use this song as a jumping off point to explore what democracy means and why it matters.

Featuring harmonies from the award-winning Canadian trio, Good Lovelies (who also appear on Raffi’s most recent studio album, 2024’s Penny Penguin) , the song is both timely and catchy, blending playful phrasing and rhythmic charm with Raffi’s trademark accessibility. Through simple yet powerful lyrics—

“Free to be me, free to be you.

With our own voice, we make our choice.”

—Raffi distills the essence of participation, individuality, and community spirit.

The song comes with a specially created online study guide, including ideas and resources intended for 3^rd-grade students and upwards. Contents include core concepts of democracy, explanations of the song’s lyrics, classroom activities, and extensive resources. “Inspiring Democracy: A Study Guide for Teachers and Students” is available on the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring website.

“ABC Democracy” follows a long tradition of Raffi’s globally minded songwriting, including his 1994 song “First Peoples” “Salaam Shalom”—a 2004 peace song for the Middle East, “Turn This World Around” (2001)—inspired by and first performed live for Nelson Mandela, and “Green Dream” (2016)—a joyous, vibrant anthem for a green future. “Young People Marching” (2019) was written in gratitude to Greta Thunberg, and highlights the passion and energy of young people in awakening adults to do their duty to stabilize our climate.

“A democracy protects diversity. We are all valued and able to express ourselves through free speech and our votes.” —Raffi

Click here to listen to “ABC Democracy” and watch the official video

About Raffi:

Considered the most influential and successful children’s entertainer of the last 50 years, Raffi has delighted successive generations of kids (and their parents) with his playful, exuberant personality and his irresistibly infectious songs. The Canadian artist has released albums including such beloved titles as Singable Songs for the Very Young (1976), Baby Beluga (1980), Bananaphone (1994), and, most recently, Penny Penguin (2024). Altogether, he has sold almost 20 million albums, while his music has seen nearly one billion streams across all platforms.

Beyond the studio, Raffi is an award-winning author, who has written more than a dozen books for children and adults. He has also emerged as a respected advocate on behalf of children, lending his voice, insight, and experience to a number of systemic issues through the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring—a unifying vision with the child at its heart by which societies can re-order their priorities to build community and restore our planet.

Praised by The Washington Post as “the most popular children’s singer in the English-speaking world,” Raffi is a recipient of the Order of Canada—the country’s highest civilian honor. A multiple GRAMMY® nominee and Juno® winner, Raffi has also been recognized with a United Nations Environmental Achievement Award and the Fred Rogers Integrity Award, among countless honors over the decades.

For the latest Raffi news, follow him on Threads, BluSky, Instagram or X, and visit www.raffinews.com, www.raffistore.com and www.raffifoundation.org.