Ríu Ríu Chíu, also known as Ríu Chíu, is a Spanish villancico that has attained some contemporary fame as a Christmas carol.
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Themes
The basic theme of the song is the nativity of Christ and the Immaculate Conception. The refrain which gives the villancico its title goes:
The Immaculate Conception is mentioned in the lyrics:
The song also mentions themes of the Incarnation and Christmas:
Performances
Classical and early music performers of the song include the Boston Camerata and the Oxford Camerata. The song has crossed over to popular performance, and appears on Christmas themed collections, including David Archuleta's Christmas from the Heart, Sixpence None the Richer's The Dawn of Grace, Bruce Cockburn's Christmas, Terry McDade and The McDades' Midwinter, Fred Penner's The Season (1990), and Bradley Joseph's Christmas Around the World.
The song appears on The Kingston Trio's 1961 album Goin' Places, listed as "Guardo el Lobo," and credited to musicologist Dr. Erich Schwandt.
In 1967 The Monkees performed the song live on a Christmas episode of their TV series, "The Monkees' Christmas Show". A studio version was released on subsequent compilation albums. It is likely they learned the song from their producer, Chip Douglas who himself performed it with his former band The Modern Folk Quartet on their 1964 album Changes.
The song also appeared on the 2003 Chanticleer album "A Portrait", and is on the "A Cappella Magic" album by the Basilica Choir of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, in Orlando, Florida.