David Archuleta-Riu Riu Chiu

[WildeNotesMusic]

I much prefer Kalenda Maya's recording of this song (which you can find here at YouTube too). Not only does she preserve the original tune and more of the likely original feel of the song, but the rhythm is very infectious. I don't think Archuleta enhanced the song at all by trying so hard to "make it his own."

[yayaloo96]

i love this song!!!! i love you david!!!

[MarchingBalletDancer]

Insert Mexican food here. It's all good.

[itburnsus]

It's Castillian... argh.

[rootsm3]

This song is in medieval Spanish so yeah it's hard to find the true lyrics.

[WildeNotesMusic]

Much better version of this song, done by Kalenda Maya, can be found here at YT. That's how the song should sound.

[ragsdal58]

I had the solo in the concert put somebody messed it up

[verdespickles]

Thank you everyone for making this my most view of all the videos i have uploaded! Thank you also for commenting on it.

[ThisAsianKidd]

...pretty sure i'm sing this for choir. .___.

[baybeiispirit14]

have no idea what hes saying but it sounds beautiful!

[girlygirl2192]

Words cannot described how much I love this song. CONSTANT repeat!

[ButteredPancake]

voice of an angel <3

[jabbafan9600]

does anyone know what he is saying in english?

[aliebear97]

@jabbafan9600 its very religious 

[ninahcampos]

@jabbafan9600 Just roll your mouse and see the translation below... someone asked before and I put there.

[1MrToxic]

Woohoo I got i down! No more yelling from Mr. Keller wanna know why??? CUZ I GOT I DOWN Christmas band and chorus how in the world am i going to do both at the same time??? DEAR GOD!!!

[elliottsmama]

Very nice. The Monkees did this in the 60's and it was excellent

[TheLoliix]

La canción la escribiste con el castellano (español) contemporaneo, sin embargo esta esta escrita en castellano antiguo. Pero en si la letra esta muy bien.

The song was written with the modern Spanish, but this is written in Old Spanish (also known as Castilian old). But if the letter is fine.

[OutlawsChick]

Old time christmas music is hard to come by. the new stuff stinks david here i think just done it for me with this album =) i was born in 87, i think i should be sayin the oppisite. but the older does it for me!

[MoonCloudLove]

I'm Singing This In My School Choir, It's Really Hard To Memorize! D:

[011koolguy]

gret song



[erickagutierres]

una cancion muy bien escrita y con la voce de el deveras que la hace unica igual que la letra

[DizEezJham17]

i would listen to this even in the midst of summer :)

[hammiham101]

im singing this in my school choir, and now i know how im going to get the words down :)

[kylieeatsdinosaurs]

@hammiham101 i'm singing this in my school choir too! this version is soo much prettier though :p

[6JBluvr]

I have to do this song for chorus and the Spanish just confuses me so bad !! I can't memorize it !!

[Bluepenguinish]

Lovely song... even though the lyrics are a little different from the original one, which requires a chorus and is not a solo.

I still like it though. ^_^

[aliebear97]

@verdespickles it is an old spanish song from the 1500's. i am doing this song for choir so we had 2 do a backround check on it :)

[bopbabe]

I Love This Song! Thanks to My Awesome Spanish Teacher... Mrs. Hensly!!

Michaela

[01JessicaS]

its nor christmas but ARCHULETA!!!

[wolfishblue79]

yes it is very old. I sang this every Christmas when I was in Varsity Choir at my local High School. There is a English verse as well. But i can't remember the exact words since it was SO long ago!! OMG! I am getting old.

[nosamici]

Beautiful, Beautiful performance by David!

[lemonaidmouthforever]

MI AMOR DAVID ARCHULETA♥

[sara1676]

Esta musica eres vasco

[ninahcampos]

Este que es nacido es el gran monarca/

The newborn child is the mighty monarch

Cristo patriarca, de carne vestido;

Christ the Patriarch clothed in human flesh

(Christ, our holy father, in human flesh embodied)

ha nos redimido con se hacer chiquito/

He has redeemed us by making himself a child

a un que era infinito, finito se hiciera/

Although he was immortal, he made himself mortal (Though he is immortal, as mortal was created)

[ninahcampos]

Este viene a dar a los muertos vida/

He comes to give life to the dead

y viene a reparar de todos la caida/

He comes to redeem the fall of men

es la luz del dia aqueste mocuelo/

This child is the light of day

este es el cordero que San Juan dixera/

He is the very lamb Saint John prophesied

[ninahcampos]

El lobo rabioso la quiso morder/

The rabid wolf wanted to (tried to) bite her

Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender/

But God almighty knew how to protect her

Quisole hacer que no pudiese pecar/

He wanted to make her incapable of sin

(He wished to keep her pure so she could never sin)

Ni aun original la Virgen no tuviera/

and the Virgin did not even have the original sin

[ninahcampos]

To @WendySunVal, who asked for a translation... I hope it´s good enough!

Riu riu chiu (cried the nightingale by the riverside) Someone translated as (River, roaring river)

la guarda ribera/The river bank protects it

(guard our homes in safety?)

Dios guardo el lobo de nuestra cordera/

God has kept the wolf (Satan) from our lamb (the Virgin Mary)

[WendySunVal]

@ninahcampos omg! thankz sooo much! that actually helps alot! :-D

[WildeNotesMusic]

@ninahcampos You translated "Dios guardo el lobo de nuestra cordera/"

as

"God has kept the wolf (Satan) from our lamb (the Virgin Mary)."

Pretty sure the "lamb" is Jesus.

[ninahcampos]

@WildeNotesMusic It´s "nuestra cordera", not "nuestro cordero". It´s feminine, not masculine, and they are talking about the Virgin Mary here. They say in the sequence:

El lobo rabioso la quiso morder/ The rabid wolf wanted to (tried to) bite her

Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender/ But God almighty knew how to protect her.

Later in the song they start to talk about Jesus and they also call Him lamb, but not here. Here they are talking about Mary.

[WildeNotesMusic]

@ninahcampos You're right. The "lamb" they're saying God is protecting from the wolf is the Virgin Mary.

[ninahcampos]

@mortimer2020

Carol written in archaic Spanish from the 16th century. Some words are unfamiliar even for Spanish speakers.

It talks about Christ´s birth and the Virgin Mary. It concerns the shepherds in the biblical Christmas story and observes, among other things, the 'one born today is actually his mother's father and the one who created her is said to be her son.'

People say 'Riu Riu Chiu' is an onomatopoeia for the nightingale's song, but someone translated it as 'River, soaring river'.

[ninahcampos]

@CatheraTasha

David says the Christmas/Sacred songs are his favorites to sing... Did you ever hear him singing 'O´Holy Night'? 'Pat-a-Pan'? 'Be Still My Soul'? 'Ave Maria' (this one in Latin)? Actually, anyone from the album 'Christmas From The Heart'?

It´s pure amazingness!



[jlrobins87]

@mortimer2020 No, this was written in Spain in the 1500's.

[stefanhot2]

damn this gives me the chills because he's hot when he speaks spanish

[WendySunVal]

i <3 this song! but can anyone translate? i don't speak fluent spanish....

[ninahcampos]

@WendySunVal

I´m gonna try to put the lyrics & translation, but I won´t repeat things, since there is this space problem... Some words aren´t correct in the subtitles, I guess the source wasn´t reliable.

It´s 'ribera', not 'rivera'; 'aqueste', not 'a que este'; 'mocuelo', not 'mochuelo' (which means 'little owl'; 'dixera' instead of 'dijera'; 'ha nos' instead 'hemos'; 'se hacer' instead of 'hacerse; 'a un que', instead of 'aunque'. So, I´m gonna try to post the translation above... enjoy!

[iloveraket]

Some one ask me to dans on this song

it was relly romantic

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3­<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3­<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3­<3

[SelinaVanaga]

Woow this song is so different, I love the way David sings this song. Awesome! :)

[iloveraket]

it's wow

i dont know what to say

love you david arguletta

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

[lilmissCB123friend1]

@iloveraket it archuleta



[KPAnonymous]

we sang this in choir i typed it into youtube and was all what the poop?!?!?! ARCHLETA?!

[HuggsndKissez]

we sang this in choir

LOVE THIS!

[crazygreen625]

perfect song !feel mystery

[violinrules101]

I can play this on violin! Great song :D

[diva32kelly]

i LUV this song

[wikidoodle]

Riu, riu, chiu, La guarda ribera, Dios guardó el lobo de nuestra cordera. El lobo rabioso La quiso morder, Mas Dios poderoso La supo defender, Quizole hazer que No pudiesse pecar, Ni aun original Esta virgen no tuviera.

[AceinIN]

Your difficulty with the Spanish is that it is archaic Spanish, medieval Spanish.

[Cherrypeltthewarrior]

i could fall asleep to him singing this song

[PROPORQUESOMOSASI]

ohhh i love this song... i'm spanish and this sounds really beautifull i love the sound when he sings some word with "R"

[bibbeny]

this is great. Not a fan but this is good. ( I may have to rethink fanship) I love how they wove Carol of the Bells into the music and melody. Yes this is a Spanish carol.

[TheDj12352]

riu riu chiu i want to learn this word to word

[GenesisJuggernaut]

Wtf this isnt a pop song.

[romanianlover123]

Im making this my new year's resolution... learn this song word by word ( I dont know Spanish) :) Should be awesome! :D 

[kaynj07]

We use this video in our Spanish class ! Every week we get a new song and on Friday we have a quiz over it and this is our song this week. I love it :)

[xXxIzzyxRavexGirlxXx]

I love

love love

the way he redid this song

love it!

soo much better than our choir.

Sorry girls.. but we suck (:

[TanreiChan]

he ruined it. he made Riu Riu Chiu pop music, i cant believe it!

[WildeNotesMusic]

@TanreiChan I agree. David has a good voice, but I don't like the way he arranged & "popified" this classic song, mispronounced "guardo," added "show-off vocal runs," changed the tune in too many places, etc. It's a wonderful song in its original form. If you want to hear a really good version done by a pop group, check out The Monkees' recording.

[sashaisfat]

its so relaxing

[CarpeDiem80808]

Isn't the lyric "ribera," not "rivera?" Maybe it's just misspelled in this tribute video.

[SingersForLife1415]

@CarpeDiem80808 the "v" is pronounced like a "b" in Spanish

[armenianbabe413]

Pienso que David Archuleta canta mucho más bonita en español que lo hace en Inglés

[mattwismww113]

¿Por un canción español es muy extraño no?:P Es la verdad que este español ya no es común

[kkroxy1397]

hes sooooo talented!!!!!! yahh he is like a mini josh groban!!! :) <3 AHH I CANT STOP SINGING THIS SONG! all my friends try to sing it...not even close with all the toungue rolling:) !

[kkroxy1397]

hes sooooo talented!!!!!! yahh he is like a mini josh groban!!! :) <3 AHH I CANT SOP SINGING THIS SONG! all my friends try to sing it...not even closte with all the toungue rolling:) !

[autumnrb1018]

i love this song its so presious i didnt even know david archuleta could sing in spanish its like the best christmas son ever i love it

[guatemalantwinkie]

@autumnrb1018 very true statement

[jojogirl121]

such a beautiful song!! [and singer]

[Lupe1715]

i sing this song in choir class!

[ninile99]

haha this song is a part of my program from my choir group...everyone lacks effort =.= stupid idiots..

[pinkroxy26]

i really love this song!

[Tylerpowell1]

i like the original but that's just my preference

[sugar4585]

we sand it in choir but different lyrics

[Iamfierce007]

he's like the miny josh groban

[a6za6z]

i sang that i loved it it was in choir

[Axiom79]

very nice version

[Futureattorney16]

sinqin this sonq in choir right now! :) and i love this sonq

[sammielover22296]

were singing this song in choir!!

[jao740]

amazing :D .." riu riu chiu :D .."

[MINASTAR1]

What does the phrase la guarda rivera mean? And also mochuelo?

[ninahcampos]

@MINASTAR1

The word isn´t 'mochuelo' which means ‘little owl’... It´s 'moçuelo' and it means ‘child’. The verse 'es la luz del dia aqueste moçuelo' means: 'This child is the light of day'.

The language is archaic, from the sixteenth century. Certain words are unfamiliar even for Spanish speakers. ‘mozuelo’ is more current.

[ninahcampos]

@MINASTAR1

Someone translated ‘riu riu chiu’ which apparently means the nightingale´s sounds

As: River, roaring river

Guarda la ribera (The river bank protects it) meaning: guard our homes in safety

Dios guarde el lobo/De nuestra cordera

[as God keep the wolf (Satan) away from our lamb]

[ninahcampos]

@MINASTAR1

The song talks about Christ´s birth and his mother, the Virgin Mary. It concerns the shepherds in the biblical Christmas story and observes, among other things, the 'one born today is actually his mother's father and the one who created her is said to be her son.'

[tusnfrid]

Just gets stuck in your head ;) Just love his voice...!

[musicismyblood27]

Singing this in choir(: and actually, the phrase "Riu Riu Chiu" doesn't translate into any Spanish, it's wat they thought was the sound of some sort of bird haha

[sammielover22296]

@musicismyblood27 were singing this in choir 2!

[singlaughlearn]

i love this song soooooo much

[CheerRox1208]

I am singing this for magrical and im in 8th grade

[MusicianPaigeBurns]

Wow! David, his vocals, and this song are GORGEOUS!

[TTBLordDimir]

riu riu chiu is actually closer to catalan then spanish but i cant imagine the difference between the two is very significant

[ninahcampos]

@TTBLordDimir

It´s archaic Spanish from the sixteenth century.

[maribethmichelle]

wanna learn it, but it's so fast. i don't actually speak spanish, but i think songs in spanish are extremely beautiful and i almost wanna die when my favorite person EVER sings one :) i wanna learn it so i can sing along!

[victoriaisntsosecret]

When I hear certain songs, the instant I hear them, I can't get them out of my head. One time, I heard a song so beautiful, It was the theme song to a nightmare I had...guess what that was? Riu Riu Chiu!! I wish I had a voice at least a bit close to David's, but I'm a girl, and he's not...but I love the soul he's got in this song!

[Musiccislifee123]

I'm singing this in Chorus ! (:

[sandy6441]

omg omg hey yall listening to dis song isnt it like wow ofcourse i dunnt understand a word ma couzin bro is almost addicted to dis song they did it for a concert i noe but he can seriously sing if he reads this well i dnt care its a free world baby ALMOST

[katz2cute]

awesome

[Fonometrista]

This is far of being just as good as the original spanish version of the XVI century. The words are not well pronounced and their accents are on the wrong place.

[ninahcampos]

@Fonometrista

I would say the problem is much more in the subtitles than in his pronunciation...

Apparently the person that has made the subtitles didn´t use a reliable source. There are several incorrect words and David isn´t singing like the subtitles show.

[94Phillies]

Thank you so much for putting this up :)

[Antorribusneil]

There are some mistakes in the lyrics, because David sing some words bad, rather than be "hemos redimido con hacerse chiquito" is "hanos redimido con se hacer chiquito", "a que este" is "aqueste" but the lyrics are really great. Congratulations.

[ninahcampos]

@Antorribusneil

Some mistakes were actually made by the person who provided the subtitles. David sings correctly ‘con se hacer’, and not ‘con hacerse”, as you say.

And it is NOT ‘hanos’, but ‘ha nos’, like David correctly sings…

The verse is “ha nos redimido con se hacer chiquito” (He has redeemed us by making himself a child)

[ninahcampos]

@ninahcampos And David sings 'aqueste', with the stressed syllable in the ‘a’.

‘es la luz del dia aqueste mocuelo*’ (This child is the light of day)

*mocuelo – archaic Spanish – means child. More current: mozuelo – young boy

I def. believe the person that did the subtitles didn´t use a reliable source to get the lyrics.

[anastasiapena]

@mrshag05 hey you im hispanic, i know what im talking about. Obviously the spanish you 'know' isnt enough to understand what im talking about babe.

[tigerbuddy101]

It's beautiful!! Especially with the picture! Great! :-)

[CroNix99]

hermosa interpretacion! hermosa cancion!

[AKVR19]

I don't believe. How sing this guy, I remove the hat, congratulations, I don't know how I had not watched it

[musicXXfreak1]

1:19-1:20 aa daar!!! 1:27 Diaa!!! 1:58 chiquito!!! 2:18 to the end!!! his voice is amazing!!!!

[civilenomurio]

The original version is much better than this version

this version lose all medieval beautty

[anastasiapena]

love it. this kind of language is spanish and portuguese mixed and its a very antique and unique, only used for formal events and used in poetry

[mrshag05]

@anastasiapena hey you its not true i know spanish and its only spanish babe

[Antorribusneil]

@anastasiapena This is not spanish and portuguese mixed, is a light version of the old style spanish.

[ninahcampos]

@anastasiapena

There isn´t any portuguese words in these lyrics... just archaic Spanish from the sixteenth century.

But there are some mistakes in the subtitles... I think the lyrics in the subtitles aren´t from a reliable source.

[PeppermintCrystals]

this song is so cool,

but its way too religious. (x

[Nestlechocolate123]

I sang this for my schools Honors Choir except it wasn't the christmas version.. I love this song! And he sings it perfectly! :D

[priinszeesza]

yo lo amoooooooooooo canta super

[priinszeesza]

yo amo adavid archuleta x dios q boz tan linda

[cutieprincess4112]

He is so0o hot when he sings in Spanish!!!

[musicXXfreak1]

@cutieprincess4112 omygosh yes!!!!!!

[zephrah]

This is so beautiful. It does get stuck in your head....Thanks for posting. ♥

[christine123233]

this is enchanting! I mean... it's so beautiful... wow... I'm speachless...

[TaylorSwift50396]

this is amazing!! is he even spanish? his accent is so good!

[yesylovely39]

@TaylorSwift50396

It is but its old Spanish. :)

[ninahcampos]

@TaylorSwift50396

His mother is Honduran and his father is a descendant of Spanish Basques, so he is familiar with the language, though not as fluent as his parents. He speaks with his 'abuelita' and his grampa only in Spanish because they don´t speak ANY English.

But I think he did an excelent job, since these lyrics are archaic Spanish from the sixteenth century.

[marymaryvero]

aww!! so cute!! ..... love him!... and it's good his spanish accent... i mean he doesnt speak spanish from when he was a child right?

[LeBethany]

@marymaryvero

ya his mom is from honduras, so he grew up speaking the language and performing their culteral dances....

umm... HOT! lol

[BaselDaBomb]

Who knew it? He is really good at a spanish accent!!!!

[mrshag05]

@BaselDaBomb no he is not, he needs more slide in the "r"

[ninahcampos]

@mrshag05

I actually LOVE his accent! And the singing is absolutely breathtaking! Christmas From The Heart is superb!

He is extremely talented and has a soulful gorgeous voice, what a gem!

[victoriaisntsosecret]

@BaselDaBomb Well, Spanish was his first language. But he forgot most of it...but he's still fantastic!!

[ksiq94]

q bn canta vale

[XXXphukitXXX]

Wow, he is so good. Bello papi bello.

[12sparkyjr]

you have and always will be my favorite singer Love always Joseph Barry Jr.

[silverthehedgehog947]

At my Choir Christmas Concert we sang this. I had a solo for Verse 1. 8D

[cantamayek]

thanks to David i discoverd this song.

it takes you to a different space and time.

im hipnotized by it.

never herd of it but will allways love it.

[Chucky435]

@cantamayek ..have u ever listened "Crush"..He made a latin spanish version of this song!!

[DickRichards76]

this song really gets stuck in your head

[victoriasainz]

Me gusta bastante esta interpretación moderna del villancico Riu Riu Chiu. La he cantado muchas veces en su ínterpretación original -que evidentemente no tiene mucho que ver con ésta-. Se trata de una obra del llamado "Cancionero de Upsala" que tiene música española del Renacimiento, de la corte de Fernando de Aragón; unos lo atribuyen a Mateo Flecha El Viejo y otros dicen "anónimo". Se pueden ver muchas versiones -tods clásicas- en youtube, incluso hay una de The Monkees.

[WildeNotesMusic]

@victoriasainz  Yes, this song is in Medieval Spanish, which is quite different from contemporary Spanish. If you've studied Latin, you can probably see how close it is to Latin in some places.

[c73pr]

Felicidades, cantas como los angeles. Congratulation David you singing like the angels.

[cococrazy24]

how bout shut up and enjoy the music and the guy. i like that idea better.

[xoxoskilletxoxo]

this was my chorus song 4 my school at our christmas concert :)

[everyonelovesDeAnna]

he did this song thursday night at the MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods in Connecticut. Soooo good. <3

[Annasinging101]

He did a PERFECT job!!!!!! I am obsessed with this songgg!!! he did amazing and this is SPANISH! I dont like listening to spanish songs but this is soo perfect i cant stop listening!

[Brittneyx395]

i know right!!! he sounds soo amazing!

[so2014fi]

OMG you have the lyrics 100% correct belive me i liv ein PR and spanish is my language

[rikrome]

we just performed this song Last night and it was Freakin awesome!! pretty cool song.

[twinzr2cute]

we are doing thid 4 our christmas concert 2 ! (:

[TheBFFLWASIAABAWID]

our chamber choir sang this !! its amzing !!

[StEpHiEgUaRdDiVa69]

I lOvE tHiS sOnG sO mUcH....oUr WiNtEr CoNcErT iS gOiNg To LoOk So BeAuTiFuL wItH tHiS sOnG...gEt It SaBeRs!!!!!!!...GeT iT gUaRd!!!!

[jongarcia249]

its spelled "sabres" honey lol

[StEpHiEgUaRdDiVa69]

HeY eVeRyOnE sPeLlS sOmEtHiNg WrOnG oNcE iN a WhIlE sO ShUsH!!!!!

oR wErE gOiNg To FiGhT lIkE aLwAyS!!!!!!

[cococrazy24]

Thank you enjoy the song and da man for singing it.