The Monkees: “Riu Chiu” (1967)
The Monkees perform (a portion of) a Spanish Renaissance-era Advent carol from a Christmas episode of their TV series.
The “riu chiu” nonsense syllables were meant to mimic the call of the nightingale or kingfisher. The lyrics translate thusly:
Ríu, ríu, chíu, la guarda ribera,
Dios guardó el lobo de nuestra cordera
[With a cry of] Ríu, ríu, chíu, the kingfisher, God kept the wolf from our Lamb
El lobo rabioso la quiso morder
Mas Dios Poderoso la supo defender
Quísola hacer que no pudiese pecar
Ni aun original esta virgen no tuviera
The raging wolf sought to bite her, but God Almighty knew (how) to defend her; He chose to make her so that she could not sin; no original sin was found in that virgin
Éste que es nacido es el Gran Monarca
Cristo Patriarca de carne vestido
Ha nos redimido con se hacer chiquito
Aunque era infinito finito se hiciera.
This one that is born is the Great King, Christ the Patriarch clothed in flesh. He redeemed us when He made himself small, though He was Infinite He would make himself finite
“Jingle Bells” it is not.
Every Moment Has A Song 