The Monkees' Christmas Song "Riu Chiu"

Last week I forgot to post about the anniversary of The Monkees' FIRST live concert, which was held in Honolulu on December 3, 1966. Oops!
This live concert showed anybody who was paying attention that these guys were not "just actors" who didn't deserve to have a few Number One songs and albums. The boys showed the world that they could and DID play their own instruments and that they were not just puppets dancing to Don Kirshner's drum. To me and millions of fans it is a slap in the face to not have The Monkees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And now poor Davy has passed and he will never know the honor of having his name in that hallowed hall. For shame, Cleveland, for shame!

To make up for not posting about this *last* week, I decided to start my Christmas music collection early with this obscure (?) song by The Monkees, "Riu Chiu." Dig the harmonies, baby!

The lyric "Riu Riu Chiu" is supposed to represent the song of the Nightingale. This Spanish song is about the birth of Christ. The song itself is from the Renaissance, circa 1550, and was handed down by generations. This version is from their TV episode, "The Monkees' Christmas Show" first broadcast on Dec 25, 1967. The song can be found on the CD, "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones Ltd." It's a beautiful, beautiful song.