Cri-Cri is known as the "grillito cantor" or "the singing cricket". He is a character created by Francisco Gabilondo Soler in his childhood and may even be considered "his inner personality"
The character became so famous and gave its author such renown, that it became a second name for Gabilondo. In the mid part of the 20th century he became the most recognizable singer of children's songs in Spanish. Gabilondo's dedication to this segment of the population has been greatly admired, comparable to Walt Disney in his honest approach to making life fun for those who are getting started in life.
Chonita
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que es el tormento de su corazón
Le dice, "vidita, mi cielo
Mi rorro, mi güero, mi dulce pasión"
El loro jamás le hace caso
No le hecha ni un lazo por castigador
Y Chonita dentro de un jarrito
("Oe lorito, ¿eres cazador lorito?)
Desde que te divisé
Con tu precioso pico
Yo con locura pensé,
"Ese cotorro es mi tipo"
Pero ni cuenta te das
De que te quiero tanto
Huyes de mi, te entripas nomás
Remedas mi triste llanto
("Lorito choro, lorito real, lorito")
En el correo mayor
Puse un certificado
Una misiva de amor
Con el filito dorado, ah
Y te comiste el papel
Sin dejar ni una hoja
Eres muy cruel, no quieres leer
Las letras de mi congoja
Creo que me voy a morir
Porque no me haces caso
El corazón que te di
Ya lo quebraste en pedazos
Pero es inútil fingir
Tu ingratitud me mata
Ándale dime, dime que sí
Lorito dame la pata
The opening lines of Cri-Cri's song "Chonita" explores the story of a woman named Chonita and her love for her parrot. The lyrics give the listener context about Chonita's obsession with her cotorro, the torment of her heart, and her constant attempts to win over her pet bird's affections. She calls out to her parrot using terms of endearment, hoping that the bird will show affection back. Despite her efforts, the parrot never responds to her calls or expresses any form of affection towards her. Chonita becomes heartbroken and collects her tears of pain into a jar.
The song then shifts the perspective to the parrot, perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the song. From the parrot's point of view, it tells the story of how Chonita had fallen in love with the bird the moment she laid eyes on it. The bird tells the story of how it never paid much attention to Chonita's cries for attention, further igniting Chonita's sadness. The parrot also reveals how Chonita had gone as far as writing a love letter, with golden (filito dorado) edges and a certificate, to try to gain the bird's affections. The parrot, however, ate the paper, further breaking Chonita's heart.
Cri-Cri's "Chonita" is a love song with a twist. Instead of two humans engaging in romance, the song explores the complex relationship and dynamic between a woman and her parrot. The song is filled with humor, which makes it an enjoyable and memorable tune for listeners of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Chonita tiene un cotorro
Chonita owns a parrot
Que es el tormento de su corazón
The parrot is the cause of her heartache
Le dice, "vidita, mi cielo
She says to the parrot, "My darling, my heaven
Mi rorro, mi güero, mi dulce pasión"
My pet, my blondie, my sweet passion"
El loro jamás le hace caso
The parrot never listens to her
No le hecha ni un lazo por castigador
The parrot doesn't even pay attention to her scolding
Y Chonita dentro de un jarrito
Chonita, inside a little jar
Recoge las lágrimas de su dolor
Collects her tears of pain
"Oe lorito, ¿eres cazador lorito?)
Hey parrot, are you a hunter parrot?
Desde que te divisé
From the moment I saw you
Con tu precioso pico
With your beautiful beak
Yo con locura pensé,
I thought obsessively
"Ese cotorro es mi tipo"
"That parrot is my type"
Pero ni cuenta te das
But you don't even realize
De que te quiero tanto
How much I love you
Huyes de mi, te entripas nomás
You run away from me and ignore me
Remedas mi triste llanto
Mocking my sad crying
"Lorito choro, lorito real, lorito"
"Crybaby parrot, real parrot, parrot"
En el correo mayor
At the main post office
Puse un certificado
I sent a certified letter
Una misiva de amor
A love letter
Con el filito dorado, ah
With a golden edge, ah
Y te comiste el papel
But you ate the paper
Sin dejar ni una hoja
Leaving not a single leaf behind
Eres muy cruel, no quieres leer
You are so cruel, you don't want to read
Las letras de mi congoja
The words of my anguish
Creo que me voy a morir
I think I'm going to die
Porque no me haces caso
Because you don't pay attention to me
El corazón que te di
The heart that I gave you
Ya lo quebraste en pedazos
You already broke it into pieces
Pero es inútil fingir
But it's useless to pretend
Tu ingratitud me mata
Your ingratitude kills me
Ándale dime, dime que sí
Come on, tell me, tell me yes
Lorito dame la pata
Parrot, give me your paw
Writer(s): Francisco Gabilondo Soler
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.