Renato Fiacchini was born in Rome in the Via di Ripetta, next to the Via del Corso.
He quit his studies early to devote himself to his true passion, playing music and singing - though initially with little success. He replied to the criticisms (including the recurring insult Sei uno zero! - "You're a zero!") by assuming the alter-ego of Renato Zero. After several different jobs, including an appearance in an advertisement for ice-cream, he recorded his first singles in 1965: "Tu, sì", "Il deserto", "La solitudine", which were never issued. His first published single, "Non basta sai/In mezzo ai guai" (1967), sold a total of 20 copies.
In the late 1960s Zero's career was favoured by the glam-rock fashion, which he had somehow presaged with his sexual ambiguity and androgynous appearance. At the same time, this led him to be accused of cloning characters like David Bowie. In 1973 he issued his first LP, No! Mamma, no! (live), but with little success. The follow-up Invenzioni met the same fate.
Birth of the "Zerophilia"
It was not until 1976 that he scored his first hit with the single "Madame". "Madame" and the album including it, Trapezio, established a regular and loyal audience for Zero. This was to increase exponentially in the following years, until he could boast a huge following of die-hard fans that he dubbed "Sorcini" ("Little Mice").
The late 1970s were indeed years of great success for Zero's character, with the LPs Zerofobia ("Zerophobia", 1977), Zerolandia (1978) and Erozero (1979) topping the Italian charts. At this time Renato Zero was amongst the two or three most popular singers in Italy and his song "Il Carrozzone" was already regarded, also by critics, as one of the best Italian songs ever.
In 1979 Zero played himself in the movie "Ciao Nì" (his usual greeting to his fans, which can be roughly translated as "Hi pal!"). In Italy this film was to be more successful than the blockbuster "Superman".
The 1980s
In the 1980s he began to abandon make-up and greasepaint, but this did not rid Zero of his mania for grandeur: in the 1980 tour, for example, he entered the scene riding a white horse. In 1982 he began a collaboration with the opera director Renato Serio, who was to write the string arrangements for almost all of Zero's following LPs. In late 1983 he took part in RAI's Fantastico 3, then the most popular Italian TV show.
His career continued to be successful until 1984, with top-charts songs like "Amico" ("Friend") and "Spiagge" ("Beaches"). That year, however, his album Leoni si nasce and the tour of the same name, in which he appeared disguised as a lion and escorted by four aborigines, were commercial failures. The album Zero of 1987 marked the low point of his career: instead of playing in arenas and stadiums, Zero had to sing almost for free in the piazzas and discos of Italy's minor cities.
1990s and 2000s: the Comeback
In 1991 Renato Zero participated to the Sanremo Music Festival with "Spalle al muro", and from that moment on his career began to rise again. In 1993 he was nr.1 in the Italian charts with the LP Quando non sei più nessuno. The following year Imperfetto repeated this success. During his tour concerts would regularly sell out, and he returned to his famous dress changes during the spectacles, although in a less kitsch and more balanced style.
In 2004 his tour "Cattura il sogno/Il sogno continua" (Catch the dream/The dream continues) was awarded from Pollstar magazine as the most successful of the year in Italy and as well as one of the most successful worldwide (#30). The recording af the Roman concerts, held at Olimpico Stadium in June, was the best selled musical DVD of 2004. In 2005 he took part to the Italian stage of Live 8, in the Circo Massimo. In November his new album Il dono ("The Gift") topped the charts and maintained #1 until the end of the year. In December 2005 he performed in the Vatican with a song dedicated to Pope John Paul II. Renato Zero's most recent tour started in February 2006 and is entitled Zero movimento. During some concerts held at the time of the campaign for the April 2006 elections he declared himself against former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Sono Innocente + Outro
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come per il viaggio più inatteso
Per mille anni sono stato in guerra
Ma se Dio vuole ora mi sono arreso
Indifeso come un bimbo che è appena nato
Ignaro delle spine che ha una rosa
O come un angelo offeso ed umiliato
Ma trionfante sul cinismo di ogni cosa
L'amore, amore mio, è questo non sapere
È non volere niente di più al mondo
Tu mi hai ascoltato un secondo
E mi hai compreso per sempre, per sempre
Sono innocente, innocente
Il mio cuore si arrende, sono innocente
Tutto è sorprendente e sconosciuto
E sembra che sia lì solo per me
Oggi è il primo giorno che ho vissuto
È il primo giorno insieme a te
È con altri occhi che vedo il mare
Per me stesso sono uno straniero
Niente mi può fare più del male
Pure in catene sarei libero e leggero
L'amore, amore mio, è questo non avere
È non cercare altro rifugio al mondo
Tu mi hai sfiorato un secondo
E conquistato per sempre, per sempre
Sono innocente, innocente
Il mio cuore si arrende, sono innocente
E non ho rimpianti né pensieri
Solo la beata ingenuità
Di chi è nato solamente ieri
E che domani poi rinascerà
Innocente, sono innocente innocente
Davvero! Innocente
Signor Zero io sarei il suo passato
Non abbia paura, facciamo due passi indietro
Vuole? Tanto per rinfrescarci la memoria
Mi creda ogni tanto tornare là serve!
Coraggio mi segua dolcemente
Intensamente così!
The first stanza of Renato Zero's "Sono Innocente" describes his newfound sense of surrender and vulnerability after being at war for a thousand years. He uses imagery to describe this feeling, such as saying he is like a newborn baby or an angel who has been humiliated but is still victorious over cynicism. He is experiencing something new and unknown, and he attributes this to the power of love. In the second stanza, Renato Zero continues to describe his new perception of the world around him. He sees everything as if for the first time, and the presence of his loved one brings him a sense of liberation despite any external circumstances. He again attributes this liberation to love and describes it as "not having to look for refuge in the world". The outro is a dialogue between Renato Zero and an unknown person who is identified as "Signor Zero," perhaps to symbolize a part of himself that he's addressing. It seems to be a conversation about revisiting the past, with the person asking Renato Zero if he wants to take a walk to refresh his memory. There is an urging for Renato Zero to have courage and follow the person intensely.
Line by Line Meaning
È la prima volta che tocco terra
I feel like I'm finally landing, after a surprise journey. I've been fighting for years, but I've surrendered to God now.
Come per il viaggio più inatteso
Like I'm on the most unexpected journey of my life
Per mille anni sono stato in guerra
I've been fighting for so long
Ma se Dio vuole ora mi sono arreso
But now, I've surrendered to God, if it's His will
Indifeso come un bimbo che è appena nato
I feel defenseless and vulnerable, like a newborn baby
Ignaro delle spine che ha una rosa
Unaware of the dangers of the world, like a rose's thorns
O come un angelo offeso ed umiliato
Or like an angel who was hurt and humbled
Ma trionfante sul cinismo di ogni cosa
But triumphant over the cynicism of everything
L'amore, amore mio, è questo non sapere
Love, my love, is not knowing
È non volere niente di più al mondo
It's not wanting anything more in the world
Tu mi hai ascoltato un secondo
You listened to me for a second
E mi hai compreso per sempre, per sempre
And you understood me forever, forever
Sono innocente, innocente
I am innocent, innocent
Il mio cuore si arrende, sono innocente
My heart surrenders, I am innocent
Tutto è sorprendente e sconosciuto
Everything is surprising and unknown
E sembra che sia lì solo per me
And it seems like it's there just for me
Oggi è il primo giorno che ho vissuto
Today is the first day I lived
È il primo giorno insieme a te
It's the first day together with you
È con altri occhi che vedo il mare
I see the sea with a new perspective
Per me stesso sono uno straniero
I'm a stranger to myself
Niente mi può fare più del male
Nothing can hurt me anymore
Pure in catene sarei libero e leggero
Even in chains, I'd be free and light
L'amore, amore mio, è questo non avere
Love, my love, is not having
È non cercare altro rifugio al mondo
It's not seeking refuge anywhere else in the world
Tu mi hai sfiorato un secondo
You have touched me for a second
E conquistato per sempre, per sempre
And conquered me forever, forever
E non ho rimpianti né pensieri
And I have no regrets or thoughts
Solo la beata ingenuità
Only blissful naivete
Di chi è nato solamente ieri
Of someone who was just born yesterday
E che domani poi rinascerà
And who will be reborn tomorrow
Innocente, sono innocente innocente
Innocent, I am innocent, innocent
Davvero! Innocente
Truly! Innocent
Signor Zero io sarei il suo passato
Mr. Zero, I would be your past
Non abbia paura, facciamo due passi indietro
Don't be afraid, let's take two steps back
Vuole? Tanto per rinfrescarci la memoria
Do you want to? Just to refresh our memory
Mi creda ogni tanto tornare là serve!
Believe me, going back there is necessary sometimes!
Coraggio mi segua dolcemente
Follow me courageously and gently
Intensamente così!
Intensely like this!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MAURIZIO FABRIZIO, GUIDO MORRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind