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.
Amaro Madely
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Che brivido strano mi attraversa mai,
Accanto a Madely, oh Madely!!!
Così, sempre qui,
In questo rifugio lei mi dice sì,
Evviva Madely! Ho Madely!!!
Due labbra di fuoco,
La causa prima di uno sporco gioco…
Lei mi esorcizza, mi pilota la mano…
Mi piaci Madely, Madely!
Non mi abbandonare, dolce Madely!!!
Ma quale eventualità,
Quale tremenda delusione mi da,
Oh! Cara madely!!! Ho madely!!!
Saperti sul muro,
Statica immagine, reclame di un amaro,
Un poster strano, un richiamo…
Due labbra di fuoco,
La causa prima di uno sporco gioco…
La sento vicina,
Lei mi sorride ed ogni volta è la prima…
Che gusto amaro,
Il mio aperitivo,
Dal muro Madely, non ti stacco più!
The song "Amaro Madely" by Renato Zero tells the story of a man who is infatuated with a woman named Madely. The first stanza sets the scene with the man experiencing a strange thrill while being next to Madely. The chorus declares the man's love for Madely and the second stanza explains how Madely has a hold on him with her fiery lips, which are the cause of a dirty game. Despite this, Madely has a power over him and leads his hand. The man begs Madely not to abandon him.
In the third stanza, the man encounters a disappointment or a letdown of some kind with Madely. She appears to him as a static image on a wall, like a poster for a bitter liquor. However, he cannot help but be drawn to her lips and the memory of her hold over him. The final line reveals his bitter taste from the aperitif he drinks, which is a metaphor for his pain from Madely's absence.
The lyrics suggest that the man's relationship with Madely is not a healthy one, and that he is controlled and manipulated by her. The repetition of her name throughout the song reflects his obsession with her, and the references to fire and bitterness further emphasize the intensity of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Ma tu che ne sai,
You have no idea,
Che brivido strano mi attraversa mai,
What strange shiver runs through me,
Accanto a Madely, oh Madely!!!
When I'm near Madely, oh Madely!
Così, sempre qui,
So always here,
In questo rifugio lei mi dice sì,
In this refuge she says yes to me,
Evviva Madely! Ho Madely!!!
Hooray for Madely! I have Madely!
Due labbra di fuoco,
Two lips of fire,
La causa prima di uno sporco gioco…
The primary cause of a dirty game...
E poi piano, piano,
And then, slowly,
Lei mi esorcizza, mi pilota la mano…
She exorcises me, pilots my hand...
Mi piaci Madely, Madely!
I like you Madely, Madely!
Non mi abbandonare, dolce Madely!!!
Don't abandon me, sweet Madely!
Ma quale eventualità,
But what eventuality,
Quale tremenda delusione mi da,
What tremendous disappointment it gives me,
Oh! Cara madely!!! Ho madely!!!
Oh! Dear Madely! I have Madely!
Saperti sul muro,
To know you on the wall,
Statica immagine, reclame di un amaro,
Static image, advertisement for a bitter liqueur,
Un poster strano, un richiamo…
A strange poster, a call...
La sento vicina,
I feel her close,
Lei mi sorride ed ogni volta è la prima…
She smiles at me and every time it's like the first time...
Che gusto amaro,
What a bitter taste,
Il mio aperitivo,
My aperitif,
Dal muro Madely, non ti stacco più!
From the Madely wall, I won't detach you anymore!
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ILE A.
....come dice uno Zerofolle qui sotto: QUESTA È STORIA...!!! Sembra che ci sia più di qualcuno che oggi si cimenta in esibizioni apparentemente simili...ma solo con 45 anni di stacco 🤭
Il Maestro è unico ♥️🖤🎩🎵
Letizia Cantoni
È un bel sentire , un bel vedere , quelle movenze .....seducente ♥
Sofi Cap
Mamma mia che forte il nostro Renato davvero impareggiabile in tutto..voce, movenze e testi 💥🖤🎼👓💕🎩 evviva lo Zero di ieri, oggi e domani 😍😘
Nicoletta Minotti
ADORABILE.... UNICO.... CARISMATICO... SPETTACOLARE 💋
Laura Ferrari
STREPITOSO ❤
Giulia Puccio
per sempre renato❤
Salvatore Ignini
Questa E' storia..
È RENATO ZERO...
Fantastico.
Mauro Bosco
Splendido
prometeoW
Stupendo!!!
Super Max
Unico!