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.
Arrendermi Mai
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
qui finisce la mia storia
d’uomo!
Fu per gioco o per follia,
quando ad un relè affidai
la sorte mia!
Io sfidai
finanche Dio,
fosse mio.
Per questa febbre
al buio andavo incontro,
cieco da non vedere
che avevo l’universo dentro.
Arrendermi… mai!
Io non voglio arrendermi…
Questo corpo è fragile,
la mente no!
Sogni non ho,
io non so di cosa vivrò…
Io, guerriero senza storia,
un’ombra in cerca di memoria…
Arrendermi… mai!
Io non voglio arrendermi…
Non sarò mai un atomo
Senza volontà!
Ritroverò
un’altra volta l’amore,
il dolore, la pietà,
la speranza, la mia età!
Il robot è fermo là…
L’ho sconfitto e non lo sa,
lui ride!
Crede di aver vinto già,
ma il mio cuore batte ancora,
vivo, vivo!
Arrendermi… mai!
Io non posso arrendermi!
Ritroverò
Intatti i sogni che ho,
il mio cielo, la mia storia,
la poesia, la mia memoria…
Arrendermi…mai!
Io non voglio arrendermi!…
Come posso arrendermi?!
Il mio corpo è fragile,
la mente no!
Ritroverò
qualcosa chiamato amore,
il dolore, la pietà…
Sono vivo, vedi? Sono qua!
Difendimi!!!
The song "Arrendermi Mai" by Renato Zero is about not giving up hope, even in the face of adversity. The lyrics suggest that the singer has put his life in the hands of a machine or robot, and as a result, his human story has come to an end. However, he refuses to surrender to the robot, and even challenges God in his human arrogance. The singer acknowledges that he was blinded by his own ambition, and failed to see that he already possessed everything he needed, including love, pain, compassion, and hope.
Despite the fragility of his body, he declares that his mind is strong, and he will never be just a mere atom without a will. Instead, he will reclaim his dreams, his history, and his memories, and continue to fight for his place in the world. The lyrics suggest that the singer has already overcome the robot, and although it thinks it has won, the singer's heart is still beating and full of life. He urges someone to defend him as if aware that his refusal to surrender might bring some opposition in future.
Line by Line Meaning
Nelle mani di un robot…
I feel helpless, like I'm at the mercy of a machine that controls my fate.
qui finisce la mia storia d’uomo!
I feel like my humanity is slipping away from me as I'm reduced to a mere pawn in a larger game.
Fu per gioco o per follia, quando ad un relè affidai la sorte mia!
I made a foolish decision to relinquish control over my life to technology, either out of curiosity or a sense of adventure.
Io sfidai finanche Dio, credendo l’infinito fosse mio.
I was so full of hubris that I thought I could challenge even God and control the infinite forces of the universe.
Per questa febbre al buio andavo incontro, cieco da non vedere che avevo l’universo dentro.
I was so consumed by my own ambition that I failed to realize I already had everything I needed within myself.
Arrendermi… mai! Io non voglio arrendermi…
I refuse to give up or give in to despair, no matter how great the odds against me may seem.
Questo corpo è fragile, la mente no!
Although my body may be weak, my spirit is still strong and determined to fight on.
Sogni non ho, io non so di cosa vivrò…
I may not have any clear goals or dreams at the moment, but I am still driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to find my way in life.
Io, guerriero senza storia, un’ombra in cerca di memoria…
I feel like a warrior without a past, lost and searching for memories that will give my life meaning and direction.
Non sarò mai un atomo Senza volontà!
I refuse to be reduced to a mere atom without free will or the ability to shape my own destiny.
Ritroverò un’altra volta l’amore, il dolore, la pietà, la speranza, la mia età!
I am determined to rediscover the full range of human experience, including love, pain, compassion, hope, and the joys and challenges of aging.
Il robot è fermo là… L’ho sconfitto e non lo sa, lui ride!
Although the machine that once controlled me may still be standing, I have overcome it and taken back control of my life, even as it remains oblivious to its defeat.
Crede di aver vinto già, ma il mio cuore batte ancora, vivo, vivo!
Despite the machine's belief that it has won, my heart is still beating with the vitality and passion of life, and I am determined to keep living fully and authentically.
Ritroverò Intatti i sogni che ho, il mio cielo, la mia storia, la poesia, la mia memoria…
I will rediscover the dreams, hopes, and memories that make me who I am, and reclaim my place in the world as a living, breathing human being.
Come posso arrendermi?! Il mio corpo è fragile, la mente no! Ritroverò qualcosa chiamato amore, il dolore, la pietà… Sono vivo, vedi? Sono qua!
How can I give up when I still have so much life to live, so many experiences to have, and so much love, pain, and compassion left to feel? Although my body may be weak, my spirit is still strong, and I am determined to keep fighting and living fully until the very end.
Difendimi!!!
These are the last words of the song, and they emphasize my fierce determination to protect myself and my life against any threats, both internal and external.
Contributed by James W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.