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.
Baratto
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Perché io ti dia del tu
Dammi una traccia, una tua foto semmai
Dammi gli estremi tuoi
Poi dimmi con calma quante crisi hai
Se tu ti sei tolta l'appendice
Oppure te la tieni e sei felice
Voglio conoscere più cose di te
Le più recondite
Prima di darti la mia verginità
Voglio la verità
Io ho avuto pochi amori in vita mia
Se prescindi dall'affetto di una cagna
E per giunta con la rogna
Ehi, se ti do il pelo tu che mi dai?
Ehi, ti do la milza tu che mi dai?
Se ti do il polpaccio, tu che mi dai?
Per due molari io ci starei
Ci accomodiamo casomai
L'amore in fondo non è poi che un baratto
Dai, troviamo un riscatto
Di qualche cosa ti puoi anche privare
Dai, facciamo l'affare
Se io ti do un occhio poi mi guarderai?
Se ti darò il cuore lo farai pulsare
O lo getti in fondo al mare?
Ehi, se ti do il femore tu che ci fai?
Ehi, ti do uno schiaffo tu a chi lo dai?
Già la pelle mia rimane qua
Per affidarla a chi non sia distratto
Perché non sia solo un baratto
Ehi, se ti do il pelo lo brucerai?
Ehi, questa mia milza al gatto la darai?
Perché giuro che non ti basta mai
È sempre troppo quello che tu vuoi
Ma tu lo sai quello che vuoi?
Ehi, se ti do il pelo tu che mi dai?
Ehi, ti do la milza tu che mi dai?
Baratto
Distratto
Sei tu che mi hai sedotto
Facciamo un contratto
Vai via, maialino
In Baratto, Renato Zero sings about wanting to know more about the person he is interested in before giving himself to them. He asks for a pretext, a reason to address them informally, and for their details, such as a photo or ID. He then proceeds to ask calmly about their past medical crises, including whether or not they removed their appendix. The singer seeks to know more about the person, such as their deepest secrets, before giving them his virginity. He compares love to a trade, stating that they could exchange something for their affections. Renato Zero also stresses the importance of trust in such an exchange.
Line by Line Meaning
Trova un pretesto, una ragione di più
Find another excuse or reason for me to call you by your first name instead of with the formal address 'Lei'
Perché io ti dia del tu
So that we can have a more intimate and informal relationship
Dammi una traccia, una tua foto semmai
Give me some kind of trace or a photo of you, if you can
Dammi gli estremi tuoi
Give me all your details
Poi dimmi con calma quante crisi hai
Then tell me calmly how many crises you've had
Se tu ti sei tolta l'appendice
If you've removed your appendix
Oppure te la tieni e sei felice
Or if you've kept it and you're happy
Voglio conoscere più cose di te
I want to know more things about you
Le più recondite
Even the most hidden ones
Prima di darti la mia verginità
Before giving you my virginity
Voglio la verità
I want the truth
Io ho avuto pochi amori in vita mia
I've had few loves in my life
Se prescindi dall'affetto di una cagna
If you don't count the affection of a female dog
E per giunta con la rogna
And furthermore with mange
Ehi, se ti do il pelo tu che mi dai?
Hey, if I give you my hair, what will you give me?
Ehi, ti do la milza tu che mi dai?
Hey, if I give you my spleen, what will you give me?
Se ti do il polpaccio, tu che mi dai?
If I give you my calf, what will you give me?
Per due molari io ci starei
I would be willing to do it for two molars
Ci accomodiamo casomai
We can always come to an agreement later
L'amore in fondo non è poi che un baratto
In the end, love is nothing but a barter
Dai, troviamo un riscatto
Come on, let's find a redemption
Di qualche cosa ti puoi anche privare
You can also give up something
Dai, facciamo l'affare
Come on, let's make a deal
Se io ti do un occhio poi mi guarderai?
If I give you one of my eyes, will you look at me?
Se ti darò il cuore lo farai pulsare
If I give you my heart, will you make it beat?
O lo getti in fondo al mare?
Or will you throw it to the bottom of the sea?
Ehi, se ti do il femore tu che ci fai?
Hey, if I give you my femur, what will you do with it?
Ehi, ti do uno schiaffo tu a chi lo dai?
Hey, if I slap you, who will you give it to?
Già la pelle mia rimane qua
My skin stays here
Per affidarla a chi non sia distratto
To entrust it to someone who's not easily distracted
Perché non sia solo un baratto
So that it's not just a trade
Ehi, se ti do il pelo lo brucerai?
Hey, if I give you my hair, will you burn it?
Ehi, questa mia milza al gatto la darai?
Hey, will you give my spleen to the cat?
Perché giuro che non ti basta mai
Because I swear that it will never be enough for you
È sempre troppo quello che tu vuoi
It's always too much of what you want
Ma tu lo sai quello che vuoi?
But do you even know what you want?
Baratto
Trade
Distratto
Distracted
Sei tu che mi hai sedotto
It's you who seduced me
Facciamo un contratto
Let's make a contract
Vai via, maialino
Go away, little pig
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Franca Evangelisti, Renato Fiacchini, Mario Vicari
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patrizialandi
Questo è il Renato che preferisco. La fortuna di abitare a fianco a un bar con il jukebox che suonava ste canzoni a tutte le ore.Emozioni di un infanzia e di tempi che non ritorneranno più.
@Michele-nv6de
Grandeeeeeeeeeeee...altro che ste quattro canzonette di adesso!!!!!
@mour5064
Chi è qui dopo il video de Bomba Anarchica?
@issy2275
😯🤩
@marcodamiani5382
Che video?
@danielasavino394
Mi ricorda il mare d estate a Manfredonia nel 79 con i miei genitori buonanima.... Che nostalgia.... Quelli si che erano anni feliciiiiii
@tarcisiasiniscalchi6641
Mettevano quests canzone bel ‘79 a Manfredonia? Era scandalosa
@liviaalessandragiammetta7882
Quando ascolto questa canzone, mi da una carica immensa...inizio la giornata ascoltandola sotto la doccia!!!
@sarastaico4224
Ciao 👋
@bianca95170
grande!!ricordo a Brescia allo stadio nell'82 ..che SPETTACOLO!!Non mi sono mai piaciite piu di tanto le poesie ma queste canzoni vanno oltre colpiscono il cuore.
SEMPRE SORCINA ANCHE A 52 anni