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.
Buon Natale
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anche quest'anno arriverà…
Natale per chi resta, per chi va…
Natale da una lira…
Natale ricco o no…
Bambini per un giorno, per un po'!
Vorrei che il tuo Natale
Risplendesse dentro te,
Per te che non hai storie
Da raccontare ormai…
Le fate son drogate…
Malati i sogni tuoi!
Vorrei dire buon Natale…
E dividerlo con te!
Con te che hai perso la speranza…
E hai paura come me!!!
Un tempo non lontano…
I doni appesi tutto intorno al camino,
Nessuno violentava,
Quel sogno che per mano ti portava!
Giocavi allo sceriffo…
E per te un buono non era un fesso!
E il bersaglio era finto…
Non era un uomo steso sul cemento!
E non c'erano i brutti…
Quel giorno li erano d'accordo tutti…
Sia chi ha gli occhi lunghi,
La pelle nera o i capelli biondi!
Natale da una lira…
Natale ricco o no…
Bambini per un giorno…per un po'!
Perché non fosse una parola il bene…
Perché ogni bomba diventasse pane…
Io vorrei che almeno un giorno…
Quella cometa facesse ritorno!
E un campo di battaglia desse grano
Per quella morte con la falce in mano…
E al ventre di una donna, il suo bambino…
E breve o lungo ad ognuno il suo destino!
Vorrei dire buon Natale…
Finché c'è chi ascolterà!
Finché si farà l'amore…
Finché un uomo pregherà!
Renato Zero's song Buon Natale is a heart-warming Christmas song that speaks of the arrival of Christmas and how it is a time for everyone, whether they stay or leave. It talks about Christmas being for those who have much and those who have little, for rich and poor. The song speaks about how Christmas is a day when even children who have nothing, for just a moment, can feel like they have everything. The singer wishes that the listener's Christmas would be bright even if they are suffering and know what it’s like to be in the world.
Renato Zero sings about how things were different in the past, how Christmas was once a time of innocence where children played with fake guns, and there were no real targets. The singer wishes that things could go back to how they were in the past, where every bomb would turn into bread, and a time where there were no wars. The song features powerful lyrics that speak about the importance of love, hope, and kindness during the holiday season.
Overall, Renato Zero's Buon Natale is a touching song that reminds us that Christmas is a time for everyone, regardless of their background or current situation. It's a song that calls for unity, peace, and hope, and serves as a reminder that we should always strive to be kind to one another.
Line by Line Meaning
E arriverà Natale, Anche quest'anno arriverà…
Christmas is coming, like every year.
Natale per chi resta, per chi va…
Christmas for those who stay and those who go.
Natale da una lira… Natale ricco o no… Bambini per un giorno, per un po'!
Christmas on a budget, rich or poor. A day for children to enjoy, even for a short time.
Vorrei che il tuo Natale Risplendesse dentro te, Che soffri e stare Al mondo sai cos'è!
I hope your Christmas shines inside of you, especially if you're suffering and know what it means to struggle in this world.
Per te che non hai storie Da raccontare ormai… Le fate son drogate… Malati i sogni tuoi!
For those who have no stories to tell anymore, their dreams are sick and the fairies are drugged.
Vorrei dire buon Natale… E dividerlo con te! Con te che hai perso la speranza… E hai paura come me!!!
I wish you a merry Christmas and to share it with you, who have lost hope and are scared like I am!
Un tempo non lontano… I doni appesi tutto intorno al camino… Nessuno violentava… Quel sogno che per mano ti portava!
Not that long ago, gifts were hung around the fireplace and no one violated the dream that brings them to you.
Giocavi allo sceriffo… E per te un buono non era un fesso! E il bersaglio era finto… Non era un uomo steso sul cemento!
You played sheriff, and a good guy wasn't considered dumb. The target was fake, not a man lying on the cement.
E non c'erano i brutti… Quel giorno li erano d'accordo tutti… Sia chi ha gli occhi lunghi, La pelle nera o i capelli biondi!
And there were no uglies, everyone agreed that day, whether they had long eyes, black skin, or blond hair!
Perché non fosse una parola il bene… Perché ogni bomba diventasse pane… Io vorrei che almeno un giorno… Quella cometa facesse ritorno!
So that good is not just a word, and every bomb turned into bread. I wish that comet would return for at least one day!
E un campo di battaglia desse grano… Per quella morte con la falce in mano… E al ventre di una donna, il suo bambino… E breve o lungo ad ognuno il suo destino!
And a battlefield would give grain, for those who die with a scythe in their hand. And to a woman's belly, her child - whether short or long, everyone has their destiny.
Vorrei dire buon Natale… Finché c'è chi ascolterà! Finché si farà l'amore… Finché un uomo pregherà!
I wish you a merry Christmas as long as there are those who will listen. As long as we love each other, and as long as a man will pray!
Contributed by Mia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tiziana Tosti
Sto riascoltando questo disco dopo anni e non riesco a trattenere le lacrime per le emozioni che provo. Buon Natale potrebbe essere stato scritto in questi giorni,queste ore... Grazie Renato per i momenti che ci hai fatto e ci fai,ancora vivere.
Custanten
Un testo che mette ancora adesso i brividi: il buon Natale più intelligente ed umano mai cantato
Francesco Santoro
La canzone più triste e allegra allo stesso tempo che io abbia mai sentito. quando l'amore diventa poesia!. Musica, testo, parole, interpretazione. Tutto perfetto. Musica di livello troppo alto per essere capito dalla gente comune, abituata ad ascoltarsi le stronzatine di oggi. ❤️
Barbara Rosa
Io piango ogni volta che ascolto questo capolavoro, Renato sei di una profondità unica!!!
Elena Montinaro
Idem ❤
andrea bonati
Poesia pura, una delle più toccanti...
Vincenzo Ilsami
Bellissima,da ascoltare anche quando non e` Natale!!!
sandrino mazzola
Poeta indiscutibile......
Enrico M. Sabatino
Suonata decine di volte: sempre da brivido!
Zerolino64
Opera d'arte di Renato!