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.
Chi Sei
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dietro la porta so che ci sei
Ti riconosco dai passì tuoi
Non dire il nome, non dire che vuoi
So già
Chi sei
Chi sei?
Non aspetto nessuno io
Agli imprevisti, ho già detto addio
Anch'io
Quel che dovevo, l'ho dato anch'io
Anch'io
Ho pareggiato i miei conti anch'io
Ma tu
Tu, non ti arrendi mai
All'egoismo, ai vizi miei
Sarei tentato di aprirti
Ma poi
Chissà che uomo troveresti mai
Non buttarti via
Se sono maschio, non è colpa mia
Lo vedi bene anche tu
che puoi sperare di più
oltre la noia cosa mai ti offrirei
Non buttarti via
Averti accanto era soltanto un'idea
Tu fuggi pure via
prendi la strada tua
e sarai donna, sì
Ma solo fuori di qui
Chi sei
Dai, non bussare, ho capito chi sei
Ma un'altra volta non ce la farei
l'orgoglio mi tradirebbe ormai
Non buttarti via
The song "Chi Sei" by Renato Zero is about the encounter between two people, one of whom is the singer of the song. The song begins with the singer expressing his recognition of the other person's steps behind the door, but he doesn't want the other person to reveal his identity or intentions yet. The singer seems to be a solitary person who doesn't expect anyone to visit him, but at the same time, he has already given what he owed in his life. The encounter with the other person brings up some conflicting emotions in him, as he is tempted to reveal his selfishness and vices, but he also fears that the other person might not find a better man than him. However, he finally decides to let the other person go away, as it is for the best for both of them.
The lyrics of the song are full of ambiguity and metaphors, making it open to various interpretations. The singer's resistance to revealing himself and his conflicts suggest that he might be struggling with his identity and past actions. The other person's identity is also left ambiguous, making it unclear whether it's someone from the singer's past or a future possibility. Overall, the song expresses the complexities of human relationships and the difficulties of opening up to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Chi sei?
Who are you?
Dietro la porta so che ci sei
Behind the door, I know you are there
Ti riconosco dai passì tuoi
I recognize you from your footsteps
Non dire il nome, non dire che vuoi
Don't say your name, don't say what you want
So già Chi sei
I already know who you are
Non aspetto nessuno io
I'm not waiting for anyone
La solitudine è il mestiere mio
Solitude is my profession
Agli imprevisti, ho già detto addio
I have already said goodbye to unexpected events
Anch'io Quel che dovevo, l'ho dato anch'io
Me too, I have given what I had to give
Anch'io Ho pareggiato i miei conti anch'io
Me too, I have balanced my accounts
Ma tu Tu, non ti arrendi mai
But you, you never give up
All'egoismo, ai vizi miei
To my selfishness, to my vices
Sarei tentato di aprirti
I would be tempted to open up to you
Ma poi Chissà che uomo troveresti mai
But then, who knows what kind of man you would find
Non buttarti via
Don't throw yourself away
Se sono maschio, non è colpa mia
If I am male, it's not my fault
Lo vedi bene anche tu
You can see it too
che puoi sperare di più oltre la noia cosa mai ti offrirei
I can't offer you anything beyond boredom
Non buttarti via Averti accanto era soltanto un'idea
Don't throw yourself away. Having you next to me was just an idea
Tu fuggi pure via prendi la strada tua e sarai donna, sì Ma solo fuori di qui
You can run away, take your path and become a woman, but only outside of here
Chi sei
Who are you
Dai, non bussare, ho capito chi sei
Come on, don't knock, I understand who you are
Ma un'altra volta non ce la farei
But I wouldn't be able to do it again
L'orgoglio mi tradirebbe ormai
My pride would betray me now
Non buttarti via
Don't throw yourself away
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ruggero Cini, Franca Evangelisti, Renato Fiacchini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michele Lomuscio
Una partitura musicale complessa. Stupefacente in solo 3 minuti di canzone. Ruggero Cini il più grande arrangiatore italiano.
Zero Poesia
Per sempre ZEROFOLLIA....unica vera...POESIA...
Nicola Arena
Grande Francesco, sono d'accordissimo con te io lo seguo da ben 35 anni e ancora mi da i brividi e continua ad emozionarmi e ad insegnarmi sempre qualcosa, lui e' sempre stato un grande e' da poco tempo preso in considerazione anche dai "signori" quelli che prima lo hanno de riso e criticato.Grazie di esistere Renato sei Grandeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Ciao Francesco
Patrizio Ricciardi
E' l' artista piu' sottovaluto del panorama italiano.una voce mostruosa talento e orgoglio italiano.Ho solo l' impressione che non scrivendo completamente da solo le canzoni abbia offerto il fianco alla sinistra benpensante e bigotta compreso lo schieramento dei giornasti ridicoli.Mi ricordo il capolavoro rock di leone si nasce era diventato un flop colossale, ha avuto per anni sempre tutti fino a chiudergli il teatro tenda.Davvero un gigante Renato fortuna colossale averlo visto ai concerti fin dall'81!!
Una vera astronave la sua musica!!
Emilio Baldi
In questo brano c'è una commistione di introspezione ed estroversione come in molti brani del Nostro
Federico Honorati
Uno degli album ( ZEROLANDIA ) piu' completi del decennio '70, e anche di tutta la carriera di Renato. Basta ascoltare questo brano per farsene un idea.
Samuel Castillo
Federico Honorati Io sono d'accordo con te! Zerolandia è il mio album preferito!
Mariassunta Cantagallo
Un'analisi introspettiva che solo l'immenso Renato può fare. Ti amo ❤
perlarossa
Io all'epoca avevo 14 anni e già lo seguivo da 2... Aoh, ma questo brano è tratto da ZEROLANDIA, non da DOPPIO ZERO... Eeeh, questi sorcini novelli... :)
rossana cacciamani
esatto è poesia..