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.
Depresso
Renato Zero Lyrics
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Mi trascina non so chi
Attraverso corsie?
Non capisco che cosa è successo?
Sono depresso
Andate via
Non conosco la follia
Dai, toglietemi gli occhi di dosso
Sono depresso
Batto le mani
Piango e rido, se mi va
Sputo sulla città
Faccio in pezzi pupazzi di gesso
Mentre tu ridi
Della mia libertà
Per la tua vanità
Ma la fine, la chiami progresso
Dico di sì
Ti assecondo se lo vuoi
Ma, che resti fra noi
Son felice se sono depresso?
Sono depresso
Matto, matto
Sei un caso tragico
Matto, matto ma?
Vedi, vedi
Non son matto come credi
Se un matto c'è, sei tu
Ridi, parli
Nella mente hai mille tarli
E non sorridi più?
Voglio andar via
Non è qui casa mia
Non farò
Quello che vuoi
Non mi tenere legato quaggiù
Perché sai? Ucciderai te stesso
Depresso, depresso
Non dire no al progresso, ah
Sono depresso, lasciatemi
Depresso depresso
Scenderai sempre più in basso, ah
Sono depresso, lasciatemi
Depresso, lasciatemi
The song "Depresso" by Renato Zero seems to be about a person who is feeling stuck and depressed in their life. The first verse describes feeling like someone or something is dragging the singer through life, unable to understand what is happening. The chorus repeats the phrase "sono depresso," or "I am depressed," indicating a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. The second verse expresses frustration with others who don't understand the singer's mental state, and a desire to escape from their presence. The bridge challenges the concept of progress, asking if it's possible to be happy while feeling depressed.
The lyrics convey a deep sense of isolation and disconnection from society. The singer feels like they are on the outside looking in, unable to connect with others or find a meaningful place in the world. The repeated refrain "sono depresso" suggests that depression may feel all-consuming and inescapable. The final lines plead with someone to leave the singer alone, acknowledging that trying to control or hold them back will only worsen their depression.
Overall, "Depresso" is a powerful and emotional song that portrays the experience of living with depression. The lyrics address themes of isolation, helplessness, and a struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Vado così
I'm moving along aimlessly.
Mi trascina non so chi
I don't know who or what is pulling me along.
Attraverso corsie?
Am I going through lanes?
Non capisco che cosa è successo?
I don't understand what happened to me.
Sono depresso
I feel depressed.
Andate via
Leave me alone.
Non conosco la follia
I don't know madness.
Voglio uscire di qui
I want to get out of here.
Dai, toglietemi gli occhi di dosso
Come on, stop staring at me.
Batto le mani
I clap my hands.
Piango e rido, se mi va
I laugh and cry as I please.
Sputo sulla città
I spit on the city.
Faccio in pezzi pupazzi di gesso
I break plaster dolls.
Mentre tu ridi
While you laugh,
Della mia libertà
At my freedom.
Per la tua vanità
For your vanity.
Ma la fine, la chiami progresso
You call the end progress.
Dico di sì
I say yes.
Ti assecondo se lo vuoi
I'll go along with you if you want.
Ma, che resti fra noi
But just between us,
Son felice se sono depresso?
Am I happy if I'm depressed?
Sono depresso
I feel depressed.
Matto, matto
Crazy, crazy,
Sei un caso tragico
You're a tragic case.
Matto, matto ma?
Crazy, crazy but?
Vedi, vedi
Look, look,
Non son matto come credi
I'm not as crazy as you think.
Se un matto c'è, sei tu
If there's a crazy one, it's you.
Ridi, parli
You laugh, you talk.
Nella mente hai mille tarli
You have a thousand worries in your mind.
E non sorridi più?
And you don't smile anymore?
Voglio andar via
I want to leave.
Non è qui casa mia
This isn't my home.
Non farò
I won't do
Quello che vuoi
What you want.
Non mi tenere legato quaggiù
Don't keep me tied down here.
Perché sai? Ucciderai te stesso
Because you know? You'll kill yourself.
Non dire no al progresso, ah
Don't say no to progress.
Sono depresso, lasciatemi
I feel depressed, leave me alone.
Depresso depresso
Depressed, depressed,
Scenderai sempre più in basso, ah
You'll always descend lower and lower.
Sono depresso, lasciatemi
I feel depressed, leave me alone.
Depresso, lasciatemi
Depressed, leave me alone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Roberto Conrado, Renato Fiacchini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind