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.
Felici e perdenti
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Perché non bluffano mai
Perché non hanno parenti
E non li adottano
Sempre disposti e accomodanti
Figli dell'altra metà
Dalle carezze distanti
Ricchi di realtà
Che bella razza accidenti
Sono un esercito oramai
Marciano uniti e compatti
Per affrontare i guai
Miseria e nobiltà
Convivono così
Tra volgo e galateo
Ricco o plebeo
Quali sono i perdenti non distinguerai
Girano senza contanti
E non possiedono un carnet
Non son soggetti ai rapimenti
Sono perdenti ahimè
In bocca centoventi denti
Cosa se ne faranno poi
Se non si contano i passanti
Della cintura ormai
Beato chi non sa
La fame dove sta quali rinunce lo sa Dio?
Non puoi capire i perdenti col tuo culo amico mio
Felici e perdenti
Non li vedi e non li senti
Sempre inseguiti dai tormenti
Fagli gli auguri se li incontri
Perdenti? Eppure tirano avanti Avanti
The song "Felici e perdenti" by Renato Zero is praising the underdogs of society, the so-called "losers" who do not cheat and have no connections or wealthy relatives to rely on. The lyrics speak about how these individuals, despite their lack of privilege, are always ready to go above and beyond to help others around them. They are described as a united army, marching together to face the difficulties of life.
Renato Zero recognizes their worth, their resilience, and their altruism, asserting that they are a valuable part of society that should be celebrated. Moreover, he notes that the line between the prosperous and the impoverished is blurred, and anyone can be a loser or a winner regardless of their social position. The song conveys a message of hope, urging listeners to acknowledge and appreciate the everyday heroes who sometimes go unnoticed.
In conclusion, "Felici e perdenti" is a fascinating tribute to the power of the human spirit and the struggle of ordinary people in the face of challenging situations. It is a reminder that there is beauty and courage in hardship, and that we should look beyond social status labels to recognize the essence of our fellow human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Un grande applauso ai perdenti
Let's give a big round of applause to the losers
Perché non bluffano mai
Because they never lie
Perché non hanno parenti
Because they don't have any relatives
E non li adottano
And nobody adopts them
Sempre disposti e accomodanti
Always willing and accommodating
Figli dell'altra metà
Children of the other half
Dalle carezze distanti
From the distant pats on the back
Ricchi di realtà
Rich in reality
Che bella razza accidenti
Such a beautiful breed, damn it
Sono un esercito oramai
They are an army now
Marciano uniti e compatti
Marching together in solidarity
Per affrontare i guai
To face the hardships
Miseria e nobiltà
Poverty and nobility
Convivono così
Live together like this
Tra volgo e galateo
Between the common people and etiquette
Ricco o plebeo
Rich or poor
Quali sono i perdenti non distinguerai
You cannot distinguish who the losers are
Girano senza contanti
They walk around without cash
E non possiedono un carnet
And they don't own a membership card
Non son soggetti ai rapimenti
They are not susceptible to kidnappings
Sono perdenti ahimè
They are losers, unfortunately
In bocca centoventi denti
With one-hundred-twenty teeth in their mouth
Cosa se ne faranno poi
What will they do with them?
Se non si contano i passanti
If you don't count the passers-by
Della cintura ormai
In the outskirts by now
Beato chi non sa
Blessed is he who doesn't know
La fame dove sta quali rinunce lo sa Dio?
Where hunger is, what sacrifices, only God knows
Non puoi capire i perdenti col tuo culo amico mio
You cannot understand the losers, my friend, with your butt
Felici e perdenti
Happy and losing
Non li vedi e non li senti
You don't see them and you don't hear them
Sempre inseguiti dai tormenti
Always pursued by torments
Fagli gli auguri se li incontri
Wish them good luck if you meet them
Perdenti? Eppure tirano avanti Avanti
Losers? Yet they keep going, going
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Renato Fiacchini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raffaelebianchi6128
Questa canzone ci fa capire la grandezza di Renato uno di noi che ama gli umili e le persone più deboli immenso Renato
@stefanoguglielmi1984
immenso hai ragione
@morphexplorer
Il trionfo della tua voce, delle tastiere e l'assolo della chitarra elettrica finale fanno di questo pezzo un capolavoro..
@alexthomas7483
Grande Renato. Piacono tue canzone anche in Nigeria. Il problema e che anche quelli che non capiscono le parole. Bravo Mr.
@maura13
TANTA SENSIBILITA'-UMANITA' E PROFONDITA' ASSOLUTA LE TUE GRANDI QUALITA' DA SEMPRE....SI RIFLETTONO IN OGNI BRANO.....E ALLA BASE C'È SEMPRE QUELLA FORTE DOSE D'AMORE!!!......TI ABBRACCIO FORTISSIMO!!! RENATO BELLO♥..Maura☆
@vincenzomusella6665
1994 che anni stavo a nettuno a fare il militare, al poligono, la ascoltavo 10 volte al giorno, unico.
@emanueletazzi9627
È o non è il miglior assolo di chitarra di tutta la discografia della musica leggera italiana?
@emanuelepontecorvo4433
Si assolutamente insieme al Nastro Rosa di Battisti
@morphexplorer
Dodi Battaglia assolo finale in "La mia Donna"
Ricky Portera (stadio) assolo finale in "Sole Domani" i primi due di ogni tempo.
@erasmocastelli8590
A dispetto dei tuoi detrattori sei un persona Buona di grande umanità e sensibilità ! C'è ne fossero di persone come te! Il mondo sarebbe migliore e più tollerante! ♥Grande ti stimo