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.
Figlio
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Figlio mio
Fiore profumato, germogliato al sole
Dell'oblio
Con che puntualità sei qui
Come un miracolo, sei qui
Così ti accoglierò, così
Il figlio
Pretendere che la vita sia così infallibile
Maestra quando mette insieme tanta solitudine
Pianeti controversi, noi
Un equilibrio fragile
Decidere chi essere
Un padre
Un figlio
Saggezza, orgoglio
Cambierai da solo
Cercherai il tuo cielo
Tenterai il tuo volo senza me
Io pregherò per te
Soffrirò in silenzio
Quando tu cadrai
Sarò io il più credibile amico che avrai
Più forte il senso dell'impegno
Il bisogno di lealtà
Un uomo per eccesso
O forse per difetto chi lo sa
Tu l'energia e il coraggio, io
La stessa scuola, figlio mio
Nessun segreto fra di noi
Sii sempre
Cosciente
Sincero, coerente
Ecco che ti trovo
In un mondo avaro
Chi voleva un figlio e invece poi
Non lo ha cercato mai
Che non sia una copia
Un clone perché mai
Se poi tutte le tue risposte le ha lui
Se puoi cerca d'essermi figlio
Se puoi
The song "Figlio" by Renato Zero is an ode to the relationship between a father and his son. In the first stanza, the singer refers to his son as the "flower" that has grown in the sun of forgetfulness, a metaphor for how the father has maybe forgotten about his own past and is now focused on his son's future. He describes his son's arrival with a sense of miraculousness and goes on to express his desire to accept his son as he is and love him unconditionally. The second stanza reflects on the inherent fragility of life and how it takes wisdom and pride to navigate it. The singer expresses his belief that his son will change and grow on his own, seeking his own path and taking risks, but assures him that he will always be there to support him, even in his failures.
Line by Line Meaning
Figlio delle mie stagioni travagliate
Addressing his child, Renato Zero reflects on the difficult times he has been through before the birth of his child.
Figlio mio
Addressing his child affectionately, Renato Zero expresses his love towards his child.
Fiore profumato, germogliato al sole / Dell'oblio
Using a metaphor, Renato Zero describes his child as a flower that has blossomed under the sun after being forgotten or neglected by others.
Con che puntualità sei qui / Come un miracolo, sei qui / Così ti accoglierò, così / Il figlio / Che voglio
Expressing a sense of amazement, Renato Zero welcomes his child with open arms, happy to finally meet the child he has always wanted.
Pretendere che la vita sia così infallibile / Maestra quando mette insieme tanta solitudine / Pianeti controversi, noi / Un equilibrio fragile / Decidere chi essere / Un padre / Un figlio / Saggezza, orgoglio
Reflecting on the complexities of life, Renato Zero acknowledges the delicate balance between father and son, and the need for both to be wise and proud in their roles.
Cambierai da solo / Cercherai il tuo cielo / Tenterai il tuo volo senza me / Io pregherò per te / Soffrirò in silenzio / Quando tu cadrai / Sarò io il più credibile amico che avrai
Anticipating the child's future independence, Renato Zero pledges to support him, praying for his success but also being there to pick up the pieces when things don't work out.
Più forte il senso dell'impegno / Il bisogno di lealtà / Un uomo per eccesso / O forse per difetto chi lo sa / Tu l'energia e il coraggio, io / La stessa scuola, figlio mio / Nessun segreto fra di noi / Sii sempre / Cosciente / Sincero, coerente
Reflecting on his own flaws and strengths, Renato Zero encourages his child to be confident, conscious, sincere, and coherent, while acknowledging that they share many similarities and will need to be committed to loyalty and responsibility.
Ecco che ti trovo / In un mondo avaro / Chi voleva un figlio e invece poi / Non lo ha cercato mai / Che non sia una copia / Un clone perché mai / Se poi tutte le tue risposte le ha lui
Reflecting on how some people neglect or mistreat their children, Renato Zero is grateful for his son's presence and encourages him to be his own person, not a copy or clone of anyone else.
Se puoi cerca d'essermi figlio / Se puoi
In a final plea, Renato Zero asks his son to be the best version of himself and to always strive to be a loving and supportive child to him.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RENATO ZERO, GIANLUCA PODIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind