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.
Hanno Arrestato Paperino
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Si confonde nella città
Non c'è più tempo ormai
Per i santi e per gli eroi
Nessuno, li piangerà
E la sirena è come una preghiera
L'ultimo addio di chi va via
Non è poesia
Paperino l'hanno arrestato già
Dietro le sbarre, finirà
Senza pietà
Paperino, a cosa c'entra lui
Già tutti possono sbagliare, ma non lui
L'hanno accusato di drogarsi
E sotto effetto di servirsi, di una pistola
Per rubare a un bimbo
I suoi pop-corn
Adesso è chiuso là
è dimagrito e non sorride
Che pena fa
Qualcuno viene e va
Portandogli amore
E pacchi di pop-corn
E Qui Quo Qua
Lo aspettano da sempre
Pregando la sua libertà
La libertà ha gli occhi
Il cuore e i gesti
Di Paperino
Il mondo fa presto a condannare
Ma fa fatica a ricordare
Che Paperino è il nostro eroe
"Signora, che è uscito Paperino?"
"No, non esce più!"
"Allora mi dia Playboy"
Paperino
Paperino
Senza mani
Senza piedi
Sempre più difficile è
Senza denti
Paperino
The song "Hanno Arrestato Paperino" by Renato Zero tells the tragic story of Paperino, a beloved fictional character who has been arrested and accused of drug use and theft. The opening lines describe the sound of a siren, which represents the impending doom and disarray caused by Paperino's arrest. The lyrics go on to state that there's no more time left for saints and heroes, indicating the chaos that has ensued as a result of Paperino's downfall. The song paints a picture of a bleak and unforgiving world, where even a beloved character like Paperino is not immune to the harsh reality of life. The chorus compares the siren's haunting call to a prayer, a plea for mercy and understanding that will likely go unanswered. The song ends with a call for hope, as Paperino's friends, including Qui Quo Qua, hope and pray for his freedom, and are unable to forget the loveable character's kind heart and brave actions.
Overall, Renato Zero's "Hanno Arrestato Paperino" is a song that delves deep into the underlying message of societal norms and the disdain that arises when individuals do not conform to the restrictions placed upon them. It speaks to the injustice of society's classification of certain acts as criminal, as well as the consequences that flow from that classification. The song highlights the turmoil and tragedy of those who fall under the legal system, facing discrimination and suffering from the consequences of being held accountable for mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Una sirena va e il suo lamento
The sound of the siren is echoing through the city
Si confonde nella città
It's mingling with the city noises
Non c'è più tempo ormai
There's no more time left
Per i santi e per gli eroi
Neither for saints nor for heroes
Nessuno, li piangerà
No one is going to mourn for them
E la sirena è come una preghiera
The sound of the siren is like a prayer
L'ultimo addio di chi va via
The last goodbye of those who are leaving
Nell'aria un triste canto che
The air is filled with a sad song
Non è poesia
But it's not poetic
Paperino l'hanno arrestato già
They've already arrested Paperino
Dietro le sbarre, finirà
He'll end up behind bars
Senza pietà
Without mercy
Paperino, a cosa c'entra lui
What's he got to do with it?
Già tutti possono sbagliare, ma non lui
Everybody can make mistakes, but not him
L'hanno accusato di drogarsi
They accused him of taking drugs
E sotto effetto di servirsi, di una pistola
And under the effect of using a gun
Per rubare a un bimbo
To steal popcorn from a child
I suoi pop-corn
His popcorn
Adesso è chiuso là
Now he's locked up there
è dimagrito e non sorride
He's lost weight and doesn't smile
Che pena fa
It's such a shame
Qualcuno viene e va
Someone is coming and going
Portandogli amore
Bringing him love
E pacchi di pop-corn
And packages of popcorn
E Qui Quo Qua
And Huey, Dewey, and Louie
Lo aspettano da sempre
They've been waiting for him forever
Pregando la sua libertà
Praying for his freedom
La libertà ha gli occhi
Freedom has eyes
Il cuore e i gesti
The heart and the gestures
Di Paperino
Of Paperino
Il mondo fa presto a condannare
The world is quick to judge
Ma fa fatica a ricordare
But it struggles to remember
Che Paperino è il nostro eroe
That Paperino is our hero
"Signora, che è uscito Paperino?"
"Ma'am, has Paperino been released?"
"No, non esce più!"
"No, he won't be released!"
"Allora mi dia Playboy"
"Then give me Playboy magazine"
Paperino
Paperino
Paperino
Paperino
Senza mani
Without hands
Senza piedi
Without feet
Sempre più difficile è
It keeps getting harder
Senza denti
Without teeth
Paperino
Paperino
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Renato Fiacchini, Ernest John Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind