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.
Il circo
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Di bagnarsi di poesia
Di sentirsi parte di una sinfonia
Si raccolgono le stelle
E una luna che non sai
E la notte si fa bella, come mai
Un momento di infinito che si scomoda per te
Perché un uomo che ha vissuto
Se si svegliano i ricordi
Vedi sciogliersi i ghiacciai
Col pensiero le montagne, muoverai.
Sono lacrime d'amore,
Perle rare quei perché
Se un sorriso avrai strappato, beato te...
Se non senti più dolore,
E non c'è vita dopo te
Se hai istruito bene il cuore
Niente può ferirti ormai.
Un circo, ormai deserto,
Gli abiti da clown.
Di un uomo, stanne certo non si riderà
La vita si diverte
Crudele a volte lei
Ingannala se puoi
Fatti trovare vivo e qui.
Di timori e d'incertezze
Ci si muore e tu lo sai
Dai, spalanca la finestra
Respira il sogno più che puoi.
Fuori maghi, giocolieri,
Domatori e nani via
Metti in pista la tua nuda verità...
E l'applauso di stasera
È uno solo, quello tuo
Che ti piaci e ti diverti
Soddisfatto come un Dio.
Il circo, la tua arena,
Buffo e goffo ma...
Chi ti ha deriso questa sera capirà.
Né talco, né rossetto non usarli più
Pagliaccio ieri sì
Ma sotto quella luce lì...
Immenso sei... immenso sei... sei
These lyrics are from the song "Il Circo" by Italian singer Renato Zero. The song talks about taking a moment to stop and appreciate the beauty of life, to get lost in poetry and a symphony of emotions. The stars and the moon are collected, bringing beauty to the night. The lyrics talk about how a person who has lived has many worlds inside of them. Memories can bring back feelings of love, melting the glaciers of pain. If you've ever made someone smile, you're blessed, and you will be unbreakable. The circus, the clown suits, and the deserted tents. The arena is still there, but now it's different. Your life is like a show, and you are the star. You don't need makeup or talcum powder, because you're enough.
The song has a very powerful message about life and self-worth. Renato Zero encourages the listener to find their own place in the world, to be proud of who they are, and to follow their own dreams with confidence. The lyrics also talk about the importance of memories, which can be both beautiful and painful. The circus metaphor is used as a symbol of the ups and downs of life, where people come together to entertain each other, but there is always the risk of being laughed at.
Line by Line Meaning
Viene il tempo di fermarsi
It's time to stop and take a break
Di bagnarsi di poesia
To immerse in poetry and beauty
Di sentirsi parte di una sinfonia
To feel like a part of something greater
Si raccolgono le stelle
Gathering stars in the sky
E una luna che non sai
And an unknown moon
E la notte si fa bella, come mai
And the night becomes beautiful, unlike any other time
Un momento di infinito che si scomoda per te
A moment of infinite beauty just for you
Perché un uomo che ha vissuto
Because a man who has lived
Ha più di un mondo dentro sé...
Has multiple worlds within himself...
Se si svegliano i ricordi
If the memories wake up
Vedi sciogliersi i ghiacciai
You'll see the glaciers melting
Col pensiero le montagne, muoverai.
With your thoughts, you'll move mountains.
Sono lacrime d'amore,
These are tears of love,
Perle rare quei perché
Rare pearls, those 'whys'
Se un sorriso avrai strappato, beato te...
If you manage to bring out a smile, blessed are you...
Se non senti più dolore,
If you no longer feel pain,
E non c'è vita dopo te
And there's no life after you
Se hai istruito bene il cuore
If you have taught your heart well
Niente può ferirti ormai.
Nothing can hurt you now.
Un circo, ormai deserto,
A deserted circus now,
Gli abiti da clown.
Clown outfits.
Di un uomo, stanne certo non si riderà
But rest assured, no one will laugh at this man.
La vita si diverte
Life enjoys itself
Crudele a volte lei
She can be cruel at times
Ingannala se puoi
Deceive her if you can
Fatti trovare vivo e qui.
Be present and alive now.
Di timori e d'incertezze
With fears and uncertainties,
Ci si muore e tu lo sai
One can die, and you know it.
Dai, spalanca la finestra
Come on, open the window
Respira il sogno più che puoi.
Breathe in the dream as much as you can.
Fuori maghi, giocolieri,
Outside, there are magicians, jugglers,
Domatori e nani via
Tamer and dwarfs are gone
Metti in pista la tua nuda verità...
Put your bare truth on the track...
E l'applauso di stasera
And tonight's applause
È uno solo, quello tuo
Is only for you.
Che ti piaci e ti diverti
That you like and enjoy yourself
Soddisfatto come un Dio.
Satisfied like a God.
Il circo, la tua arena,
The circus, your arena,
Buffo e goffo ma...
Funny and clumsy but...
Chi ti ha deriso questa sera capirà.
Those who laughed at you tonight will understand.
Né talco, né rossetto non usarli più
Use no more powder or lipstick
Pagliaccio ieri sì
Yes, a clown yesterday,
Ma sotto quella luce lì...
But under that light there...
Immenso sei... immenso sei... sei
You're immense... you're immense... you are
Contributed by Kaitlyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Valter Giacolono
quando il respiro si ferma per non disturbare il suono di una canzone ...è allora che stai ascoltando l'arte sintetizzata in musica
kekkjed
Chi ti ha deriso questa sera capirà,nè talco nè rossetto non usarli piu' pagliaccio ieri si ma sotto quella luce li' immenso sei! Queste parole dette da lui e legate alla sua storia di vita hanno un significato immenso e ti fanno venire i brividi.
Paolo Roggero
Mi ha attraversato ub brivido ❤️
Laura Ferrari
Dire che questa canzone è straordinaria è poco. È così bella da togliere il fiato. Renato superlativo♥️
giannisegala
Oltre che un grande autore e interprete Renato è un grande attore .Lo avrei visto benissimo anche a teatro. Artista completo con la A maiuscola. Grande Renato!
Vittorio Mammone
Sono ferfettamente d'accordo.
Arianna Vettese
Era anche una compagnia di un certo livello.
Arianna Vettese
Ha fatto teatro due anni da ragazzo, improvvisato.
Gianni Romano
Senza parole!!!!!!! Non esiste nessuno come lui Zero il più grande numero assoluto!!!!
Zerolino64
Un'altro Capolavoro di Renato !
Non ci sono parole per definire cosa si prova ascoltando queste Opere d'Arte!
Da ascoltare in cuffia ad occhi chiusi!!