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 jolly
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Che sorride alla fortuna anche per te
Cosa vuoi da questo Jolly
Una burla o un'altra storia che non c'è
Che sia lì se il piatto piange
Perché il gioco resti ancora in mano a te
Che ne sai che forse un Jolly
Che ne sai che pure un Jolly
Una sera abbia la luna che non va
Vieni qui guarda che il mondo
Da quassù non è più tondo che da te
Vado via, vado via
Questa sera non reggo all'allegria
Ha un cuore pure il Jolly amica mia
Via a incontrare la vita tradita scannata
Di chi la partita coi guai non vince mai
Via tra quei cristi battuti che affidano al caso
Un destino che pesa e verrà comunque va via
Ecco qui, il Jolly è stanco
E non tiene banco e forse piangerà
Non sarà lo stesso Jolly
Che prendeva per i fondelli la realtà
Vado via, vado via
Non pensare che sia scena la mia
Beffarda sorte servire la follia
Via ad incontrare chi è solo ed aspetta una mano
Se prendere il volo non sa
E resta là
Via, però tienimi il posto perché alla tua festa
La tua nota giusta sarò
Io ci sarò
The song "Il jolly" by Renato Zero is about the concept of the joker or "jolly" in a deck of cards, and how it can symbolize luck and fortune in life. The lyrics question what we really know about this jolly, and what we want from it. Is it just a joke, or can it represent something more meaningful? Zero suggests that the jolly can be a symbol of hope in difficult times, helping us keep the game of life going even when things get tough.
The second verse brings up the idea that even the jolly can have its own troubles and sorrows, and that not even luck can always prevail. Zero takes a bird's-eye view of the world and suggests that it looks different from up above. The chorus repeats the idea of leaving and going away, implying that the singer cannot bear to face the situation at hand. The final verse suggests that the jolly is tired and maybe no longer able to play its usual role of mocking reality. The singer then makes a reference to his own presence at a future event, indicating that he will be there for the listener no matter what.
Overall, "Il jolly" is a contemplative song that explores the value and role of luck in life, and what it means to have hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Che ne sai, di questo jolly
You don't know anything about this joker
Che sorride alla fortuna anche per te
Who smiles at fortune even for you
Cosa vuoi da questo Jolly
What do you want from this joker
Una burla o un'altra storia che non c'è
A prank or another story that isn't real
Che sia lì se il piatto piange
It's there if the situation gets tough
Perché il gioco resti ancora in mano a te
So that you have control over the game
Che ne sai che forse un Jolly
You never know, this joker
Qualche volta ride amaro e non ci sta
Might laugh bitterly and not play along
Che ne sai che pure un Jolly
You never know, even a joker
Una sera abbia la luna che non va
Might have an unlucky night
Vieni qui guarda che il mondo
Come here and see how the world
Da quassù non è più tondo che da te
Looks different from up here than from your perspective
Vado via, vado via
I'm leaving, I'm leaving
Questa sera non reggo all'allegria
Can't stand the happiness tonight
Ha un cuore pure il Jolly amica mia
My dear friend, even the joker has a heart
Via a incontrare la vita tradita scannata
Go away and meet the life that's been betrayed and butchered
Di chi la partita coi guai non vince mai
Of the one who never wins the game with troubles
Via tra quei cristi battuti che affidano al caso
Go away among those beaten souls who trust their fate to chance
Un destino che pesa e verrà comunque va via
A destiny that weighs heavy and will still come and go
Ecco qui, il Jolly è stanco
Here it is, the joker is tired
E non tiene banco e forse piangerà
Not keeping the game going and might even cry
Non sarà lo stesso Jolly
Won't be the same joker
Che prendeva per i fondelli la realtà
Who used to make fun of reality
Non pensare che sia scena la mia
Don't think that it's just an act from me
Beffarda sorte servire la follia
Cruel fate to serve madness
Via ad incontrare chi è solo ed aspetta una mano
Go away and meet those who are alone and waiting for a hand
Se prendere il volo non sa e resta là
Those who don't know how to take off and remain there
Via, però tienimi il posto perché alla tua festa
Go away, but save me a spot at your party
La tua nota giusta sarò
I'll be the right note for your party
Io ci sarò
I'll be there
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Franca Evangelisti, Renato Fiacchini, Piero Pintucci
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Franco Sabbadin
THE JESTER
What do you know about this jester
Enticing fortune on your behalf?
What do you expect from this jester
Another joke, an imaginary story?
Or that he holds instead of you
To let you keep leading the game?
How do you know when the jester
Laughs on the wrong side of his mouth?
How do you know that the jester
Never feels out of sorts, too?
Come and see how the world
Doesn’t look rounder from up here
I’m going away, away
I can’t stand the cheers tonight
Also jesters have a heart my friend
Away! To meet perpetual losers’
Betrayed and slaughtered lives
Away! Among helpless devils
Abandoned to their ill fate
Away!
That's it, the jester is tired
He's in arrears, he might even cry
He's not the same jester
Who used to sneer at reality
I’m going away, away
I’m not feigning now
Enough of serving foolishness
Away! To meet the lonely ones in need
Because unable to soar by themselves
Away! Save a seat for me for I’ll be back
When time comes to brighten your party
Away!
Fabio Attianese
"...Che ne sai che forse un jolly, qualche volta ride amaro e non co sta..."
Questa canzone è per tutti, a noi capire chi è il jolly nella nostra vita..
Canzone magnifica...Renato dei "migliori anni".
Anna Maria Stilo
Una delle più belle canzoni di Renato ♥️
Carmine Er
Primo concerto al Tenda, prima canzone all'apertura del sipario, il microfono ancora con il filo, che ancora mi stupisco come facevi a non avvolgertici dentro come un salame con tutte le giravolte che facevi e poi tutta la vita e' volata via in un instante..
Stefania Arcioni
😢Renato
.. sei stato e sempre sarai . l unico .. inimitabile e fantastico che mi ha accompagnato nei mie migliori anni .. e come te non ne rinasce
Stefania Arcioni
Ogni tua canzone e come .. l avessi pensata e vissuta io ..❤
Milena Luciotti
Ho percorso un lungo cammino accompagnata dalla tua bellissima voce e dalle tue meravigliose canzoni.
E dopo tanti anni il mio amore per te è sempre lo stesso... Grande immenso ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
MAURO GARDIN
Grande canzone, ogni volta che la riascolto mi vengono in mente i momenti più belli vissuti.
luis bred
Quanti ricordi con la mia sorellona che ora purtroppo non c'è più. Grande doppio LP!
Denny Altavilla
Ascoltarlo mi vengono i brividi grande renato❤
Daniele Nicastrini
Grazie jolly 😎😎😎