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 leone
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dentro quella gabbia non mi metterai!
(Coro) nessuno ti prenderà mai!
Dietro quelle sbarre, non resisterei!
(coro) leone, che fico che sei!
Fare il leone, difficile è,
Quando la grinta, ce l'hai solo te…
Mentre gli altri leoni,
Troppi domatori, questo circo ha!
(coro) frustateci con dignità!
Chi con la tua pelle, ci si vestirà…
(coro) chi una bandiera ne fa!
E se ancora leone sarò,
Altri leoni vicini vorrò.
Leoni, scattanti e voraci …
Spalancate le fauci!!!
Mai più
Timidi conigli!
Mai più,
Rintanati là…
Che mai
Insegnate ai vostri figli ?
Saranno altri conigli,
Senza più pelo e senza artigli!
Perché
Tu il re sella foresta…
Perché
Ti arrenderai, maestà ?
Se mai
Vorranno la tua testa…
Dagli questa illusione!
Non lo sanno, com'è furbo il leone!
(coro) leone che fico che sei!
Grazie grazie…
(coro) nessuno ti prenderà mai!
Dio lo volesse…!
Il leone un simbolo è,
Solo quando fa comodo a te…
Quando è nervoso e ruggisce,
La tua stima sparisce!!!
(coro) vergine Maria,
Fai sparire il leone e così sia!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Siamo peccatori, ma risparmiaci però…
Il leone ci sbrana, se no!
E chi,
Stuzzica il leone, vedrai tu, che fine fa!
Perché,
È anarchico il leone…
Indifferente e chi fa… bla, bla …
Chi di parole, un safari ne fa!!!
Bla bla…
Bla bla bla …!
Uomo, sei capace solo di fare bla bla…
Io, il re della foresta
The song "Il leone" by Renato Zero is about the struggle of being a leader, or "il leone" (the lion), and the pressures that come with it. The lyrics express the desire to break free from the confines of society that attempt to cage and control the lion, but also recognize the difficulty of maintaining confidence and strength in the face of competition and scrutiny from others.
The chorus repeats the phrase "nessuno ti prenderà mai" (no one will ever take you) as a reassurance to the lion that they are strong and unstoppable. The verse mentions the other "leoni" (lions) who are content to be tamed and submissive, and the frustration of being surrounded by too many "domatori" (trainers) who try to control the lions. The lion is encouraged to stay strong and fierce, as others may try to take advantage of their power and use their skin or image for their own purposes.
The bridge of the song is a plea to the Virgin Mary to protect the lion and spare them from being torn apart by society. The song ends with a call-out to those who only use empty words, and declares that the lion is the true king of the forest.
Overall, "Il leone" celebrates individuality and the importance of staying true to oneself, even when others try to change or control you. It uses the lion as a symbol of strength and leadership, but acknowledges the challenges and pressures that come with those roles.
Line by Line Meaning
Miao, pussa via!
Get lost, don't put me in that cage!
Dentro quella gabbia non mi metterai!
You won't put me in that cage!
(Coro) nessuno ti prenderà mai!
(Chorus) No one will ever catch you!
Dietro quelle sbarre, non resisterei!
I wouldn't resist behind those bars!
(coro) leone, che fico che sei!
(Chorus) Lion, you're so cool!
Fare il leone, difficile è,
Being a lion is difficult,
Quando la grinta, ce l'hai solo te...
When you're the only one with determination...
Mentre gli altri leoni,
While the other lions,
Stanno lì, buoni, buoni!
Are sitting there still, still!
Troppi domatori, questo circo ha!
This circus has too many trainers!
(coro) frustateci con dignità!
(Chorus) Whip us with dignity!
Chi con la tua pelle, ci si vestirà...
Who will wear your skin...
(coro) chi una bandiera ne fa!
(Chorus) Who will make a flag out of it!
E se ancora leone sarò,
And if I'll still be a lion,
Altri leoni vicini vorrò.
I'll want other lions nearby.
Leoni, scattanti e voraci,
Lions, agile and hungry,
Spalancate le fauci!!!
Open your mouths wide!!!
Mai più Timidi conigli!
Never again timid rabbits!
Mai più, Rintanati là...
Never again hiding there...
Che mai Insegnate ai vostri figli?
What are you teaching your children?
Saranno altri conigli, Senza più pelo e senza artigli!
They'll be other rabbits, with no fur or claws!
Perché Tu il re sella foresta...
Why do you saddle the king of the forest...
Perché Ti arrenderai, maestà?
Why will you surrender, Your Majesty?
Se mai Voranno la tua testa...
If they ever want your head...
Dagli questa illusione!
Give them this illusion!
Non lo sanno, com'è furbo il leone!
They don't know how smart the lion is!
(coro) leone che fico che sei!
(Chorus) Lion, you're so cool!
Grazie grazie...
Thank you thank you...
(coro) nessuno ti prenderà mai!
(Chorus) No one will ever catch you!
Dio lo volesse!
God wants it!
Il leone un simbolo è,
The lion is a symbol,
Solo quando fa comodo a te...
Only when it's convenient for you...
Quando è nervoso e ruggisce, La tua stima sparisce!!!
When it's nervous and roars, your respect disappears!!!
(coro) vergine Maria, Fai sparire il leone e così sia!
(Chorus) Virgin Mary, make the lion disappear and so be it!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Siamo peccatori, ma risparmiaci però...
We are sinners, but spare us anyway...
Il leone ci sbrana, se no!
The lion will shred us, if not!
E chi, Stuzzica il leone, vedrai tu, che fine fa!
And those who tease the lion, you'll see what happens to them!
Perché, È anarchico il leone...
Because the lion is anarchic...
Indifferente e chi fa... bla, bla...
And indifferent to those who talk... blah, blah...
Chi di parole, un safari ne fa!
Those who only talk, go on safaris!
Bla bla, Bla bla bla...
Blah, blah, blah...
Uomo, sei capace solo di fare bla bla...
Man, you're only capable of talking nonsense...
Io, il re della foresta...
I, the king of the forest...
Contributed by Landon A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.