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 mercante di stelle
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Devo dirti che io ,
Sono solo un mercante di stelle…
Con le oneste bugie , e la finta realtà ,
Di un ragazzo , che mai sarà grande .
Sono fatto così , è più forte di me ,
Perché sono un mercante di stelle.
Certe astuzie oramai , non aiutano più ,
Per questo sono qui ,
In questo luna park , con tutti i sogni tuoi ,
Che non ricordi più , però ci sei anche tu ,
E adesso che lo sai , rimani finché vuoi ,
Perché io non sarò , perché non sarò mai ,
Mercante di realtà .
.
Questa ingenua allegria , ci fa bene , però ,
Non è l'unica cosa importante .
Certe volte è così , e non è colpa tua ,
Se la vita , confonde le parti .
Resta quello che sei , non arrenderti mai ,
Che nessuno è mercante di stelle .
Siamo uguali lo sai , ma lo faccio perché ,
Per poi credere anch'io , che ogni male guarisca da se…
Tu non restare lì ,
In quella galleria , che non ti vedo più ,
Imbroglialo anche tu , quel buio che non ha ,
La nostra fantasia ,la nostra libertà ,
Non rimanere lì , nel vuoto che non hai
Perché non sei così .
E dirti una bugia , non mi spaventa sai .
Ma mi spaventi tu , se ti rassegnerai ,
O la vigliaccheria , di chi non ce la fa ,
Di chi si ferma lì , lasciandosi a metà ,
Lasciandosi così , lasciandomi così ,
Mercante di realtà
In Renato Zero's song "Il mercante di stelle," the artist reflects on his role as a "merchant of stars" who deals in false hopes and illusions. He acknowledges that he is not a person of great importance and is simply playing a part in creating a false reality for those seeking solace in their dreams. The singer recognizes the futility of lying and the trouble that he and others face in their lives. He implores the listener not to lose hope, nor to give in to the defeatism and cowardice that so often plagues people.
Zero's lyrics are a poignant commentary on the human condition, as it is full of contradictions and complexities. He highlights the dangers of finding comfort in lies, betrayals, and delusions, while also recognizing the importance of dreams for creating a sense of purpose and drive in one's life. The message of the song is ultimately one of hope, as it urges people to rediscover their inner strength and take control of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Se vuoi credere in me ,
If you want to believe in me,
Devo dirti che io ,
I have to tell you that,
Sono solo un mercante di stelle...
I am just a merchant of stars,
Con le oneste bugie , e la finta realtà ,
With honest lies and false reality,
Di un ragazzo , che mai sarà grande .
Of a boy who will never be great.
Sono fatto così , è più forte di me ,
I am made like this, it is stronger than me,
Perché sono un mercante di stelle.
That's why I am a merchant of stars.
Certe astuzie oramai , non aiutano più ,
Certain tricks don't work anymore,
E mi perdo così , nel disagio che vivi anche tu …
And I get lost in the discomfort you also feel …
Per questo sono qui ,
That's why I am here,
In questo luna park , con tutti i sogni tuoi ,
In this amusement park, with all your dreams,
Che non ricordi più , però ci sei anche tu ,
That you no longer remember, but you are also here,
E adesso che lo sai , rimani finché vuoi ,
And now that you know, stay as long as you want,
Perché io non sarò , perché non sarò mai ,
Because I will not be, because I will never be,
Mercante di realtà .
A merchant of reality.
Questa ingenua allegria , ci fa bene , però ,
This naive happiness is good for us, but,
Non è l'unica cosa importante .
It's not the only important thing.
Certe volte è così , e non è colpa tua ,
Sometimes it's like that, and it's not your fault,
Se la vita , confonde le parti .
If life confuses things.
Resta quello che sei , non arrenderti mai ,
Stay who you are, never give up,
Che nessuno è mercante di stelle .
Because no one is a merchant of stars.
Siamo uguali lo sai , ma lo faccio perché ,
You know we're equal, but I do it because,
Per poi credere anch'io , che ogni male guarisca da se…
So that I too can believe that every pain heals itself …
Tu non restare lì ,
Don't stay there,
In quella galleria , che non ti vedo più ,
In that gallery, where I can't see you anymore,
Imbroglialo anche tu , quel buio che non ha ,
Deceive that darkness too, which has nothing,
La nostra fantasia ,la nostra libertà ,
Our imagination, our freedom,
Non rimanere lì , nel vuoto che non hai
Don't stay there, in the emptiness you don't have
Perché non sei così .
Because you're not like that.
E dirti una bugia , non mi spaventa sai .
And telling you a lie, you know, doesn't scare me.
Ma mi spaventi tu , se ti rassegnerai ,
But you scare me if you give up,
O la vigliaccheria , di chi non ce la fa ,
Or the cowardice of those who can't make it,
Di chi si ferma lì , lasciandosi a metà ,
Of those who stop halfway,
Lasciandosi così , lasciandomi così ,
Leaving things that way, leaving me like that,
Mercante di realtà
A merchant of reality.
Contributed by Evan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marco Barbieri
Veramente stupendo. Grazie per questi fantastici video. Ogni volta è come essere di nuovo lì al concerto..
Christian Mancin
Niente male anche questa versione live di mercante di stelle!che dire grande renato!!!!!
Christian Mancin
Bellissima canzone mercante di stelle!e live ancora di piu...bravissimo renato!
Maria Beatrice Bonalda
meravigliaaaaa
RZero Lover.
Meraviglioso Renato. Grandissimo artista
Francesca Vaccarielli
Favoloso... E grande 😍
Filomena FILO
Stupendo spettacolo
Marina Santoni
, Grazie Barbara. Un grande abbraccio a te ed a Milano da Roma♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Giovanni Senili
❤️❤️❤️💐💐💐
Angelo Merra
Toooooooooooop