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 prezzo
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un lusso, se consideri che,
L'aumento è un cappio e ti stringerà…la gola!
A mani vuote, a casa sarai.
Rinunce su rinunce, farai.
Colpevole di avere anche tu,
Le tue esigenze.
In equilibrio, ci sai stare.
Ma…quanto ti costerà ? Chissà! (coro) chissà!
Di tentazioni, quante ne vuoi. (coro) uomo.
Vetrine troppo ricche se mai. (coro) donna.
Ha un prezzo anche la curiosità,
L'intraprendenza.
Vedere e non potere toccare.
Sognare e non potere avere.
Si paga anche per un no!
Un prezzo anche tu, pagherai!
Spettatore, se assistere vuoi…
Se vuoi… godere un po' anche tu…
Costerà, anche la cruda realtà!
Ti daranno un prezzo anche a te!
La somma dei tuoi sciocchi perché.
Perché si vende tutto oramai. Anche il silenzio!
Cervelli intatti, geniali o no. (coro) mondo.
Milze, cuori, sperma, colon… (coro) mondo.
Un mondo urla e scalpiterà,
Perché ha fame!
Qualcosa c'è da trapiantare,
Un po' di bene dov'è il male…
Ma la morte sa già, dove andrà!!!
Tu prendi e non chiedere mai
Questo sole è di tutti, lo sai.
Perché mai dovresti pagare tu …
Tu che vuoi vivere un giorno di più… di più!
The lyrics of Renato Zero’s song Il prezzo (The Price) speak to the high cost of living in contemporary society. Zero begins by stating the obvious: it is expensive to live today, and it is a luxury to be able to do so. But as the song proceeds, it becomes clear that the “price” of the title is not just a monetary one. Rather, the increasing cost of living is like a noose tightening around one's throat, as people are forced to make sacrifices in order to survive. Zero emphasizes the feeling of being “empty-handed” and “guilty” for having personal needs and desires.
The lyrics then turn to the lure of temptation, which is everywhere. Men want more and women are seduced by luxurious shop windows. But even the “curiosity” and “entrepreneurial spirit” that drive people can come at a price. Dreams and desires remain out of reach, and “even a ‘no’” has a cost. This section of the song resonates with the sense of unfulfillment common in a consumer society.
The refrain of the song strikes a universal note, acknowledging that we are all spectators in this world that is so hungry for everything. There is something to be transplanted, according to Zero, but it will require acknowledging and balancing opposite forces. Zero ends by exhorting listeners to take advantage of the sun that is available to all, to live longer, and to ask as little as possible in exchange.
Overall, the lyrics of Il prezzo are a critique of contemporary society's focus on consumerism and how living in an economic system that is so dominated by supply and demand can be toxic for the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Costoso oggi vivere è.
It is expensive to live today.
Un lusso, se consideri che,
A luxury, if you consider that,
L'aumento è un cappio e ti stringerà la gola!
The increase is a noose that will tighten your throat!
A mani vuote, a casa sarai.
Empty-handed, you will be at home.
Rinunce su rinunce, farai.
You will make sacrifices upon sacrifices.
Colpevole di avere anche tu,
Guilty of having your own,
Le tue esigenze.
Needs.
In equilibrio, ci sai stare.
You know how to maintain balance.
Con l'astinenza, ci sai fare.
You know how to deal with abstinence.
Ma...quanto ti costerà? Chissà! (coro) chissà!
But...how much will it cost you? Who knows! (chorus) who knows!
Di tentazioni, quante ne vuoi. (coro) uomo.
Of temptations, how many do you want. (chorus) man.
Vetrine troppo ricche se mai. (coro) donna.
Display windows too rich, if ever. (chorus) woman.
Ha un prezzo anche la curiosità,
Curiosity also has a price,
L'intraprendenza.
Initiative.
Vedere e non potere toccare.
To see and not be able to touch.
Sognare e non potere avere.
To dream and not be able to have.
Si paga anche per un no!
You also pay for a no!
Un prezzo anche tu, pagherai!
You will also pay a price!
Spettatore, se assistere vuoi...
Spectator, if you want to watch...
Se vuoi... godere un po' anche tu...
If you want... to enjoy a bit yourself...
Costerà, anche la cruda realtà!
It will cost, even the harsh reality!
Ti daranno un prezzo anche a te!
They will give you a price too!
La somma dei tuoi sciocchi perché.
The sum of your foolishness because.
Perché si vende tutto oramai. Anche il silenzio!
Because everything is sold nowadays. Even the silence!
Cervelli intatti, geniali o no. (coro) mondo.
Intact brains, genius or not. (chorus) world.
Milze, cuori, sperma, colon... (coro) mondo.
Spleens, hearts, sperm, colon... (chorus) world.
Un mondo urla e scalpiterà,
A world screams and will kick,
Perché ha fame!
Because it is hungry!
Qualcosa c'è da trapiantare,
Something needs to be transplanted,
Un po' di bene dov'è il male...Ma la morte sa già, dove andrà!!!
A little bit of good where the evil is...But death already knows where it will go!!!
Tu prendi e non chiedere mai
You take and never ask
Questo sole è di tutti, lo sai.
This sun is for everyone, you know.
Perché mai dovresti pagare tu
Why should you pay
Tu che vuoi vivere un giorno di più... di piu'!
You who want to live one more day... more!
Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.