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.
L'equilibrista
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
L'equilibrio mi aiuta, a vivere,
Due pi? due non dava, quattro mai,
C'era il caos, nei pensieri miei.
Un bicchiere per dimenticare,
Che morire o vivere, era uguale,
Non riuscivo pi?, a ritrovare,
La mia strada, la mia direzione.
Davo tutto il bene, davo un po' di me.
Ho speso parole, e invano questo amore,
Per chi come me, costretto a mendicare.
Ed in cambio ho avuto, tanto male.
Io cammino su una corda tesa,
L'equilibrio ormai mi aiuta a vivere,
Due pi? due non pu? fare quattro mai,
Torna il caos, nei pensieri miei.
Povero in danari, ricco in fondo al cuore
Davo tutto il bene davo un po' di me.
Ho speso parole, e invano questo amore,
Per chi come me costretto a mendicare.
Ed in cambio ho avuto, tanto male.
Tanto male.
Tanto male.
L'equilibrista na, na, na.
Troppo male.
Troppo male.
L'equilibrista...
The lyrics of Renato Zero's song "L'equilibrista" (The Tightrope Walker) depict the inner turmoil of the singer, who feels as if he is walking on a tightrope, trying to maintain balance in his life. In the first verse, he describes how the balance helps him survive, but his thoughts are chaotic, and he struggles to find his direction. He then turns to alcohol to forget his problems, feeling that living or dying doesn't make a difference anymore. He has given up on trying to find his way and has become a beggar.
In the chorus, the singer emphasizes his struggle to maintain balance, both physically and emotionally. He continues to describe himself as poor in money but rich in spirit, giving away everything he has to others. However, his efforts are often in vain since he is still stuck in his situation, feeling so much pain.
The final repetition of "tanto male" ("so much pain") conveys the idea that, despite the singer's best efforts to stay balanced, both in his actions and in his mind, he cannot seem to break the cycle of pain and hardship. The "L'equilibrista na, na, na" refrain at the end evokes the image of a circus or a street performer, adding a layer of sadness to the song, as the singer's fate seems reduced to that of an anonymous street musician.
Line by Line Meaning
Camminavo su una corda tesa,
I was walking on a tightrope,
L'equilibrio mi aiuta, a vivere,
Balance helps me live,
Due pi? due non dava, quattro mai,
Two plus two didn't make four,
C'era il caos, nei pensieri miei.
There was chaos in my thoughts.
Un bicchiere per dimenticare,
A glass to forget,
Che morire o vivere, era uguale,
That to live or die was the same,
Non riuscivo pi?, a ritrovare,
I couldn't find,
La mia strada, la mia direzione.
My path, my direction.
Povero in danari, ricco in fondo al cuore,
Poor in money, rich in heart,
Davo tutto il bene, davo un po' di me.
I gave all the good, I gave a bit of myself.
Ho speso parole, e invano questo amore,
I spent words, and this love was in vain,
Per chi come me, costretto a mendicare.
For someone like me, forced to beg.
Ed in cambio ho avuto, tanto male.
And in return, I received so much pain.
Io cammino su una corda tesa,
I walk on a tightrope,
L'equilibrio ormai mi aiuta a vivere,
Balance now helps me live,
Due pi? due non pu? fare quattro mai,
Two plus two can never make four,
Torna il caos, nei pensieri miei.
Chaos returns to my thoughts.
Povero in danari, ricco in fondo al cuore
Poor in money, rich in heart
Davo tutto il bene davo un po' di me.
I gave all the good, I gave a bit of myself.
Ho speso parole, e invano questo amore,
I spent words, and this love was in vain,
Per chi come me costretto a mendicare.
For someone like me, forced to beg.
Ed in cambio ho avuto, tanto male.
And in return, I received so much pain.
Tanto male.
So much pain.
Tanto male.
So much pain.
L'equilibrista na, na, na.
The tightrope walker na, na, na.
Troppo male.
Too much pain.
Troppo male.
Too much pain.
L'equilibrista...
The tightrope walker...
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luigi Ravanetti
questa canzone fa venire i brividi, quella chitarra che accompagna il ritornello "tanto male.... tanto male" è un balsamo per l'anima e il cuore. Grazie Renato
giorgio dionisi
Poesia dedicata ai più sfortunati di una profondità e bellezza infinita.
Grazie di esistere.Con il cuore Giorgio
Gianluca Paoli
Come potranno le prossima generazione non potersi godere un poeta come lui !! Grande Renato sei l'unico poeta italiano che ci ha fatto sognare.
Daniele De Cillis
Una delle esibizioni più belle della storia della musica Italiana e non solo. Non sei una piccola luce nel buio, come hai detto qualche giorno fa a Domenica In, sei un FARO...... anche tu .... grande tra i Grandi!
Sabrina Pasta
E' sempre uno spettacolo nello spettacolo.Grandioso artista a 360 gradi
Domenico Perrino
quest'uomo fa parte di tutti noi....sarai eterno per sempre....
saverio di gennaro
Melanconia e dolcezza, una chitarra divina... una farfalla che si posa sull'anima
annalisa chioatto
Si.....vero.....una farfalla sull'anima....
Ettore Gagliano
@annalisa chioatto il chitarrista e Luciano ciccaglioni un top internazionale!
Silvana Forte
Concordo