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'esempio
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Voli via sempre
Resta qui un'istante
Se ti perdo morirò
Nostalgia forse di magie perse
Quando tu gente mi auitavi
A crescere a vincere
Vorrei violare i tuoi silenzi
Capirti e rassicurarti
Che il giovane guerriero
È ancora quà
Vorresti ancora accompagnarmi
Nel buio di questa umanità
Gente difendi questi figli
L'esempio che puoi offrigli
Non può finire qua
Ti amerò gente
Ci sarò comunque
Anche se gente
Troppo volte sembri quella
Che non sei
Vorrei mostrassi il tuo sorriso a chi non ha
Sorrisi mai
Vorrei lasciassi il cuore acceso hai idea
Il dolore che fa
Vendi tutte le mensogne
Svegliati cara sono qua
Io che aspetto che ritorni
Maledetti giorni di malinconia
Averti accanto a me è un premio!
Seguo il profumo e i tuoi contorni perchè ogni uomo
È una città
Basta soltanto che ritorni
L'esempio che puoi offrirci
Vedrai ci guarirà gente!
The song "L'esempio" by Renato Zero is a poignant reflection on the power of human connection and the importance of focusing on positivity and love amidst the chaos and confusion of the world around us. The lyrics express a yearning for companionship and guidance, as the singer asks for the support of those around them in facing the challenges of life. The sense of loss pervades the song, as the singer speaks of nostalgia for a time when they felt more connected and supported by those they loved. The refrain, "L'esempio che puoi offrirci" ("The example you can give us"), emphasizes the importance of setting a positive example for others to follow, and inspires listeners to strive for a better future by working together and supporting one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Dove sei gente
Where are you, people?
Voli via sempre
You always fly away
Resta qui un'istante
Stay here for a moment
Se ti perdo morirò
If I lose you, I will die
Nostalgia forse di magie perse
Perhaps nostalgia for lost magic
Quando tu gente mi auitavi
When you people used to help me
A crescere a vincere
To grow and win
Vorrei violare i tuoi silenzi
I want to break your silence
Vorrei entrare dentro te
I want to enter inside you
Capirti e rassicurarti
To understand and reassure you
Che il giovane guerriero
That the young warrior
È ancora quà
Is still here
Vorresti ancora accompagnarmi
Do you still want to accompany me
Nel buio di questa umanità
In the darkness of this humanity
Gente difendi questi figli
People, defend these children
L'esempio che puoi offrigli
The example you can offer them
Non può finire qua
It cannot end here
Ti amerò gente
I will love you, people
Ci sarò comunque
I will be there nonetheless
Anche se gente
Even if, people
Troppo volte sembri quella
You often seem like the one
Che non sei
Who you are not
Vorrei mostrassi il tuo sorriso a chi non ha
I wish you showed your smile to those who don't have it
Sorrisi mai
Never smiles
Vorrei lasciassi il cuore acceso hai idea
I wish you left your heart open, you know
Il dolore che fa
The pain it causes
Vendi tutte le mensogne
Sell all the lies
Svegliati cara sono qua
Wake up, my dear, I am here
Io che aspetto che ritorni
I am waiting for you to come back
Maledetti giorni di malinconia
Damned days of melancholy
Averti accanto a me è un premio!
Having you next to me is a prize!
Seguo il profumo e i tuoi contorni perchè ogni uomo
I follow your scent and your outlines because every man
È una città
Is a city
Basta soltanto che ritorni
It's enough for you to just come back
L'esempio che puoi offrirci
The example you can offer us
Vedrai ci guarirà gente!
You will see, people, it will heal us!
Contributed by Alice Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.