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.
La tua idea
Renato Zero Lyrics
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Spendere tutti i sogni eludendo i guardiani
Finché il tuo cuore intatto
e il tuo coraggio non mente
Ti ritroverai uomo dietro un fantasma di niente
Ti mostrano il sorriso e poi li scopri assassini
Ti vendono la morte pur di fare i quattrini
E sulla pelle del tuo ultimo fratello innocente
C'era rimasto un buco solamente
La tua idea, la tua idea
Non mollare difendi la tua idea
Ricordi quando ti nasceva una canzone
E quando la speranza aveva gli occhi tuoi
Vincerai se lo vuoi
Ma non farti fregare gli anni tuoi
Il blu del cielo forse adesso ha una ragione
Ferma l'amore non lasciarlo andare via... Via
Chi di violenza vive, forse ha quella soltanto
Prendi la gioia adesso prima che sia rimpianto
La tua macchina rossa potrai averla anche tu
Ma non è a 300 all'ora che vivrai di più
La tua idea
La tua idea
Quando sparisce col sorriso la paura
Ti vivrò accanto, farò il viaggio insieme a te
Sarò io la tua idea
Credimi
Tu non devi smettere di giocare agli indiani
Il tuo destino non è nella ruota
Ma è nelle tue mani
Ed è per questo, credimi
Che è meglio fingersi acrobati
Che sentirsi dei nani
The lyrics of Renato Zero's "La tua idea" are a powerful message about staying true to oneself, even in the face of challenges and adversity. The opening lines state that it is better to act as acrobats than to feel like dwarfs, suggesting that it is more important to take bold actions and risks than to allow oneself to be small and limited. The next lines speak of spending all of one's dreams to avoid the guardians or obstacles that might stand in the way. The key to success and authenticity, the song suggests, is to remain true to one's heart and courage, even in the face of ghosts or illusions that might distract or deceive.
The song then takes a different turn, criticizing those who might show a friendly smile but are in fact assassins or those who would sell death just to make a quick profit. The reference to the last innocent brother who has only a hole left is powerful imagery of the destruction and loss caused by such greed and violence. Despite this dark reality, the song encourages the listener to defend their own idea and not give up, even when faced with difficult times. The refrain "La tua idea" repeats this message, and the final lines suggest that fear can be overcome with a smile, and that the singer will be there to help the listener along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
è meglio fingersi acrobati che sentirsi dei nani
It is better to pretend to be acrobats than feel like dwarves.
Spendere tutti i sogni eludendo i guardiani
To spend all dreams avoiding the guardians.
Finché il tuo cuore intatto e il tuo coraggio non mente
As long as your heart is intact and your courage does not lie.
Ti ritroverai uomo dietro un fantasma di niente
You will find yourself a man behind a ghost of nothing.
Ti mostrano il sorriso e poi li scopri assassini
They show you a smile and then you discover them to be killers.
Ti vendono la morte pur di fare i quattrini
They sell you death just to make money.
E sulla pelle del tuo ultimo fratello innocente
And on the skin of your last innocent brother.
C'era rimasto un buco solamente
Only a hole was left.
La tua idea, la tua idea
Your idea, your idea.
Non mollare difendi la tua idea
Don't give up, defend your idea.
Ricordi quando ti nasceva una canzone
Do you remember when a song was born in you?
E quando la speranza aveva gli occhi tuoi
And when hope had your eyes.
Vincerai se lo vuoi
You will win if you want it.
Ma non farti fregare gli anni tuoi
But don't let your years fool you.
Il blu del cielo forse adesso ha una ragione
Maybe now the blue of the sky has a reason.
Ferma l'amore non lasciarlo andare via... Via
Stop love, don't let it go away...away.
Chi di violenza vive, forse ha quella soltanto
Those who live by violence may only have that.
Prendi la gioia adesso prima che sia rimpianto
Take joy now, before it becomes regret.
La tua macchina rossa potrai averla anche tu
You can have your red car too.
Ma non è a 300 all'ora che vivrai di più
But it's not at 300 miles per hour that you will live more.
Quando sparisce col sorriso la paura
When fear disappears with a smile.
Ti vivrò accanto, farò il viaggio insieme a te
I'll live by your side and travel with you.
Sarò io la tua idea
I'll be your idea.
Credimi
Believe me.
Tu non devi smettere di giocare agli indiani
You must not stop playing Indians.
Il tuo destino non è nella ruota
Your destiny is not in the wheel.
Ma è nelle tue mani
But it's in your hands.
Ed è per questo, credimi
And that's why, believe me.
Che è meglio fingersi acrobati
That it's better to pretend to be acrobats.
Che sentirsi dei nani
Than to feel like dwarves.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Renato Fiacchini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind