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.
Land of 1000 Dances
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome boys and girls we're gonna have a party... come to dance everybody...
Na na na na na
Do it...
na na na na na
Do it...
na na na na na
Come on...
Let's do it!
Na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na...
You gotta know how pony... like bony moroney... Do the mashed potato... do the alligator... Put your hands on your hips... let your back-bone flip... Do the Watussi... like your Aunty Lucy...
Let's try...
Na na na na na
na na na na na na na na na na
na na na na...
No no no no no
Na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na...
Do it...
Making love in the alley... with long tall Sally... Twisting with Lucy. Doing the Watussi...
Roll over on your back... yeah, I like it like that...
Do the jerk... watch me work you all...
That's right. Na na na na na
na na na na na
Do it...
na na na na na
Do it...
na na na na...
Yeah! Come on...
Na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na...
Woooo
Sound is good... oh is good!
Come on...
Yeahh Na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na.
Let's do it again...
Na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na...
Woooo Na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na...
Na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na...
Everything's all right?
Oh yeah!
Thank you and good night...
the Piper is closed
Renato Zero's song Land of 1000 Dances is an upbeat and energetic party anthem that invites everyone to dance. He sings greetings to the Piper Club audience, welcoming them to the fun and lively atmosphere before leading them in a series of dance moves. Renato encourages individuals to try out moves like the "pony," "alligator," "Watussi," and "jerk," putting their hands on their hips and letting their backbone flip. He urges them on to continue dancing by repeating the phrase "Na na na na na" several times throughout the song. In between dance instructions, Renato throws in lines like "making love in the alley" and "twisting with Lucy" to give the partygoers some inspiration. The ultimate goal of the song is purely to spread joy and happiness through dance.
Additionally, Land of 1000 Dances serves as a tribute to the original song of the same name created by Chris Kenner in 1962. Chris Kenner's song was considered one of the earliest examples of the soul genre, and his catchy lyrics and upbeat melodies gained international popularity. It's uncertain whether Renato Zero aimed to create a cover or an entirely new song with his rendition, but either way, he referenced Kenner's work and drew inspiration from it. Additionally, the Piper Club that Renato Zero mentions was a popular club in Rome known for hosting Italian and international rock bands in the '60s and '70s.
Line by Line Meaning
Good evening boys and girls, welcome to the Piper Club!
Greetings, everyone! Welcome to the Piper Club where we're going to have a great time.
Welcome boys and girls we're gonna have a party... come to dance everybody...
Everybody is invited to come and dance and enjoy the party vibe all night long.
Na na na na na
This phrase suggests enthusiasm and excitement for the upcoming dance moves.
Do it...
Let's go ahead and do it. It is an invitation to start dancing.
Come on... Let's do it!
Let's get to it and start dancing!
You gotta know how pony... like bony moroney...
It is important to know how to master the pony, like bony moroney did, to have a good experience while dancing
Do the mashed potato... do the alligator...
We're going to dance the mashed potato and other popular dances like the alligator.
Put your hands on your hips... let your back-bone flip...
Get into the rhythm by putting your hands on your hips and letting your backbone do the flip movements.
Do the Watussi... like your Aunty Lucy...
Let's dance the Watussi like Aunty Lucy did it. It was a popular dance in the 60s and 70s.
No no no no no
This phrase suggests that some moves might not be accepted on the dance floor.
Making love in the alley... with long tall Sally... Twisting with Lucy. Doing the Watussi...
The song describes some of the flashy and sensual dance moves that people used to do when they went out to party in the 60s.
Roll over on your back... yeah, I like it like that...
Some of the dance moves are provocative and sensual and might be enjoyed by some people.
Do the jerk... watch me work you all...
Let's dance the jerk! Watch me as I perform it and let's all join in.
That's right.
This phrase could mean agreement or approval of someone else's statement.
Sound is good... oh is good!
The sound is good, and it is providing a good time for everyone.
Woooo
This phrase represents an outburst of excitement or enthusiasm.
Let's do it again...
The fun has not stopped and should continue, so let's do it again.
Everything's all right?
This phrase is checking if everyone is having a good time and if everything is smooth.
Oh yeah!
This phrase shows agreement and approval that everything is okay.
Thank you and good night... the Piper is closed
The night has come to an end, and it's time to go home, as the Piper Club is closed.
Contributed by Daniel H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.