Renato Zero is the stage name of Renato Fiacchini (born September 30, 1950)… Read Full Bio ↴Renato Zero is the stage name of Renato Fiacchini (born September 30, 1950), an Italian singer-songwriter and showman.

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.

Mai dire mai
Renato Zero Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dormi tranquillo se puoi
Niente ti sveglierà mai
Dormi, è bello dormire
Sarai stanco anche tu, guerriero
Tu che combatti la noia, un giorno di più
Chi vuoi che ti cercherà più
Ormai sei al sicuro lassù
Fra quelle quattro pareti

Desideri, smanie e segreti
E soltanto il silenzio, ti fa compagnia!
Se esplode il mondo ti spettinerà
O forse ti dispiacerà
Di non vedere la fine in tivù
Se finisce il mondo, allo stadio… mai più!
Baby che fai
Oltre a dormire, che fai
Fai bene a stare dentro al letto
Di tanto in tanto al gabinetto
Tu, non sei matto perché uscire perché!
Baby stai li
Nel tuo letargo così
Hai mai varcato quella porta
Lasciala aperta… perché, non si sa mai!
Un errore, una volta farai
Quando da li, tu uscirai…Vedrai
Gente, che lavora, che canta
Che fa l'amore
Quante once di vita, hai sprecato, saprai!
Mai dire mai… dire se…Dire poi!
Chiudere gli occhi no mai… guai se sarà
Stanchezza, o nostalgia
Inchiodare la mente, ad un'altra bugia! Baby
Che fai… ti sei deciso, ci stai?
Buttati allora nella mischia
La vita è sempre con chi rischia
Mai, dire, mai… fai la tua parte, e vedrai
Baby… così
Saremo insieme così
Potremmo ancora raccontare
Storie vissute, storie vere!
Baby, dai esci fuori baby, perché, non provi

Mai dire mai fai la tua parte e vedrai
Baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Renato Zero's song "Mai dire mai" are about making choices in life and facing consequences. The repeated phrase "scegli adesso oppure mai" translates to "choose now or never". The song encourages the listener to take control of their life and make a decision, whether it be about their values, the people they surround themselves with, or their future. The line "decidi da che parte sta l'origine del male" translates to "decide which side the origin of evil lies on", suggesting that the listener should make a choice about what they believe to be right or wrong.

The song also touches on themes of love and relationships. The line "per quale mondo vuoi morire" translates to "which world do you want to die for", implying that the listener should choose their partner wisely and consider what kind of life they want to lead. The lyrics also mention the idea of being used for someone else's pleasure or convenience, and the choice to either stay in that situation or leave.

Renato Zero's delivery of the lyrics is emotional and intense, with the repeated "mai" (never) adding emphasis to the importance of making a decision. Overall, "Mai dire mai" is a powerful and reflective song about taking control of one's life and making choices that align with personal values and beliefs.

Line by Line Meaning

Scegli adesso oppure mai
Make a decision now or never.

Mai
Never.

Decidi da che parte sta l'origine del male
Choose where the source of evil lies.

Di quale uomo tu vivrai
Which man will you live with.

Per quale mondo vuoi morire
For which world do you want to die for.

Se tu mi tieni ancora qua
If you keep me here.

O ti dovrò pregare
Or I will have to beg you.

Per niente, niente, chiederai
You will ask for nothing at all.

O mi costringerai a fuggire
Or you will force me to flee.

Se gli altri amanti vanno via
If other lovers leave.

E non sarà follia
And it won't be madness.