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.
Make-up Make-up Make-up
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Con le ciglia finte blu!
Il mio professore,
Si faceva il trucco al bar!
Guarda tua sorella, così com'è.
Coi capelli corti come te!
Usa il dopobarba a volontà?
Credimi? qualcosa cambierà!
Make-up, make-up, make-up
Scopro solo adesso,
Che papà usa il fard,
La mamma si rade,
Si copre le rughe?
Qua e là!
Saune e massaggi, ovunque vai!
Creme per la notte, troverai!
Esercitazioni yoga, karatè!
Credimi, qualcosa cambierà!
Make-up, make-up, make-up
Make-up, make-up, make-up
Truccati le guance,
Usa smalto rosso, si!
Vendi la tristezza,
Comprati il tuo beauty-case!
Marco cosa fai?
Compri il palkey?
Prendine una dose anche per me!
No! Non sto sognando, è la realtà!
Cambia faccia il mondo col make-up!
Make-up, make-up, make-up
Make-up, make-up, make-up
Tutti al trucco!
Make-up
Make-up Make-up is a satirical commentary on society's preoccupation with image and appearance. The song starts off with the singer observing an elderly man with blue fake eyelashes and a professor applying makeup at a bar. He also notices his sister's short hair and encourages her to use aftershave because "something will change." As the song progresses, we hear of more instances of people using makeup and other beauty products, including the singer's father who uses blush and mother who shaves and covers wrinkles.
The song critiques society's obsession with youth, beauty, and appearance, highlighting how people invest time, energy, and money in gimmicks and products to conceal their age and imperfections. The repetition of "make-up, make-up" throughout the song accentuates this point, driving home the message of how universal this trend is, and how we're all caught up in its allure. While the song does not necessarily condemn the use of makeup, it suggests that people should be aware of what they are chasing, and perhaps take a more natural approach to their appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
Ho sorpreso un vecchio,
Con le ciglia finte blu!
I saw an old man wearing blue fake eyelashes!
Il mio professore,
Si faceva il trucco al bar!
My teacher put on makeup at the bar!
Guarda tua sorella, così com'è.
Coi capelli corti come te!
Look at your sister, just like you with short hair!
Usa il dopobarba a volontà?
Credimi? qualcosa cambierà!
Will using aftershave change anything? Believe me, it will!
Scopro solo adesso,
Che papà usa il fard,
La mamma si rade,
Si copre le rughe?
Qua e là!
I am discovering only now that dad uses blush and mom shaves - here and there to hide the wrinkles!
Saune e massaggi, ovunque vai!
Creme per la notte, troverai!
Esercitazioni yoga, karatè!
Credimi, qualcosa cambierà!
You go for saunas, massages, night creams, yoga, karate, and yet you do not change. Believe me, makeup will make a difference!
Truccati le guance,
Usa smalto rosso, si!
Vendi la tristezza,
Comprati il tuo beauty-case!
Put on blush, wear red nail polish, sell your sadness by buying a beauty case!
Marco cosa fai?
Compri il palkey?
Prendine una dose anche per me!
Marco, what are you doing? Buying the powder compact? Get some for me too!
No! Non sto sognando, è la realtà!
Cambia faccia il mondo col make-up!
No, I am not dreaming. It is a reality that the world can transform with makeup!
Tutti al trucco!
Make-up
Everybody put on makeup!
Make-up, make-up, make-up
Make-up, make-up, make-up
Makeup, makeup, makeup - repeat!
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.