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.
Menefotto
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se piove a dirotto…
Di tutto il degrado, che c'è,
Perché c'è!!!
Me ne fotto, altamente, del mare inquinato…
Se il bagno è vietato…
O il bagno che, il fisco, fa a me!
E pure a te!
Che in mutande, già sei… E a mollo stai!
Coi buffi, che c'hai!!!
Via! Dal gigante Golia,
Che visto poi, da quaggiù,
Non fa paura più!….
Se, tace il tuo cellulare…
Questa tranquillità, spaventarti potrà…
Te possino… Te possino!
Me ne fotto, del tempo, che fa a Porto Cervo,
Dell'anticiclone… Di un altro spione che sa…
E andrà a cantare presto nell'aldilà!
Benedetto!
Me ne fotto, qui tutto va avanti…
Bilanci… Passivi… Ma i ladri sò attivi, però!
Ma guarda un po' ?!
Ma… Ma… Ma… Ma… Ma guarda, un po'!
Sì! Ci vediamo alle Hawaii,
Che due palme, ti fai…
Nel bel paese del mar!
Vai! Che se stai, ancora qui,
Poi finisci al TG…
Facce da Chi l'ha visto,
Peppe a Ponte Sisto,
E io insisto!
Me ne fotto… Me ne fotto…
Del cerchio di Giotto,
Se il dado è tratto… E un altro, fa il botto!
Sai che ti dico…
Me ne fotto!!!
The lyrics of Renato Zero's "Menefotto" are about a person who doesn't care about the corruption and degradation of the world around them. The singer is completely indifferent to the things that are causing most of the people to worry, such as the polluted ocean and the bad weather. Even if the government has forbidden people to swim, they talk about going to Hawaii and having a good time in the clear blue waters. The song's title, "Menefotto," is a vulgar expression which means that the person doesn't give a damn about anything.
The song is all about living in the present moment and not worrying about the future. The singer shows no interest in the political and social issues of the world and just wants to enjoy their life. They have a carefree attitude towards life and even if they have to face any obstacles in their path, they are not going to let them affect their happiness. The chorus repeats the phrase "Me ne fotto" which means "I don't care" and acts as a mantra for the singer to move ahead in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Me ne fotto, se il mondo è corrotto...
I don't care if the world is corrupt...
Se piove a dirotto...
Even if it's pouring rain...
Di tutto il degrado, che c'è, perché c'è!!!
Of all the degradation that exists, why bother!!!
Me ne fotto, altamente, del mare inquinato...
I don't give a damn about polluted seas...
Se il bagno è vietato...
Even if swimming is banned...
O il bagno che, il fisco, fa a me! E pure a te!
Or if the authorities forbid swimming at certain points along the coast!
Si! Ci vediamo alle Hawaii, Che in mutande, già sei... E a mollo stai! Coi buffi, che c'hai!!!
Yes! See you in Hawaii, you are already in your underpants and enjoying the water! With all your quirks!
Via! Dal gigante Golia, Che visto poi, da quaggiù, Non fa paura più...
Away! From the giant Goliath, whom seen from below, is no longer scary...
Se, tace il tuo cellulare... Questa tranquillità, spaventarti potrà...
If your cellphone falls silent, this tranquility might scare you...
Te possino; Te possino!
I don't give a damn; I don't give a damn!
Me ne fotto, del tempo, che fa a Porto Cervo, Dell'anticiclone... Di un altro spione che sa... E andrà a cantare presto nell'aldilà! Benedetto!
I don't care about the weather in Porto Cervo, about the high pressure... or another spy that will soon be singing in the afterlife! Blessed be!
Me ne fotto, qui tutto va avanti... Bilanci... Passivi... Ma i ladri sò attivi, però! Ma guarda un po'?!
I don't give a damn, everything here keeps going... even with negative balances... but the thieves are still active! How about that?
Sì! Ci vediamo alle Hawaii... Che due palme, ti fai... Nel bel paese del mar!
Yes! See you in Hawaii... where you can rest under two palm trees... in the beautiful country of the sea!
Vai! Che se stai, ancora qui, Poi finisci al TG... Facce da Chi l'ha visto, Peppe a Ponte Sisto, E io insisto!
Go! If you stay here, you'll end up on the evening news... with faces like in the show 'Chi l'ha visto', Peppe at Ponte Sisto, and I insist!
Me ne fotto... Me ne fotto... Del cerchio di Giotto, Se il dado è tratto... E un altro, fa il botto! Sai che ti dico... Me ne fotto!!!
I don't give a damn... I don't give a damn... about Giotto's circle, if someone else rolls the dice and wins! You know what I'm saying... I don't give a damn!!
Contributed by Riley A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AMartina p.
Bella canzone molto spiritosa :)
koalexfunclub
in realtà dice "dal gigante Goria" (che allora era ministro delle finanze...;-)
Gino P.
Attualissima oggi.
Sharon
Co li buffi che Ciai! !!
Valentina Locchi
Scusate... ma a quando risale sta canzone? Non me la ricordo o non la conosco. Sorci, aiutatemi!
Valentina Locchi
@Susanna Salvese Grazie... ora la lacuna è stata sorpassata quando Renato ha rimasterizzato tutta la sua discografia in studio in streaming digitale, lì ho sentito anche questo EP. Ciao nì!
Susanna Salvese
Faceva parte di un cd con 4 canzoni passaporto per fonopoli abbinato il calendario
Gino P.
1993