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.
Mi chiamo aria
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ci spegniamo
Forse il crollo delle borse
Le cause perse
Forse
Dubitiamo e siamo
Storie sparse
Forse
Ci noterai
Che la vita è più vicina di così
Devi goderla fino in fondo ma sì
Prendi fiato che ci sei
Riconquistami
(adesso)
Osa un po' di più
(adesso)
Dammi i brividi che sai darmi tu
(adesso)
Meglio illudersi che non provarci mai
Insisterai
Forse
Come terre emerse
Riaffioriamo
Forse
Ostinatamente
Ci feriamo
Forse
Al gelo e all'indolenza replichiamo
Forse
Specchio all'apparenza
Liberi sì
Niente più misteri almeno per noi
Che da quei giochi siamo fuori oramai
Il conto prego andiamo via
Siamo gli ultimi
(adesso)
Vuoi scommetterci
(adesso)
Non ne fanno più
(adesso)
Così unici
(adesso)
Non confonderci
Con le abitudini mai
Ecco perché mutiamo
Ecco perché torniamo forti
Insaziabili e mai soli
Ecco perché io amo
Ecco perché non tremo
Ora lo sai
Mi chiamo Aria
Valorizzami
(adesso)
Chiedimi di più
(adesso)
Potrò crederti
(adesso)
Se mi credi tu
(adesso)
Se rinascerò
Ricordati che
Mi chiamo Aria
(adesso)
Nessun sesso e poi
(adesso)
Via quei numeri
(adesso)
L'intelletto ma
(adesso)
Meno scrupoli
Ricordati che
Mi chiamo Aria
(Grazie a etciuuu per questo testo)
The lyrics of Renato Zero's "Mi chiamo aria" are reflective and introspective in nature, exploring themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and the human experience. The first stanza speaks to feelings of hopelessness and uncertainty, emphasizing the fragility of human existence. The second stanza delves into the idea of perseverance and the struggles that come with it. Despite the challenges, the lyrics suggest that it is important to keep pushing forward and striving for personal growth, even in the face of setbacks.
The chorus is optimistic in nature, encouraging listeners to seize the day and live life to the fullest. The lines "Devi goderla fino in fondo ma sì / Prendi fiato che ci sei / Riconquistami" (You have to enjoy it to the fullest / Take a breath, you're still here / Conquer me) urge listeners to take control of their lives and not let setbacks hold them back.
The bridge further emphasizes the importance of personal growth and transformation, with the lines "Ecco perché mutiamo / Ecco perché torniamo forti / Insaziabili e mai soli / Ecco perché io amo" (That's why we change / That's why we come back stronger / Insatiable and never alone / That's why I love) suggesting that change and growth are integral parts of the human experience.
Overall, Renato Zero's "Mi chiamo aria" is a deeply introspective and insightful exploration of the human experience, urging listeners to embrace life and all its challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Forse privi di risorse
Perhaps we are lacking resources
Ci spegniamo
We are fading away
Forse il crollo delle borse
Perhaps the collapse of the stock market
Le cause perse
The lost causes
Forse
Perhaps
Dubitiamo e siamo
We doubt and we are
Storie sparse
Scattered stories
Forse
Perhaps
Fra tante comparse
Among many extras
Ci noterai
You will notice us
Che la vita è più vicina di così
That life is closer than you think
Devi goderla fino in fondo ma sì
You must enjoy it to the fullest, yes
Prendi fiato che ci sei
Take a breath because you are here
Riconquistami
Win me back
(adesso)
(now)
Osa un po' di più
Dare a little more
(adesso)
(now)
Dammi i brividi che sai darmi tu
Give me the chills that only you can give me
(adesso)
(now)
Meglio illudersi che non provarci mai
Better to be deluded than to never try
Insisterai
You will insist
Forse
Perhaps
Come terre emerse
Like emerged lands
Riaffioriamo
We resurface
Forse
Perhaps
Ostinatamente
Stubbornly
Ci feriamo
We hurt ourselves
Forse
Perhaps
Al gelo e all'indolenza replichiamo
We respond to the cold and the laziness
Forse
Perhaps
Specchio all'apparenza
Mirror in appearance
Liberi sì
Free, yes
Niente più misteri almeno per noi
No more mysteries, at least for us
Che da quei giochi siamo fuori oramai
That we are out of those games now
Il conto prego andiamo via
The bill, please, let's go
Siamo gli ultimi
We are the last ones
(adesso)
(now)
Vuoi scommetterci
Do you want to bet on us
(adesso)
(now)
Non ne fanno più
They don't make them anymore
(adesso)
(now)
Così unici
So unique
(adesso)
(now)
Non confonderci
Don't confuse us
Con le abitudini mai
With habits, never
Ecco perché mutiamo
That's why we change
Ecco perché torniamo forti
That's why we come back stronger
Insaziabili e mai soli
Insatiable and never alone
Ecco perché io amo
That's why I love
Ecco perché non tremo
That's why I don't tremble
Ora lo sai
Now you know
Mi chiamo Aria
My name is Aria
Valorizzami
Value me
(adesso)
(now)
Chiedimi di più
Ask me for more
(adesso)
(now)
Potrò crederti
I could believe you
(adesso)
(now)
Se mi credi tu
If you believe me
(adesso)
(now)
Se rinascerò
If I will be born again
Ricordati che
Remember that
Nessun sesso e poi
No sex and then
(adesso)
(now)
Via quei numeri
Away with those numbers
(adesso)
(now)
L'intelletto ma
The intellect, but
(adesso)
(now)
Meno scrupoli
Less scruples
Ricordati che
Remember that
Mi chiamo Aria
My name is Aria
Contributed by Alex B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.