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.
Nascondimi
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Io sono già segnato ormai,
Mi uccideranno sicuro,
Perché ho cantato, perché ho gridato,
Perché rido e credo in Dio,
Perché un'aiuola ho calpestato…
Nascondimi ti prego, in una canzone,
In un pensiero che non sia una prigione…
Se mi sorprenderanno ancora a sognare,
Sarà la fine, ed io non voglio morire!
Ogni sbadiglio è controllato,
Fare l'amore qui è peccato…
Il mio futuro è tracciato!
Sarò una scheda perforata
Resterò un numero, una data…
Mai più un rimpianto un'ambizione!
Lasciami un giorno ancora al mio carnevale
Lasciami un Cristo ancora da ritrovare,
Ancora un nome, un volto da ricordare…
Una preghiera, una promessa, un ideale!
Perché non ho visto il semaforo rosso, capisci?
Perché annaffio il mio garofano spesso, capisci?
Perché mi sento felice, perché sorrido,
Perché vivo, perché amo…
Nascondimi ti prego, in una canzone,
In un pensiero che non sia una prigione…
Se mi sorprenderanno ancora a sognare
Sarà la fine, ed io non voglio morire!
Coro:
Noi ti nasconderemo in una canzone,
In un pensiero che non sia una prigione…
Se ti sorprenderanno ancora a sognare,
Tu sogna pure, ma non devi morire!
Ti lasceremo ancora al tuo carnevale,
Ti lasceremo un Cristo da bestemmiare,
Ancora un nome, un volto da ricordare…
Una promessa, una preghiera, un ideale!
The lyrics of Renato Zero's "Nascondimi" depict the fear and desperation of the singer who feels like he will never be accepted in a society that suppresses individuality and creativity. He feels like he is already marked for death because he has dared to sing, shout, believe in God, and even stepped on a flowerbed. He pleads to be hidden in a song or thought that is not a prison because if caught dreaming again, he knows it would be the end for him. He feels like he is constantly being watched, even his yawns and making love are controlled, and he has no future except to be turned into a number on a card. He pleads to be given a day more to carry on with his carnival, find another Christ to blaspheme, and have something to remember before he dies. The chorus reassures him that he will be hidden in a song or thought that is not a prison, and he can dream and carry on with his carnival with a promise, a prayer, or an ideal.
Line by Line Meaning
Sarei perduto ovunque andrei
I feel lost no matter where I go
Io sono già segnato ormai
I have been marked already
Mi uccideranno sicuro, perche ho cantato, perche ho gridato
I will surely be killed because I have sung, because I have yelled
Perché rido e credo in Dio
Because I laugh and believe in God
Perché un'aiuola ho calpestato
Because I stepped on a flower bed
Nascondimi ti prego, in una canzone
Please hide me in a song
In un pensiero che non sia una prigione
In a thought that is not a prison
Se mi sorprenderanno ancora a sognare
If they catch me dreaming again
Sarà la fine, ed io non voglio morire!
It will be the end, and I don't want to die!
Ogni sbadiglio è controllato
Every yawn is controlled
Fare l'amore qui è peccato
Making love here is a sin
Il mio futuro è tracciato!
My future is traced!
Sarò una scheda perforata
I will be a punched card
Resterò un numero, una data
I will remain a number, a date
Mai più un rimpianto un'ambizione!
No more regrets or ambitions!
Lasciami un giorno ancora al mio carnevale
Let me have one more day of my carnival
Lasciami un Cristo ancora da ritrovare
Let me find another Christ
Ancora un nome, un volto da ricordare
Another name, another face to remember
Una preghiera, una promessa, un ideale!
A prayer, a promise, an ideal!
Perché non ho visto il semaforo rosso, capisci?
Why did I not see the red light, do you understand?
Perché annaffio il mio garofano spesso, capisci?
Why do I water my carnation often, do you understand?
Perché mi sento felice, perché sorrido
Because I feel happy, because I smile
Perché vivo, perché amo
Because I live, because I love
Noi ti nasconderemo in una canzone
We will hide you in a song
Coro:
Chorus:
Tu sogna pure, ma non devi morire!
You can continue to dream, but you do not have to die!
Ti lasceremo ancora al tuo carnevale
We'll let you stay at your carnival
Ti lasceremo un Cristo da bestemmiare
We'll leave you with a Christ to curse
Ancora un nome, un volto da ricordare
Another name, another face to remember
Una promessa, una preghiera, un ideale!
A promise, a prayer, an ideal!
Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Custanten
Come tutte le tue canzoni ancora attualissima, che grande artista sei Renato!
Mauretto
Bella. Mi ronzava in testa ultimamente ed è bello riascoltarla. Un RZ "rivoluzionario".
Antonio Lusso
Uno dei più grandi poeti italiani, grandissimo Renato
Fabrizio Piredda
La più' grande, canzone, che, renato zero, abbia, mai potuto, scrivere, e interpretare.
Martina Micaglio
La mia più grande ispirazione, semplicemente unico!
Rocchi Stefano
Il più grande artista che l,italia può avere il bello che lui non mette mai il naso in mezzo a niente tipo la politicca
Massimo Taddei
È un maestro ero un sorcino
nicolai maruhama
Cool!!
bambola bella
Nascondimi ti prego, in una canzone, in un pensiero che non sia una prigione Se mi sorprenderanno ancora a sognare, sarà la fine, ed io non voglio morire!
Emanuele Carlo Divita
Grande et meraviglioso