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.
Non passerà
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Passerà…
E' davvero troppo furba,
E troppi complici ha.
Passerà…
Senza problemi la frontiera.
Adesso lei, costa più cara, perché pura.
Lei, non è
Come dote non ha niente…
Nei suoi occhi un insano presente.
Lei, non è
La tua amica migliore
Ti cerca quando vuole…
Se ti cerca è per farti del male.
Passerà,
Oltrepassando il confine.
Quando bambino giocherai
Ti ha già adocchiato le vene…
Madre…no!
Non ha tempo per i figli…
Lei ti odierà,
Se mai capisce che ti sbagli!
Passerà
Se il timore è il più forte…
Se tu ascolti i tuoi sicari,
Della morte avidi mercenari…
Lei, non è…
Senza di te, non è niente.
E' un papavero incolore,
È un'ortica che secca e poi muore.,
Perché mai,
La subirai…
Perché poi,
A lei ti venderai…
Perché giochi
I tuoi pochi anni…
Prova! Insisti! Finché la inganni!
Perché mai
La subirai…
Non passerà
The song 'Non passerà' by Renato Zero is a ballad about a manipulative and toxic woman, who the singer urges the listener to avoid at all costs. The lyrics speak about how this woman is too smart for her own good, and how she has many allies that allow her to cross borders and boundaries easily. Despite her high price, the woman brings nothing but trouble, especially since she has an insane present and no redeemable qualities. The singer highlights how the woman is not a friend, as she only seeks to harm the listener. The song advises the listener to avoid such women, no matter how tempting or alluring they may seem. The lyrics end with a conclusive statement, 'Non passerà' which means 'it will not pass' - a warning that this type of love will inevitably fail and cause damage.
Overall, the song aims to warn the listener, especially vulnerable adolescents, about the dangers of toxic and manipulative relationships. It highlights how one should avoid such relationships as they cause more harm than good in the long run. The song's slow, melodic tune and the singer's emotive voice contribute to the song's melancholic tone and serious message.
Line by Line Meaning
Passerà...
The situation will pass over and eventually fade away.
Passerà...
The situation will pass over and eventually fade away.
E' davvero troppo furba,
E troppi complici ha.
She is too cunning and has too many allies who help her.
Passerà...
Senza problemi la frontiera.
Adesso lei, costa più cara, perché pura.
The situation will pass over easily like crossing a border. Now, dealing with her will be more expensive as she demands more purity.
Lei, non è
Il tuo ideale d'amante.
Come dote non ha niente...
Nei suoi occhi un insano presente.
She is not your ideal lover, she has no good qualities, and has a crazy look in her eyes.
Lei, non è
La tua amica migliore.
Ti cerca quando vuole...
Se ti cerca è per farti del male.
She is not your best friend. She only looks for you when she wants to hurt you.
Passerà,
Oltrepassando il confine.
Quando bambino giocherai
Ti ha già adocchiato le vene...
Madre...no!
Non ha tempo per i figli...
Lei ti odierà,
Se mai capisce che ti sbagli!
The situation will pass by leaving everything behind. When you were a child, she already saw your veins, and now she is too busy to care for her own children. She will hate you if she ever realizes that you have made a mistake.
Passerà
Se il timore è il più forte...
Se tu ascolti i tuoi sicari,
Della morte avidi mercenari...
The situation will pass if your biggest fear is overcome. If you listen to your enablers, they will only want to exploit your potential death.
Lei, non è
Senza di te, non è niente.
E'un papavero incolore,
È un'ortica che secca e poi muore.
Without you, she is nothing. She is like a colorless poppy and a nettle that dries up and dies.
Perché mai,
La subirai?
Perché poi,
A lei ti venderai?
Perché giochi
I tuoi pochi anni?
Prova! Insisti! Finché la inganni!
Why would you put up with her? Why would you sell yourself to her? Why are you wasting your precious years? Keep trying until you deceive her.
Perché mai
La subirai?
Non passerà
Why endure her? Don't allow the situation to continue any longer.
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
carta e Risparmia
Il disco più bello in assoluto di zero...bellissima musica molto ben arrangiata
Henry Gomez
I am from the United States and I have not heard better or more beautiful music then from this man named renato zero he is the best singer composer of songs that I've heard up to this point I am 28 years old and for the last 4 months Renato zero is all I listen to I truly love this man I would love to see him in concert so I know he does not travel outside of Italy to do concerts I wish he would come to the United States to California where I am from it would be a dream come true!
Boris Genovese
Credo fortemente che artide antartide sia il più bel album di Renato.
Gino P.
C'è ne sono altri molto belli
Enrico il sadico
Verissimo
Vittorio Mammone
@Manuela Delle Grotti ogni uno dice la sua il fatto è che gli album di Renato sono tutti un capolavoro
Salvo Nieddu
Artide e Antartide andrebbe rivalutato, capolavoro assoluto
calogero mancuso
+Manuela Delle Grotti sono d'accordo
Daniele Nicastrini
Non passerà senza una nota di riservatezza questo fantastico Zero per la tua poesia che sento pulsare dentro perché sentore di buona musica di sottofondo che sogna l'uomo più antica del Mondo è inciso sulla sabbia bianca con te....
Rita Atzori
Io lo amo questo uomo 💖