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.
Oscuro Futuro
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mentre noi, imbottigliati nel traffico, qui…
Il futuro che esplode,
Quanto fumo che fa …
Il futuro, nel fumo, si confonderà!
Interminabili code, dovunque vai.
Aspettare il tuo turno, per morire, dovrai…
Guarda la televisione,quanti intrepidi eroi…
Soli noi, a trainare la vita,
A nutrire la bestia che è in noi.
Noi nessuno, dispersi per la strada,
Aspettando il mondo si accorga di noi!
Il futuro è deluso e va via!
Del passato, riaffiora l'idea…
Mi commuovo, se penso che,
Solo ieri eri qui con me…
Insieme nel bene, nel male.
Oggi, guarda il futuro cos'è…
Più nessuno che lotta, perché…
Perché tu ti accontenterai,
Di quel poco che è poco ormai
Perché regalarti così…
Sbarra bene la porta dietro di te, se mai…
Prima di aprire, domanda sempre chi è… se mai,
Potrebbe essere un mostro,
Un folle maniaco chissà…
Potrebbe essere lui, il futuro,
A stanarti verrà
Sempre noi, a trainare la vita…
Di domani una parte è la mia…
Mia la colpa, o la gloria che sia,
Quel domani, un bambino avrà,
Sarà un uomo ed imbiancherà…
Basta sia ancora domani
Fermerò il calendario, io…
Voglio avere un futuro mio!
E che somigli un po' a me
The lyrics of Renato Zero's "Oscuro Futuro" describe a bleak and hopeless future where people are stuck in endless traffic, alone in their own company with only the TV for company, waiting for their turn to die. The song reflects on a world where people are disconnected from one another and trapped in their own individual realities. The song's message is a call to action, urging listeners to take control of their own lives and work towards building a better future.
The song highlights the importance of not giving up on the future and the need to take responsibility for our own actions. It is a plea to embrace life and make the most out of every moment. The lyrics tell us that we are all responsible for our own future and that it is up to each of us to make the most out of every day.
Overall, Renato Zero's "Oscuro Futuro" is a powerful song that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both moving and insightful. It is a song that encourages us to take control of our own lives and create a better future for ourselves and those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
E il futuro conquista lo spazio così…
The future is expanding and conquering space while we are stuck in traffic.
Mentre noi, imbottigliati nel traffico, qui…
We are stuck in traffic and unable to keep up with the future's progress.
Il futuro che esplode, Quanto fumo che fa …
The future is exploding and creating a lot of smoke.
Il futuro, nel fumo, si confonderà!
The future will become indistinguishable and lost in the smoke.
Interminabili code, dovunque vai.
Endless queues and lines wherever you go.
Aspettare il tuo turno, per morire, dovrai …
You will have to wait for your turn to die.
Guarda la televisione, quanti intrepidi eroi…
Watch television to see how many brave heroes there are.
Noi, col telecomando, viviamo ormai, soli noi…
We live alone with our remote controls.
Soli noi, a trainare la vita, A nutrire la bestia che è in noi.
Alone, we carry on with our lives and feed the beast within us.
Noi nessuno, dispersi per la strada, Aspettando il mondo si accorga di noi!
We are nobody, lost in the streets, waiting for the world to notice us.
Il futuro è deluso e va via!
The future is disappointed and leaving.
Del passato, riaffiora l'idea…
The idea of the past resurfaces.
Mi commuovo, se penso che, Solo ieri eri qui con me…
I get emotional when I think that you were here with me just yesterday.
Insieme nel bene, nel male.
Together, in good times and in bad.
Oggi, guarda il futuro cos'è…
Look at what the future has become today.
Più nessuno che lotta, perché…
No one is fighting anymore, because…
Perché tu ti accontenterai, Di quel poco che è poco ormai
You will settle for what little there is left.
Perché regalarti così…
Why reward yourself like this?
Sbarra bene la porta dietro di te, se mai…
Lock the door behind you, just in case.
Prima di aprire, domanda sempre chi è… se mai,
Before you open it, always ask who it is, just in case.
Potrebbe essere un mostro, Un folle maniaco chissà…
It could be a monster, a crazy maniac, who knows.
Potrebbe essere lui, il futuro, A stanarti verrà
It could be him, the future, coming to get you.
Sempre noi, a trainare la vita…
Always us, carrying on with life.
Di domani una parte è la mia…
Part of tomorrow belongs to me.
Mia la colpa, o la gloria che sia, Quel domani, un bambino avrà, Sarà un uomo ed imbiancherà…
It will be my fault or my glory, and that tomorrow will belong to a child who will grow up and become a man.
Basta sia ancora domani Fermerò il calendario, io…
As long as there is tomorrow, I will stop the calendar.
Voglio avere un futuro mio! E che somigli un po' a me
I want to have my own future, one that resembles me a little bit.
Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.