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.
Ostinato amore
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In macchina. In una toilette.
Ho visto consumarlo in fretta
Come una tazza di caffè.
Ho visto darlo via.
Così, senza poesia.
Triste, malato e giù
Da non poterne più.
Rassegnato, era li
Aspettando in silenzio,
Di morire così.
L'ho visto. Giuro Io, l'ho visto!!!
Ostinato amore che
Non ti dai per vinto mai.
Prova ancora perché sai,
Di quella bomba sei, più forte tu!
Aspettiamo ancora un po'.
Se sia tardi non lo so.
Qualcuno vedrai si pente.
Non può fare senza te!
Ti cercheranno fra la gente
C'è chi ti ritroverà
Ti riconoscerà
Amore, finché vuoi,
Finché resisti tu
Rimani dove sei
Non te ne andare più!
Io ti difenderò.
A nutrirti, sarò io!
Tu sopravviverai,
Disperato amore mio!
Ce la farai
Tu esisterai con me
Ostinato amore mio
The lyrics of Renato Zero's "Ostinato amore" are about the persistence of love. The first verses describe the singer witnessing someone consuming drugs in different places, showing the self-destructive behavior and addiction of the person. Then, the chorus kicks in, repeating the phrase "Ostinato amore" which means persistent love. The chorus tells that love never gives up, and the singer encourages the beloved one to keep trying, as they are stronger than the addiction. The second part of the song talks about the hope of finding the beloved one again, as they will regret leaving and will not be able to live without them. The song ends with the reassurance that the singer will be there for the beloved and help them overcome their addiction, as they will survive together.
Line by Line Meaning
L'ho visto fare in piedi. Al buio.
I saw it done standing up. In the dark.
In macchina. In una toilette.
In a car. In a restroom.
Ho visto consumarlo in fretta... Come una tazza di caffè.
I saw it consumed quickly... like a cup of coffee.
Ho visto darlo via. Così, senza poesia.
I saw it given away. Without poetry.
Triste, malato e giù... Da non poterne più.
Sad, sick and down... unable to take it anymore.
Provato dal dolore, Rassegnato, era li... Aspettando in silenzio, Di morire così.
Overwhelmed by pain, resigned, he was there... waiting in silence to die like this.
L'ho visto. Giuro...Io, l'ho visto!!!
I saw it. I swear...I saw it!!!
Ostinato amore che Non ti dai per vinto mai. Prova ancora perché sai, Di quella bomba sei, più forte tu!
Persistent love that never gives up. Try again because you know you are stronger than that bomb!
Aspettiamo ancora un po'. Se sia tardi... non lo so. Qualcuno vedrai si pente. Non può fare senza te!
Let's wait a bit longer. It may be too late... I don't know. Someone will regret their decision. They can't live without you!
Ti cercheranno fra la gente C'è chi ti ritroverà Ti riconoscerà
They will search for you among the people. There is someone who will find you. They will recognize you.
Amore, finché vuoi, Finché resisti tu... Rimani dove sei... Non te ne andare più!
Love, as long as you want, as long as you resist... Stay where you are... Don't go away anymore!
Io ti difenderò. A nutrirti, sarò io! Tu sopravviverai, Disperato amore mio!
I will defend you. I will nourish you! You will survive, my desperate love!
Ce la farai Tu esisterai con me Ostinato amore mio
You'll make it. You'll exist with me. My persistent love.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
petronela nita
Il più importante creatore di emozioni di tutti i tempi!
leontauro
Tantos y tantos en el mundo quisieran comunicarle a la gente cosas de la vida. Solo Renato sabe como expresar lo que otros no pueden, o no saben ponerse en la piel de la magia de las canciones y hacer que muchos recapaciten en la vida y su entorno y decirlo con palabras sencillas facil de comprenderlas. Mago y magia del mundo actual, quien no te aprecie no sabe todavia de la vida.
massimilianof91
Un grandissimo artista, dotato di una sensibiltà che solo in pochi hanno, soprattutto in questi anni. Una musica che rimarrà nei prossimi decenni. Immenso Renato!
Gianmarco Spagnoli
Qqqqq
Gianmarco Spagnoli
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Anna Piscitelli ti.
Nei giorni no ascolto lui...mi passa tutto arriva dritto al cuore...Grazie di esistere RENATO 1❤
malgorzata osuch
Ma come fa quest'uomo a entrare dirittamente nel cuore..nel'anima..comuovere ad ogni volta..sei un MAESTRO.!!! Ti adoro Renatino..un giorno senza di te è vuoto...perso...
NamelessBen R
La canzone che ascolti quando pensi che tu non sarai mai così fortunata da trovare il tuo amore vero. Ma io la ascolto e ci spero, ci spero perché ostinato amore mio, non ti dai per vinto mai. Grazie Renatone🌛
Sole Mia Vita
Io non mi sono mai data per vinta mai....io sono il suo ostinato amore....ti amo mio respiro sei la vita che voglio vivere❤
De Matteis Rosaria
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