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.
Paleobarattolo
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sono stato chiuso in un barattolo !
Per vent'anni e trentamila secoli…
Di qua, di là.
Di qua, di là .
Preso a calci dentro a quel barattolo ,
Mentre il mondo fuori andava a rotoli,
Per vent'anni e trentamila secoli…
Di qua, di là .
Ehi amico ,
Dammi l'apriscatole.
Sono stanco d'essere un giocattolo ,
Per vent'anni e trentamila secoli ,
Di qua, di là.
Di qua, di là .
Perché ti nascondi ,
Dai vieni qui ,
Giochiamo un po'!
Impariamo ancora , se tu lo vuoi ,
A ridere…
Sai cos'è , che non va ,
Chiudere in scatola la libertà.
Non ci sto ,
Vado via.
Cerchiamo scampo nella fantasia…
Ora passo tutto il giorno a ridere.
C'è la gente chiusa nei barattoli ,
Non capiscono ma sono secoli ,
Che vanno su , che vanno giù…
Mi diverto se li sento piangere ,
Sono chiusi tutti nei barattoli.
Si lamentano ma sono secoli ,
Che vanno su che vanno giù…
Perché ti nascondi ,
Dai vieni qui ,
Giochiamo un po'!
Impariamo ancora , se tu lo vuoi ,
A ridere!
Sai cos'è, che non va ,
Chiudere in scatola la libertà.
Non ci sto ,
Vado via.
Cerchiamo scampo nella fantasia…
Chiuso dentro ad un barattolo…
Sono stato chiuso in un barattolo.
Per vent'anni e trentamila secoli ,
Di qua, di là , di qua di là .
Su e giù, su e giù…
Ah…ah…ah
The lyrics of Renato Zero's song, Paleobarattolo, speak of being trapped in a jar for 20 years and 30,000 centuries while the world outside continues to crumble. The singer is kicked and trapped inside the jar as he watches the world go by. The lyricist is speaking to his friend and asking for help to get out of the jar as he is tired of being a toy for this long. He then encourages the friend to come out and play and learn and laugh together. The singer mentions that those who are still in their jars need to realize that they are stuck and that they are wasting away. He then encourages the friend to come out and laugh once more, as laughter is the key to escape.
The song speaks of the value of freedom and warns against being trapped in limiting environments. It speaks of the importance of living in the moment and sharing the gift of laughter with others. The imagery used paints a picture of a bleak world that is falling apart, while people are trapped in jars, unable to escape. Yet, the message is optimistic, with a call to seek refuge in one’s imagination and to keep laughing.
Line by Line Meaning
Chiuso dentro ad un barattolo
I have been locked inside a jar
Sono stato chiuso in un barattolo!
I was locked inside a jar!
Per vent'anni e trentamila secoli...
For twenty years and thirty thousand centuries...
Di qua, di là.
Here and there.
Di qua, di là.
Here and there.
Preso a calci dentro a quel barattolo,
Kicked inside that jar,
Mentre il mondo fuori andava a rotoli,
While the world outside was falling apart,
Ehi amico,
Hey buddy,
Dammi l'apriscatole.
Give me the can opener.
Sono stanco d'essere un giocattolo,
I am tired of being a toy,
Per vent'anni e trentamila secoli,
For twenty years and thirty thousand centuries,
Di qua, di là.
Here and there.
Di qua, di là.
Here and there.
Perché ti nascondi,
Why are you hiding,
Dai vieni qui,
Come here,
Giochiamo un po'!
Let's play a little!
Impariamo ancora, se tu lo vuoi,
We can still learn, if you want to,
A ridere...
To laugh...
Sai cos'è, che non va,
You know what's wrong,
Chiudere in scatola la libertà.
Locking up freedom in a box.
Non ci sto,
I won't stand for it,
Vado via.
I'm leaving.
Cerchiamo scampo nella fantasia...
Let's find refuge in fantasy...
Ora passo tutto il giorno a ridere.
Now I spend all day laughing.
C'è la gente chiusa nei barattoli,
There are people locked in jars,
Non capiscono ma sono secoli,
They don't understand, but it's been centuries,
Che vanno su, che vanno giù...
Going up and down...
Mi diverto se li sento piangere,
It amuses me to hear them cry,
Sono chiusi tutti nei barattoli.
They are all locked in jars.
Si lamentano ma sono secoli,
They complain, but it's been centuries,
Che vanno su che vanno giù...
Going up and down...
Perché ti nascondi,
Why are you hiding,
Dai vieni qui,
Come here,
Giochiamo un po'!
Let's play a little!
Impariamo ancora, se tu lo vuoi,
We can still learn, if you want to,
A ridere!
To laugh!
Sai cos'è, che non va,
You know what's wrong,
Chiudere in scatola la libertà.
Locking up freedom in a box.
Non ci sto,
I won't stand for it,
Vado via.
I'm leaving.
Cerchiamo scampo nella fantasia...
Let's find refuge in fantasy...
Chiuso dentro ad un barattolo...
I have been locked inside a jar...
Sono stato chiuso in un barattolo.
I was locked inside a jar.
Per vent'anni e trentamila secoli,
For twenty years and thirty thousand centuries,
Di qua, di là, di qua di là.
Here and there, here and there.
Su e giù, su e giù...
Up and down, up and down...
Ah...ah...ah
Ah...ah...ah
Contributed by Leo M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lady Falsetti
Un testo in un momento che sono legata ad una persona chiusa in un barattolo. E solo chi c è passato può capire . E allora scende una lacrima ... Forse qualcuna di più...
Giuseppe Albergo
A me questa straordinario testo fa riflettere su come tutti noi siamo così presi dal nostro lavoro investendo molto, "troppo" tempo quotidiano dimenticando la libertà di fare ciò che ci rende FELICI!!!!
Giovanni Losito
Uno dei migliori brani di R. Zero .
Valéria Ballada
Grandi Renato ❤️❤️❤️🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Martina Zaniolo
Che meraviglia, grazie Renato!!!
Roberta Venturi
Attuale.. Canzone mitica. Top!!!
Ametista
per 20'anni e 30 000 secoli....chiudere in scatola la libertà <3
Fabio Attianese
Stupenda...Grande Renatone
Emilia Arabia
Quanti ricordi… mi riporta indietro di un paio di decenni… ti ricordi, Mick? 😊
mariolinaDimontecristo
geniale!!