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.
Pelle
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un'atra pelle, mai!!!
Un'altra pelle, io, non vorrei…
Ho vissuto, dentro di lei,
Quante battaglie, non sai,
Rattoppi, ne ha,
Lacera e lisa, qua e là…
Ha preso, pioggia, freddo e vento,
Persino al logorio del tempo,
Agli attacchi di chi,
Su questa pelle morì…
Mai,
Io la venderei!
Mai, pelle mia, ti tradirei!
Quanti segni, sulla pelle
Come tatuaggi, restano così,
Volevano farmi fuori, e poi,
Eccomi ancora qua!
Ancora in gara, ancora forte, ancora in piedi!
Io ci sono, come vedi…
La pelle dura, ho!
Tu, cacciatore, non mi prendi.
Fra i tuoi trofei, non mi vedrai …
Se forse tu, che ti difendi.
Se è la mia pelle che vuoi,
E' perché nudo tu sei!
Quanto sole, quante stelle …
Sulla mia pelle, ancora, scriverò!
E finché brividi lei avrà …
Finché traspirerà,
Io potrò dire, che davvero, sto vivendo!
Non ha prezzo, la mia pelle.
Perché è la pelle mia!
Questa è la pelle mia!
Potrò bruciarmi ancora ? E sia
The song Pelle by Renato Zero is an ode to the singer's own skin. He expresses how he would never want another skin as he has lived so many battles within his own skin. He sings about the numerous scars, tears, and patches that he wears on his skin, which represent the hardships and battles that he has faced in his life. He praises his skin for lasting through the aging process and standing up to the attacks from others who tried to bring him down. The singer promises to never sell out his own skin and betray it.
The chorus of the song repeats the word "mai" (never), emphasizing that the singer will never change his skin or his identity, no matter what. He describes his skin as being durable, strong, and unbreakable, withstanding and surviving through storms, cold weather, and wind. He says that the scars on his skin are like tattoos that tell his life story and remind him of the battles he has fought and won.
This Italian song celebrates the beauty and resilience of human skin, which is a reflection of the person's life and the journey they have taken. It touches on the idea that our skin is a symbol of who we are, and we must cherish it and protect it as it is a reflection of our identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Mai!
Never!
Un'atra pelle, mai!!!
Another skin, never!!!
Un'altra pelle, io, non vorrei...
Another skin, I wouldn't want...
Ho vissuto, dentro di lei,
I have lived, inside her,
Quante battaglie, non sai,
So many battles, you don't know,
Rattoppi, ne ha,
Repairs, she has,
Lacera e lisa, qua e là...
Torn and smooth, here and there...
Ha preso, pioggia, freddo e vento,
She has endured rain, cold, and wind,
Ed hai resistito, pelle mia.
And you have resisted, my skin.
Persino al logorio del tempo,
Even to the wear and tear of time,
Agli attacchi di chi,
To the attacks of those who,
Su questa pelle morì...
On this skin died...
Mai,
Never,
Io la venderei!
I would never sell it!
Mai, pelle mia, ti tradirei!
Never, my skin, would I betray you!
Quanti segni, sulla pelle
How many marks, on the skin
Come tatuaggi, restano così,
Like tattoos, they remain so,
Volevano farmi fuori, e poi,
They wanted to finish me off, and then,
Eccomi ancora qua!
Here I am still!
Ancora in gara, ancora forte, ancora in piedi!
Still in the race, still strong, still standing!
Io ci sono, come vedi...
I'm here, as you can see...
La pelle dura, ho!
I have tough skin!
Tu, cacciatore, non mi prendi.
You, hunter, won't catch me.
Fra i tuoi trofei, non mi vedrai...
Among your trophies, you won't see me...
Se forse tu, che ti difendi.
If maybe you, who are on the defensive.
Se è la mia pelle che vuoi,
If it's my skin that you want,
E' perché nudo tu sei!
It's because you are naked!
Quanto sole, quante stelle...
How much sun, how many stars...
Sulla mia pelle, ancora, scriverò!
On my skin, I will still write!
E finché brividi lei avrà...
And as long as she will have shudders...
Finché traspirerà,
As long as she will sweat,
Io potrò dire, che davvero, sto vivendo!
I will be able to say that I am truly living!
Non ha prezzo, la mia pelle.
My skin is priceless.
Perché è la pelle mia!
Because it's my skin!
Questa è la pelle mia!
This is my skin!
Potrò bruciarmi ancora ? E sia
Can I burn myself again? So be it.
Contributed by Jordan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.