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.
Per carità
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lascia pure tutto quanto come sta…
Per carità,
Tu lascia che
Qualcun altro aggiusti quel che guasti te…
Per carità,
Tutto il resto per stasera aspetterà…
Per carità,
Che allo stadio la tua sorte è in ballo già!
Per carità,
Segui le avvertenze e le modalità…
Per carità,
Che a sbagliarti non sia tu…
Lascia che lo faccia un altro, un fesso in più!
La lira in ribasso!
Però c'è il riflusso…
Un altro attentato , chi è stato?
Chi ruba chi evade
L'inchiesta si apre e si chiude!
Se muore un bambino,
C'è un teleobiettivo!
Per carità,
Non staccare gli occhi mai dalla tivù,
Mai più…
Se no tu come saprai
Che sei morto e non te n'eri accorto mai?
Un'altra centrale…
Ma cambia canale!
Ancora un disastro ma tanto è nel Sud!
La luce non basta
L'ossigeno costa
E c'è chi s'abbuffa lassù
Fatti in là!
Lascia al mondo indifferenza e vanità…
Per carità,
Tutto va, comunque va…
Come ieri, anche domani girerà
The lyrics of the song "Per carità" by Renato Zero convey a powerful message that urges people to leave everything as it is and not take rash actions that could lead to disastrous effects. The first verse calls for leaving everything as it is and allowing someone else to fix the problems that need to be addressed. The next verse urges the listener to follow the rules and not make any mistakes, as there are consequences to every action. The third verse highlights the negative events happening around the world, such as currency depreciation, attacks, theft, and neglect for human life.
The song also touches upon the issue of media manipulation and how people should not be glued to their TV screens, as it can lead to them being unaware of their surroundings and possibly even leading to their demise. The chorus urges people to remain indifferent to the world and not focus on issues that don't concern them, as the world will continue to revolve as it always has.
Overall, "Per carità" is a call for people to be mindful of their actions and not let the negative events around them dictate their behavior. The song urges people to focus on themselves and their immediate surroundings rather than being overly concerned with the problems of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Per carità,
I beg of you,
Lascia pure tutto quanto come sta…
Leave everything as it is
Tu lascia che Qualcun altro aggiusti quel che guasti te…
Let someone else fix what you're breaking
Tutto il resto per stasera aspetterà…
Everything else can wait till tonight
Tu sorpassa in curva e va…
Overtake in the curve and go
Che allo stadio la tua sorte è in ballo già!
Your fate is already hanging in the balance at the stadium!
Segui le avvertenze e le modalità…
Follow the warnings and procedures
Che a sbagliarti non sia tu…
So that you won't make a mistake
Lascia che lo faccia un altro, un fesso in più!
Let someone else do it, one more fool!
La lira in ribasso!
The lira is falling!
Però c'è il riflusso…
But there is a rebound
Un altro attentato , chi è stato?
Another attack, who did it?
Chi ruba chi evade
Whoever steals and avoids
L'inchiesta si apre e si chiude!
The investigation opens and closes!
Se muore un bambino, C'è un teleobiettivo!
If a child dies, there is a cameraman!
Per carità, Non staccare gli occhi mai dalla tivù, Mai più…
I beg of you, never take your eyes off the TV, never again
Se no tu come saprai Che sei morto e non te n'eri accorto mai?
Otherwise, how will you know that you died without ever realizing it?
Un'altra centrale…
Another power plant
Ma cambia canale!
But change the channel!
Ancora un disastro ma tanto è nel Sud!
Another disaster, but it's in the South anyway!
La luce non basta L'ossigeno costa E c'è chi s'abbuffa lassù
Light isn't enough, oxygen costs, and there are those who are overeating up there
Fatti in là!
Get out of here!
Lascia al mondo indifferenza e vanità…
Leave the world with indifference and vanity
Per carità, Tutto va, comunque va…
I beg of you, everything goes, regardless of how it goes
Come ieri, anche domani girerà
Like yesterday, even tomorrow it will turn
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Giuseppe De Capitani da Vimercate
Nell'adolescenza di una generazione un punto fermo di elaborazione della vita.💜
Daniele Nicastrini
Rimane senza fine quando vuoi che il cuore non basta mai così tanto quanto il tempo di un abbraccio forte forte a te...
LUCA BRANCA
sono cresciuto con le tue canzoni renato,è stata l'unica cosa bella e che mi ha dato la forza di continuare. P.S.hai lo stesso nome di mio nonno
Marco Bussola
Ottima
Daniele Nicastrini
Tuttavia la mia vita non può sapere come va da avanti con la tua poesia ogni parola che non riesco a trovare per te....
Salvatore Ignini
Testo molto attuale..considerando che era 1981....
David Falchi
Renato avanti anni luce questa canzone sembra scritta ieri
houssem chakroun
che a sbagliare nn sei tu .. lascia che lo faccia un altro un belzebu ;)
ELI M.
ciao ni...