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.
Quando finisce il male
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anche da una carezza può
Sprigionarsi e degenerare
A volte basta un no.
E come cresce il male
Con futili bugie
Se la fiducia brilla
Di strane fantasie.
Qualunque male sia
E se arrivasse all'anima che guaio amica mia
La forza di un sorriso
Certo ci guarirà
Anche se il male con il buio un'intesa stringerà.
E su, e su, e su,
Non cedere
Non puoi permettergli di vincere.
Mele è, il male che tu fai a te.
Soli, soli mai…
Quando finisce il male
Siamo più forti noi.
Tocca pure ai giganti
Di piegarsi davanti a lui
Il male non ti risparmi
Qualunque faccia hai.
Ma teme le alleanze
E sfugge l'unità
Per questo se incontra amore
Lui si polverizzerà.
Tenta di indebolire
Ogni difesa tua.
E' la rassegnazione il peggiore male che ci sia.
E su, e su, e su,
Aiutiamoci
Ci sentiremo meno inutili
Su e su finché si può
C'è ancora tanto mondo sai
Ma soli mai!
Quando finisce il male
Quanto più amore in noi
The lyrics of Renato Zero's song "Quando finisce il male" (When the pain ends) are about the concept of pain and how it can grow and spread even from the smallest things, like a simple caress. The lyrics suggest that sometimes all it takes is the word "no" for pain to emerge and mutate into something bigger and dangerous.
The song talks about how the growth of pain can be fueled by petty lies, and it warns that even if trust is built on strange fantasies, this can also lead to pain. Pain distances people, no matter what form it takes; if it reaches the soul, it will cause trouble. In times of pain, a strong smile is necessary, and it has the power to heal. However, pain can strike a deal with the darkness and create a stronger bond until it becomes difficult to shake off.
The song urges listeners to never give in to pain, to not let it win, and to never do harm to themselves. It talks about how one can become isolated in times of pain despite the pain being a universal experience. It emphasizes the idea that when the pain ends, it leaves behind stronger and more loving people.
In summary, the song's message is about how pain can grow and spread, but with resilience, love, and an indomitable spirit, we can conquer it and come out stronger.
Line by Line Meaning
Ecco che spunta il male
Here comes the bad
Anche da una carezza può
Even from a caress it can come out
Sprigionarsi e degenerare
Release and degenerate
A volte basta un no.
Sometimes a no is enough.
E come cresce il male
And how the bad grows
Con futili bugie
With trivial lies
Se la fiducia brilla
If trust shines
Di strane fantasie.
With strange fantasies.
Il male ci allontana
The bad pushes us away
Qualunque male sia
Whatever it may be
E se arrivasse all'anima che guaio amica mia
And if it reaches the soul, what a trouble, my friend
La forza di un sorriso
The power of a smile
Certo ci guarirà
Surely will heal us
Anche se il male con il buio un'intesa stringerà.
Even if the bad makes a deal with the darkness.
E su, e su, e su,
And up, up, up,
Non cedere
Do not give in
Non puoi permettergli di vincere.
You can't let it win.
Mele è, il male che tu fai a te.
It's bad, the harm you do to yourself.
Soli, soli mai…
Alone, never...
Quando finisce il male
When the bad ends
Siamo più forti noi.
We are stronger.
Tocca pure ai giganti
Even giants are affected
Di piegarsi davanti a lui
To bow before him
Il male non ti risparmi
The bad doesn't spare you
Qualunque faccia hai.
Whatever face you have.
Ma teme le alleanze
But it's afraid of alliances
E sfugge l'unità
And escapes unity
Per questo se incontra amore
That's why when it encounters love
Lui si polverizzerà.
It will turn to dust.
Tenta di indebolire
It tries to weaken
Ogni difesa tua.
Every defense you have.
E' la rassegnazione il peggiore male che ci sia.
Resignation is the worst harm there is.
E su, e su, e su,
And up, up, up,
Aiutiamoci
Let's help each other
Ci sentiremo meno inutili
We'll feel less useless
Su e su finché si può
Up and up until we can
C'è ancora tanto mondo sai
There's still so much world, you know
Ma soli mai!
But never alone!
Quando finisce il male
When the bad ends
Quanto più amore in noi
The more love in us
Contributed by Colton K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.