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.
Radio o non radio
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Arrivavi a mala pena a casa mia
Per chiedermi un sostegno e una canzone, la mia benedizione e così via
Pirata
E fu per questo che ti ho amata
Libera dimostravi più che mai
Pura e sincera e non contaminata
Un'italiana guitta adesso sei
Se oggi il tuo gracchiare mi confonde
Ti aggiudichi lo spazio prepotente, onnipotente di pubblicità
Radio o non radio
Come vedi non ti amo e non ti odio
Radio o non radio
Come vedi sono vivo e non t'invidio
Radio o non radio
Questa musica raggiunge la sua meta
Radio o non radio
L'obiettivo nostro è ancora scrivere di vita
Mmmm
Non è la tua giornata
Sei muta e un po' stordita amica mia
Non chiedermi un sostegno e una canzone
Il tuo menù è carente di magia
Pirata
Solamente per dispetto libera
Torneresti ci scommetto
Pura e sincera e non contaminata
Un'italiana fiera come noi
S'è il fatturato che t'ha resa grande
La mia canzone un'altra strada fa
Adesso non ci sta
Si libera orgogliosa negli stadi
È questo il senso della libertà
Radio o non radio
Come vedi non ti amo e non ti odio
Radio o non radio
Come vedi sono vivo e non t'invidio
Radio o non radio
Questa musica raggiunge la sua meta
Radio o non radio
L'obbiettivo nostro è ancora scrivere di vita
Radio o non radio
Tu decidi il tempo, il senso e la durata
Radio o non radio
Il talento, scusa, è fuori dalla tua portata
Raccogli questa sfida
(Grazie a etciuuu per questo testo)
The lyrics of Renato Zero's song "Radio o non radio" talk about the complicated relationship between the singer and the radio, a medium that he both praises and denounces, depending on the circumstances. The song is written in a conversational tone, and Renato Zero addresses the radio as if it were a person, asking it questions and expressing his feelings towards it.
The first part of the song describes the singer's previous relationship with the radio. He used to love it, as it was a source of support and inspiration for him. However, something has changed, and now he finds the radio confusing and overwhelming. He accuses the radio of being too powerful and omnipotent, dominating the airwaves and drowning out other voices.
The second part of the song is more confrontational, as Renato Zero voices his frustration with the radio. He accuses it of being mute and lacking in magic, and suggests that it is driven by profit rather than artistic expression. Despite this, he remains committed to his art and his message, and is determined to write songs that speak to people's lives, whether or not they are played on the radio.
Overall, "Radio o non radio" is a complex and introspective song that reflects on the role of the media in society, and the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success.
Line by Line Meaning
Debole e disturbata
You came to my house weak and disturbed
Arrivavi a mala pena a casa mia
You barely managed to make it to my house
Per chiedermi un sostegno e una canzone, la mia benedizione e così via
You came to ask for my support, a song, and my blessing
Pirata
You were rebellious and unconventional
E fu per questo che ti ho amata
And that's why I loved you
Libera dimostravi più che mai
You showed your freedom more than ever
Pura e sincera e non contaminata
You were pure, sincere, and uncorrupted
Un'italiana guitta adesso sei
Now you're an Italian star
Che cosa è mai successo alle tue onde?
What happened to your waves?
Se oggi il tuo gracchiare mi confonde
If today your croaking confuses me
Ti aggiudichi lo spazio prepotente, onnipotente di pubblicità
You claim a dominant, all-powerful space in advertising
Radio o non radio
Whether on the radio or not
Come vedi non ti amo e non ti odio
As you can see I don't love or hate you
Questa musica raggiunge la sua meta
This music achieves its goal
L'obiettivo nostro è ancora scrivere di vita
Our goal is still to write about life
Non è la tua giornata
It's not your day
Sei muta e un po' stordita amica mia
You're silent and a little dazed, my friend
Non chiedermi un sostegno e una canzone
Don't ask me for support and a song
Il tuo menù è carente di magia
Your menu lacks magic
Solamente per dispetto libera
You're only free out of spite
Torneresti ci scommetto
I bet you'd come back
S'è il fatturato che t'ha resa grande
If it's the revenue that made you big
La mia canzone un'altra strada fa
My song takes another path
Adesso non ci sta
Now it doesn't fit anymore
Si libera orgogliosa negli stadi
It proudly frees itself in the stadiums
È questo il senso della libertà
This is the sense of freedom
Tu decidi il tempo, il senso e la durata
You decide the time, the meaning, and the duration
Il talento, scusa, è fuori dalla tua portata
The talent, sorry, is beyond your reach
Questa musica raggiunge la sua meta
This music achieves its goal
L'obbiettivo nostro è ancora scrivere di vita
Our goal is still to write about life
Radio o non radio
Whether on the radio or not
Raccogli questa sfida
Accept this challenge
Contributed by Bailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.