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.
Regina
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dirò ch'eri soltanto, un ospite!
Che non avevi, di che vivere…
Che ti ho aiutato solo, a crescere!
Un alibi, trovarlo è facile…
Se vuoi rifarti una, verginità!
Se quello che ti serve, è un complice…
Se tanto costa, la mia libertà!
La pelle tua non vale, gli occhi miei!
Se amare, per te, è solo prendere!
Se lui, è tutto quello, che mi dai!
Sporca! Ladra!
Rubi e te ne vai…
Quando un uomo,
Non conosce i vizi tuoi…
Quando un uomo,
Accanto a te,
Non è un uomo, mai… Mai!
Vai,
L'ambizione ha gli occhi tuoi,
La tua sciocca vanità…
I tuoi modi da, regina!
Vai,
Lui finanzia, i sogni tuoi…
E ti segue finché poi,
Anche a lui, non gli scoppia il cuore…
Il cuore!
Non sono quello, da decidere…
Non sono quello, da difendere…
Non sono quello, degli errori tuoi…
Non sono quello, che non vince mai…
E' vero! Fai l'amore, bene, tu…
Senz'anima, è un mestiere, o poco più…
E tu che sai ingannare, come sai,
Lo specchio, è il solo a cui, non mentirai!
Sporca! Ladra!
Rubi e te ne vai…
E quei trucchi, credi a me, non stanno su…
Come la cerniera che, incosciente, tiri giù… Più giù!
Vai,
Ora provaci, con lui,
E da attrice, esperta, avrai,
La tua parte, di regina…
Vai!
Finché il gioco, reggerà!
Finché lui, ci crederà!
E poi un calcio,
E torni quella, di sempre…
Regina! Regina!
The lyrics to Renato Zero's song Regina are about the relationship between two people - one who is taking advantage of the other's feelings and generosity, and the other who is struggling to see through the lies and manipulation. The singer in the song initially takes on the role of the enabler, coming to the defense of the other person and making excuses for their behavior. However, as the song progresses, they start to see the truth and become more frustrated with the situation.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the singer calling the other person a "sporca" (meaning dirty) and a "ladra" (thief) before telling them to leave. The anger and bitterness in the lyrics are matched by the driving beat and soaring melody of the music, giving the song a sense of urgency and power.
Overall, the lyrics to Regina are a potent exploration of a toxic relationship, one that is based on lies, manipulation, and exploitation. Although the singer ultimately sees through the other person's behavior and calls them out, there is a sense of sadness and regret that runs through the song, reminding us of the toll that such relationships can take on our emotions and well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Adesso, quando viene a prenderti...
Now, when he comes to take you away...
Dirò ch'eri soltanto, un ospite!
I'll say that you were just a guest!
Che non avevi, di che vivere...
That you had nothing to live on...
Che ti ho aiutato solo, a crescere!
That I only helped you to grow up!
Un alibi, trovarlo è facile...
Finding an alibi is easy...
Se vuoi rifarti una, verginità!
If you want to start over like a virgin!
Se quello che ti serve, è un complice...
If what you need is an accomplice...
Se tanto costa, la mia libertà!
If my freedom costs so much!
Con me, lo sai, non puoi pretendere!
You know you can't expect anything from me!
La pelle tua non vale, gli occhi miei!
Your skin is not worth my eyes!
Se amare, per te, è solo prendere!
If for you, loving is just taking!
Se lui, è tutto quello, che mi dai!
If he is all you give me!
Sporca! Ladra!
Dirty! Thief!
Rubi e te ne vai...
Steal and go away...
Quando un uomo,
When a man,
Non conosce i vizi tuoi...
Doesn't know your vices...
Accanto a te,
Next to you,
Non è un uomo, mai... Mai!
He's not a man, never ever!
Vai,
Go,
L'ambizione ha gli occhi tuoi,
Ambition has your eyes,
La tua sciocca vanità...
Your silly vanity...
I tuoi modi da, regina!
Your ways, like a queen!
Vai,
Go,
Lui finanzia, i sogni tuoi...
He finances your dreams...
E ti segue finché poi,
And follows you until...
Anche a lui, non gli scoppia il cuore...
Even his heart explodes...
Il cuore!
His heart!
Non sono quello, da decidere...
I'm not the one to decide...
Non sono quello, da difendere...
I'm not the one to defend...
Non sono quello, degli errori tuoi...
I'm not the one for your mistakes...
Non sono quello, che non vince mai...
I'm not the one that never wins...
E' vero! Fai l'amore, bene, tu...
It's true! You make love well...
Senz'anima, è un mestiere, o poco più...
Without soul, it's a profession, or a little more...
E tu che sai ingannare, come sai,
And you who know how to deceive, as you know,
Lo specchio, è il solo a cui, non mentirai!
The mirror is the only one you won't lie to!
Sporca! Ladra!
Dirty! Thief!
Rubi e te ne vai...
Steal and go away...
E quei trucchi, credi a me, non stanno su...
And those tricks, believe me, don't hold up...
Come la cerniera che, incosciente, tiri giù. Più giù!
Like the zipper that, unconsciously, you pull down. Lower and lower!
Vai,
Go,
Ora provaci, con lui,
Now try it with him,
E da attrice, esperta, avrai,
And as an experienced actress, you will have,
La tua parte, di regina...
Your part, as a queen...
Vai!
Go!
Finché il gioco, reggerà!
As long as the game holds up!
Finché lui, ci crederà!
As long as he believes us!
E poi un calcio,
And then a kick,
E torni quella, di sempre...
And you go back to being who you always were...
Regina! Regina!
Queen! Queen!
Contributed by Joseph N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.