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.
Ricreazione
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Teneri e docili un attimo fa
Evasi dai pannolini sono qua.
Vengono avanti decisi
La favoletta non li fermerà
Con che li avete svezzati chi lo sa.
Vuoi o non vuoi li affronterai
Armati di cerbottane
Vuoi o non vuoi
È guerra ormai
Promettigli che non li sfrutti più
Che non li sevizi ne li violenti tu
Piccoli senza volontà
Non hanno più sogni.
Poi tu chiamali bambini se vuoi
Sospetti e circospetti intuiscono già l'inganno
Poi carezze e caramelle ne avrai
Ma loro sanno bene le mire che hai
Nuove mamme improvvisati papà
E giù ninna nanne bromuro e camomille
Infanticidio! Come vi odio!
La delusione la rabbia
Son sempre loro che pagano poi
La culla come una gabbia vivono.
Vuoi o non vuoi son figli tuoi
A parte il sesso ed il nome di loro cos'altro sai
Cos'altro sai
Erediteranno i silenzi tuoi
Fallito un amore che accadrà di lui
Quando direte che non somiglia a voi
Sorprese ne avrete.
Poi la mente è più bambina di noi
Le colpe adulte certo non saranno mai candore
Poi torniamo bambini anche se
La forza di specchiarci in quegli occhi non c'è
Ecografia femmina o maschio che sia
C'è ancora chi spera
Chi questa vita onora. Ancora
Vogliamo crescere ancora. Ancora
The lyrics to Renato Zero's song "Ricreazione" offer a powerful reflection on the contradictory experiences of childhood and the adult world. The opening lines suggest a sense of innocence and vulnerability, with the image of children who were "tender and docile just a moment ago" now free from their diapers and determined to make their way in the world. However, this sense of freedom and autonomy is quickly subverted by the following lines, which reveal a darker side to the situation: the children are marching towards the singer armed with slingshots, and are already aware that the "fairy tale" being spun by the adults is not to be trusted.
As the song continues, it becomes clear that Zero is speaking from the perspective of someone who feels disillusioned with the world of both childhood and adulthood. The children are no longer innocent and malleable, but rather have become aware of their own power and potential, as well as the ways in which they are being manipulated and exploited by the adults around them. Likewise, the adults themselves are depicted as callous and cruel, using "nanny-nanny" (sleep-inducing) drugs and other methods to control and subdue their offspring, rather than nurturing and guiding them towards a more positive future.
Ultimately, "Ricreazione" is a song that calls for a radical rethinking of the relationship between children and adults. Rather than seeing them as two separate and distinct categories, Zero suggests that we should instead look for ways to bridge the gap between them, and to recognize the interdependent nature of these two stages of life. Only by working together, and by opening ourselves up to the possibilities of growth and change, can we hope to create a better world for ourselves and for those who will come after us.
Line by Line Meaning
Ma cosa avranno i bambini
Wondering what is on the minds of children
Teneri e docili un attimo fa
Just innocent and obedient a moment ago
Evasi dai pannolini sono qua.
Free from diapers and now here
Vengono avanti decisi
They come forward determined
La favoletta non li fermerà
The fairy tale won't stop them
Con che li avete svezzati chi lo sa.
Who knows what you've brought them up with
Vuoi o non vuoi li affronterai
Whether you want to or not, you will face them
Armati di cerbottane
Armed with blowpipes
Marciano verso di noi
Marching towards us
È guerra ormai
It's war now
Promettigli che non li sfrutti più
Promise them you won't exploit nor abuse them anymore
Che non li sevizi ne li violenti tu
That you won't torture nor violate them
Piccoli senza volontà
Small, without willpower
Non hanno più sogni.
Have no more dreams
Poi tu chiamali bambini se vuoi
You can call them children if you want
Sospetti e circospetti intuiscono già l'inganno
Suspicious and cautious, they already sense the deceit
Poi carezze e caramelle ne avrai
Then you will have their love and attention with affection and sweets
Ma loro sanno bene le mire che hai
But they know very well what your intentions are
Nuove mamme improvvisati papà
New mothers, improvised fathers
E giù ninna nanne bromuro e camomille
And go to sleep now, with sedatives and chamomile
Infanticidio! Come vi odio!
Infanticide! How I hate you!
La delusione la rabbia
Disappointment, anger
Son sempre loro che pagano poi
They are always the ones who pay the price
La culla come una gabbia vivono.
They live in the crib as in a cage
Vuoi o non vuoi son figli tuoi
Whether you want to or not, they are your children
A parte il sesso ed il nome di loro cos'altro sai
Apart from their gender and name, what else do you know about them?
Erediteranno i silenzi tuoi
They will inherit your silences
Fallito un amore che accadrà di lui
A failed love, what will become of him?
Quando direte che non somiglia a voi
When you say he doesn't resemble you
Sorprese ne avrete.
You will be surprised
Poi la mente è più bambina di noi
Then the mind is more childlike than ours
Le colpe adulte certo non saranno mai candore
Adults' faults are certainly not innocence
Poi torniamo bambini anche se
Then we become children again even if
La forza di specchiarci in quegli occhi non c'è
The strength of seeing our reflection in those eyes is not there
Ecografia femmina o maschio che sia
It's an ultrasound, female or male
C'è ancora chi spera
There is still someone who hopes
Chi questa vita onora. Ancora
Who honors this life. Still
Vogliamo crescere ancora. Ancora
We want to grow up more. More
Contributed by Lila Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@giuseppeporcheddu5986
surreale,ineguagliabile,irrangiungibile,fantastico
@borisgenovese3739
Brividi....
@salvatoreignini7559
Un capolavoro..e poi quando "urla"...infanticidio..come ti odio...
Bhe non ci sono parole..