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.
Salvami
Renato Zero Lyrics
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Non l'ho deciso io
Quando questa strada ha scelto me
Chissà dov'era Dio
Quando sceglievo fra il bene e il male
Quando il mondo è dovunque uguale
Quando niente non bastava, mai
Quando studiavo da ingegnere
E sul quel ponte, sopravvivo
Se mi cerchi, sono sempre qua
Puntuale sono qua
E la morte io già so cos'è
Viaggia insieme a me
Quando offrirò il mio profilo migliore
Quando ho imparato che bisogna salire
E fare finta che amore
Tu non sai cos'è
E ogni volta dirò che è la prima volta
Affidandomi al caso e alla mia incoscienza
Lasciando sull'asfalto, un po' di me
Senza sapere mai
Che cosa sei
Perché lo sai
E per chi
Niente è più importante
Salvami
Dalla strada che non sa
Fra giorno e notte, quanti figli ha
Fra questa gente in cerca d'allegria
Che compra e vende questa pelle mia
Salvami
Oh, no
Io non cerco nelle tasche tue, la verità
Salvami
Dalla notte che verrà
Senza mai un nome, senza identità
Questa strada non è la mia
Voglio presto fuggire, via
Salvami
Ma la fortuna nasce insieme a te
O senza te
Ti manca sempre un'occasione in più
Perché tu non sia tu
E allora
Salvami
Dalla strada che non sa
Fra giorno e notte, quanti figli ha
Questa strada, non è la mia
Voglio presto fuggire, via
Salvami
Oh, no
Oh, salvami
In the lyrics of Renato Zero's song "Salvami", the singer expresses a feeling of being misplaced and uncertain about their purpose in life. They contemplate the existence of a higher power and wonder where God was when they had to make choices between good and evil. The world seems equal and indifferent everywhere, and nothing ever felt enough. The singer mentions studying to become an engineer but not having a bridge to design, suggesting a metaphorical bridge that represents stability or a path in life. Despite feeling lost, they continue to survive on that bridge.
The singer reflects on the concept of presenting their best side to the world and pretending that love is something they understand. They emphasize the unpredictability of life and their tendency to rely on chance and their own recklessness. However, this comes at a cost as they leave pieces of themselves behind, not knowing who or what they truly are. The lyrics imply a sense of frustration and longing for meaning or importance in life.
The chorus "Salvami" (Save me) is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the plea for help and salvation from a certain path or lifestyle. The singer expresses a desire to be saved from a road that lacks knowledge, where numerous children exist between day and night. They also mention how their own body is being bought and sold by people seeking happiness, possibly referring to feeling objectified or devalued.
The song continues with a rejection of seeking truth in the pockets of others and a plea to be saved from the upcoming night without a name and without identity. The singer yearns to escape from this unfamiliar path and wants to be saved. They mention how fortune is often tied to someone else's presence or absence, and how one is always missing an extra opportunity to truly be themselves. The repetition of "Salvami" intensifies the urgency and desire for salvation from the road that lacks knowledge and the need to escape.
In summary, "Salvami" is a song that delves into the singer's feeling of being lost and misplaced in life. They reflect on the choices they have made, the absence of a defined path, and the desire to be saved from a road that lacks meaning and identity. The repeated plea for help and salvation underscores their longing for guidance and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Dici bene, questo non è il posto mio
You say well, this is not my place
Non l'ho deciso io
I didn't decide it
Quando questa strada ha scelto me
When this road chose me
Chissà dov'era Dio
Who knows where God was
Quando sceglievo fra il bene e il male
When I chose between good and evil
Quando il mondo è dovunque uguale
When the world is everywhere the same
Quando niente non bastava, mai
When nothing was ever enough
Quando studiavo da ingegnere
When I was studying to be an engineer
E non avevo un ponte da progettare
And I didn't have a bridge to design
E sul quel ponte, sopravvivo
And on that bridge, I survive
Se mi cerchi, sono sempre qua
If you look for me, I'm always here
Puntuale sono qua
Promptly, I'm here
E la morte io già so cos'è
And I already know what death is
Viaggia insieme a me
It travels with me
Quando offrirò il mio profilo migliore
When I'll offer my best profile
Quando ho imparato che bisogna salire
When I learned that you have to climb
E fare finta che amore
And pretend it's love
Tu non sai cos'è
You don't know what it is
E ogni volta dirò che è la prima volta
And every time I'll say it's the first time
Affidandomi al caso e alla mia incoscienza
Relying on chance and my recklessness
Lasciando sull'asfalto, un po' di me
Leaving a piece of me on the asphalt
Senza sapere mai
Without ever knowing
Che cosa sei
What you are
Perché lo sai
Because you know
E per chi
And for whom
Niente è più importante
Nothing is more important
Salvami
Save me
Dalla strada che non sa
From the street that doesn't know
Fra giorno e notte, quanti figli ha
Between day and night, how many children it has
Fra questa gente in cerca d'allegria
Among this people searching for joy
Che compra e vende questa pelle mia
Who buy and sell this skin of mine
Salvami
Save me
Oh, no
Oh, no
Io non cerco nelle tasche tue, la verità
I don't search for the truth in your pockets
Salvami
Save me
Dalla notte che verrà
From the coming night
Senza mai un nome, senza identità
Without ever a name, without identity
Questa strada non è la mia
This street is not mine
Voglio presto fuggire, via
I want to quickly escape, away
Salvami
Save me
Ma la fortuna nasce insieme a te
But luck is born together with you
O senza te
Or without you
Ti manca sempre un'occasione in più
You always miss one more opportunity
Perché tu non sia tu
So that you are not yourself
E allora
And so
Salvami
Save me
Dalla strada che non sa
From the street that doesn't know
Fra giorno e notte, quanti figli ha
Between day and night, how many children it has
Questa strada, non è la mia
This street is not mine
Voglio presto fuggire, via
I want to quickly escape, away
Salvami
Save me
Oh, no
Oh, no
Oh, salvami
Oh, save me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Renato Fiacchini, Piero Pintucci
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind