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.
Santa Giovanna
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dolce ostrica, del mai!
Dico a te, che il mondo incolperà…
D'esser femmina e riderà!
Va! Donna, va!!!
Dico a te, che nel tuo ventre hai,
Le nevrosi e gli entusiasmi miei!
Dico a te, che la verginità,
La tentazione, è una logica tua…
Una tua sana follia!
Santa Giovanna,combatti una guerra…
Ma vincila e cosi sia…
Casta o ninfomane…
Prosa o poesia!
La gente sa…
Ma che ne sa!
Mistero è,
Quel sesso in te!
Ma tu viviti finchè vuoi,
Ma tu spenditi i giorni tuoi!
Se è l'amore, che ti fa andare, allora va!!!
Dove un fiore, ha il profumo di te!
Là dove un porco, si sente un re…
Dove impazzire, si può…
Dove pian piano, si muore… Di un po'!
Dico a te, speranza, a te che sei,
Schiava delle tue virtù!
Dico a te, ancestrale, vittima,
Del proibito e del tabù!
Va! Donna, va!!!
Dico a te, di non cambiare idea!
Prendi amore ovunque sia!
Sulle strade più impraticabili…
Fra le braccia, le più improbabili…
Quanta paura ti fa,
Quello che il mondo dirà!
Quell'etichetta, non c'è via di mezzo,
E' pettegolezzo, è mania!
Sgualdrina, lesbica, o figlia di Maria!
La gente sa…
Ma che ne sa ?
Mistero è,
Quel sesso in te!
Per i tuoi voli, io ti presto le ali!
Non ti chiedo un sorriso, se vorrai, tu rimani…
Se vogliamo cambiare, il mondo, cambierà!
E l'amore rivive con te…
In ogni battaglia, in fondo ad ogni perché…
Quanta paura ti fa,
Quello che il mondo, dirà!
Quell'etichetta, non c'è via di mezzo,
E' pettegolezzo, o mania!
E l'amore, rivive con te,
In ogni battaglia, in fondo ad ogni perché…
Perché ? Perché ? Per te
The song "Santa Giovanna" by Renato Zero is a touching reflection on the struggles of being a woman in a world that often oppresses and judges their choices. The lyrics convey a message of encouragement to women, telling them to embrace their femininity and sexuality, and not to be ashamed or afraid of what others may say or think about them. The first verse speaks directly to a woman, telling her that she is like a sweet oyster in her shell, but the world will blame her for being a woman and will laugh at her. The chorus urges the woman to go ahead and fight her battles, whether she is casta (chaste) or ninfomane (nymphomaniac), and to live her life to the fullest despite what the world may say.
The second verse delves deeper into the woman's psyche, acknowledging her vulnerabilities and her fears of being judged by society. It implores her not to change her mind, not to be a slave to her virtues, and to embrace love wherever she finds it, even if it is in the most unlikely arms or on the most treacherous roads. The bridge of the song emphasizes the theme of love, and how it can endure and thrive despite the battles and struggles it may face. The song ends with a repeated refrain of "Perché? Perché? Per Te." (Why? Why? For you), which expresses the hope that the world can be changed through the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Dico a te che nel tuo guscio stai
I am telling you that you are hiding within yourself
Dolce ostrica, del mai!
You are like a sweet oyster, forever
Dico a te, che il mondo incolperà
I am telling you that the world will blame you
D'esser femmina e riderà!
For being a woman and will laugh at you
Va! Donna, va!!!
Go! Woman, go!
Dico a te, che nel tuo ventre hai,
I am telling you that within your womb,
Le nevrosi e gli entusiasmi miei!
Are my neuroses and enthusiasms!
Dico a te, che la verginità,
I am telling you that virginity,
Non conosce l'eternità!
Does not know eternity!
La tentazione, è una logica tua
Temptation is a logic of yours
Una tua sana follia!
A healthy madness of yours!
Santa Giovanna, combatti una guerra
Saint Joan, you fight a war
Ma vincila e cosi sia
But win it and so be it
Casta o ninfomane
Chaste or nymphomaniac
Prosa o poesia!
Prose or poetry!
La gente sa
People know
Ma che ne sa!
But what do they know!
Mistero è,
It's a mystery,
Quel sesso in te!
That sex within you!
Ma tu viviti finchè vuoi,
But live your life as long as you want,
Ma tu spenditi i giorni tuoi!
But spend your days as you wish!
Se è l'amore, che ti fa andare, allora va!
If it's love that makes you go, then go!
Dove un fiore, ha il profumo di te!
Where a flower has your scent!
Là dove un porco, si sente un re
There where a pig can feel like a king
Dove impazzire, si può
Where you can go crazy
Dove pian piano, si muore Di un po'!
Where you can slowly die a little!
Dico a te, speranza, a te che sei,
I am telling you, hope, you who are
Schiava delle tue virtù!
A slave to your virtues!
Dico a te, ancestrale, vittima,
I am telling you, ancestral victim
Del proibito e del tabù!
Of the forbidden and taboo!
Va! Donna, va!!!
Go! Woman, go!
Dico a te, di non cambiare idea!
I am telling you, do not change your mind!
Prendi amore ovunque sia!
Take love wherever it is!
Sulle strade più impraticabili,
On the most impracticable roads,
Fra le braccia, le più improbabili!
Among the most improbable arms!
Quanta paura ti fa,
How much fear it makes you feel,
Quello che il mondo dirà!
What the world will say!
Quell'etichetta, non c'è via di mezzo,
There is no middle ground for that label,
E' pettegolezzo, è mania!
It's gossip, it's mania!
Sgualdrina, lesbica, o figlia di Maria!
Whore, lesbian or daughter of Mary!
La gente sa
People know
Ma che ne sa ?
But what do they know?
Mistero è,
It's a mystery,
Quel sesso in te!
That sex within you!
Per i tuoi voli, io ti presto le ali!
For your flights, I lend you my wings!
Non ti chiedo un sorriso, se vorrai, tu rimani
I do not ask for a smile, if you want, you can stay
Se vogliamo cambiare, il mondo, cambierà!
If we want to change the world, it will change!
E l'amore rivive con te,
And love will revive with you,
In ogni battaglia, in fondo ad ogni perché!
In every battle, at the bottom of every why!
Quanta paura ti fa,
How much fear it makes you feel,
Quello che il mondo, dirà!
What the world will say!
Quell'etichetta, non c'è via di mezzo,
There is no middle ground for that label,
E' pettegolezzo, o mania!
It's gossip or mania!
E l'amore, rivive con te,
And love will revive with you,
In ogni battaglia, in fondo ad ogni perché!
In every battle, at the bottom of every why!
Perché ? Perché ? Per te
Why? Why? For you
Contributed by Hunter J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gabriella D,Aliberti
Una delle sue più belle per testo,musica e interpretazione ❤️
Giampiero del Buono Official
funk, jazz, fusion, c'è tutto in questo pezzo, questa è musica...
adam adami
Le grandi canzoni di Renato Zero che fanno parte di un Epoca che non esiste piu....
Dorotea
La dedico a mia madre Giovanna oggi ha 93 anni "ragazza madre" una pioniera! Anche lei amava tanto Renato !❤️
antolight66
L'ho risentita dopo anni ecco come si coniuga un testo significativo con una bella melodia grande Renato sorcina for ever
Ezio Franzi
La migliore canzone di Renato zero
Gennaro Scognamiglio
Capolavoro.
Rosa Nera
Poesie...❤️
Fabiola Poliziani
Bella frase "se vogliamo cambiare il mondo, il mondo cambierà"
Gio D' Alessio
"La vita cambia se c' e chi cambia" e il nome e Gianna💪❤.....