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.
Sogni Nel Buio
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qui in fondo
I miei occhi aspettano l'alba
La mia voce non trova eco
I miei piedi non trovano la strada
Ma guadagno la mia vita
Giorno per giorno
Fuori di qui c'è il mondo
Un mondo tutto rosa e profumato
Come lei l'ha già sognato, da sempre
Per me
Tutto sembra attendere
Sembra un evento storico, ma
È un miracolo di sempre
Vedo già due mani tese
Imparerò ad andare, a non cadere
Saprò quello che è bene e ciò che è male
So già chi ha la risposta ai miei perché
Crescerò come un fiore
Perché io sono il frutto dell'amore
Non è lontano il giorno
Quando la luce vincerà sul buio
E nel silenzio esploderà il mio pianto
Ricco di rabbia e di felicità.
Così
Così sapranno tutti che son qua
Non so per me quale sarà la sorte
Sarò una bimba fragile o un bambino forte
Mi chiamerò Francesco o Maria Rosa?
Che importa
Quello che conta
È che io sia come mamma mi vuole
Mi vuole
Mi vuole
No
Lei mi ha ucciso
The song "Sogni Nel Buio" by Renato Zero is a poignant representation of the fear, uncertainty and fragmented yet determined hope of someone who is about to be born. It speaks of an unborn child who is waiting in the darkness, ready to enter a new world but unsure of what lies ahead. The child is aware of the existence of a world outside of the darkness but is hesitant to leave the comfort of the womb. The lyrics also convey a sense of longing for the purity and simplicity that once existed in this world, where pain and sin were not dominant forces. The inner conflict that the unborn child faces is portrayed through the use of metaphors such as "my voice doesn't find an echo" and "my feet don't find their way". The child's determination to overcome its fear of the unknown, learn from its mistakes and grow into a beautiful, strong individual is also conveyed through the lyrics. The use of phrases like "I will learn to walk, not fall", "I will know what is good and what is bad", and "I will grow like a flower" reflect the resilience and optimism of the unborn child.
Line by Line Meaning
È buio
It's dark and gloomy.
Qui in fondo
Here in the depths of my heart.
I miei occhi aspettano l'alba
My eyes eagerly await the dawn.
La mia voce non trova eco
My voice echoes in vain.
I miei piedi non trovano la strada
I am lost without a path to follow.
Ma guadagno la mia vita
But I continue to live my life.
Giorno per giorno
Day by day.
Fuori di qui c’è il mondo
Beyond this place lies the world.
Un mondo senza dolori né peccato
A world without pain or sin.
Un mondo tutto rosa e profumato
A world that's rosy and fragrant.
Come lei l’ha già sognato, da sempre
That I have always dreamed of, just like she did.
Per me
For me.
Tutto sembra attendere
Everything seems to be waiting.
Sembra un evento storico, ma
Seems like a momentous event, but.
È un miracolo di sempre
It's a miracle that happens all the time.
Vedo già due mani tese
I can already see two outstretched hands.
Imparerò ad andare, a non cadere
I'll learn to walk without falling.
Saprò quello che è bene e ciò che è male
I'll know what's good and what's bad.
So già chi ha la risposta ai miei perché
I already know who has the answers to my questions.
Crescerò come un fiore
I'll grow like a flower.
Perché io sono il frutto dell’amore
Because I am the fruit of love.
Non è lontano il giorno
The day is not far off.
Quando la luce vincerà sul buio
When light will conquer darkness.
E nel silenzio esploderà il mio pianto
And in silence, my tears will burst forth.
Ricco di rabbia e di felicità.
Full of anger and happiness.
Così
So it will happen.
Così sapranno tutti che son qua
So everyone will know that I'm here.
Non so per me quale sarà la sorte
I don't know what fate has in store for me.
Sarò una bimba fragile o un bambino forte
Whether I'll be a fragile girl or a strong boy.
Mi chiamerò Francesco o Maria Rosa?
Whether my name will be Francesco or Maria Rosa?
Che importa
It doesn't matter.
Quello che conta
What truly matters.
È che io sia come mamma mi vuole
Is that I am as my mother wants.
Mi vuole
She wants me.
Mi vuole
She wants me.
No
No.
Lei mi ha ucciso
She killed me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Renato Fiacchini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sabrina Cristofanilli
Da brividi.. Renato sei meraviglioso ❤️💜
elia giovanna
Il grido di un bimbo mai nato.....
Massimo
tanto tanto triste .....
francesco nascè
Mi domando quali sono i motivi nel mettere il pollice verso...de gustibus
adamo kohlschitter
Oggi verrebbe bannato dal pensiero unico