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.
Sospetto
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E mi balena in mente l'idea,
Che chi ho vicino amico non sia,
Se parla male di me
Se pensa solo per se…
Diffidenti si è,
Quando non c'è più lealtà
Ecco, che strada si fa : il sospetto!
Cosi vicini. Li toccherai!
Certo non dubiterai, di loro. Mai e poi mai!
Pensare al tradimento non puoi!
Sospetto!
Il prete. Il poliziotto e via via …
Chiunque entrare può in casa mia,
E uscire di qua,
Con tutta tranquillità!
Un movimento strano, e già sospetto,
Ce l'abbiano con me…
Proprio con me! Chissà che male ho fatto!
Cosi non vivo più … sei tu ? Sei tu ? O tu!!!
Sospetto,
Chi si nasconde dietro di me,
E affila il suo rasoio perché …
Sono più bello di lui.
O più richiesto di lei!
Eppure è cosi!
Fare attenzione dovrò
Se mi distraggo, lo so… è la fine!
Sospetto, chi è, cosi gentile con me,
Che mi offre qualcosa al bar.
Sospetto, un'ombra che va… adesso se lo so già …
Quell'ombra sinistra, è la mia! Sospetto di me!
Un malinteso ci potrà seguire,
Dove non ci credi più…
Dove oltre il male, esiste pure il bene…
Potrò fidarmi ? Dillo tu, e tu, e tu…
Sospetto.
Che un giorno, quel sospetto cadrà.
Se affronteremo la verità,
I vizi e le anomalie,
Le tue paure e le mie…
Vicini se mai. Più consapevoli noi.
Ti accetterò. Tu mi accetterai ?
Sospetto, che dentro te al sicuro sarei!
Sospetto di chi, sarà invidioso cosi…
Di questa nostra felicità.
Sospetto, che dalla rabbia, lui creperà!!!
Il sospetto…non vincerà
The song "Sospetto" by Renato Zero speaks about the feeling of suspicion towards the people around us. It starts with the idea that those who talk bad about us or behave selfishly might not be our true friends, and it is important to be cautious of our surroundings. The lyrics also explore the fear of being betrayed by those closest to us, where even a small movement can evoke suspicion. The song moves on to contemplate the possibility of being at fault for the suspicion, and how misunderstandings can occur even in the face of love and happiness. In the end, the song suggests that facing the truth and being more aware can help conquer suspicion and lead to mutual acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Sospetto!
Suspicion!
E mi balena in mente l'idea,
And the idea comes into my mind,
Che chi ho vicino amico non sia,
That those who are close to me may not be my friends,
Se parla male di me
If they speak ill of me
Se pensa solo per se…
If they think only of themselves…
Diffidenti si è,
One becomes distrustful,
Quando non c'è più lealtà
When there is no more loyalty,
Ecco, che strada si fa : il sospetto!
That's when suspicion arises!
Vicini se mai, sono i nemici che hai…
The closest ones may be your enemies,
Cosi vicini. Li toccherai!
So close, you'll touch them!
Certo non dubiterai, di loro. Mai e poi mai!
Surely you won't distrust them. Never ever!
Pensare al tradimento non puoi!
You can't think of betrayal!
Sospetto!
Suspicion!
Il prete. Il poliziotto e via via…
The priest. The police officer and so on…
Chiunque entrare può in casa mia,
Anyone can enter my house,
E uscire di qua,
And leave from here,
Con tutta tranquillità!
With complete calmness!
Un movimento strano, e già sospetto,
A strange movement, and suspicion arises,
Ce l'abbiano con me…
They might have it in for me…
Proprio con me! Chissà che male ho fatto!
Me, of all people! Who knows what wrong I've done!
Cosi non vivo più… sei tu ? Sei tu ? O tu!!!
So I can't go on anymore… Is it you? Is it you? Or you!!!
Sospetto,
Suspicion,
Chi si nasconde dietro di me,
Who is hiding behind me,
E affila il suo rasoio perché…
And sharpens their razor because…
Sono più bello di lui.
I am more beautiful than him.
O più richiesto di lei!
Or more in demand than her!
Eppure è cosi!
Yet it is so!
Fare attenzione dovrò
I must be careful
Se mi distraggo, lo so… è la fine!
If I get distracted, I know… it's the end!
Sospetto, chi è cosi gentile con me,
Suspicion, who is so kind to me,
Che mi offre qualcosa al bar.
Who offers me something at the bar.
Sospetto, un'ombra che va… adesso se lo so già…
Suspicion, a shadow that goes… now I already know…
Quell'ombra sinistra, è la mia! Sospetto di me!
That dark shadow is mine! I suspect myself!
Un malinteso ci potrà seguire,
A misunderstanding may follow us,
Dove non ci credi più…
Where you don't believe anymore…
Dove oltre il male, esiste pure il bene…
Where beyond evil, there is also good…
Potrò fidarmi ? Dillo tu, e tu, e tu…
Can I trust them? You tell me, and you, and you…
Sospetto.
Suspicion.
Che un giorno, quel sospetto cadrà.
That one day, that suspicion will fall away.
Se affronteremo la verità,
If we face the truth,
I vizi e le anomalie,
The vices and the anomalies,
Le tue paure e le mie…
Your fears and mine…
Vicini se mai. Più consapevoli noi.
Closer than ever. More aware of each other.
Ti accetterò. Tu mi accetterai?
Will you accept me? Will I accept you?
Sospetto, che dentro te al sicuro sarei!
I suspect that I would be safe inside you!
Sospetto di chi, sarà invidioso cosi…
I suspect of those who are so envious…
Di questa nostra felicità.
Of our happiness.
Sospetto, che dalla rabbia, lui creperà!!!
I suspect that from rage, they will die!
Il sospetto… non vincerà
Suspicion… will not win.
Contributed by Micah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.