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.
Spalle al Muro
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quando gli anni son fucili contro
Qualche piega sulla pelle tua
I pensieri tolgono il posto alle parole
Sguardi bassi alla paura
Di ritrovarsi soli
E la curva dei tuoi giorni
Non è più in salita
Lasceranno che i tuoi passi
Sembrino più lenti
Disperatamente al margine
Di tutte le correnti
Vecchio
Diranno che sei vecchio
Con tutta quella forza che c'è in te
Vecchio
Quando non è finita
Hai ancora tanta vita
E l'anima la grida e tu lo sai che c'è
Ma sei vecchio
Ti chiameranno vecchio
E tutta la tua rabbia viene su
Vecchio, sì
Con quello che hai da dire
Ma vali quattro lire
Dovresti già morire
Tempo non c'è ne più
Non te ne danno più
E ogni male fa più male
Tu risparmia il fiato
Prendi presto tutto quel che puoi
E faranno in modo che il tuo viso sembri stanco
Inesorabilmente più appannato
Per ogni pelo bianco
Vecchio
Vecchio
Vecchio
Mentre ti scoppia il cuore
Non devi far rumore
Anche se hai tanto amore
Da dare a chi vuoi tu
Ma sei vecchio
Ti insulteranno, vecchio
Con tutto quella smania che sai tu
Vecchio, sì
E sei tagliato fuori
Quelle tue convinzioni
Le nuove son migliori
Le tue non vanno più
Ragione non hai più
Vecchio, sì
Con tanto che faresti
Adesso che potresti non cedi perché esisti
Perché respiri tu
The song "Spalle al Muro" by Renato Zero is a powerful reflection on aging and the societal pressures that come with it. The lyrics speak to the experience of feeling marginalized and overlooked as one gets older, as well as the internal struggle to maintain one's strength and identity in the face of these pressures.
The opening lines "Spalle al Muro / Quando gli anni son fucili contro" ("Back against the wall / When the years are like guns against you") immediately set the tone for the song, establishing the sense of being under attack and feeling overwhelmed. The following lines describe the physical and emotional toll that aging takes, with "Qualche piega sulla pelle tua" ("A few wrinkles on your skin") and thoughts overshadowing words.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Vecchio" ("Old man"), drives home the central theme of the song - the way society sees and treats those who are aging. Zero sings about the dismissive attitudes and insults that can be directed towards older people, even when they still have so much life and passion left within them. The final lines of the song - "Perché respiri tu" ("Why do you still breathe") - are a challenge to this dismissive attitude, urging the listener to recognize the value and worth of each person, no matter their age.
Overall, "Spalle al Muro" is a powerful and poignant reflection on aging and the difficulties that come with it. The song speaks to the universal experience of feeling marginalized or overlooked, while also highlighting the resilience and strength of those who refuse to be silenced.
Line by Line Meaning
Spalle al muro
Feeling trapped and powerless
Quando gli anni son fucili contro
When age starts taking a toll on you
Qualche piega sulla pelle tua
Lines on your face showing the passage of time
I pensieri tolgono il posto alle parole
Being unable to express oneself due to overwhelming emotions
Sguardi bassi alla paura
Avoiding confrontations and fearful situations
Di ritrovarsi soli
Being afraid of ending up alone
E la curva dei tuoi giorni
Feeling stuck as life seems to offer no more surprises
Non è più in salita
Life is not improving
Scendi piano, dai ricordi in giù
Slowly succumbing to the memories of the past
Lasceranno che i tuoi passi
Others will hold him back and make him feel like he is walking around in circles
Sembrino più lenti
Being held back, making even the simplest tasks seem a lot harder
Disperatamente al margine
Feeling like an outsider or an outcast
Di tutte le correnti
Going against the tide and feeling powerless to change anything
Vecchio
Being called old
Diranno che sei vecchio
Others will constantly remind you of your age
Con tutta quella forza che c'è in te
Even though you still have a lot of strength and energy left
Quando non è finita
Even though life isn't over yet
Hai ancora tanta vita
You still have a lot of life in you, despite what others say
E l'anima la grida e tu lo sai che c'è
Feeling young at heart and refusing to let others hold you back
Ma sei vecchio
Acknowledging that the passage of time has caught up with you
Ti chiameranno vecchio
Being constantly reminded and labeled
E tutta la tua rabbia viene su
Feeling angry and resentful
Con quello che hai da dire
Having a lot of things to say
Ma vali quattro lire
Feeling like others don't value what you have to offer
Dovresti già morire
Feeling like you have nothing else to offer the world
Tempo non c'è ne più
Feeling like time is running out
Non te ne danno più
Feeling like nobody will give you a chance anymore
E ogni male fa più male
Feeling like pain is amplified as you age
Tu risparmia il fiato
Saving your breath and energy for things that matter
Prendi presto tutto quel che puoi
Trying to make the most of the time you have left
E faranno in modo che il tuo viso sembri stanco
Others will try to diminish your spirit and make you feel more tired than you truly are
Inesorabilmente più appannato
Feeling like your clarity of thought and mind is slowly slipping away
Per ogni pelo bianco
Being judged based on your age and physical appearance
Mentre ti scoppia il cuore
Feeling like you're about to burst with emotions, despite it all
Non devi far rumore
Hiding your true feelings and emotions
Anche se hai tanto amore
Trying to love and care for others, despite the challenges
Da dare a chi vuoi tu
Giving love and affection to those who truly matter to you
Ti insulteranno, vecchio
Being insulted and criticized for being old
Con tutto quella smania che sai tu
Feeling like younger generations are impatient and dismissive
E sei tagliato fuori
Feeling excluded from society and social circles
Quelle tue convinzioni
Feeling like your beliefs and opinions no longer matter
Le nuove son migliori
Being told that new ideas and concepts are always better
Le tue non vanno più
Feeling like your views and perspectives are outdated and irrelevant
Ragione non hai più
Feeling like nobody listens to you or takes you seriously anymore
Con tanto che faresti
Having a lot of things you'd like to do and experiences you'd like to have
Adesso che potresti non cedi perché esisti
Refusing to give up or give in to the limitations of age, because you still exist and want to live life to the fullest
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Maria Giuliana Nava
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Caterina Masia
La dedico a quelle persone
Che hanno sofferto da soli
Perché erano (vecchi).
Sono loro che hanno più
Bisogno perché ritornano
Dei piccoli bambini.
Che hanno bisogno di amore.
Nn lasciateli mai soli.
Per quelli che ancora
Hanno i loro genitori
Nonni zii.
Un ❤️ grandissimo
eroedelvento1
Serata memorabile. Avevo 14 anni ma ero consapevole di aver assistito, davanti alla TV, ad una delle più belle pagine della storia musicale italiana.
Donatella Custureri
Da fare venire i brividi . È un grande
Di. Bent.
Avevo 13 anni e Questa esibizione mi è rimasta in testa per tutta la vita la musica, il testo e la voce di Renato con la sua teatralità sono un dono prezioso grazie grazie grazie
RedHot
@Di. Bent. avevo 10 anni,ricordo ancora gli applausi del pubblico che non finivano più... brividi!!!
deliriumtrems
Anche io all epoca avevo 14 anni, ricordo il.silenzio attonito in famiglia tutti rapiti da quell interpretazione
Barbara Zeni
Io ne avevo 13 e da questa canzone cantata a Sanremo ho cominciato a seguire Renato sono diventata zerofolle e lo seguo ancora
Carlo B
Una canzone che è letteratura. Un capolavoro di delicatezza e sensibilità, una interpretazione magistrale, una carezza per chi soffre, un pugno nello stomaco all'indifferenza e agli indifferenti.
Antonella Rampone
L'interpretazione dell'IMMENSO RENATO ZERO che fa venire i brividi...
Il testo è pura poesia..la grandissima Mariella Nava...
Ed è capolavoro...una perla di Sanremo
James Bond
Gli applausi del pubblico valgono 10 primi posti. Una delle canzoni che ha fatto la storia di Sanremo. Grande Renato e Mariella Nava.
Alessia2008
Mentre l'ascolto guardo le foto di mia madre da giovane durante le sue rare vacanze. Aveva più o meno 30 anni .la guardo sorridente mentre parla con la gente e mi chiedo di cosa parlasse.. Che sogni avesse.. Che panorama stesse guardando . Poi la testa va a lei a 82 anni con l'halzaimer e che a volte non ricorda il nome di mia figlia.. Che guarda una soap convinta che sia altro che ride con i conduttori
Rimasta vedova a 52anni.una donna che spaccava il mondo che mi ha cresciuta da sola.. Un pugno allo stomaco.. Non ci si abitua mai