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.
Viva la RAI
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ci fa crescere sani…viva la RAI
Viva la RAI
Quanti geni lavorano solo per noi…
Viva la RAI
Con il suo impero
Dice la RAI
Soltanto il vero
Viva la RAI
Dimmi da quale parte stai
Viva la RAI
Se sarai buono il tuo Mazinga vedrai
Oppure no…
Dipende dal funzionario RAI
Viva la RAI
Che cosa giusta
E con la RAI
È sempre festa
Viva la RAI
Coi capoccioni e gli operai
In Viale Mazzini
Ci giocano i bambini
Mentre tu, vivi grazie alla RAI/TV
In fondo è la tua mamma
Ti allatta dall'antenna
Mamma RAI, non ti abbandona mai…se no guai!
Viva la RAI
Quante battaglie nei corridoi…
Poveri noi…
Se non si mettessero d'accordo alla RAI
Paghiamo allora questo abbonamento
Per mantenerli in salute e in sentimento…
Perché oramai
Questo cervello
Avrà un padrone lo sai ?
Viva la RAI
Con il suo impero
Dice la RAI
Soltanto il vero
Viva la RAI
Coi capoccioni e gli operai
(Coro) Viva la RAI
The song "Viva la RAI" by Renato Zero is a celebration of the Italian public broadcasting corporation, RAI, and its importance to the country. The lyrics convey the message that RAI helps people grow healthy and aims to provide truthful information. The song also acknowledges the hard work of the numerous talented people who work behind the scenes and create content solely for the public. It urges the listener to take a stance and choose to support RAI, as it is a force of good that promotes a positive image of the country. The song depicts RAI as an empire that stands for truth and justice and brings joy to people's lives with its programming.
The lyrics also touch upon the political battles and power struggles that take place within the walls of RAI. While it acknowledges that disagreements may exist, it emphasizes the importance of coming together for the greater good of the country. The song highlights the financial burden placed upon the public who must maintain their subscriptions to keep RAI afloat. However, it reassures the listeners that the investment is worth it as RAI provides quality content that benefits the public.
Overall, "Viva la RAI" is a hymn to the power of television and radio, celebrating the importance of public broadcasting and the impact it has on people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Viva la RAI
Long live RAI, the Italian public television network
Ci fa crescere sani... viva la RAI
RAI helps us grow up healthy... long live RAI
Quanti geni lavorano solo per noi... viva la RAI
So many talented people work only for us... long live RAI
Con il suo impero Dice la RAI Soltanto il vero... viva la RAI
With its empire, RAI speaks only the truth... long live RAI
Dimmi da quale parte stai viva la RAI
Tell me which side you're on... long live RAI
Se sarai buono il tuo Mazinga vedrai. Oppure no... dipende dal funzionario RAI... viva la RAI
If you're good, you'll see your Mazinga (a popular robot character) on TV. Or maybe not... it depends on the RAI employee... long live RAI
Che cosa giusta E con la RAI È sempre festa... viva la RAI
What a righteous thing, and with RAI, it's always a party... long live RAI
Coi capoccioni e gli operai In Viale Mazzini Ci giocano i bambini Mentre tu, vivi grazie alla RAI/TV In fondo è la tua mamma Ti allatta dall'antenna Mamma RAI, non ti abbandona mai... se no guai!
With executives and workers on Viale Mazzini, children play. While you live thanks to RAI/TV, it's your mother who breastfeeds you from the antenna. Mother RAI never abandons you... or else you'll be in trouble!
Quante battaglie nei corridoi... poveri noi... Se non si mettessero d'accordo alla RAI Paghiamo allora questo abbonamento Per mantenerli in salute e in sentimento... viva la RAI
So many battles in the corridors... poor us... if they didn't agree at RAI, we would still pay for this subscription to keep them healthy and sentimental... long live RAI
Perché oramai Questo cervello Avrà un padrone lo sai ? viva la RAI
Because now, you know that this brain will have a master... long live RAI
Viva la RAI Coi capoccioni e gli operai
Long live RAI with executives and workers
(Coro) Viva la RAI
Chorus: Long live RAI
Contributed by Christopher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lillina Addezi
Mi piace moltissimo!!!😍
Silvana Lombardo
Renatone , sei sempre UNICO! !! 👏👏👏👏💜💛💚
Antonella Finotti
Confermo in pieno !!
francesco scannicchio
Eccezionale brano ascoltato dappertutto in quel periodo. Grande Renato. Claudio
Sabrina Sergi
ZERO????
DIECI E LODE!!!!!!
SEI UNO DEI MIGLIORI CANTANTI ITALIANI E TI AMMIRERÒ SEMPRE.
UN ABBRACCIO E RICORDA SEMPRE CHE SEI UN ....... CAMPIONE DEL MONDO!!!!
SABRINA 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Piero Fulvio
l'avevano pure tenuta come sigla...che geni.
Francesco Zanin
@Elisa Ferrari no fantastico 3
Elisa Ferrari
Era la sigla di fantastico 2 forse
Davide Speranza
Ma sai… ogni governo cambiano i vertici quindi quelli che hanno mandato in onda Renato Zero con questa canzone saranno quelli del governo dopo :/
Davide Accorsi
Meravigliosa!