Renato Zero

Zerolandia Record Cover

Renata Zero started his career in the 1970s dressing like a woman and delivering music with very explicit lyrics. While they were certainly filled with sexual content, they were never vulgar; compared to today's standards, his music could be considered almost Church music. His innovations were mainly two: his language that was direct and understandable by the younger generation, and his content. His words spoke for the first time about issues that pop music had not touched before but which clearly interested and attracted a huge audience. What seemed at first to be simply provocative turned out to be a serious social call to fans who needed to really connect to the issues he was able to bring up.

His female attire, with his long hair and full makeup, also brought to the spotlight the topic of homosexuality, until then carefully left out of the Italian entertainment industry. Zero always took a very ambiguous approach to the topic and this made his songs even more powerful; in many ways we can say that he anticipated people like Madonna or a more recent Lady Gaga. Indeed, before Zero no one had seen a man dressed like a woman and give a real performance, without mocking or making a spoof. Zero also introduced one of the first curse words ever in Italian music, and although a very mild "bitch" was said in his lyrics, at that time it felt like a major breakthrough from the rules and the "controlled performances" that a strict censorship always enforced.  But, Zero did it; he did it on his records, he did on his TV appearances and he did it on his live shows.

His success was huge and very rapid, and he put together a very large tent that was home for his concerts. He called it Zerolandia and the rest is history. For a while he faded out of the mainstream but then in the mid 90's, with a more conservative look and a more mature appeal, he had a very strong comeback. This captured the interest of his former fans and also intrigued newer fans, youngsters who connected with him just like their parents had.  Since his comeback, he has not stopped and actually has been able to book even more time on TV than before, with very special guest appearances. His concerts sell out every time he takes the stage.

Renato Zero live on Italian TV

The key to his success is his talent, not his dress or the subject material he sung about. Indeed, those turned out to be distractions, a minor detail when compared to his entire career and put in a context of his really great music. His art definitely overcame his transgressions and he kept his relationship with his fans intact, holding on to his unique way of communicating directly. He is now a father / older brother figure, who doesn't give advice based on social clichés; instead he says "Yes I hear you, and that is how I see it."

As years go by, his style and sound are still very fresh, and his fans are always eager to find out what he is thinking next; after all, today's taste and standards are probably close to a perfect match to Renato Zero's vision of society, and of the world in general.