Renato Zero, comedian of a show in which the protagonists are mice of all ages

I once knew a boy who was in Folgore – not exactly the most progressive Brigade in the country -: he had been in Iraq, in Afghanistan, he had literally risked his life in an attack, he told me of battles, of Komodo dragons – or perhaps other giant reptiles – that attacked the camp in search of of food, of enormous jumping spiders, true, plausible stories of courage, of great strength and virility who however was almost moved when he spoke of Renato Zero, stripping himself of that virile armor for a moment and publicly showing a more emotional side. Renato Zero was his “nemesis”, everything he wasn’t in reality. He was a real doc.

I thought about it while watching Zero’s second concert in Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples, where he took his tour “Autoritratto – The concerts event” in which the Roman singer-songwriter retraced his very long artistic journey. And in particular looking at the singer – who still gives it to him on stage, as they say – but above all the variety of audience that surrounded me: a crossroads of generations, with parents who were fans who had also passed on their passion to their children, bringing an intergenerational audience and completely crazy about Zero. At a certain point I felt like bringing those who complain about rap and the young GenZ to his concert: cell phones, direct to the relative at home, constantly standing despite requests to stay seated, shouting when Zero dances on stage and the ‘unmissable singalong. In short, what many fan bases do but the little guys are much more organized and loyal.

Zero sings his hits, accompanied by some of the faces of Neapolitan music and culture, accompanied by Peppe Barra in Seduto sulla Luna, then Angela Luce takes to the stage – ovation for her – who sings “Era de maggio” and “‘O surdato Nnammurato”, and together Barra and Sal Da Vinci do “‘O carrozzone” (Neapolitan remake of Il carrozzone), with which the first part of the show ends – while the last guest was Peppino Di Capri, who after his illness reduced the her live performances, and with Zero she played Luna Caprese, thrilling the audience. But the whole concert was a tribute to Naples and the Neapolitans.

A flyer from Renato Zero fans

Zero tells anecdotes of when he came to Naples and the Neapolitans cheered him: “Every time I heard ‘Maronna ddo Carmene, Renato, Renatino’, it was like a battle cry, as if to say ‘Renatì, come and visit us every now and then’ and we were lucky this time. I have to thank the Council and the Mayor who have demonstrated sensitivity and talent, because loving Neapolitans is not difficult, but that too is a reward, because you are the first on the list in this country to offer your services, you invented the art of making do: you have suffered the pressure of a Northern Italy that is satisfied, fulfilled, in every way, but which does not have your sun, your Vesuvius, your heart”.

Then the audience chants ‘O surdato ‘nnammurato and Zero returns to Naples: “I carry with me all this desire for Neapolitanness and I have savored the colors of such a wonderfully open, loyal friendship and these stage companions of mine who have proven to be open, always ready to welcome my desire, my desire for contamination, to search through them for a key to get even closer to your registry. And this happens this evening, once again” he says to introduce Peppe Barra. And Naples also returns when the singer-songwriter makes a speech about the many Neapolitan friends who are no longer here and while he sings “Amico” the names of many missing Neapolitans scroll through the visuals: Murolo, Nunzio Gallo, Peppino Gagliardi, Eduardo, Titi de Filippo, Totò , Pino Daniele, Caruso, Mario Merola, Concetta Barra and many others who arrive between the beginning with Pino Daniele and the end with Massimo Troisi. The rest is a show by one of the artists who revolutionized national musical culture and his sorceresses who anticipated contemporary fanbases by years.