Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark's Italian Down Neck or Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey neighbourhood, she is considered the most prolific and popular female rock 'n' roll hit-maker of the early rock era -- the late 1950s to the early 1960s. After an appearance on Startime, Francis was advised to change her name from Franconero to something more easily pronounceable, as well as to quit the accordion and focus on singing.
Francis' first single "Freddy" (1955) met with little success. Her next nine singles were also failures, and she began considering a career in medicine; however, "Who's Sorry Now" (a cover version of a 1923 song) launched her into super-stardom worldwide. Francis recorded the song at what was to have been her final recording session for MGM, as the label was about to drop her since her previous singles had generated little activity. She has said (paraphrased from The Billboard Book of Number One Singles by Fred Bronson) that she recorded it at the suggestion of her father, who convinced her it stood a chance of becoming a hit because it was a song adults already knew and that teenagers would dance to if it were released with a more contemporary arrangement.
The gamble paid off. In April 1958, "Who's Sorry Now" reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart (number four in the USA); in 2000, it was named one of the Songs of the Century. On January 1, 1958, she debuted it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand television show; by mid-year over a million copies were sold. This was followed by many other hits over the next decade, as Connie Francis became one of the most popular vocalists in the world.
Francis specialized in downbeat ballads delivered in her trademark "sobbing" style -- such as "My Happiness," "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry," "Among My Souvenirs," "Together," "Breakin' In a Brand New Broken Heart," and the Italian song "Mama," many of which were remakes of old standards. However, she also had success with a handful of more upbeat, rock-and-roll-oriented compositions, such as "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick On Your Collar," and "Vacation." Among her other notable performances were "In the Summer of His Years" (a tribute to slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy) and Bert Kaempfert's "Strangers In The Night" (although the latter song is more identified with Frank Sinatra). Both "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" went to No.1 on the Billboard music charts in 1960. In 1962 she had another No.1 hit with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You."
Francis recorded in nine languages during her career, including English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, and even Japanese, and remade many of her hits in foreign languages, including "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and her signature song, "Where the Boys Are." In fact, her biggest hit album in the U.S. was 1960's Italian Favorites, and she followed it with several more albums of Italian songs over the years, as well as collections of Spanish-language and Jewish songs, among others.
"Where The Boys Are," one of many Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield compositions Francis recorded during her career (others included "Stupid Cupid" and "Everybody's Somebody's Fool"), gained wide exposure through its inclusion in the 1960 motion picture with the same title. Francis had a role in the film and sang the title song. During the first half of the 1960s she starred in three additional films -- Follow the Boys (1963) (the title song of which became a No. 17 Billboard single for Francis), Looking for Love (1964) and When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965).
In 1960 Francis became the youngest headliner to sing in Las Vegas, where she played 28 days a year for nine years. In 1961 she was successful in starring in her own television special on ABC television sponsored by Brylcreem titled Kicking Sound Around, singing and acting along-side Tab Hunter, Eddie Foy Jr. and Art Carney. She appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on July 1, 1962 with French singing star Johnny Hallyday in a show that was taped at the famous Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris, France. On July 3, 1963 she played a Command performance before Queen Elizabeth II at the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. By 1967, she had 35 U.S. Top 40 hits, and three number ones.
Connie Francis has always been a great fan of country music and recorded several albums of country standards during her pop career. In 1969 she had a modest country hit with "The Wedding Cake" and made the country charts again in 1982 with "There's Still a Few Good Love Songs Left in Me." Several country singers found chart success remaking Francis' pop hits for the country market, including Marie Osmond ("Who's Sorry Now" in 1975), Susan Raye ("My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" in 1972), Margo Smith ("Don't Break The Heart That Loves You" in 1978), and Debby Boone.
During the height of the Vietnam War in 1967, Connie Francis performed for U.S. troops.
Francis ended her recording career in 1969. She returned in 1973 with "The Answer," a song written just for her, and soon began performing again. Her son Joey was born in 1974. Tragedies followed soon after. In 1974 she was sexually assaulted in a hotel following a performance in Westbury, New York. Nasal surgery to correct a sensitivity to air conditioning deprived her of her ability to sing professionally for four years. Her brother was murdered in 1981.
Francis' autobiography, Who's Sorry Now? was published in 1984. Francis was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental disease which includes severe depressions and manic highs. She uses the drug Lithium to balance out the emotional highs and lows caused by the disease. Connie Francis resumed her career in 1989 after discovering the drug and has continued singing and recording since then. Francis still holds a world-wide appeal shown through continued music sales and sold-out appearances.
Her latest CD The American Tour contains performances from recent shows. In late December 2004, Francis headlined in Las Vegas for the first time since 1989.
In March of 2007, Francis performed to a sold-out crowd -- composed of gay urbanites and conservative suburbanites -- in San Francisco. The "little diva" belted out versions of her "woebegone ballads . . . in full force," according to the San Franciso Chronicle's music critic.
Connie's fan club: www.conniefrancis.com
'Who''s Sorry Now'
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's sorry now?
Who's sorry now?
Whose heart is achin' for breakin' each vow?
Who's sad and blue, who's cryin' too?
Just like I cried over you
(Ah ah uh uh) right to the end, just like a friend
You had your way, now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now
(Ah ah ah) right to the end, just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way, now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now
The lyrics to Connie Francis's song "Who's Sorry Now" convey a sense of vindication and satisfaction by the singer towards their former lover, who has now come to regret their actions. The repetition of the title phrase "Who's Sorry Now" emphasizes the theme of regret and the singer's satisfaction. The first verse asks who is "achin' for breakin' each vow," implying that the former lover was unfaithful or dishonest. The second verse has a conversational tone, with the singer saying "right to the end, just like a friend / I tried to warn you somehow." This suggests that the singer had tried to caution the former lover, but their warnings went unheeded. The third verse repeats the lyrics of the second verse, underscoring the satisfaction the singer feels in seeing the former lover "pay" for their actions.
Overall, the lyrics to "Who's Sorry Now" are an effective representation of one of the themes of early rock and roll music: the experience of tumultuous romantic relationships. The song is notable for Francis's powerful vocals and the upbeat, danceable instrumentation that became a hallmark of rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah ah uh uh
The sound of someone singing in pain and heartbreak
Who's sorry now?
Who is feeling regretful at this moment?
Whose heart is achin' for breakin' each vow?
Who is experiencing the pain of a broken heart due to unfulfilled promises?
Who's sad and blue, who's cryin' too?
Who is feeling down and tearful along with the singer?
Just like I cried over you
The singer cried over the person being addressed just like they are crying now.
(Ah ah uh uh) right to the end, just like a friend
Despite everything that happened, the singer was there until the end, like a loyal friend.
I tried to warn you somehow
The singer attempted to caution the person being addressed about the consequences of their actions.
You had your way, now you must pay
The person being addressed got what they wanted but now have to face the negative outcome.
I'm glad that you're sorry now
The singer takes satisfaction in the fact that the person being addressed is now regretful for what they did.
(Ah ah ah) right to the end, just like a friend
Reinforcing that despite the heartbreak the singer faced, they remained loyal until the end.
I tried to warn you somehow
Re-emphasizing the fact that the singer attempted to prevent the unfortunate outcome.
You had your way, now you must pay
Repeating that the person being addressed was in control of the situation and now has to face the consequences.
I'm glad that you're sorry now
Reiterating that the singer is happy that the person being addressed is finally regretful.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Ted Snyder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fabulousrulz
Who's sorry now
Who's sorry now
Who's heart is aching for breaking each vow
Who's sad and blue
Who's crying too
Just like I cried over you
Right to the end
Just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way
Now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now
Right to the end
Just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way
Now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now
@carmencoburn1869
Voice of an angel. I was only 8 but my mom bought all her albums and I grew up listening to Connie's beautiful songs echoing through our house. <3
@anthonysanchez7090
Absolutely amazing
The sound is the best
How are you doing today?
@sueerdman313
I was 8 then too and my parents played her records all the time! Love her voice!
@jomama5186
Lucky little one!
@jomama5186
My Gramma and Great Gramma played her songs and loved her.
@jerelfritts8880
I love Ms. Connie's version of Who's Sorry Now. The emotional and subtleness of her singing pulls at your heart strings. She definitely deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
@jerryspianobar
The ONLY reason that I can think of is that, somehow, the people at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might consider her more easy listening than rock & roll?? Shrug.
@larrybrown3910
There is all types of music in the Hall of Fame. The reason she and some other artists from the 50's & 60's like Robby Rydell etc are not in the Hall is due to the incompetence of the selectors.@@veganmusician
@Daniel-ts3uy
Ya got that right.
@revdianestark
Connie's styling of every note, every word, is the ultimate genius of her artistry.