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
A Garden in the Rain
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close to a little leafy lane
A touch of colour 'neath skies of gray!
The raindrops kissed the flower beds
The blossoms raised their thirsty heads
A perfumed thank you they seem to say!
Maybe it was just that I was there
With you!
'Twas just a garden in the rain,
But then the sun came out again
And sent us happily on our way!
Surely here was charm beyond compare to view
But, maybe it was just that you were there dear,
You were so lovely!
'Twas just a garden in the rain,
But then the sun came out again
And sent us happily on our way!
Just a garden in the rain!
Music by Carroll Gibbons
And lyrics by James Dyrenforth, 1929
The song "A Garden in the Rain" by Connie Francis is a romantic and nostalgic ballad that speaks of an idyllic garden amidst a rainy day. The first stanza describes the garden as a picturesque scene, situated near a leafy lane. The rain falls on the garden, kissing the flower beds, and the blossoms raise their heads to soak up the much-needed water. The imagery used in the lyrics creates a lush and serene atmosphere for the listener to experience. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the charm of the garden is beyond compare, but perhaps it is simply because the singer is there with their loved one.
The second verse describes how the sun comes out again and clears away the gray skies, and the couple moves on from the garden, happier for the experience of being there together. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia, longing for the simplicity of days past or the desire for an unattainable perfect moment, shared with a loved one.
Overall, "A Garden in the Rain" is a tender, poetic exploration of beauty, love, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a romantic moment that endures and provides comfort during trying times.
Line by Line Meaning
'Twas just a garden in the rain,
It was a simple garden, unaffected by elements and unnoticeable.
Close to a little leafy lane
It could be found by the side of a shaded alley.
A touch of colour 'neath skies of gray!
Its colorful flowers showed life amidst the dull skies.
The raindrops kissed the flower beds
The gentle droplets brought life to the garden's flowers.
The blossoms raised their thirsty heads
The flowers greedily rose to drink the rainwater.
A perfumed thank you they seem to say!
The flowers appeared to express gratitude through their sweet smell.
Surely here was charm beyond compare to view,
The garden's scenery was incomparable in beauty and splendor.
Maybe it was just that I was there,
Perhaps what made the garden remarkable was because it was experienced together with someone special.
With you!
The artist recognizes the person they shared the experience with is the one who made it special.
'Twas just a garden in the rain,
Again, the artist emphasizes that it was a mere garden seemingly unimportant and uncomplicated.
But then the sun came out again
But then sunshine brought light, life, and happiness to the moment.
And sent us happily on our way!
Ending the experience with joy and content as they walked away.
Surely here was charm beyond compare to view
Repeating that the garden was attractive and appealing.
But, maybe it was just that you were there dear,
But, the singer acknowledges that once again, the person they shared the experience with is the real charm.
You were so lovely!
The person the singer shared the experience with was truly beautiful and captivating.
'Twas just a garden in the rain,
Repeating again that it was just an ordinary garden, unremarkable without the person they shared it with.
But then the sun came out again
But the beauty and wonder of sharing the experience made it special.
And sent us happily on our way!
The memory of that experience was satisfying and the journey ahead looked bright.
Just a garden in the rain!
The singer concludes that it was just a simple garden in the rain, but the company of someone special gave it a profound and memorable experience.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CARROLL GIBBONS, JAMES DYRENFORTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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