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
Adeste Fideles
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye
O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes
Venite venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte Regem angelorum
Venite adoremus venite adoremus
Venite adoremus Christ the Lord
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultations
O sing all ye citizens
Of heaven above
Glory to God
In the highest
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Connie Francis's song Adeste Fidelis, also known as "O Come, All Ye Faithful", is a traditional Christmas hymn that invokes the faithful to rejoice and come to Bethlehem to witness the birth of the King of angels, Jesus Christ. The lyrics are an invitation to all believers, both on earth and in heaven, to sing and celebrate the glory of the Lord. The song begins with a joyful and triumphant call to the faithful to come to Bethlehem and behold the newborn King of angels. In the second verse, the choirs of angels join in singing to exalt the Lord, and the faithful are invited to join them in their praise. The final verse repeats the call to adore Christ the Lord, as the ultimate act of worship.
The lyrics of "O Come All Ye Faithful" are a hymn of reverence and adoration to Christ. The song is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and the joy and peace that it brings to believers. The words are a reminder to all Christians of the importance of the incarnation and the message of hope and salvation that it conveys. The hymn expresses the universal appeal of the Christmas story, as it has been sung in many languages and cultures over the centuries. It also reflects the timeless nature of the Christian message, which continues to inspire and uplift people around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
O come all ye faithful
Come, everyone who is full of faith
Joyful and triumphant
Filled with joy and victorious
O come ye
Come, you all
O come ye to Bethlehem
Come to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Come see Him
Born the King of angels
He is the King of the angels and He was born here
O come let us adore Him
Let us worship Him
O come let us adore Him
Let us worship Him
O come let us adore Him
Let us worship Him
Christ the Lord
He is the Lord Jesus Christ
Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes
Come, happy and triumphant Christians
Venite venite in Bethlehem
Come, come to Bethlehem
Natum videte Regem angelorum
See the newborn King of angels
Venite adoremus venite adoremus
Come and worship, come and worship
Venite adoremus Christ the Lord
Come and worship Christ the Lord
Sing choirs of angels
Sing, you choirs of angels
Sing in exultations
Sing with great joy
O sing all ye citizens
Oh sing, all citizens
Of heaven above
From the heavens above
Glory to God
Glory to God
In the highest
Highest above all
O come let us adore Him
Let us worship Him
O come let us adore Him
Let us worship Him
O come let us adore Him
Let us worship Him
Christ the Lord
He is the Lord Jesus Christ
O come let us adore Him
Let us worship Him
Christ the Lord
He is the Lord Jesus Christ
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, LALO SCHIFRIN, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lisamillas7157
Beautiful person and an amazing voice. I grew up hearing Connie Francis singing on my Mom's albums. I love her for the wonderful person that she is and her amazing voice. God Bless You Connie !!
@conniefrancis4743
Hi dear🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel am checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖💕
@JoeSmith-qp6qg
she has the voice of an angel way to go miss Connie.
@biasevich1948
preciosa versión, me encanta.
@migsdizon2439
Beautiful! I love it ❤️
@keithwilson248
Makes me weep dripping tears - even though I am an atheist.
@adrianaticas450
Sienpre megustaba su voz. Escuchaba en muchos años
@powerg7444
Uno de los mejores albumes de Navidad en mi opinión
@waynedunn1108
Amazing miss connie love you
@keithash60
One of the best