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
Al Di L
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Al di lб del bene
Piщ prezioso, ci sei tu
Al di lб del sogno
Piщ ambizioso, ci sei tu
Al di lб delle cose piщ belle
Al di lб delle stelle, ci sei tu
Per me, soltanto per me
Al di la means you are
Far above me, very far
Every star will light
The way above me
To where you are
Just to measure your worth
I'd move heaven and earth
To be near you
You're my life
You're my love
You're my own al di lб
La la la la la
Al di lб della volta infinita
Al di la della vita, ci sei tu
Al di lб ci sei tu per me
La la la la la
The lyrics to Connie Francis's song "Al Di Lб" are a beautiful ode to love and the person who is most precious to the singer. The repeated phrase "al di lб," literally meaning "beyond" or "farther," is used throughout the song to emphasize just how much the person being referred to surpasses everything else in the singer's life. The singer acknowledges that this person is "far above me, very far," but their love transcends any distance or obstacle, even reaching beyond the stars. The singer would do anything to be with them, as they are the light that guides their way through life. The final lines of the song suggest that this person is not just a lover, but the singer's entire world: "You're my life, You're my love, You're my own al di lб."
The song's message is one of unconditional love and devotion, and the melody and arrangement fit perfectly with the romantic theme. The dreamy, almost otherworldly quality of the music elevates the feelings expressed in the lyrics, imbuing them with a sense of awe and wonder. Overall, "Al Di Lб" is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the power of love and the people who mean the most to us.
Line by Line Meaning
La la la la la
Silly sounds to begin the song.
Al di lб del bene
Beyond goodness.
Piщ prezioso, ci sei tu
You are the most precious beyond goodness.
Al di lб del sogno
Beyond dreams.
Piщ ambizioso, ci sei tu
You are the most ambitious beyond dreams.
Al di lб delle cose piщ belle
Beyond the most beautiful things.
Al di lб delle stelle, ci sei tu
Beyond the stars, you are there.
Al di lб, ci sei tu per me
You are there for me beyond everything.
Per me, soltanto per me
Only for me, only for me.
Al di la means you are
Al di la means that you are beyond everything.
Far above me, very far
You are far above me, out of reach.
Every star will light
Every star will guide me.
The way above me
Guiding me towards where you are.
Just to measure your worth
To understand your value.
I'd move heaven and earth
I'd go to great lengths.
To be near you
Just to be close to you.
You're my life
You are my life.
You're my love
You are my love.
You're my own al di lб
You are my everything beyond everything.
La la la la la
Silly sounds to end the song.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARLO DONIDA LABATI, GIULIO RAPETTI MOGOL, MOTOHIRO ARAI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chevy Boy
A powerful voice that fills the Infinite Space (Infinita) with all the love energy the cosmos can hold…
The most impressive foreign (Italian) song that adorns the film Rome Adventure. Such were the time and era when romantic love was meaningful, haunting and enshrined…
Al Di La cannot be translated literally. It is this poetic meaning ‘Beyond the beyond’ that set the listeners on wings into the fathomless height of Love!
Connie Francis, being Italian-American ascends like a star in this Latin tune that her voice is gifted to.
(Thank you for this outstanding video — the imagery, the sound quality, and how the lyrics being played out with the translation. If I remember correctly, this video has the waterfall image streaming down on the central figure. Just wondering what happened to the old version? Miss it dearly!)
ladyelisa1951
When I was feeling very down, this song, one of my father’s favorites, kept popping into my head. I believe he was sending me his love from heaven.
Til Sandre
Same boat as you, with my Mom and sister
Carlo Forti
My father passed away 4 weeks ago and it was his favorite and mine too. I miss him so much, it seems when I listen to this song I feel him next to me smiling and telling me we'll meet soon.
Robert Miller
Best song sung in a beautiful arrangement by one one the best female vocalists of all time.
Lucia Braithwaite
The best version of this stunning song - simply amazing and incredibly moving to listen to, even if you are not Italian - what a voice.
GoodQuotes
An emotional song sung by an equally exquisite voice called Connie Francis
janet ravnell
One of the Best female singer of all Time
Luisgalindo Galindo
Una voz inolvidable y bella....una cancion joya de todos los tiempos
Hari Padmanabhan
Divine! Glorious! Melting Emotions! Immortal Voice dripping with poignant, soul-touching lyrics.
I have been listening to Connie Francis from 1963, and I still do. I have heard several versions of Al Di La, but Connie's voice is the Queen of them all.
Her vocal chords drip with intense, soulful emotion as though they seem to have a life of their own. I am convinced that her voice has been specially custom-crafted by Divine Providence.
Robert Cubinelli
Connie Francis had a superb voice. Great singer indeed.