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
Are You Satisfied
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the new love that came your way
Dah dah doh, dah dah doo, dah dah dah, satisfied
Are you satisfied, really satisfied
With the love, she gave you today
Dah dah doh, dah dah doo, dah dah dah, satisfied
As you once did to mine
Is there a chance that you regret it
And want me back some time
Are you satisfied, really satisfied
If you are, well I'll be on my way
Dah dah doh, dah dah doo, dah dah dah, satisfied
Now do you thrill to her kiss
As you once did to mine
Is there a chance that you regret it
And want me back some time
Are you satisfied, really satisfied
If you are, well I'll be on my way
Are you sa-tis-fied
If you are, then I'll be on my way
The lyrics of Connie Francis's "Are You Satisfied" reveal the story of a woman who is questioning her former lover's new relationship. The song takes the form of a conversation where the woman asks her ex-partner if he is truly content and satisfied with his new love. Through a series of probing questions, the woman seeks to know if her ex-partner misses her and if there is a chance that he may want her back.
The lyrics demonstrate a range of emotions being expressed, including hurt and anger at being replaced by a new love interest, as well as a sense of acceptance that the relationship is over. The way that the woman asks the questions suggests that she is trying to convince herself that she is ready to move on, but at the same time she can't help wondering if she has been replaced by a better version of herself. The use of the word "satisfied" suggests that the woman is unsure if her former partner is truly happy with his new relationship, and the repetition of the word throughout the song emphasizes the theme of satisfaction and contentment.
Overall, "Are You Satisfied" is a poignant and emotive song that conveys the complex emotions that are often associated with the end of a relationship. It portrays the feeling of uncertainty and doubt that can arise when one partner moves on to a new relationship, and the desire to know if what was shared between the two individuals is truly gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you satisfied, really satisfied
Are you truly content and happy in your current situation?
With the new love that came your way
Are you happy with the new person you are currently with?
Dah dah doh, dah dah doo, dah dah dah, satisfied
A repeated refrain indicating that the person is supposedly satisfied
With the love, she gave you today
Are you happy with the way your current partner treats you and shows you affection?
Do you thrill to her kiss
Do you still get excited and feel passion when you kiss your current partner?
As you once did to mine
Do you feel the same level of excitement and passion towards your new partner as you did towards me before?
Is there a chance that you regret it
Do you ever feel any sense of regret about leaving me and being with someone else?
And want me back some time
Do you still have feelings for me and would you consider getting back together with me at some point?
If you are, well I'll be on my way
If you are truly satisfied with your new love, then I will leave you alone and move on myself.
Are you sa-tis-fied
The repeated refrain indicating the question of satisfaction.
Writer(s): S. Wooley, H. Escamellia
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Frankie Hunter
She sings with confidence and is very emotive.
Kingdom of Heaven
Connie's start in the music world!!
Jeffrey Berkin
Can't understand why so many people recorded this terrible song. Connie puts some feeling into it--but it should have stayed on the shelf, IMO.
Kingdom of Heaven
Sheb Woolley did it some justice