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
Arrivederci
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodbye, goodbye to Rome
City of a million moonlit places,
City of a million warm embraces,
Where I found the one of all the faces,
Far from home!
It's time for us to part,
Save the wedding bells for my returning,
Keep my lover's arms outstretched and yearning,
Please be sure the flame of love keeps burning,
In her heart!
City of a million moonlit places,
City of a million warm embraces,
Where I found the one of all the faces,
Far from home!
Arrivederci Roma,
It's time for us to part,
Save the wedding bells for my returning,
Keep my lover's arms outstretched and yearning,
Please be sure the flame of love keeps burning,
In her heart!
Arrivederci Roma,
Roma, Roma, Roma
The song, "Arrivederci Roma" by Connie Francis is a masterpiece that portrays the feelings of a protagonist who is about to leave the beautiful city and the one he loves, along with it. The song starts with the phrase "Arrivederci Roma," which means goodbye, Rome. The phrase signifies the pain the singer has to face while leaving behind his memories, love, and the magnificent city which he adores.
The verses of the song talk about Rome, referring to it as the city of a million moonlit places and a million warm embraces. This implies that the city is home to so many heartfelt memories and true love. The phrase "Where I found the one of all faces" refers to the singer's lover, who he found in the city of Rome, his soulmate who has to stay behind while he departs. He requests the city to keep his lover's arms outstretched and yearning, waiting for his arrival while the flame of love keeps burning in her heart.
Connie Francis's voice is emotive and conveys the sadness of leaving behind beautiful memories, highlighting the unique city and love that blooms in it. The song's repetitive nature adds weight to the lyrics, to create a timeless masterpiece.
Line by Line Meaning
Arrivederci Roma,
Saying goodbye to Rome
Goodbye, goodbye to Rome
Farewell to the city known for its rich history
City of a million moonlit places,
Describing Rome as a city full of beautiful places
City of a million warm embraces,
A city where people show affection
Where I found the one of all the faces,
Finding the love of her life in the city of Rome
Far from home!
Finding love in a place far from where she originates
It's time for us to part,
Time to say goodbye to Rome and move on
Save the wedding bells for my returning,
Asking to hold off on the wedding until she can come back
Keep my lover's arms outstretched and yearning,
Asking her lover to wait for her and keep the love alive
Please be sure the flame of love keeps burning,
Asking to keep the love alive
In her heart!
Asking to keep the love alive in her lover's heart
Roma, Roma, Roma
Repeating the name of the city to emphasize the love for Rome
Writer(s): Rachele Bastreghi, G. Calabrese, Francesco Bianconi, Umberto Bindi, U. Bindi, Giorgio Calabrese
Contributed by Makayla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Angel Di Rees
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