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
Beautiful Ohio
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a little red canoe,
In it room for only two,
Love found its start, then in my heart
And like a flower grew:
Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream
While above the heavens in their glory gleam
Seeming in a paradise of love divine
Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine
Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see
Visions of what used to be.
The lyrics of "Beautiful Ohio" by Connie Francis bring to mind nostalgia for a time long gone. The singer remembers back to when someone they knew had a small red canoe that held only two people. Love began to flourish in that canoe, and it grew in the singer's heart like a beautiful flower. The imagery here is idyllic, with the couple drifting down a moonlit stream while the heavens above are filled with stars. The singer feels as if they are in a paradise of divine love, dreaming of that special someone's eyes gazing into theirs. The refrain of the song repeats that phrase "Beautiful Ohio" several times, emphasizing how this state is a symbol of that romantic longing, and how it remains in the singer's dreams even now.
This song captures a sense of wistfulness for lost love, but also reverie for times past. It's easy to imagine the singer telling the story of their little red canoe to someone who's listening with delight, both parties enjoying a simple moment in time. The song's romanticism is coupled with a kind of soft-focus sentimentality, and the slow, gentle melody reinforces this tender ambiance. Ultimately, "Beautiful Ohio" is a gentle reminder of the way love can take root and grow, even in the most unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
Long, long ago, someone I know
In the distant past, someone known by the singer
Had a little red canoe,
This person had a small canoe
In it room for only two,
The canoe only had enough space for two people
Love found its start, then in my heart
The beginning of a romantic relationship, which then blossomed in the singer’s heart
And like a flower grew:
The affection between the two people grew like the blooming of a flower
Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream
The two people were floating along a stream guided by the current, under the light of the moon
While above the heavens in their glory gleam
The stars, shining gloriously in the sky above
And the stars on high, twinkle in the sky
Continuation of the previous line, highlighting the beauty of the starry sky
Seeming in a paradise of love divine
The atmosphere, created by the natural setting around them, seems like a truly divine love paradise
Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine
The singer is reminiscing about the moments when they locked eyes lovingly with their partner, even when it is only in dreams now
Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see
The state of Ohio, which holds a special place in the singer’s heart, is the place where this all happened
Visions of what used to be.
Memories and imaginations of the lost romantic past, when they both floated down that stream in Ohio under the starry skies and in each other’s arms
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BALLARD MACDONALD, MARY EARL, REVISED LYRIC: WILLARD MCBRIDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Cacayan
GMA Weekday Mornings
04:55 AM Unang Hirit
08:00 AM Detective Conan
08:25 AM Voltes V
08:50 AM The Fox Fairy
09:15 AM Wings Of Love
09:45 AM Kapuso Movie Festival
11:15 AM Kapag Nahati Ang Puso
12:00 PM Eat Bulaga
Milton Moore
Is this the most
beautiful STATE
SONG, or what? (It
was adopted as the
state song by the
Ohio state legislature
in 1969.) Music by Robert A. "Bobo"King ,
lyrics by Ballard Mac-
Donald. (King actually had the song
originally published
under the pseudonym "Mary Earl!!!).
Was there ever a song more enjoyable to sing along to?
"Drifting with the current down a moon
lit stream....." (If you
like this romantic ballad, be sure and
Google DRIFTING &
DREAMING by Burl Ives; you shan't regret it!!!)
Gerald Lewis
I remember Dad playing this on an old portable record player, which closed up like a little suitcase, and had a handle--in the early 1960s, soon after we moved to LA from Denver. Connie was his favorite. She also might have the strongest voice this side of Luciano Pavarotti (SP?). And of course, just like vinyl, those goofy old portable record players are back in fashion. Have you noticed, Connie? (She's still with us.)
NANCYFLORESSANTOS
Sweet memories..
Kevin Harkin
This is from Connie's album "Greatest American Waltzes". Love it!
Herman Rockefeller
Kevin Harkin
frankie hunter
Beautiful Ohio and beautiful Connie's singing.
ed Palapuz
This is the first song I learned at La Salette of Roxas ( Isabela, Philippines) accompanied by Sr. Gervasio on the piano in 1962. I just rediscovered this song during the COVID-19 pandemic here in White Rock , BC, CANADA. Thank you Connie Francis!
Gordon Harris
We lived in Oho for 3 years while I was in elementary school. Our music teacher taught us this song, and it still brings warm and happy memories to heart.
William Dane
1963. Her voice maturing and so beautiful with ballads.
pedi salazar
Wowww, first time to my ears, very relaxing song...Happy Valentines day.
Michael Cacayan
GMA Weekday Mornings
04:55 AM Unang Hirit
08:00 AM Detective Conan
08:25 AM Voltes V
08:50 AM The Fox Fairy
09:15 AM Wings Of Love
09:45 AM Kapuso Movie Festival
11:15 AM Kapag Nahati Ang Puso
12:00 PM Eat Bulaga