Connie Francis (born 12 December 1937 in Newark, New Jersey, USA) is an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴Connie Francis (born 12 December 1937 in Newark, New Jersey, USA) is an American pop singer best known for international hit songs such as "Who's Sorry Now?," "Where The Boys Are", and "Everybody's Somebody's Fool".

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

Bossa Nova Hand Dance
Connie Francis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Deixa que digam, que pensem, que falem
Deixa isso pra lá, vem pra cá, o que é que tem
Eu não estou fazendo nada, você também
Faz mal bater um papo assim gostoso com alguém?

Down in Brazil, they're doing a new dance
You can do it too, it's so easy to do
It's a bossa nova hand dance, for get your feet

It's a crazy way to get into the bossa nova beat

And I know a place
Where all the swingers stand face to face
And move the fingers soon you will dig
The action and you flip your wig
You can't resist
The cool, ken, demanding your wrist (?)
Then go on, then your hands will do
The bossa nova twist

Deixa que digam, que pensem, que falem
Deixa isso pra lá, vem pra cá, o que é que tem
Eu não estou fazendo nada, você também
Faz mal bater um papo assim gostoso com alguém?

Vai vai por mim
Balanço de amor é assim
Mãozinha com Mãozinha pra cá
Beijinhos com beijinhos pra lá

And I know a place
Where all the swingers stand face to face
And move the fingers soon you will dig
The action in your foot your way
You can't resist
The cool, ken, demanding your wrist (?)

Then go on, then your hands will do
The bossa nova twist

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Connie Francis's song Bossa Nova Hand Dance convey a sense of carefree enjoyment and disregard for the opinions of others. The first verse encourages the listener to ignore the critics and judgments of others, instead focusing on having fun and enjoying pleasant conversations with friends. The next verse introduces the Bossa Nova Hand Dance as a new and simple way to dance to the popular bossa nova beat. It instructs the listener to use their hands instead of their feet to participate in the fun and energetic dance. The chorus repeats the opening verse, emphasizing the message of not worrying about what others think and enjoying the moment. The final verse includes some playful instructions for the dance, encouraging hand-holding and hand-kissing as a part of the dance routine.

The song's lyrics portray a feeling of freedom and joy, inviting listeners to let go of their inhibitions and join in the celebration of music and movement. The Bossa Nova Hand Dance is suggested as an easy and accessible way to add to the fun, emphasizing the importance of community and shared experiences.

Overall, the lyrics of Bossa Nova Hand Dance convey a sense of carefree joy and a celebration of togetherness. The song encourages listeners to set aside their doubts and judgments and participate in the joyful experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Deixa que digam, que pensem, que falem
Let them say, let them think, let them talk

Deixa isso pra lá, vem pra cá, o que é que tem
Leave that aside, come here, what's the big deal

Eu não estou fazendo nada, você também
I'm not doing anything, neither are you

Faz mal bater um papo assim gostoso com alguém?
Is it wrong to have a nice conversation with someone?

Down in Brazil, they're doing a new dance
In Brazil, they are doing a new dance

You can do it too, it's so easy to do
You can do it too, it's very easy

It's a bossa nova hand dance, for get your feet
It's a bossa nova hand dance, don't worry about moving your feet

It's a crazy way to get into the bossa nova beat
It's a crazy way to feel the bossa nova rhythm

And I know a place
And I know a place

Where all the swingers stand face to face
Where all the cool people stand face to face

And move the fingers soon you will dig
And move your fingers, you will enjoy it