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
Come Back to Sorrento
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tender thoughts occur to me
I have often seen your eyes
In the nighttime when I dream
When I pass a garden fair
And the scent is in the air
In my mind a dream awakes
But you said goodbye to me
Now all I can do is grieve
Can it be that you forgot?
Darling forget me not!
Please don't say farewell
And leave this heart that's broken
Come back to Surriento
So I can mend
Connie Francis's song Come Back to Sorrento is a ballad about lost love and the yearning for reconciliation. The song begins by setting the tone with a beautiful description of the setting, where sunlight dances on the sea and tender thoughts arise in the singer's mind. The imagery is peaceful and serine, giving way to the unspoken hope that a lover might return. The second stanza then changes the mood as the singer describes the pain associated with certain triggers that remind her of the past, such as the scent of a garden or the passing of time. The final plea is directed at the lost lover, asking them not to forget her, to come back to Sorrento so she can mend.
The lyrics are full of contrasts between the beauty of the landscape and the melancholy emotions of love lost. The singer seems to be living in two worlds; one of wistful memories and the other of hopeful reconciliation. The song captures the essence of longing and shows how powerful a sense of loss can be. Through the lyrics, Francis invokes emotions of heartache, sadness, and hopefulness that resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of losing someone they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunlight dances on the sea
The sun shines on the water creating a sparkling effect
Tender thoughts occur to me
I am having gentle and loving thoughts
I have often seen your eyes
I have seen your eyes frequently
In the nighttime when I dream
Specifically, I see your eyes when I dream at night
When I pass a garden fair
Whenever I walk by a beautiful garden
And the scent is in the air
When I smell the fragrance in the air
In my mind a dream awakes
This triggers a dream in my mind
And my heart begins to break
This dream causes me emotional pain
But you said goodbye to me
You have already told me farewell
Now all I can do is grieve
All I can do now is suffer through this sorrow
Can it be that you forgot?
I am questioning whether you have forgotten me
Darling forget me not!
I am pleading with you not to forget me
Please don't say farewell
I am begging you not to leave me
And leave this heart that's broken
If you leave me, you will be leaving me with a broken heart
Come back to Surriento
Please return to Sorrento
So I can mend
I want to fix my broken heart and can only do so if you return
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Ernesto De Curtis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jakre10
There will never be another Connie Francis. She is so underrated today. Unmistakable voice. Love her
@courregeaaron947
I found out about her with romantica recently and i'm totally possessed by her voice.
@conniefrancis4743
Hi dear🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel am checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖.
@williamdane4194
So pristine in 1959 and many years afterwards. A talent that has blessed so many just by hearing it.
@conniefrancis4743
Hi dear🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel am checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖.
@volkandilmac1210
She was my mothers best..Her records are still active in my archive.
@bluelove1444
What a voice
What a performance
Really angelic voice
@conniefrancis4743
Hi dear🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel am checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖💕...
@giuseppezilioli777
Grande voce, bella canzone
@deliodefreitas3305
Voz Formosa desta Cantante. Admirada por muitos. Maravilhosa em qualquer Interpretação.