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
DADDY
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're Daddy's little girl to have and hold
A precious gem is what you are
You're Mummy's bright and shining star
You're the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree
You're the Easter Bunny to Mummy and me
You're sugar, you're spice, you're everything nice
(You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold
You're Daddy's little girl to have and hold)
"Come closer, Baby
For you're a precious gem
That's just what you are
And you're Mummy's bright and oh, such a shining star"
(You're the spirit of Christmas)
You're my star on the tree
You're the Easter Bunny to your Mummy and me
I love ya, Honey"
You're sugar, you're spice, you're everything nice
And you're Daddy's little girl
Connie Francis’s popular song “Daddy’s Little Girl” is a heartfelt tribute to the bond between a father and his daughter. The lyrics contain an innocence and purity of spirit that resonate with anyone who has experienced the special relationship between a child and a parent. The song begins with the lyrics, “You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold / You're Daddy's little girl to have and hold.” These lyrics set the tone for the song and highlight the sense of wonder and love that the father feels for his daughter.
The song goes on to describe the daughter as a precious gem and her mother’s shining star. The lyrics continue with the father expressing how important his daughter is to him during the holidays. He refers to her as the spirit of Christmas and his star on the tree, while also acknowledging her importance to her mother at Easter as the Easter Bunny. These lyrics convey a sense of warmth and togetherness, as the father is positioning his daughter as the heart of his family.
Overall, Connie Francis’s “Daddy’s Little Girl” is a touching tribute to the bond between a father and his daughter. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today and has become a popular choice for weddings, father-daughter dances, and other events.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold
You are the most valuable thing in my life, like the treasure at the end of a rainbow.
You're Daddy's little girl to have and hold
You are my beloved daughter, who I will always support and cherish.
A precious gem is what you are
You are an invaluable treasure, like a precious gemstone.
You're Mummy's bright and shining star
You are the light in your mother's life and bring joy and happiness to her.
You're the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree
You bring joy and happiness to our home during the Christmas holidays, and are like a shining star on top of the tree.
You're the Easter Bunny to Mummy and me
You bring joy and happiness to our home during Easter, like the Easter Bunny who brings treats and surprises.
You're sugar, you're spice, you're everything nice
You are a delightful mixture of sweetness and spiciness, and bring joy and happiness to our lives.
And you're Daddy's little girl
You hold a special place in my heart as my beloved daughter.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDWARD MADDEN, THEODORE MORSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daver Smack
Her music and beautiful voice is still be discovered and appreciated by younger people today. Timeless talent.
robertj4454
Close to seventy-one and dad was a serious drinker. Dad never did a thing with me, his only son. The one exception was the day we both went to see Connie Francis in Westbury, N.Y. since we both loved her music. Thank you Connie for giving me the one good memory of being with my Dad.
daniela
i hope you’re okay!
Alisha Ortiz
This song always takes me back to my childhood. My step dad and my mom would dance this song all time and me and all my brothers and sisters would be in the back saying (TEDDY ) with deep voice. I always said I wanted some to love me like he did her.
Mike Vallen
Connie Francis sings with the voice of an angel .
Clint Walker
Man, she could really sing. No one had a voice like hers. Sings with so much emotion too. She is an Italian American angel.
Mark Reed
Her music is pure and sincere....timeless!!
Tom Weiss
One of the all time great voices.
Alan DeValle
God knows she could sing anything and make it sound totally wonderful! This is a real flashback!! And I love it. Go Connie!
1970s English Teddyboy
O`my word what a voice, there is no one alive today that could ever sing like this,if there was a contest for the most perfect singing voice Connie would win it hands down, pure perfection..