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
Danny Boy
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
The song "Danny Boy" is a poignant and heart-wrenching ode to a lover who must part ways due to circumstances beyond their control. It speaks of the deep love that two people share and the hope that they will be reunited despite the distance that separates them. The first stanza of the song speaks of the pipes calling Danny Boy, urging him to leave his beloved and go on a journey that will take him far from her. The second stanza conveys the singer's yearning for Danny Boy's return, inviting him to come back to her when summer is in the meadow, or when the valley is hushed and white with snow. She promises to be there for him, no matter what, in sunshine or shadow, and declares her love for him.
In the third stanza, the singer realizes that death may come to her before Danny Boy's return, yet she still holds on to the hope that he will visit her grave and say a prayer for her. The final stanza of the song is the most touching as it speaks of the peace that will come to the singer when Danny Boy eventually joins her in death. She believes that his love will keep her warm and that she will be able to rest until the end of time. The lyrics are so moving that they have become a national symbol in Ireland, a song that is synonymous with the country's beauty and sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
Danny, beloved friend, can you hear the sound of the traditional Irish pipes calling us to a different place?
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The sound echoes through the valleys and across the slopes of the surrounding hills.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
It is the end of the warm season, and the flowers are fading away.
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.
My dear Danny, you must leave me to go on your own journey, while I stay behind.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
When the meadow is green and the sun is shining bright, come back to me.
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
Even when everything is still and covered in snow, come back to me.
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
No matter what happens, I will be waiting here for you.
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!
Danny, I love you with all my heart and soul.
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
When you return, and the flowers are dead and gone,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
In case I have passed away, as it is highly possible,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
You will search and find the exact location of my resting place.
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And you will kneel and pray for me in that spot.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
Even though you walk gently above my grave, I will be able to hear you.
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
The warmth and sweetness of your love will shine upon my burial spot.
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
You will bend down and express your love for me.
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
And I will rest in peace until the day you arrive.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Frederick E. Weatherly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Dane
When I want to hear this song, this is the recording I always turn to. Thanks for posting it Kevin.
Kevin Harkin
Will, this was my father's favorite song. My father loved Irish music. His dad, my grandfather, came from Donegal Ireland. All my grandparents came from Europe. I'm only 2nd generation American. Danny Boy is a beautiful song and Connie's version nis outstanding.
Ciro Brio
La più brava grande Concetta
CHARLES PUPPI
Thanks Kevin