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
Follow The Boys
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll follow the boys, 'cause in my heart I know
I know that somewhere, somewhere along the way
I'll find my love, my own true love, someday
And there'll be no place too far, no ocean too wide
Wherever he goes, I'll be right by his side
I'll follow the boys, and wait until the time
There'll be no place too far, no ocean too wide
Wherever he goes, I'll be right by his side
So I'll follow the boys, and wait until the time
Till that wonderful boy that I'm following is mine
Connie Francis's song "Follow The Boys" is a love song about a girl who is waiting for her true love to arrive. The song is about the girl's determination to follow the boys wherever they go until she finds the one she is meant to be with. She knows that she will find her true love eventually, and she is willing to go to the ends of the earth to be with him.
The lyrics of the song suggest that the girl is not interested in settling down with just anyone; rather, she is waiting for her one true love. The song reflects the determination and perseverance that she has to find her soulmate. The repetition of the phrase "I'll follow the boys" suggests that she is following her heart and her instincts, regardless of where they may lead her.
Overall, the song expresses the idea that love is always worth waiting for and that true love will eventually come to those who pursue it. The song is a romantic and heartfelt expression of the power of love and the human capacity for devotion and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll follow the boys, wherever they go
I will pursue and accompany the men I desire irrespective of their destination
I'll follow the boys, 'cause in my heart I know
I am certain that following the men I'm attracted to is the right decision
I know that somewhere, somewhere along the way
I believe that at some point in my journey, wherever that may be, I'll find what I'm looking for
I'll find my love, my own true love, someday
I will discover my one and only soulmate, and we will have a fulfilling relationship
And there'll be no place too far, no ocean too wide
I am willing to travel to any location, no matter how far away or how much water is between me and that special someone
Wherever he goes, I'll be right by his side
I will never abandon my romantic interest and will remain with him through thick and thin
I'll follow the boys, and wait until the time
I will continue pursuing and staying with the men I'm attracted to until the right opportunity presents itself
Till that boy that I'm following is mine
I will keep following and waiting for the boy who I am interested in to become mine and for us to build a relationship together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENNY DAVIS, TED MURRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Field
No one woman ever sang like Connie. She was truly one of a kind. I was so fortunate to grow up with so many talented singers and groups, beginning in the 1950s, and Connie is right up there with the best.
birdsfan57
Hands down, one the BEST voices of ALL TIME!! This song rivals "Where the Boys Are" as one of my all time favorite songs. It's a travesty that she has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!
Arizona Paul
What the heck are they waiting for?
John Fulton
I agree with you completely when I was growing up connie bobby rydell Paul anika bobby vee chubby checker and other talented artists too numerous to mention were rock and roll then some self appointed elitist group tries to come along and tell me they're not simply because their sound wasn't edgy enough for them or too pop sounding what about talent shouldn't that count why isn't johnny rivers in there you wanna talk about a travesty
William Schuetze
This is greatness. It is a voice for the ages. Yeah, I know. Hyperbole. But for your soul, please just listen. With your eyes closed. And then tell me that her voice is not an absolute gift. Not just to her but to us who were so privileged to come of age when she hit her peak. This is music that inspires, music that makes emotions run wild. In short, it is an absolute classic. Just listen people. Listen to that voice.
Sam ferguson
God I love this woman voice. Best singer EVER.
Jon Jay Ryzner
I STILL get chills with this song!
Brock White
This still gives me chills - great talent!
Arizona Paul
What a voice! Connie, you always made me love your singing when you sang like this.
steve unger
SHE ALWAYS MADE ME LOVE SOMETHING ELSE TOO