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
For Mama
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said: "My daughter, I beg of you
I have a with that must come true
The last thing you can do for Mama
Please promise me that you will stay
And take my place while I'm away
And give the children love each day"
I had to cry, what could I say?
I prayed she wouldn't see my cry
So much to say that should be heard
But only time to say goodbye to Mama
They say in time that you'll forget
Yet still today my eyes are wet
I tell myself to smile for Mama
Now soon there'll be another spring
And I will start remembering
The way she loved to hear me sing
Her favorite song, "Ave Maria"
Ave Maria
The children have all grown up now
I kept my promise to Mama
I cannot guide them anymore
I've done my best all for Mama
Ave Maria
But still it seems so very small
For all she did for me
Connie Francis's song "For Mama" is an emotional tribute to the sacrifices made by a mother for her children. The song begins with the mother expressing her desire for her daughter to take her place while she is away, to give the children love each day. The daughter, overwhelmed with emotion, agrees to her mother's request but struggles to find the words to express her feelings. She hopes her mother won't see her cry but there is so much she wants to say to her.
The song conveys the heart-wrenching feeling of a daughter who feels like she can never repay her mother for all the love, care, and dedication. It talks about how the passage of time cannot erase the memories of a mother, and how one tries to keep one's promise to her. Eventually, the children grow up, but the daughter still feels that what she did is not enough to honor her mother's love and sacrifices.
Line by Line Meaning
Ave Maria
This line is the title of the song and is a Latin prayer dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
She said: "My daughter, I beg of you
The singer's mother made a request to her daughter, asking her to do something important.
I have a with that must come true
The mother has a wish that she wants to come true before she passes away.
The last thing you can do for Mama
The mother's wish is the last thing her daughter can do for her.
Please promise me that you will stay
The mother wants her daughter to promise that she will stay and fulfill her wish.
And take my place while I'm away
The mother wants her daughter to take her place in caring for the children while she is gone.
And give the children love each day
The mother wants her daughter to give her children love every day.
I had to cry, what could I say?
The daughter becomes emotional and doesn't know what to say in response to her mother's request.
How hard I tried to find the words
The daughter tried to articulate her feelings, but found it difficult.
I prayed she wouldn't see my cry
The daughter didn't want her mother to see her cry.
So much to say that should be heard
The daughter had a lot to say to her mother, but didn't have the time to say it all.
But only time to say goodbye to Mama
The daughter only had time to say goodbye to her mother.
They say in time that you'll forget
People say that with time, the pain of losing a loved one will fade.
Yet still today my eyes are wet
Even today, the daughter still cries when she thinks about her mother.
I tell myself to smile for Mama
The daughter tries to be strong for her mother and smile in her memory.
Now soon there'll be another spring
Time will pass, and another spring will come.
And I will start remembering
The daughter will begin to remember more about her mother.
The way she loved to hear me sing
The mother enjoyed hearing her daughter sing.
Her favorite song, "Ave Maria"
The mother's favorite song was "Ave Maria".
The children have all grown up now
The children the daughter was taking care of have grown up.
I kept my promise to Mama
The daughter fulfilled her mother's wish and took care of the children.
I cannot guide them anymore
The daughter is no longer able to guide and care for the children.
I've done my best all for Mama
The daughter did her best to fulfill her mother's wish.
But still it seems so very small
Despite her efforts, the daughter still feels like what she did was small compared to what her mother did for her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEOFFREY PARSONS, JAMES JOHN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@berealsupportive2744
😢 Connie ❤ 👍 This song made Elvis cry his eyes out when he went to go see Connie live. He brought her flowers and loved the show but had to leave when she sang this because he had just lost his mom. Also Connie may be the only woman to ever turn down Elvis for an invitation to be with him. Frank Sinatra her friend wanted her to sing Mama at his mom's funeral but she couldn't since her voice was bad at that time but later did a dedication to her with it at a performance she did. All True stories right here. 😎
@crystalhanson1483
I just [found] read this TRUE fact about about Elvis and this song.
@nancystack4661
My mom listened to this many years ago when her mom passed away.
My mom passed away a few days ago, and now I'm listening and grieving her.
"Until the day that we're together once more"😢❤
@kph1955
One of the most beautiful voices of our time!
@neilbruce123
Better then Aretha?
@donaldshaw2627
I'm not Italian but this makes me cry
@mrob75
I've lost a lot of family in my life, but the loss of my mother was definitely the hardest...Connie really echos that sentiment here.
@lindameyers8341
Oh hiw i agree
@reneleclerc6119
My favorite song for Mothers Day. My Mama's been gone since 1989.
@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.💞💞🙏💖💕