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
Frankie
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though you've found a new love, I still miss you so
I just can't forget you, but you'll never know
Frankie, my darling, I'll never let you see me cry
Once I was your sweetheart, now I'm just a friend
Once you really loved me, now I just pretend
Oh, Frankie (Frankie) I'd rather hide
These teardrops (teardrops) deep down inside
I'm crying (crying) but you'll never see
I'd rather cry than have you pity me
Though my nights are lonely since we've been apart
I'll always keep this secret deep within my heart
Frankie, my darling, I'll never let you see me cry
Frankie, wherever you are, I love you
The above lyrics are Connie Francis's emotional plea to her former lover, Frankie. The song begins with Francis declaring her ongoing love for Frankie, even though he has found a new love. Though Francis continues to miss him, she tries to hide her emotions from him, resolving to never let him see her cry. The lyrics suggest that Francis was once Frankie's girlfriend, but now that he has moved on, she is no longer his sweetheart and has been relegated to just a friend. Francis admits that she is still struggling to forget Frankie and though she cries alone at night, she would rather keep her emotions hidden than have Frankie pity her.
The lyrics of "Frankie" are poignant and convey the pain of lost love. Frankie has moved on, but Francis hasn't and is still deeply in love with him. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing, sadness, and heartbreak. Francis is trying to conceal her feelings, but she cannot completely hide the pain she feels. This song is a testament to the enduring power of love and one's inability to move on from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Frankie, wherever you are, I love you
No matter where you are, dear Frankie, I still love you
Though you've found a new love, I still miss you so
Even though you have found someone new, I still long for you deeply
I just can't forget you, but you'll never know
I can't get you out of my mind, but I will never tell you
Frankie, my darling, I'll never let you see me cry
Beloved Frankie, I will never show you my tears
Once I was your sweetheart, now I'm just a friend
Once, I was the love of your life, now I'm just a friend to you
Once you really loved me, now I just pretend
In the past, you loved me truly, but now it seems like I am pretending to be okay with our relationship
Oh, Frankie (Frankie) I'd rather hide
Oh, Frankie, I'd rather conceal
These teardrops (teardrops) deep down inside
My tears that I try to disguise inside
I'm crying (crying) but you'll never see
I'm weeping, nevertheless, you will never witness it
I'd rather cry than have you pity me
I prefer to cry than have you feel sorry for me
Though my nights are lonely since we've been apart
My nights have been lonely ever since we parted ways
I'll always keep this secret deep within my heart
I will never spill this secret that I keep in the depths of my heart
Frankie, my darling, I'll never let you see me cry
My dear Frankie, I'll never display my tears in front of you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CrimeSceneTechTalks
Though you've found a new love
I still miss you so
I just can't forget you
But you'll never know
Frankie, my darling
I'll never let you see me cry
Once I was your sweetheart
Now I'm just a friend
Once you really loved me
Now I just pretend
Frankie, my darling
I'll never let you see me cry
Oh, Frankie
I'd rather hide these teardrops deep down inside
I'm crying
But you'll never see I'd rather cry than have you pity me
Though my nights are lonely
Since you went away
I'll always keep this secret
Deep within my heart
Frankie, my darling
I'll never let you see me cry
YẾN HOÀNG KIM
Frankie, wherever you are, I love you
Though you've found a new love, I still miss you so
I just can't forget you, but you'll never know
Frankie, my darling, I'll never let you see me cry
Once I was your sweetheart, now I'm just a friend
Once you really loved me, now I just pretend
Frankie, my darling, I'll never let you see me cry
Oh, Frankie (Frankie) I'd rather hide
These teardrops (teardrops) deep down inside
I'm crying (crying) but you'll never see
I'd rather cry than have you pity me
Though my nights are lonely since we've been apart
I'll always keep this secret deep within my heart
Frankie, my darling, I'll never let you see me cry
Frankie, wherever you are, I love you
Annamarie Hewitt
You cannot beat a voice like hers for expressing emotion.....Thanks for posting.....
Sarah Brown
She was one of America's greatest voices: sang in many languages, very precise tonality & voice control & feeling
mintrecords4ever
Hi Sarah, great to hear from you. What's really disappointing, is that she hasn't been inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll hall of fame...go figure!! Listen, Happy and safe Holidays to you and your family.
madminute
WOW what a smooth angelic voice, also the up-right bass player is excellent hitting those low bass notes with perfection and keeping perfect timing for the other excellent musicians.
Brenna
Indeed, the up-right bass player is outstanding he/she make that instrument talk**************
Jenet Lee
Oh God I love her singing of these special oldies
Charles Bengel
About Frankie Avolon....written by Neil Sadaca.
Julie Zimmi
I sound like her I am gonna make a cover
Julie Zimmi
@Charles Bengel thought so too
INME
Try "1959-1958 Top 10 Countdown" for lost treasures and many memories. Pure fun and entertaining. The newest series is just being released "Pop Music Artist Rock Era" all the musical artists a Alphabetic with all the music history of each artist, all the Beach Boys and Anka and Avalon and Nelson etc. Thousands of Artists as well as thousands of hours of listening enjoyment. Need not reply--you will love it!!!