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
Freddy
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's the guy, I love so
He's my Teddy, oh Teddy
I, I love him so
Oh, I remember the day that we met
I'd be so silly to ever forget
Woo Teddy, oh Teddy
Ohh, he is so shy, it doesn't matter
You're my guy, can't you see
That I want you, I need you, I love you, I do
And you belong to me
I'll always love you, the rest of my life
We could get married, I'd be your wife
Woo Teddy, oh Teddy
I, I love you so
I'll always love you, the rest of my life
We could get married, I'd be your wife
Woo Teddy, oh Teddy
I, I love you so
Connie Francis's song "Freddy" is a love song about a girl who sings about her love for a guy named Freddy, who she refers to as Teddy in the song. The lyrics convey a deep sense of affection and love for this man, who is the center of the singer's world. The song begins by introducing Freddy as the one she loves, and Teddy as the nickname she has given him. From the very beginning, we see that the singer is deeply in love with this man and that he means everything to her.
The second verse of the song tells us about the day they first met, which was clearly a memorable occasion that has stayed with the singer. It is clear that this relationship is significant and perhaps even life-changing for her. Despite Teddy's shyness, the singer reassures him that he is her guy and that she wants, needs, and loves him. The song ends with the singer contemplating marriage, expressing her love once more for Teddy as she claims that she will always love him until the end of her days, and that they could potentially get married.
Overall, the song reflects the almost naive understanding of love and romance that was prevalent in the early 1960s when it was released. It portrays intense feelings of love, dedication, and devotion to one's partner, with an overarching sense of innocence and simplicity.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a guy, I want you to know
I have a special someone I'd like to tell you about.
He's the guy, I love so
He is the person I am deeply in love with.
He's my Teddy, oh Teddy
I affectionately refer to him as Teddy.
I, I love him so
My feelings for him are strong and enduring.
Oh, I remember the day that we met
I have fond memories of the day we first crossed paths.
I'd be so silly to ever forget
It would be foolish of me to ever forget that moment.
Woo Teddy, oh Teddy
I am calling out to him with excitement.
I, I love him so
My love for him is unwavering.
Ohh, he is so shy, it doesn't matter
His shyness doesn't impact my feelings for him.
You're my guy, can't you see
He is my special someone, can't he see that?
That I want you, I need you, I love you, I do
I have a strong desire and need for him in my life.
And you belong to me
I feel like he is mine and I am his.
I'll always love you, the rest of my life
My love for him is everlasting.
We could get married, I'd be your wife
I am willing to commit to him for the rest of my life.
Woo Teddy, oh Teddy
I am still excitedly calling out to him.
I, I love you so
My love for him is still as strong as ever.
Writer(s): Gisela Gunther, Sheldon Harnick, Peter Pan, Steve Kirk
Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rock oldieprof
Thanks for done this old record! I think it is the first single of very young Connie! Cheers, Didi
Be Real & Supportive
It is. It got her foot in the door. đ
Be Real & Supportive
Lea I have a very important request that's just as important as the Connie songs. Diana Ross & The Supremes A Bit Of Liverpool. That album is Awesome, the release for stereo isn't genuine and it only does one channel. The whole community of fans for The Supremes always are hoping for it to be done correctly. The person who did it did it wrong.
Sara Parker
taylor swiftâs you belong with me is exactly like this song!
jim kreider
Really bad song. Love Connie more than you can know but this first song was awful. Glad she finally listened to her dad and did Who's Sorry Now.
Markku Olavi
This was not at all a bad song to a boy, aged 10, who fell in love with her voice in 1957!!!!