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
Half as Much
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wouldn't worry me half as much as you do
You're nice to me when there's no one else around
You only build me up to let me down.
If you missed me half as much as I miss you
You wouldn't stay away half as much as you do
I know that I would never be this blue
You're nice to me when there's no one else around
You only build me up to let me down.
If you missed me half as much as I miss you
You wouldn't stay away half as much as you do
I know that I would never be this blue
If you only loved me half as much as I love you
The lyrics of Connie Francis's song "Half as Much" portrays a feeling of an unreciprocated love. The opening statement starts with "If you loved me half as much as I love you, you wouldn't worry me half as much as you do," indicating that the singer is deeply in love with someone who doesn't return the same feeling. The singer is tormented by the fact that her love is not returned in equal measure which makes her worry and wonder about the reasons behind the unreturned feelings. The second verse further emphasizes this notion of being unloved by stating that the person is only nice to the singer when there is no one around, indicating that they are not interested in openly expressing their feelings.
The third verse adds more to the emotional pain that the singer is undergoing. "If you missed me half as much as I miss you, you wouldn't stay away half as much as you do," this line explains that the singer misses the person who is not reciprocating their feelings, and the lack of response and non-communication makes the singer more upset. The singer is in a highly emotional state, which leads her to feel miserable and lonely. The song's chorus brings everything together, expressing that the singer wouldn't be so unhappy if the other person only loved her half as much as she loves him.
Overall, the song "Half as Much" demonstrates the emotional pain and agony of unrequited love, conveyed through Connie Francis's soulful voice and the song's haunting melody.
Line by Line Meaning
If you loved me half as much as I love you
If your love towards me was only half of the intensity of my love for you
You wouldn't worry me half as much as you do
You wouldn't trouble me with anxieties and uncertainties as much as you currently do
You're nice to me when there's no one else around
You treat me kindly only in the absence of others
You only build me up to let me down.
You raise my hopes up only to disappoint me later
If you missed me half as much as I miss you
If the void I experience because of your absence was only half of the intensity of the void you experience because of my absence
You wouldn't stay away half as much as you do
You wouldn't keep your distance as much as you currently do
I know that I would never be this blue
I strongly believe that I would not be feeling as sad and desolate as I am currently feeling
If you only loved me half as much as I love you.
If your love for me was only half of the intensity of my love for you
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WOUT VAN DESSEL, REGINALD PAUL STEFAN PENXTEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milton Moore
Comparable to
the old "triple threat" players in
football, who excelled in their
ability to run,
pass, and kick, Connie Francis
excelled in pop,
country, and singing in foreign
languages to such
an extent that in
my book she is
the greatest songstress of
all time.
Milton Moore
The Everly Brothers introduced Connie
to country music
when they toured
together with Buddy Holly, Paul
Anka, and other
teen singing idols
in 1957 during a
multi-city engagement bus
tour. They took
her inside a record
shop and played 45rpm single country songs for
her. The rest is
history, including
this incredible performance!ππ
Milton Moore
Hi; I added a comment, if
you care to scroll
up for it! One of
the venue of
checking for
your comments.
I usually get inspired to add
something else!
(Google Johnny Desmond on: ALL
THE THINGS YOU ARE, THERE'S A SMALL HOTEL, I'M THRU WITH LOVE,
and the Harden
Trio on MR. ECHO.π)
Antonio Arquiza
Brings back old memories. Beautiful song.
Milton Moore
Comparable to
the old "triple threat" players in
football, who excelled in their
ability to run,
pass, and kick, Connie Francis
excelled in pop,
country, and singing in foreign
languages to such
an extent that in
my book she is
the greatest songstress of
all time.
Migs Dizon
Beautiful rendition πΆ by Connie Francis! I love it β€οΈ Thank you for the upload π
Milton Moore
The Everly Brothers introduced Connie
to country music
when they toured
together with Buddy Holly, Paul
Anka, and other
teen singing idols
in 1957 during a
multi-city engagement bus
tour. They took
her inside a record
shop and played 45rpm single country songs for
her. The rest is
history, including
this incredible performance!ππ
Elizabeth Forsyth
It's Jan 3rd 2023 and I still play,listen and enjoy this little song sung by a young lady with a beautiful unforgettable voice, the words are simple but she puts so much feeling into her rendition that it will be played for many years to comeβ€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€
KellyHo163
Beautiful song ...simple words but mean a lot
Ruth Boykin
I so remember this song and it brings tears to my eyes. Glorious!
Milton Moore
Hi; I added a comment, if
you care to scroll
up for it! One of
the venue of
checking for
your comments.
I usually get inspired to add
something else!
(Google Johnny Desmond on: ALL
THE THINGS YOU ARE, THERE'S A SMALL HOTEL, I'M THRU WITH LOVE,
and the Harden
Trio on MR. ECHO.π)
Ruth Boykin
Noted,, now here is one for you..Bill Phillips-THE LETTER on the winner channel
GeorgeMore32gmail
@Ruth Boykin hi Ruth Boykin