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
Heartaches by the Number
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never knew that I could hurt this way
Heartache Number Two was when you came back again
You came back and never meant to stay
Now I've got heartaches by the number
Troubles by the score
Everyday you love me less
Now I've got heartaches by the number
A love that I can't win
But the day that I stop counting
That's the day my world will end
Heartache Number Three was when you called me
And told me you was coming to stay
With hoping heart I waited for your knock on the door
I waited but you must have lost your way
Now I've got heartaches by the number
Troubles by the score
Everyday you love me less
Each day I love you more
Now I've got heartaches by the number
A love that I can't win
But the day that I stop counting
That's the day my world will end
Ah the day that I stop counting
That's the day my world will end
"Heartaches by the Number" is a song about someone who is caught up in a love that is not reciprocated. The singer of the song has experienced different forms of heartache at the hand of the same person. Heartache Number One was when the person left, and Heartache Number Two was when they returned and left again. The singer is still holding onto the hope that this person will come back, and the disappointment is becoming unbearable. Heartache Number Three was when the person called saying they were coming, and the singer waited with a hoping heart, but they never showed up.
The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's current state of being - "Now I've got heartaches by the number, troubles by the score." Every day, the other person loves them less, but the singer loves them more. It's a love that can't win, but the singer can't seem to stop counting the heartaches. They can't let go, no matter how much it hurts. The final line is the most powerful, "That's the day my world will end." The singer's world revolves around the hope that the person will come back to them. If they stop counting, they'll have nothing left to cling to.
Line by Line Meaning
Heartache Number One was when you left me
The first heartbreak I experienced was when you left me.
I never knew that I could hurt this way
I never knew that I could experience such intense pain.
Heartache Number Two was when you came back again
The second heartbreak I experienced was when you came back, but only to leave again.
You came back and never meant to stay
You returned without any intentions of staying by my side.
Now I've got heartaches by the number
Currently, I am experiencing multiple heartbreaks.
Troubles by the score
In addition to heartbreak, I am also experiencing various troubles and difficulties in my life.
Everyday you love me less
Each day, your love for me diminishes.
Each day I love you more
Despite your decreasing love, my love for you continues to grow.
A love that I can't win
I am in love with you, but our relationship is doomed to fail.
The day that I stop counting
If I ever stop keeping track of my heartaches, it will signify the end of my world as I know it.
That's the day my world will end
If I ever stop keeping track of my heartaches, it will be the ultimate devastation that will change my life entirely.
Heartache Number Three was when you called me
Another heartbreak I experienced was when you called me, only to disappoint me again.
And told me you was coming to stay
You gave me hope by saying you were coming to stay with me.
With hoping heart I waited for your knock on the door
With optimism and anticipation, I waited for you to finally come to me.
I waited but you must have lost your way
You did not show up, most likely due to getting lost on the way to my house.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harlan Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manuel Garcia
Can anybody help me?...I'm looking for this same song in spanish version, I heard this in the sixties, but I don't know the song's title in the spanish version and I can't find it...I remember spanish lyrics were something like this:
Si antes fuiste mi tormento,
hoy eres mi dolor,
cuando más te quise,
te burlaste de mi amor,
Ahora dices que me quieres,
que soy tu gran pasión,
como vas a amar a nadie
si no tienes corazón.
I'm not sure if the spanish version was sang by Connie Francis or Caterina Valente.
Hugh Thomas
I could listen to her voice all day. Brings back so many great memories of a great era of music.
Seraphim
oh hi hughie
jacob hendon
i love her voice she could sing the phone book and sound amazing !
Barbara Bittinger
Angelic voice. One of the very best. Love her.
David Large
back in the day we all loved dear connie,what memories her voice brings back.
Janett Grady
Great song and no one, not a soul, sings it better than Connie Francis. I love this girl, absolutely love everything about her. Great, great song, here, being sung by the best girl singer whoever drew breath.
mo vincent
Connie what a great singer, my dad loved her so I’ve sang, her songs for many years, brilliant
Olav Wischulke
What a beautiful voice :) .Connie forever
Esme Mohabir
Beautiful voice and a sweetness in her singing .💞
Joe Smith
what a beautiful voice she has fantastic, god bless you miss Connie.