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
Hearts of Stone
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hearts made of stone will never never break
For the love you give they just won't take
You can ask them please please please please break
And all of your love is there to take.
Yes the hearts of stone will cause you pain
You can ask them please please please please break
And all of your love is there to take.
--- Instrumental ---
But they'll say no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Everybody knows I thought you knew hearts're made of stone.
--- Instrumental ---
Yes, the hearts of stone will cause you pain
Although you love them they'll stop you just the same
You can ask them please please please please break
And all of your love is there to take.
But they'll say no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Everybody knows I thought you knew hearts're made of stone...
"Hearts of Stone" is a classic R&B song that was recorded by many artists, including Otis Williams & The Charms, The Four Tops, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, and Connie Francis. The lyrics describe the pain of unrequited love and the impossibility of breaking the hearts of those who are emotionally unavailable. The song's central metaphor, the "hearts of stone," represents the cold and unfeeling nature of people who can't reciprocate the love and affection of others. Despite the singer's pleading and begging, they refuse to open up and accept the love that's being offered to them.
The song's instrumentation adds to its emotional depth, with a mournful horn section and a slow, deliberate beat that underscores the sense of heartbreak and disappointment. Connie Francis's powerful vocal delivery captures the hurt and frustration of the singer, who can't understand why the object of her affection won't give her a chance. The song's repeated refrain of "no, no, no" emphasizes the futility of the singer's efforts to change the situation and the inevitability of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts made of stone will never never break
People who have hearts of stone will never feel any emotions, they will never break or be affected by the love that others try to give them.
For the love you give they just won't take
Even if you give your whole heart to someone with a heart of stone, they will never be able to fully accept or appreciate your love.
You can ask them please please please please break
Despite your efforts, you cannot force someone with a heart of stone to feel or break down their walls.
And all of your love is there to take.
If someone with a heart of stone could open up to love, they would find that you have an endless supply to give them.
Yes the hearts of stone will cause you pain
Loving someone with a heart of stone can be a painful experience because they cannot reciprocate or understand your emotions and feelings.
Although you love them they'll stop you just the same
Even if you have genuine love for someone with a heart of stone, they won't be able to love you back or meet you halfway, which creates a roadblock in any kind of relationship.
But they'll say no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
People with hearts of stone will reject love and emotions, even if it's something they need deep down.
Everybody knows I thought you knew hearts're made of stone.
It is a widely known and accepted fact that people with hearts of stone are unlikely to change or experience emotions, which can lead to disappointment and frustration for those who love them.
Writer(s): E. Ray, R. Jackson
Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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