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
Hollywood
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But don't have any money for lunch?
It's Hollywood, it's Hollywood
Who's the local star
With the big, fine car?
It's Hollywood
Who tries to talk the little girlie's into parking?
It's Hollywood, Hollywood
Who's the local yokel with
The horn rimmed bifocals?
It's Hollywood
Go, go, go
Who else would hold a cigarette like that?
Who else would wear a little Frenchy's hat?
No one but Hollywood, Hollywood
Who thinks he's been around
But ain't never been out of town?
It's Hollywood
I'll give you just one little guess
At who old Hollywood's trying to impress
You're right, it's Hollywood, Hollywood
Who's that farmer
Who think he's a charmer?
It's Hollywood
Yeah, it's Hollywood all right
Here Hollywood, here's a quarter
Go buy yourself some, ah, continental pants
Ascot, cigarette holder etc, etc
The song Hollywood by Connie Francis seems to be a critique of Hollywood culture and how superficial it can be. The opening lines introduce us to a character whose car is covered in junk and can't even afford lunch. This could be seen as a commentary on the struggles for people trying to make it big in Hollywood with limited resources. The song then switches to describing the stereotypical Hollywood star driving around in a fancy car and wearing sunglasses even at night. They are also depicted as trying to seduce young women to park with them. These lines seem to be pointing towards the idea that Hollywood celebrities can get away with anything just because of their status.
The lyrics then move on to point out the excessive fashion and style that is seen in Hollywood, with the Frenchy hat and horn-rimmed bifocals being highlighted. The final verse seems to sum up the message of the song by describing the idea that Hollywood pretends to be something that it is not. The farmer who thinks he is a charmer but is actually just part of the Hollywood culture suggests the idea that Hollywood is nothing more than an illusion. Overall, the song seems to be critiquing the superficiality and vanity of Hollywood and its culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Whose jalopy is covered with junk
Whose old car is full of useless stuff
But don't have any money for lunch?
But does not have enough money to buy food
It's Hollywood, it's Hollywood
That's what it's like in Hollywood, a place of stark contrasts
Who's the local star
Who is the famous person in the neighborhood
With the big, fine car?
Driving an expensive car
Who wears the shady glasses after dark?
Who wears sunglasses at night
Who tries to talk the little girlie's into parking?
Who tries to convince young girls to have sex with him
Who's the local yokel with
Who is the ignorant person in the neighborhood, wearing
The horn rimmed bifocals?
large glasses with thick frames and divided lenses
It's Hollywood
It is a place of many contrasts
Who else would hold a cigarette like that?
Who would hold a cigarette in such an unusual manner
Who else would wear a little Frenchy's hat?
Who else would wear such a hat from France
No one but Hollywood, Hollywood
Only in Hollywood would someone dress in such an unusual way
Who thinks he's been around
Who believes he has seen everything
But ain't never been out of town?
But has never left Hollywood
I'll give you just one little guess
I will give you one guess
At who old Hollywood's trying to impress
Who Hollywood is trying to make an impression on
You're right, it's Hollywood, Hollywood
You guessed it right, it's Hollywood
Who's that farmer
Who is that unqualified person
Who think he's a charmer?
Who thinks he can charm people
Yeah, it's Hollywood all right
Yes, it's really Hollywood
Here Hollywood, here's a quarter
Here you go, Hollywood, here's a small amount of money
Go buy yourself some, ah, continental pants
Go buy yourself some fashionable pants
Ascot, cigarette holder etc, etc
Buy accessories like Ascot, and a cigarette holder
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOUDERMILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Angel Di Rees
on Fallin'
awesome