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
How's the World Treating You
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since you said we were through
There's no hope for tomorrow
How's the world treating you?
Every sweet thing that mattered
Has been broken in two
All my dreams have been shattered
Got no plans for next Sunday
Got no plans for today
Every day is blue Monday
Every day you're away
Though our pathways have parted
To your memory I'm true
Guess I'll stay broken-hearted
How's the world treating you?
Are you turning and yearning
Do you ever get through
Do you think of returning
How's the world treating you?
Every sweet thing that mattered
How's the world treating you?
And Iâ??m asking you darling
How's the world treating you?
The lyrics to Connie Francis's song How's the World Treating You express the deep heartache and sorrow the singer is feeling after her lover ended their relationship. The lyrics suggest that this has resulted in the singer's life losing its sweetness and feeling hopeless without her lover. The catchy chorus repeats the title line, as the singer asks her ex-lover how they're doing and whether they think of returning.
The first verse of the lyrics highlights how the singer has been struggling and experiencing nothing but sorrow since the breakup. The second verse emphasizes that all the good things in her life have also been broken or shattered because of the loss of her lover. The third verse shows that the singer is unable to move on and that even though they have parted ways, she remains true to their memories. The final chorus is a plea for her ex-lover to return and the singer is asking how they're doing and if they ever think of coming back.
Overall, the lyrics capture the intensity of heartbreak and the pain of losing someone you love. Through the questions in the chorus, Connie Francis is able to convey how the singer's world revolves around their ex-lover and how she cannot move on until they are reunited.
Line by Line Meaning
I've had nothing but sorrow
Life has been filled with sadness ever since you ended our relationship.
Since you said we were through
This sadness has been caused by the fact that you ended our relationship.
There's no hope for tomorrow
I can't see any way that things could improve in the future.
How's the world treating you?
I'm curious about how your life is going since we parted ways.
Every sweet thing that mattered
All of the things that brought me happiness have been destroyed.
Has been broken in two
My hopes and dreams have been shattered.
All my dreams have been shattered
Everything that I hoped for has been ruined.
Got no plans for next Sunday
I have no plans for the future.
Got no plans for today
Every day is empty and meaningless.
Every day is blue Monday
Every day is as unhappy as a Monday.
Every day you're away
Your absence only adds to my misery.
Though our pathways have parted
Even though we have gone our separate ways.
To your memory I'm true
I still have feelings for you and think about you often.
Guess I'll stay broken-hearted
I will likely never fully recover from this heartbreak.
Are you turning and yearning
Do you miss me and wish we were still together?
Do you ever get through
Have you been able to move on from our relationship?
Do you think of returning
Do you ever consider coming back to me?
How's the world treating you?
I still want to know how you're doing without me.
Every sweet thing that mattered
All of the things that brought me happiness have been destroyed.
How's the world treating you?
I'm still concerned about how you're faring since our breakup.
And I'm asking you darling
My question about your life is a heartfelt one, my love.
How's the world treating you?
Please tell me how you're getting on in this world, my love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Boudleaux Bryant, Chester Atkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Dane
I absolutely love Connie’s vocal on this song. It makes the ears very happy!
Kevin Harkin
Will, I agree. Her vocal is fantastic!!
CHARLES PUPPI
Never heard this song. Thanks kevin
Kevin Harkin
You're welcome Charles. I love her vocal harmony on this.