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
I'm a Fool to Care
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a fool to care
When you treat me this way
I know I love you
But what can I do
I'm a fool to care
When you tell me goodbye
You left me so blue
When you were untrue
I'm a fool to care
I know I should laugh
And call it a day
Wow But I know I would cry
If you went away
I'm a fool to care
When you don't care for me
So why should I pretend
I'll lose in the end
I'm a fool to care
I'm a fool to care
When you don't care for me
So why should I pretend
I'll lose in the end
I'm a fool to care
In Connie Francis's song "I'm a Fool to Care," the singer is lamenting about her foolishness for staying in a relationship with someone who does not reciprocate her love. The lyrics in the chorus, "I'm a fool to care when you treat me this way, I know I love you but what can I do," highlight the internal struggle of wanting to hold onto love despite experiencing mistreatment. The second verse, "I'm a fool to cry when you tell me goodbye, you left me so blue when you were untrue," showcases the pain and hurt the singer feels when the relationship inevitably ends.
The singer acknowledges that she should move on, "I know I should laugh and call it a day," but admits that she would ultimately be unable to do so and would instead cry if her partner were to leave. The song's conclusion, "so why should I pretend, I'll lose in the end, I'm a fool to care," illustrates the acceptance of ultimately losing in the relationship and the regret of having invested so much time and emotion into a relationship that did not work out.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a fool to care
I am foolish to continue caring for you despite your mistreatment.
When you treat me this way
Your actions towards me are unkind and disrespectful.
I know I love you
Despite everything, my feelings for you are true.
But what can I do
There seems to be no solution to this situation.
I'm a fool to cry
I am being emotionally vulnerable and weak by crying over your rejection.
When you tell me goodbye
Your decision to leave me is causing me pain.
You left me so blue
Your departure has caused me great sadness and depression.
When you were untrue
Your betrayal has added insult to injury.
I know I should laugh
It would be more appropriate for me to take this situation lightly.
And call it a day
To simply give up and move on would be the smart thing to do.
But I know I would cry
Despite my attempts to move on, I know I am not yet ready to let go of my feelings for you.
If you went away
If you were to leave, it would be too much for me to bear.
When you don't care for me
Your lack of concern for my wellbeing is evident.
So why should I pretend
There is no point in faking or forcing emotions that are not there.
I'll lose in the end
Inevitably, I will end up getting hurt and coming out worse off.
Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
lourival imbuseiro
Que
doce interpretação,nunca havia escutado.Surpresa deliciosa.Muito obrigado.
Dave Demeny
To those of us who aspire to sing, Connie sings with a high level of vocal artistry!
Kat Crunchy
This simply beautiful, all thumps up for that song!!
Walt Eb
Yes, I quite agree with you, it's a great song, thanks for listening. Walt
Walt Eb
Hi Kat, I'm glad to know you're happy, thanks for the comment. All the best!
Kevin Harkin
I love this by Connie. It's from the album "Country Music Connie Style". It was one of her best-selling albums.
Dean Rideout
Love Connie her voice Just melts my heart
Kevin Harkin
You're welcome, Walt. Have a great day!!!!
Walt Eb
Hi Kevin Harkin, thanks for listening and for the information. Walt