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
It's A Great Day For The Irish
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sidewalks of New York are thick with blarney
For shure you'd think New York was Old Kilarney!
It's a great day for the Shamrock, for the flags in full array
We're feeling so inspirish, shure because for all the Irish
It's a great, great day!
It's a great day for the Irish, it's a great day for fair!
Begorra all the cops are out parading!
It's a great day for the Shamrock, for the flags in full aray
And as we go a swinging, ev'ry Irish heart is singing
It's a great, great day!
The song "It's a Great Day for the Irish" by Connie Francis celebrates Saint Patrick's Day and the Irish heritage in America. The upbeat tempo and lively spirit of the song capture the excitement and pride of the Irish community in New York City during the annual parade. The first verse describes the festive atmosphere in the city, with sidewalks filled with "blarney" and the streets decorated with flags, while the chorus repeats the refrain "It's a great day for the Irish," conveying a sense of unity and pride among the community.
The second verse brings a humorous twist to the celebration by depicting a scenario where even the cops are too busy having fun to stop petty crimes. This tongue-in-cheek line adds some playful humor to the song while also showing the all-encompassing nature of the festivities. The song continues with the same theme of communal joy and pride, urging all the Irish to lift up their voices and enjoy the day.
Overall, "It's a Great Day for the Irish" is a colorful and uplifting tribute to the spirit of the Irish people in America. The song captures the energetic and carefree essence of the holiday and showcases the sense of community and solidarity that permeates the culture.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a great day for the Irish, it's a great day for fair!
Today is a wonderful day for the Irish people, a day filled with brightness and joy!
The sidewalks of New York are thick with blarney
The streets of New York are crowded with talk that is meant to charm and flatter, especially in the Irish way.
For shure you'd think New York was Old Kilarney!
Indeed, with so many Irish people present today and with all the references to Ireland and Irish culture, one would think that New York were the famous Irish city of Kilarney!
It's a great day for the Shamrock, for the flags in full array
The occasion is perfect for wearing the shamrock emblem and for flying the Irish flags in abundance.
We're feeling so inspirish, shure because for all the Irish
We are feeling so inspired and energized because today is a day that celebrates all things Irish!
It's a great, great day!
This is truly a wonderful, wonderful day!
Begosh, there's not a cop to stop a raiding
Amazingly, there does not seem to be a single police officer around to prevent rowdy behavior.
Begorra all the cops are out parading!
Instead, all the cops themselves are marching in a festive parade!
And as we go a swinging, ev'ry Irish heart is singing
As we all move around cheerfully and joyfully, with a carefree spirit, every heart of Irish descent is singing aloud in happiness and contentment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROGER EDENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Thanks Kevin