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
La Mamma
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said: "My daughter, I beg of you
I have a with that must come true
The last thing you can do for Mama
Please promise me that you will stay
And take my place while I'm away
And give the children love each day"
I had to cry, what could I say?
I prayed she wouldn't see my cry
So much to say that should be heard
But only time to say goodbye to Mama
They say in time that you'll forget
Yet still today my eyes are wet
I tell myself to smile for Mama
Now soon there'll be another spring
And I will start remembering
The way she loved to hear me sing
Her favorite song, "Ave Maria"
Ave Maria
The children have all grown up now
I kept my promise to Mama
I cannot guide them anymore
I've done my best all for Mama
Ave Maria
But still it seems so very small
For all she did for me
Connie Francis's song "For Mama" is an emotional tribute to the sacrifices made by a mother for her children. The song begins with the mother expressing her desire for her daughter to take her place while she is away, to give the children love each day. The daughter, overwhelmed with emotion, agrees to her mother's request but struggles to find the words to express her feelings. She hopes her mother won't see her cry but there is so much she wants to say to her.
The song conveys the heart-wrenching feeling of a daughter who feels like she can never repay her mother for all the love, care, and dedication. It talks about how the passage of time cannot erase the memories of a mother, and how one tries to keep one's promise to her. Eventually, the children grow up, but the daughter still feels that what she did is not enough to honor her mother's love and sacrifices.
Line by Line Meaning
Ave Maria
This line is the title of the song and is a Latin prayer dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
She said: "My daughter, I beg of you
The singer's mother made a request to her daughter, asking her to do something important.
I have a with that must come true
The mother has a wish that she wants to come true before she passes away.
The last thing you can do for Mama
The mother's wish is the last thing her daughter can do for her.
Please promise me that you will stay
The mother wants her daughter to promise that she will stay and fulfill her wish.
And take my place while I'm away
The mother wants her daughter to take her place in caring for the children while she is gone.
And give the children love each day
The mother wants her daughter to give her children love every day.
I had to cry, what could I say?
The daughter becomes emotional and doesn't know what to say in response to her mother's request.
How hard I tried to find the words
The daughter tried to articulate her feelings, but found it difficult.
I prayed she wouldn't see my cry
The daughter didn't want her mother to see her cry.
So much to say that should be heard
The daughter had a lot to say to her mother, but didn't have the time to say it all.
But only time to say goodbye to Mama
The daughter only had time to say goodbye to her mother.
They say in time that you'll forget
People say that with time, the pain of losing a loved one will fade.
Yet still today my eyes are wet
Even today, the daughter still cries when she thinks about her mother.
I tell myself to smile for Mama
The daughter tries to be strong for her mother and smile in her memory.
Now soon there'll be another spring
Time will pass, and another spring will come.
And I will start remembering
The daughter will begin to remember more about her mother.
The way she loved to hear me sing
The mother enjoyed hearing her daughter sing.
Her favorite song, "Ave Maria"
The mother's favorite song was "Ave Maria".
The children have all grown up now
The children the daughter was taking care of have grown up.
I kept my promise to Mama
The daughter fulfilled her mother's wish and took care of the children.
I cannot guide them anymore
The daughter is no longer able to guide and care for the children.
I've done my best all for Mama
The daughter did her best to fulfill her mother's wish.
But still it seems so very small
Despite her efforts, the daughter still feels like what she did was small compared to what her mother did for her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEOFFREY PARSONS, JAMES JOHN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Repa
When the evening shadows fall
And the lovely day is through
Then with longing I recall
The years I spent with you
Mamma solo per te la mia canzone vola
Mamma sarai con me tu non sarai più sola
Quanto ti voglio bene
Queste parole d'amore
Che ti sospira il mio cuore
Forse non si usano più
Ah mamma
Ma la canzone mia più bella sei tu
Sei tu la vita e per la vita non ti lascio mai più
(Mama only for you does my song soar)
(Mama you will not be alone anymore)
(How much I love you)
(These words of love)
(That my heart whispers for you)
(Perhaps they are not used anymore)
(Ah, mama)
(But the most beautiful song is you)
(You are the life and for that)
(life I'll never leave you again)
Safe in the glow of your love
Sent from the heavens above
Nothing can ever replace
The warmth of your tender embrace
Oh, mamma
Until the day that we're together once more
I'll live in these memories
Until the day that we're together once more
Vp P
Mamma, only for you does my song soar
Mamma, you will be with me
you'll not be alone anymore...
How much I love you,
these words of love
that my heart is whispering to you,
maybe such words no longer used
Mamma, the most beautiful song is you
You are life and for life I'll never leave you again
Yvonne Ioffredo
Mama solo per te la mia canzone vola
Mama sarai con me tu non sarai piu sola
Quanto ti voglio bene
Queste parole d'amore
Che ti sospira il mio cuore
Forse non si usano piu
Ah Mamma
Ma la canzone mia piu bella sei tu
Sei tu la vita e per la vita non ti lascio mai piu...
Ed Figurski
My mother would cry over losing her mother, now I cry over losing mine, I always remember she always said..You can have all the friends,girlfriends, but no one equals your mother, you only have one. RIP MOM, you were right!!!!
Chris Feeney
She was so right!
Alane Cook
You had a very smart Mom. May she Rest In Peace. ✝️
Sam Ferraro
So well said. I miss my parents everyday.
Edith Casines
Amen 🙏
mary delaney
I never knew this but it’s true my mom passed in December at 92 I’m 70 and she as it turns out was the love of my life…
vintageritarose
I'm crying thinking back on the best years of my life with my mama. She was the best she lived for me and my brother. She sacrificed her own happiness for us as we were her Joy. I was raised with values and morals and faith. My mother continues to inspire me even now she's gone 16 years. I am learning this song I will perform this for my mother.
Sonny Cannon
Connie's vocals were pure ~sentiment~! In fact, she could NOT avoid her very special use of her ~vibrato~ and coercion of her vocal chords in producing a very believable sense of actually crying to us,, and of which the effectiveness in turn,, makes us join in her ~very emotional storytelling~! And .............................................. I wouldn't have it ~any other way~!
DianeS CARM
My most favorite Mother's day song to hear and share with others....Love to all the Mama's now in heaven too.
Kuklapolitan
No one sings this fabulous song like Connie did...not anyone..not ever!
Thanks so much for putting it up for us.