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
Let Me Try Again
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I just couldn't say good-bye
It was only self-deceiving
To walk away from someone who
Means everything in life to you
You learn from every lonely day
I've learned, and I've come back to stay
Let me try again - let me try again
Think of all we had before - let me try once more
We can have it all - you and I again
Just forgive me or I'll die - please let me try again
I was such a fool to doubt you
To try to go it all alone
There's no sense to life without you
Now all I do is just exist
And think about the chance I've missed
To beg is not an easy task
But pride is such a foolish mask
Let me try again - let me try again
Think of all we had before - let me try once more
We can have it all - you and I again
Just forgive me or I'll die - please let me try again
In Connie Francis's song Let Me Try Again, the singer is begging for a second chance with someone they love. They admit their mistake in trying to leave, as it was only self-deceiving to try to walk away from someone who means everything to them. The lyrics suggest that the singer has learned from their mistake and wants to make things right with their partner. They acknowledge that begging is not an easy task but they're willing to put their pride aside in order to try and win their love back.
The chorus of the song features the singer pleading with their partner to let them try again, to think of all they had before and to let them try just once more. They believe that they can have it all once again if their partner just forgives them. The singer recognizes that they were a fool to doubt their partner and try to go it alone, as life without them is now meaningless. They spend their days thinking about the chance they missed and are desperate to have their partner back in their life.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt plea for a second chance at love. The lyrics are relatable for anyone who has made a mistake in a relationship and wants to make it right. The combination of Francis's powerful vocals and the emotional lyrics make for a moving ballad that is sure to tug at the heartstrings.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I said that I was leaving
I previously expressed that I was departing
But I just couldn't say good-bye
However, I found it impossible to bid farewell
It was only self-deceiving
My intent was merely to delude myself
To walk away from someone who
To abandon an individual who
Means everything in life to you
Is of utmost importance in your life
You learn from every lonely day
You gain knowledge from each isolated day
I've learned, and I've come back to stay
I have learned from my mistakes and returned to stay
Let me try again - let me try again
Grant me another attempt - grant me another attempt
Think of all we had before - let me try once more
Recall all that we shared before - allow me to try again
We can have it all - you and I again
We can regain everything - you and I together once more
Just forgive me or I'll die - please let me try again
Just absolve me or I will not survive - please permit me to try again
I was such a fool to doubt you
I was incredibly foolish to question you
To try to go it all alone
To attempt to do it entirely alone
There's no sense to life without you
Life has no meaning without you
Now all I do is just exist
Now, all I do is barely survive
And think about the chance I've missed
And ponder the opportunity I squandered
To beg is not an easy task
It is no simple feat to plead
But pride is such a foolish mask
However, pride can often be misleading
Contributed by Colton I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@billpaterson4034
"Wow" what a voice, I am from Glasgow and remember you well at Barrowland ballroom. Please keep singing. I moved to Vancouver in 1967. still miss the music. Bill.
@bronwenhabberley5985
Beautiful voice shame today’s singers can’t sing like this
@ysbytyr1
I only knew Lena Martell for singing "One Day At a Time", so I'm so glad I've discovered these other songs. What a wonderful god given voice. Just love her
@danielvictor7321
Listen this version
https://youtu.be/d0xrCxLlFV4
@evelinewinskill4066
Lena Martell has to be the best singer GB has ever produced
@SuperFerdie1965
Better than Bassey, Squires, Vera Lynn? Nonsense.
@sarahcrowe9730
What a beautiful soulful song , what sensational voice!!
@Evajean11
How wonderful to hear this fabulous Scottish lady sing again a really beautiful clear uplifting voice so full of feeling and depth . Why can't young modern singers deliver songs like she does , ohh if only ! Tam
@pedroamedro
she released a new album recently
@John-db8mj
Beautiful voice. Hope to see you on tour soon.hopefully 2020