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
Lipstick On Your Collar
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
When you left me all alone at the record hop
Told me you were going out for a soda pop
You were gone for quite a while, half an hour or more
You came back and man oh man this is what I saw
Lipstick on your collar said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar you and I are through
'Cause lipstick on your collar told a tale on you, yeah
You said it belonged to me, made me stop and think
Then I noticed yours was red, mine was baby pink
Who walked in but Mary Jane, lipstick all a mess
Were you smoochin' my best friend? Guess the answer's yes
Lipstick on your collar told a tale on you
Lipstick on your collar said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar you and I are through
'Cause lipstick on your collar told a tale on you, boy
Told a tale on you, man
Told a tale on you, yeah
Told a tale on you
Connie Francis's song "Lipstick on Your Collar" is a classic example of a song that beautifully portrays a relationship gone wrong due to infidelity. The song is about a girl who catches her boyfriend cheating on her while he's out getting a soda pop. She notices lipstick on his collar, which tells her all she needs to know about what he's been up to.
The girl confronts her boyfriend, who comes up with a lame excuse that the lipstick belonged to her. However, she sees that the color of the lipstick on the collar is different from hers, and she figures out that he's been cheating on her with her best friend. The song ends with the girl accepting that their relationship is through and that the lipstick on his collar has told the tale on him.
This song is a classic example of storytelling in music. It vividly tells a story of a painful situation and the emotions involved. This song is one of the biggest hits of Connie Francis, and it is often cited as one of the greatest pop songs of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
When you left me all alone at the record hop
You abandoned me at the dance without a care
Told me you were going out for a soda pop
You lied to me about leaving for a drink
You were gone for quite a while, half an hour or more
You were away for an extended period, without any consideration for me
You came back and man oh man this is what I saw
When you returned, I saw the evidence of your infidelity
Lipstick on your collar told a tale on you
The lipstick mark on your clothing exposed your unfaithfulness
Lipstick on your collar said you were untrue
The color on your attire revealed that you were dishonest
Bet your bottom dollar you and I are through
I have no more trust in you, and our relationship is over
'Cause lipstick on your collar told a tale on you, yeah
The lipstick on your clothes was all the proof I needed to see your disloyalty
You said it belonged to me, made me stop and think
You tried to convince me that the lipstick was mine, making me question my memory
Then I noticed yours was red, mine was baby pink
The color difference made it clear that the lipstick wasn't mine
Who walked in but Mary Jane, lipstick all a mess
My friend Mary Jane entered with disheveled lipstick, indicating that she had been involved with you
Were you smoochin' my best friend? Guess the answer's yes
Your relationship with Mary Jane became obvious, and I realized you had cheated on me with my closest friend
Told a tale on you, man
The lipstick was irrefutable evidence of your unfaithfulness
Told a tale on you, yeah
The lipstick revealed the truth about your infidelity
Told a tale on you
The lipstick demonstrated your dishonesty and the end of our relationship
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edna Lewis, George Goehring
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Camacho
When you left me all alone, at the record hop
Told me you were going out, for a soda pop
You were gone for quite a while, half an hour or more
You came back and man oh man, this is what I saw
Lipstick on your collar, told a tale on you
Lipstick on your collar, said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar, you and I are through
'Cause lipstick on your collar, told a tale on you, yeah
You said it belonged to me, made me stop and think
Then I noticed yours was red, mine was baby pink
Who walked in but Mary Jane, lipstick all a mess
Were you smoochin' my best friend, yes the answer's yes
Lipstick on your collar, told a tale on you
Lipstick on your collar, said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar, you and I are through
'Cause lipstick on your collar, told a tale on you, boy
Told a tale on you, man
ねこキャット
When you left me all alone
At the record hop
Told me you were going out
For a soda pop
You were gone for quite awhile
Half an hour or more
You came back
And man, oh man
This is what I saw
Chorus
Lipstick on your collar
Told a tale on you
Lipstick on your collar
Said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar
You and I are through
Cause lipstick on your collar
Told a tale on you, yeah
You said it belonged to me
Made me stop and think
And then I noticed yours was red
Mine was baby pink
Who walked in but Mary Jane
Lipstick all a mess
Were you smoochin’ my best friend?
Guess the answer’s yes
Cause lipstick on your collar
Told a tale on you, boy
Told a tale on you, man
Told a tale on you, yeah
Aşkımla .... Zamanı
When you left me all alone at the record hop
Told me you were goin' out for a soda pop
You were gone for quite a while, half an hour or more
You came back and man oh man this is what I saw
Lipstick on you collar, told a tale on you
Lipstick on you collar, said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar, you and I are through
Cause, lipstick on you collar told a tale on you, yeah
You said it belonged to me, made me stop and think
Then I noticed yours was red, mine was baby pink
Who walked in but Mary Jane, lipstick all a mess
Were you smoochin' my best friend? Guess the answer's yes
Lipstick on you collar, told a tale on you
Lipstick on you collar, said you were untrue
Bet your bottom dollar, you and I are through
Cause, lipstick on you collar told a tale on you, boy
Told a tale on you, man
Told a tale on you, yeah
James Goldberg
It is both a terrible insult to Connie and her fans, as well as sheer stupidity, that she is still not in the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame. Het music is immortal.
impassable
Iconic voice
Gloria Chinea
Correct
Sean Evans
If i was an artist in that hall of fame
Id want out
Connie Francis is the voice of rockn roll ❤️
Mary Omnes
Just a teenager when I first heard this song. Connie Francis such a great singer. This song takes me back to the 50's. Just love Connie such a beautiful woman.
Patricia Martinez
I was born in 53. Listened to my brother’s records
John Dean
Her voice and recordings infinitely superior to todays so called music.
Michelle Shellëy Szabo
I’m in my 40’s now, & I remember hearing my mum playing it from when I was a young girl in 1980. I still remember the words to Lipstick on my Collar & StupidCupid. My mum would play the cassette & sing & do her housework whilst I played in front of her. My mum is still alive at 80 yrs old.
KY Stars
Connie, you are NOT gone, and you will NEVER be forgotten. You were and are America's sweetheart!
GREAT voice will always be heard for as long as Earth is here, you will be at the TOP!
Martin Putt
She's still alive and well at the age of 85 thankfully.