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
Maybe Baby
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe baby, you'll be true
Maybe baby, I'll have you for me
It's funny honey, you don't care
You never listen, to my prayer
Maybe baby, you will love me some day
Any other one that, makes me sad
When some day, you'll want me
Well, I'll be there, wait and see ee ee
Maybe baby, I'll have you
Maybe baby, you'll be true
Maybe baby, I'll have you for me**
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Aughaaa
Well you are the one that, makes me glad
Any other one that, makes me sad
When some day, you'll want me
Well, I'll be there, wait and see ee ee
Maybe baby I'll have you for me
The lyrics of Connie Francis's song "Maybe Baby" are about a person's unrequited love for someone who does not seem to care about their feelings. The singer expresses hope that their love interest will eventually love them back, but acknowledges that currently they do not seem interested. The first verse illustrates this, with the singer saying "maybe baby, I'll have you" and "maybe baby, you'll be true" indicating that there is some uncertainty in the relationship. The second verse talks about the frustration that the singer feels because their love interest does not seem to care about them. Despite this, the chorus continues to express hope that their love interest will eventually come around and love them back.
The bridge of the song highlights the power that the love interest holds over the singer, with lines like "you are the one that makes me glad" and "any other [person] that makes me sad." This indicates that the love interest is incredibly important to the singer and their mood is heavily impacted by the whims of the love interest. However, the repeated use of "maybe" throughout the song indicates that the singer is not entirely certain about the future of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe baby, I'll have you
The singer hopes that the person she loves will eventually be with her.
Maybe baby, you'll be true
The singer hopes that the person she loves will remain faithful to her.
Maybe baby, I'll have you for me
The singer hopes that the person she loves will belong to her exclusively.
It's funny honey, you don't care
The singer finds it amusing that the person she loves doesn't seem to care about her.
You never listen, to my prayer
The singer feels that the person she loves never pays attention to her desires and wishes.
Maybe baby, you will love me some day
The singer hopes that one day the person she loves will come to love her.
Well you are the one that, makes me glad
The person the singer loves brings her happiness.
Any other one that, makes me sad
Being with anyone besides the person she loves makes her unhappy.
When some day, you'll want me
The singer anticipates that the person she loves will eventually desire her as well.
Well, I'll be there, wait and see ee ee
The singer will be there for the person she loves when they finally want to be with her.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Charles Hardin, Norman Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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