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
Mr. Twister
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ought to see my baby twist
He goes around like a disc
And when the music strikes a groove
You ought to see my baby move
He's my mister and I love him, hey Mr. Twister.
I don't ever get a chance
'Cause all the girlies can't resist
The way my baby does the twist
He's my mister and I love him, hey Mr. Twister.
Around and around my mister
Around and around Mr. Twister
Around and around my mister
Around and around Mr. Twister
He's my baby and I love him, hey Mr. Twister.
My baby always takes the floor
How he steals the show
And if I wanna be his Miss
I gotta learn do the twist
He's my mister and I love him, hey Mr, Twister, go ahead.
(Around and around my mister
Around and around Mr Twister
Around and around my mister
Around and around Mr. Twister
Ah, ah, ah, Mr. Twister.)
You ought to see my baby twist
He goes around like a disc
And when the music strikes a groove
You ought to see my baby move
He's my mister and I love him, hey Mr. Twister.
Yeah, around and around my mister
Around and around Mr. Twister
Around and around my mister
Around and around Mr. Twister
He's my baby and I love him, hey Mr. Twister...
The lyrics of Connie Francis's "Mr. Twister" describe a man who is an exceptional dancer, twisting to the music and stealing the spotlight whenever he hits the dance floor. The singer of the song is clearly infatuated with him, referred to as "my mister," and urges everyone to witness his moves. Francis uses figurative language to describe his twisting, imagining him as a spinning disc. The refrain of the song is a repeated call to "Mr. Twister," punctuating the love and admiration the singer has for this man.
The song is an upbeat, catchy number that encourages dancing and celebration. The singer's love for Mr. Twister is clear, but it's not entirely clear whether their affection is requited. The lyrics suggest that Mr. Twister is constantly the center of attention when he dances, and the singer is often left out. She expresses an eagerness to learn how to do the twist herself so that she can join him on the dance floor and be close to him.
Line by Line Meaning
You ought to see my baby twist
My partner is an amazing dancer and you'd be impressed if you saw them twist
He goes around like a disc
They spin around really fast, almost like a disc
And when the music strikes a groove
Whenever the music is just right, my partner starts dancing
You ought to see my baby move
They are a fantastic dancer and watching them move is a sight to behold
He's my mister and I love him, hey Mr. Twister.
My partner is the love of my life and I affectionately call them Mr. Twister
And when he takes me to a dance
Whenever we go out dancing together
I don't ever get a chance
I don't get to dance much because everyone crowds around my partner
'Cause all the girlies can't resist
All the girls are drawn to watching my partner dance
The way my baby does the twist
My partner's twist dance moves are particularly captivating
Around and around my mister
My partner spins around in circles
Around and around Mr. Twister
I affectionately refer to my partner as Mr. Twister
He's my baby and I love him, hey Mr. Twister.
My partner is my baby and I love them very much, even when they're dancing up a storm
My baby always takes the floor
Whenever we go out dancing, my partner always takes center stage
How he steals the show
My partner is such a good dancer that they often draw attention away from everyone else
And if I wanna be his Miss
If I want to be my partner's dance partner and get more attention from them
I gotta learn do the twist
I need to learn how to dance the twist so I can keep up with my partner
Ah, ah, ah, Mr. Twister.
I affectionately call my partner Mr. Twister
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARK LEWIS, JOHN BERRY, DON COVAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Claudio Porras Castro
Mi favorita de Siempre: Miss Connie Francis.Me encantan todas sus canciones.Que bellos recuerdos de la época de los 60's. ✌👌👍💐💐💐👀
Gladys Betancourt
Mi idola de siempre🇨🇱
jim kreider
You know, it's probably crazy, but the first time I heard this album I thought Connie put it out as a joke. All the songs were written by Davis/Murray and some are just outright weird. But then you hear an album over and over begin to appreciate it. I really like "My Real Happiness" "I Won't Be Home To You" and "Does Old Broadway Ever Sleep".
Lourdes Rey Murcia
me gusta mucho es la primera vez que escucho esa cancion
Lourdes Rey Murcia
que buena es connie francis es la mejor
belisario guerra
Covers: Hermanas Serrano ( España ) - Mister twister ( 1962 ). The Rocking Boys ( España ) - Mister twister ( 1962 )
DC Hampton Jacobs
Can we talk about how daring Connie Francis was, as a White female singer in 1962: She hired a Black R & B songwriter along with the house band from the Apollo Theater, and made a Twist album. There are A & R men attached to the project, but basically Connie produced it herself. There are photos of her in the studio with the songwriter, Memphis Curtis, and the Apollo bandleader, Sammy Lowe. The album that the three of them made, DO THE TWIST, later retitled DANCE PARTY, was not only good, it's the best Twist album ever made. Not even Chubby Checker can compete.
Maria Liza
Es fabulosa como cantante la sigo
Dese muy joven.
Con Mi tonto amor
Tanto control
El cielo es azul
Que sola estoy. Granada Siboney
María la O.
Lourdes Rey Murcia
conozco algunas canciones de ella
Sebastian Malik
Mr Twister ist crazy have big twist ☺😂