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
O Suzanna
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm goin' to Louisiana my true love for to see
It rained all night the day I left the weather it was so dry
The sun so hot I froze to death Suzanna don't you cry
Oh Suzanna don't you cry for me
I've come from Alabama with the banjo on my knee
I had a dream the other night when everything was still
The buckwheat cake was in her mouth the tear was in her eye
I said I'm comin' from the south Suzanna don't you cry
Oh Suzanna don't you cry for me...
The song "Oh Suzanna" by Connie Francis tells the story of a man who has left Alabama with the banjo on his knee and is bound for Louisiana to see his true love, Suzanna. The man describes the weather on his journey, saying that it rained all night the day he left and that the weather was so dry that the sun was hot enough to freeze him to death. Despite his struggles, the man reassures Suzanna not to cry because he has come a long way to be with her.
The man then recounts a dream he had where he saw Suzanna coming down the hill with a tear in her eye and a buckwheat cake in her mouth. The man tells Suzanna that he is coming from the south and that she shouldn't cry. The song has a happy tone and suggests that the man's journey is worthwhile because he will be reunited with his true love.
Overall, "Oh Suzanna" is a simple and cheerful song about love and longing. The man's journey is symbolic of the lengths that people will go to be with the ones they love.
Line by Line Meaning
I've come from Alabama with the banjo on my knee
I arrived from Alabama with my banjo, an instrument that is an essential part of my life.
I'm goin' to Louisiana my true love for to see
I am on my way to Louisiana to meet with my beloved, the one I adore with all my heart.
It rained all night the day I left the weather it was so dry
It poured down with rain all night on the day I embarked on my journey, whereas the weather was hot and dry.
The sun so hot I froze to death Suzanna don't you cry
Despite the fact that the sun scorched hot, I felt cold enough to freeze up; however, there is no need for Suzanna to be concerned over my well-being.
Oh Suzanna don't you cry for me
Suzanna, please do not shed tears for my sake.
I had a dream the other night when everything was still
I had a vision while asleep one night, and everything was dormant around me.
I thought I saw Suzanna dear a comin' down the hill
In my dream, I thought I spotted my dear Suzanna descending the hill towards me.
The buckwheat cake was in her mouth the tear was in her eye
In that specific moment, Suzanna had a tear in her eye while she was munching on a buckwheat cake.
I said I'm comin' from the south Suzanna don't you cry
I reassured Suzanna in my dream that my journey is from the south, so there is no need for her to weep.
Oh Suzanna don't you cry for me...
I reiterate to Suzanna to refrain from crying for my well-being.
Contributed by Adalyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Liza devi
My father sang this song for me to sleep ...when I was a little girl .... this is golden ✨
ruby mohamed
What beautiful friend. Marvelous.
Tianjiao Liu
cute
susmita mondal
Crystal clear voice.
SOON AUN TAN
How time fly. I was in Kindergarten in Treacher Methodist Girls School and now I am 79years of age
Gosh!
George Vreeland Hill
A legendary song made even better by Connie Francis.
steve wixom
What a sweet wonderful voice she had.. and a great ol' American song
Loraine Taylor
Love the song and sung absolutely beautifully by Connie
James R Shelburn
Good version. Of course, everything Connie Francis does is good.
Sandy Ballard
Sandy Kay Ballard loved class et