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
Oh Boy
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't know What you been a-missin'
Oh boy, when you're with me
Oh boy, the world can see
That you were meant for me
All of my life I been a-waitin'
Tonight there'll be no hasitatin'
Oh boy, when you're with me
Oh boy, the world can see
That you were meant for me
All of my life I been a-waitin'
Tonight there'll be no hasitatin'
Stars appear And the shadows are fallin'
You can hear My heart callin'
A little bit of lovin'
Makes everything right
And I'm gonna see My baby tonight
All of my lovin' All of my kissin'
You don't know What you been a-missin'
Oh boy, when you're with me
Oh boy, the world can see
That you were meant for me
All of my life I been a-waitin'
Tonight there'll be no hasitatin'
Dum dee dum dum, oh boy
Dum dee dum dum, oh boy
Connie Francis's song "Oh Boy" is a joyful love song that expresses the singer's adoration for her lover. The song tells the story of a woman who has been waiting for this moment all her life, as she knows that her lover is the one she was meant to be with. The opening lines, "All of my lovin' All of my kissin', You don't know What you been a-missin'" indicate the singer's excitement to finally be with the one she loves. She believes that her lover has been missing out on her love and attention, and she can't wait to shower him with affection.
The chorus, "Oh boy, when you're with me, Oh boy, the world can see, That you were meant for me, All of my life I been a-waitin', Tonight there'll be no hasitatin'" further emphasizes the singer's conviction that her lover is the one for her. She has waited for him all her life, and now that they are together, nothing can stop them from expressing their love. The line "the world can see, that you were meant for me" suggests that their love is obvious to everyone around them, and they are the perfect match for each other.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how the stars are out and the shadows are falling, suggesting that it's nighttime and the perfect time for love. She also mentions how a little bit of loving can make everything right, indicating that their love is powerful enough to overcome any obstacles. The song ends with the singer repeating the chorus and an upbeat "Dum dee dum dum," expressing her joy and happiness at finally being with the one she loves.
Line by Line Meaning
All of my lovin' All of my kissin'
I have been giving my love and affection wholly and completely.
You don't know What you been a-missin'
You have no idea what you have been missing out on by not being with me.
Oh boy, when you're with me
I feel jubilant and elated when I am with you, my love.
Oh boy, the world can see
Our love is so strong that anyone can see that we were meant to be together.
That you were meant for me
It is fated that we were meant to be together and spend our lives in love and harmony.
All of my life I been a-waitin'
My entire life, I have been waiting and searching for someone like you to come along and complete me.
Tonight there'll be no hasitatin'
Tonight, I am not going to hesitate to show you how much I love and care for you.
Stars appear And the shadows are fallin'
As the stars come out and the darkness descends, I feel love and warmth in my heart.
You can hear My heart callin'
My heart beats and calls out to you, begging you to be with me.
A little bit of lovin' Makes everything right
A small amount of love from you has the power to make everything in my life perfect and complete.
And I'm gonna see My baby tonight
I am filled with excitement and anticipation as I know I will be seeing my beloved tonight.
Dum dee dum dum, oh boy
I cannot contain my joy and happiness as I sing meaningless syllables to celebrate the love that we share.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NORMAN PETTY, BILL TILGHMAN, SUNNY WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@keithstrachan9834
It was labelled Oh Boy 1980 because this version was performed in 1980 on the Oh Boy TV Show. It was of course originally recorded by by Connie Francis in 1960.
@randys5740
Didn't Jamie Horton / Gayla Peevey sing this song in 1960?
@bergsachsen8539
この子普通に可愛いし歌もウマい😺🎵
@niamuller3586
Super Lied
@hymatwat9412
A 1960 song labelled 1980 ?
@nikkohayashi5182
i think because it was performed in Oh Boy in 1980.