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 Lonesome Me
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just a fool for staying home and having none
I can't get over how she set me free
Oh lonesome me
A bad mistake I'm making bout just hanging round
I know that I should have some fun an paint the town
A love sick fool that's blind and just can't see
Oh lonesome me
I'll bet she's not like me
She's out an fancy free
Flirting with the boys with all her charms
But I still love her so
And brother don't you know
I'd welcome her right back here in my arms
Well there must be some way
I can lose these lonesome blue
Forget about the past and find somebody new
I've thought of everything from A to Z
Oh lonesome me
(ba-de-op-bop-bop)
(ba-de-op-bop-bop)
(Oh lonesome me)
Well I bet she's not like me
She's out and fancy free
Flirting with the boys with all her charms
But I still love her so
And brother don't you know
I'd welcome her right back into my arms
Well there must be some way
I can lose these lonesome blues
Forget about the past and find somebody new
I've thought of everything from A to Z
Oh lonesome me
Oh lonesome me
"Oh Lonesome Me" is a poignant song about heartbreak and loneliness. The singer laments her decision to stay home while her former lover is out enjoying life. She feels lost and alone without her partner, who has left her. The lyrics are an expression of her longing for companionship and her desire to move on from the past.
The first verse sets the tone for the song, depicting the singer as a fool for staying home instead of going out and having fun. She is unable to get over the fact that her partner set her free, leaving her feeling lonely and lost. The second verse describes the singer as a love sick fool who is blind and cannot see that she needs to move on from her past relationship. In the third verse, the singer acknowledges that her former partner is out flirting with other boys, but she still loves her partner and would welcome her back with open arms.
The song is reflective of the struggles that people face when trying to move on from past relationships. The lyrics are emotive and relatable, capturing the essence of what it feels like to be alone and longing for someone who may never come back.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's going out and having fun
Everyone is going out and enjoying themselves
I'm just a fool for staying home and having none
I'm foolish for staying home and not having any fun
I can't get over how she set me free
I can't forget how she made me feel free
Oh lonesome me
I feel very lonely
A bad mistake I'm making bout just hanging round
I'm making a mistake by just staying around here
I know that I should have some fun an paint the town
I know I should be having fun and going out on the town
A love sick fool that's blind and just can't see
I'm foolish and in love, unable to see clearly
I'll bet she's not like me
I'm sure she's not like me
She's out an fancy free
She's out and enjoying herself
Flirting with the boys with all her charms
She's flirting with other guys and using her charm
But I still love her so
But I still love her very much
And brother don't you know
Brother, you should know
I'd welcome her right back here in my arms
I would gladly take her back and hold her in my arms
Well there must be some way
There has to be a way
I can lose these lonesome blue
I can stop feeling lonely
Forget about the past and find somebody new
I should forget about the past and find someone new
I've thought of everything from A to Z
I've considered everything
Oh lonesome me
I feel very lonely
(ba-de-op-bop-bop)
(ba-de-op-bop-bop)
(Oh lonesome me)
(I feel very lonely)
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Gibson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jessmdz
Connie โฅ๏ธ
@nilanisiriwardena5019
ALWAYS LOVED CONNIE FRANCIS. EVERY SONG SHE SANG WAS GREAT. GOD BLESS YOU CONNIE FRANCIS. LOVE YOU.
@conniefrancis4743
Hi dear๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel am checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐.
@billmoss7677
Such clarity and power. Unmatched in her day, or probably since.
@gladysbetancourt5125
๐
@loisraymcinnis6006
Good old songs; yep.
@conniefrancis4743
Hi dear๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel am checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐.
@steveroberts8719
Boy, was she a hottie. She does this song so well.
@dfw3355
Agreed 110% on both of your observations.
@sanlkayballarddyb1824
Sandy singles