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
On the Outside Looking In
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An' I wanna be, an' I wanna be back on the inside with you
You are with somebody new and I don't know what to do
'Cause I'm still in love with you (in love with you)
I'm on the outside looking in
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be left on the outside all alone
Well, I guess I've had my day as you left me go my way
I never should have gone away
I never should have gone away and left you, like I did
With tears in your eyes
I thought you'd take me back
But now, to my surprise (to my surprise)
I'm on the outside looking in
Gotta find a way, gotta find a way
Back to your heart, dear, once again
Won't you take me back again?
I'll be waiting here till then
On the outside looking in (ah-ah-ah-ah)
Won't you take me back again?
I'll be waiting here till then
On the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
On the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, looking in
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be
I don' wanna be looking in
Oh, looking in
The lyrics in Connie Francis's song "On the Outside Looking In" depict the sorrowful emotions of a person who has lost their loved one to someone else. They wish to return to the relationship, but they feel cut off from the inside, where they want to be. The singer can't seem to get over the fact that their previous lover has moved on, leaving them alone and stranded. The pessimistic language of the verses amplifies the gloomy undertone of the song. The singer repeatedly uses phrases like "left on the outside all alone," "now it's me who has to pay," and "to my surprise," highlighting an undercurrent of shame, hopelessness, and despair. The singer longs to go back to the past, where they made mistakes and try again. They still love their ex-partner, but they regret the choices they made that brought them to this moment.
In summary, the song conveys a sense of resignation and melancholy that also reveals the universal theme of heartbreak and regret—a theme that resonates with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on the outside looking in
I feel excluded and isolated from you and your life.
An' I wanna be, an' I wanna be back on the inside with you
I long to be a part of your life again and have the same closeness that we used to have.
You are with somebody new and I don't know what to do
Your relationship with someone else is causing me distress and confusion about what actions to take.
'Cause I'm still in love with you (in love with you)
My feelings for you have not faded and I still have romantic love for you.
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be left on the outside all alone
I don't want to feel like I'm completely on my own without you.
Well, I guess I've had my day as you left me go my way
I recognize that you wanted to go a different direction in your life and I let you, but I regret doing so now.
Now it's me who has to pay
I am bearing the consequences of my choice to let you go and it is a heavy burden.
I never should have gone away and left you, like I did
I realize that leaving you was a mistake and I regret that decision now.
With tears in your eyes
I caused you emotional pain when I left, as evidenced by the tears you shed.
I thought you'd take me back
I had hope that you'd forgive me and we could be together again.
But now, to my surprise (to my surprise)
I was wrong and things did not turn out the way I had hoped or expected.
Gotta find a way, gotta find a way
I am determined to do what it takes to regain your love and trust.
Back to your heart, dear, once again
I want to return to being close to you and having your love.
Won't you take me back again?
I am asking for your forgiveness and a second chance at our relationship.
I'll be waiting here till then
I am committed to waiting for you and hoping for our reconciliation.
On the outside looking in (ah-ah-ah-ah)
I am still separate from your life and looking in from afar.
Oh, looking in
My perspective is that of an outsider, looking in on a life that I long to be a part of again.
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be
I want to change my current situation and no longer feel isolated from you.
I don' wanna be looking in
I don't want to feel like I'm on the outside and missing out on being close to you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
steelmanK
I've been a Connie Francis fan for 65 yrs and I've never heard this before. It's iconic Connie - albeit, this is a little known recording. Thank you for posting this.
Christopher Quinn
My favourite, old time, Female singer. God Bless, her soul.
jakre10
I absolutely love this song. I loved it from the first time I heard it
Ozmulki
Thank you jakre10
Tarquin45
I have quite a large collection of Connie’s songs, but never heard this one before. I like it very much indeed. Apparently, she never had much of a liking for country music at first, but grew to love it thanks to Don and Phil Everly’s influence on her. Undoubtedly, a great, great singer.
Ozmulki
Tarquin45 gladypu liked it.
Gladys Betancourt
MARAVILLOSA CONNIE 😘
Joe Smith
she is one beautiful lady you cannot mistake her beautiful voice she had songs on nearly every jukebox in the UK has one or more song i have got quite a collection of her songs, she dresses beautiful she looks so glamorous she is the best, god bless you miss Connie have a wonderful life and a happy one you made a lot of us very happy with your songs thank you again.
Michael Turner
Neil Sedaka wrote and recorded this beauty in English and German.
William Dane
Thanks for posting this recording from 1960 unissued till Bear Family Records finally did so.