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
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
And if you ever saw him
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Play in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then all the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history!
The song, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is a classic Christmas tune that tells a story of an outcast reindeer who eventually became a hero, thanks to his unique talent. The first stanza introduces us to the eight reindeer without including Rudolph, which sets him apart from the rest of the group. The second stanza, which is the chorus, introduces us to Rudolph, and we learn that he has an uncommon feature, a bright and shiny nose. This feature makes him different from the rest of the group, and the other reindeer make fun of him because of it, excluding him from their activities.
The third stanza includes Santa Claus entering the story, where he asks for Rudolph's help on a foggy Christmas Eve because of his shiny red nose. This is a turning point in the story because Santa recognizes Rudolph's talent and gives him the opportunity to use it to save Christmas. The fourth and final stanza highlight how all the other reindeer come around and accept Rudolph after seeing him in action. They celebrate him as a hero and recognize him as one of their own.
Overall, the song tells a story of triumph in the face of adversity while also encouraging inclusivity and acceptance of those who may be different. This song is a classic Christmas tune that has been reinterpreted in various styles and languages.
Line by Line Meaning
You know Dasher and Dancer
You are familiar with the reindeer named Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen
And also the ones named Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid
Plus, Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen
And of course, the reindeer Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
But have you ever heard of or remembered
The most famous reindeer of all
The most well-known and popular reindeer of them all
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Rudolph, who is a reindeer with a red and shiny nose
Had a very shiny nose.
His nose was very bright and glittering
And if you ever saw him
And if you had the chance to see him
You would even say it glows.
You would say that his nose shines like a light
All of the other reindeer
All of the other reindeer except Rudolph
Used to laugh and call him names
Used to make fun of him and call him bad names
They never let poor Rudolph
They never allowed poor Rudolph
Play in any reindeer games
To participate in any activities that reindeers play together
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
On one hazy night before Christmas
Santa came to say
Santa Claus came and said
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
"Rudolph, because your nose shines brilliantly
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Would you mind leading my sleigh tonight?"
Then all the reindeer loved him
After that, all the other reindeers became fond of Rudolph
As they shouted out with glee
And they yelled joyfully
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
Rudolph with his shining red nose
You'll go down in history!
Will forever be remembered in history!
Lyrics © ST. NICHOLAS MUSIC INC., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Johnny Marks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BinhLe-rm3oo
Check out the lyrics below.
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
“Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You’ll go down in history”
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
“Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You’ll go down in history”
@alanstevenson-graham6268
Actor, singer, decorated soldier, this guy is amazing
@sancho714sa
Don't forget also the first owner the best baseball team ever The Angels
@alanstevenson-graham6268
@@sancho714sa Being a Brit I know nothing about that great American pastime/sport, but yea, ok, another feather in his cap 👌
@TheAcceleratorMagazine
@@sancho714sa Of course key word is "was". This is from my childhood, or before. Edit: I'm 67. Young at heart but the years don't care. At least some of the music lives on. L8r.
@NiceguyVault76
decorated
@wisdomwealthwit8750
@@NiceguyVault76 Some say his family didn't have money for a Christmas tree, so Gene was decorated every December...
@Barbarra63297
If this song with Gene singing it doesn't take ya back to your childhood and Christmas I don't know what would! Best version ever! Rest in Peace Mr Autry, you brought a lot of joy to kids and adults alike!
@monicawatson1841
He didnt want to record it, his wife persuaded him. The song was written by Robert L May , an Ad writer, hisvwife was dying from cancer and he couldnt afford a gift for his 4yr old child Barbara. Well the book took off, made him a millionaire.
@muhammadsajjad7538
🎠
@lucyfernandez8304
@@muhammadsajjad7538 Oldies