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
Solamente Una Vez
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Solamente una vez y nada más
Una vez nada más en mi huerto brilló la esperanza
La esperanza que alumbra el camino de mi soledad
Una vez nada más se entrega el alma
Con la dulce y total renunciación
Una vez nada más en mi huerto brilló la esperanza
It was a moment like this, do you remember
And your eyes threw a kiss when they met mine
Now we own all the stars and a million guitars are still playing
Darling, you are the song and you always belong to my heart
The song Solamente Una Vez, which translates to "Only Once," is a Spanish language song composed by Agustin Lara in 1941. It has since become a classic and has been covered by various artists, including Connie Francis. In this song, the singer reflects on a past love that has left a lasting impact on her life. She speaks of loving only once in her life and how that love was a source of hope in her loneliness.
The lyrics begin with "Solamente una vez amé en la vida," which means "only once did I love in my life." The singer reminisces on the one time that hope shone brightly in her life's garden. This hope lit the way through her loneliness, which is evident in the line "La esperanza que alumbra el camino de mi soledad," meaning "The hope that illuminates the path of my solitude." She speaks of how only once did she give her soul completely, with sweet and total resignation. The singer holds on to this one love, and it seems to have become a defining moment of her life.
The bridge of the song brings a shift in tone as the singer reminisces on a happy moment with her love, where they shared a kiss that felt like it owned all the stars and guitars in the world. The line "Darling, you are the song, and you always belong to my heart" highlights the deep love she held for her past partner, and how that love still holds its place in her heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Solamente una vez amé en la vida
I only loved once in my life
Solamente una vez y nada más
Just once and nothing else
Una vez nada más en mi huerto brilló la esperanza
Only once did hope shine in my garden
La esperanza que alumbra el camino de mi soledad
The hope that lights the path of my solitude
Una vez nada más se entrega el alma
The soul is only given once
Con la dulce y total renunciación
With sweet and complete surrender
Una vez nada más en mi huerto brilló la esperanza
Only once did hope shine in my garden
La esperanza que alumbra el camino de mi soledad
The hope that lights the path of my solitude
It was a moment like this, do you remember
Do you remember that moment?
And your eyes threw a kiss when they met mine
Your eyes sent a kiss when they met mine
Now we own all the stars and a million guitars are still playing
Now we have all the stars and millions of guitars are still playing
Darling, you are the song and you always belong to my heart
You, my darling, are the song and will always belong to my heart
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@arrascaetadora7560
Qué nostalgia con ésta señorita.
Yo vendía , bien paradita,zapatitos.
En ésas épocas ,que ni ahí eran las de ellos ya viejitos o muertos pues yo muy joven y todo por vivir,pura promesa era,en mis jóvenes años, zapatos.Cumplia con mis ocho horas digamos,separaba pesito para aquí,pesito para allá y así mientras aprendía de música con veteranos compañeros .
De ella la Francis,de Elvis, de Gilberto que en fin pura compra y venta era.
Ocho horas dan para mucho, pienso ahora,ya más descansada por no decir descartada.
Qué en fin,
nostalgias,
era tan como me sentía,
tan ignorante pero tan ávida de saber.
Cambio pelito!
@johnanthonygonzales8714
Her voice was as smooth as velvet. One of the Greatest female voices of all time. These songs will live forever. No mistaking the sound of the Beautiful Connie Francis. God Bless her Always....NMUSA
@conniefrancis5883
Hi there🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
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 you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and 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.💞💞🙏💖💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️❤️
@luciaduino9612
None la tel9sia
@luciaduino9612
5non e la geolosia
@luciaduino9612
Esachille togliano
@francoamerican111
Not only could she sing, but she was beautiful.
@conniefrancis5883
Hi there🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
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 you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and 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.💞💞🙏💖💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️❤️
@edisoncrisostomo7017
I love connie francis when she sings spanish songs as if your in spain. So lovely.
@conniefrancis4743
Hi dear🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
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 you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ 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.💞💞🙏💖.
@joecortes6125
Edison: This is a song from Mexico not Spain it's composer is the famous Mexican author Agustin Lara.