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
Swanee
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never thought I'd miss you so
Somehow I feel
You love is real
Near you I long to be
The birds are singin′, it is song time
The banjos strummin' soft and low
Yearn for me too
Swanee! You're calling me!
Swanee!
How I love you, how I love!
My dear ol′ Swanee
I′d give the world to be
Among the folks in
D-I-X-I-E-ven no my mammy's
Waiting for me
Praying for me
Down by the Swanee
The folks up north will see me no more
When I go to my Swanee Shore!
Swanee, Swanee, I′m coming back to Swanee!
Mammy, Mammy, I love the old folks at home!
My Swanee!
How I love you, how I love!
My dear ol' Swanee
I′d give the world to be
Among the folks in
D-I-X-I-E-ven no my mammy's
Waiting for me
Praying for me
Down by the Swanee
The folks up north will see me no more
When I go to the Swanee Shore!
You′ve gotta be kidding, Dick!
The song Swanee by Connie Francis is a nostalgic love song about being separated from someone you love and yearning to be reunited with them. The lyrics depict the longing she has for her lover and her hope that they feel the same way. The first verse sets the tone for the song, as she acknowledges that she has been away from her love for a long time, a separation that has made her realize how much she misses him. She then reveals that being near him is what she longs for the most, and that she believes their love is real. The chorus follows, where she describes the setting of the song - the birds are singing, the banjos are strumming softly, and the call of Swanee beckons her home. The second verse deepens the feeling of longing, as Connie sings about how much she loves Swanee and how she would give the world to be back home with the people she loves. The refrain of the chorus repeats, affirming her desire to be reunited with her love, her family, and her community.
Overall, the song Swanee is a heartfelt expression of nostalgia and longing. The lyrics have a wistful quality to them, and the melody is upbeat and catchy. It is a love song not just for a person, but also for a place and a community. With her soulful rendition, Connie Francis invites the listener on a journey to her past and her roots, and invites them to share in her longing for home.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been away from you a long time
It has been a while since I have been with you
I never thought I'd miss you so
I did not realize how much I would miss you
Somehow I feel You love is real
I have a strong feeling that your love for me is genuine
Near you I long to be
I want to be close to you
The birds are singin′, it is song time
It is a time when birds are singing
The banjos strummin' soft and low
The sound of banjo playing is soft and mellow
I know that you Yearn for me too
I am aware that you also desire my presence
Swanee! You're calling me!
You are beckoning me, Swanee
Swanee! How I love you, how I love!
Swanee, I really love you very much
My dear ol′ Swanee I′d give the world to be
My beloved Swanee, I would do anything to be with you
Among the folks in D-I-X-I-E-ven no my mammy's Waiting for me Praying for me Down by the Swanee
Being among people in Dixie and with my mother who is waiting for me and praying for me by the Swanee river
The folks up north will see me no more When I go to my Swanee Shore!
The people in the North will not see me once I go to my Swanee Shore
Swanee, Swanee, I′m coming back to Swanee! Mammy, Mammy, I love the old folks at home!
Swanee, I am returning to you! Mommy, I love the older people back home!
Writer(s): George Gershwin, Irving Caesar
Contributed by Sarah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
William Dane
Ah...just love everything Connie recorded in the 60s!
Gladys Betancourt
SUPER CONNIE FRANCIS EXCELENTE CANTANTE