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
That'll Be the Day
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you're gonna leave me
That'll be the day when I die
Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
That'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave me, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die
Well, you gave me all your love, and your turtle dove
All your hugs and kisses and your money too
You know you love me, baby,until you tell me, baby
That some day, we'll, all be through
Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
And that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave me, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die
Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
And, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave me, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die
What Cupid shot his dart at, he shot it at your heart
So if we ever part and I leave you
You kiss and hold me and you tell me boldly
That some day, we'll, all be through
Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
And, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave me, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die
Well, that'll be the day, hoo-hoo
That'll be the day, hoo-hoo
That'll be the day, hoo-hoo
That'll be the day when I die
That'll be the day, when you say goodbye
And, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
That'll be the day, you know it's a lie
In Connie Francis's hit song "That'll Be the Day," the lyrics describe the pain and heartbreak that comes with a lover's vow to leave. The lyrics despondently express how the singer’s world will come to an end when her lover says farewell, as she struggles to come to terms with the inevitability of a breakup. She crashes in despair as she watches her lover turn their back on the relationship, denying that the lover has any right to say that they will abandon love, which, in her eyes, is certain-death.
The song conveys the message of how powerful love is, so much so that when it ends, it feels like your life has come to a complete stop. The lyrics are soulful, and the accompanying track is melancholic, evoking intense emotions in the listener. The song's melody is simple, but the lyrics are direct and communicate a powerful, foreboding message.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, that'll be the day, that'll be the day
The day mentioned will be one of great significance
You say you're gonna leave me
You've mentioned your intentions to leave me
That'll be the day when I die
The day you leave will emotionally destroy me
Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
The day you say goodbye will be significant
And that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You will upset me greatly on that day
You know it's a lie
You're not telling the truth about leaving me
'Cause that'll be the day when I die
Your departure will cause unbearable emotional pain
Well, you gave me all your love, and your turtle dove
You've shown me great affection
All your hugs and kisses and your money too
You've given me everything you can
You know you love me, baby, until you tell me, baby
You only stop loving me when you say you're leaving
That some day, we'll, all be through
You believe that our relationship will end one day
What Cupid shot his dart at, he shot it at your heart
You've been struck by love
So if we ever part and I leave you
If we break up and I depart
You kiss and hold me and you tell me boldly
You reassure me of our relationship
That some day, we'll, all be through
You believe that our relationship will end one day
Well, that'll be the day, hoo-hoo
That day will be significant
That'll be the day when I die
The emotional pain of your departure will be overwhelming
That'll be the day, you know it's a lie
You're not telling the truth about leaving me
Writer(s): Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison
Contributed by Sophia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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