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
Young Love
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's just one love in this whole world
And I know I've found mine
The heavenly touch of your embrace
Tells me no one could take your place
Ever in my heart
Young love, first love
Young love, our love
We share with deep emotion
Just one kiss from your sweet lips
Will tell me that you love is real
And I can feel that it's true
We will vow to one another
There will never be another
Love for you or for me
Young love, first love
Filled with true devotion
Young love, our love
We share with deep emotion
The lyrics to Connie Francis's song Young Love speak of the overwhelming feeling of true love, specifically young love. The song suggests that there is just one person for every boy and girl to love in this world, and that they have found the one in their lover. The singer emphasizes the importance of their true love and how it is the only love that will ever exist for them. The lyrics suggest that the heavenly touch of their lover's embrace is so unique that no one can take their place in the singer's heart.
Further, the song emphasizes the deep emotional connection felt by the singer and their lover. Their love is filled with true devotion which they share openly with each other. They admit that just one simple kiss from their lover's lips is enough to tell them that their love is real. In a vow to each other, they promise that there will be no other love for them, only each other.
The lyrics of the song emphasize the essence of young love, raw and pure. The singer immerses themselves in the depth of their emotions, believing that their love is the only one that exists, passionately and emphatically declaring to not fall for anybody other than the one they have chosen to be with. The song's underlying theme is the purity and intensity of young love, that the love between two young people is unique and passionate and should be celebrated and cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
They say for every boy and girl
It's been said that there's a perfect match for every boy and girl
There's just one love in this whole world
There's only one true love for each person in the world
And I know I've found mine
I have found my one true love
The heavenly touch of your embrace
Your embrace feels incredibly wonderful and divine
Tells me no one could take your place
I know that no one else could ever replace you in my heart
Ever in my heart
You will always have a special place in my heart
Just one kiss from your sweet lips
A single kiss from you is enough to reassure me that your love is genuine
Will tell me that it love is real
That kiss is proof to me that your love is true
And I can feel that it's true
I can sense that your love is genuine
We will vow to one another
We promise to each other
There will never be another
No one else will ever take your place
Love for you or for me
We will always love each other
Young love, first love
The young love that we share is our first love
Filled with true devotion
It's a love built on a strong foundation of loyalty and commitment
Our love, we share with deep emotion
Our love is very intense and passionate
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: RIC CARTEY, CAROLE JOYNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mirlana Lopulalan
This song is my mom favorite... then I like too .... so sweet in my ears n my heart๐ฅฐ
Eric Man
Unforgettable memories with this song,I am70 now !
connie francis
@Eric Man Hi dear๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
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 youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ 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 too and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐๐
Starkey Anthony
Me too mate
Eric Man
Thanks so much!itโs very kind of you๐ฅฐ
Widi Anggono
Long live and always happy....God bless you
Victoria Yamen
I love this version. Young love is forever.
madminute
Excellent, also nice lead guitar up-front.
april lear
This version takes some beating such a pure harmony from Connie
Leenon Mee
Song says it all! I'm so glad to dedicate this to my Partner, Davie, whom I love and admire so much.