Dataloungers, please educate me on Connie Francis -- PART III

OK, we'll use this one, I like this pic better.

^Ah yes, the cover of Connie's seminal 1969 album "The Two Faces of Miss Francis." You can see here the inner torment that basically drove Connie through her life and abbreviated career as she pondered the question: "Should I come out as a lesbian?" As you gaze upon the picture, you realize that the lower middle section actually represents the figure of a woman with her legs spread. (Look hard enough, and you can't unsee it!) Many critics credit Connie with kicking off the nascent feminist movement in America* and argue that if she had followed up on the album's promise instead of next releasing "Cancer Stick Connie: Songs That Are Smokin' Hot!" she would be rightfully hailed as our greatest Sapphic heroine.

*MS. Magazine, June 1974

She looks better with longer hair.

This dumb bitch needs another thread???

Connie on the Jack Benny Program. Her acting is surprisingly good here. Great timing.

In R5's link: "I was born in 1940". A little fib.

Wow! Connie is so very popular! Another thread! I like the way she fibbed about her age in the Jack Benny clip. 1937 is her actually year of birth.

I see now that the Connie basher is posting the threads. Love Connie, a great singing talent.

You Americans and your love for mediocrity. Despite her "international" success, no one has ever heard of Connie Francis anywhere else. She is obviously an acquired taste the rest of the world never got.

R9 I'm OP and I'm not from the US, which means your little theory is incorrect. Connie is a GLOBAL icon and one of the best American exports of all time! I know this will sound overly dramatic but I honestly can't imagine my life without her records.

I was going to tell this killer anecdote about Connie Francis, but then I realized I was thinking of Leslie Gore. Or maybe it was Dusty Springfield.

You know, it could have been Tina Sinatra.

It was one of those people.

Anyway, that's why I can no longer practice medicine in Nevada. Or enter a casino. Or operate a chainsaw.

In my defense, that chainsaw was defective.

Dusty was the one who threw furniture in the pool. Is that helpful?

R9 You must be kidding! She had just as much or more success outside the USA as in the USA. She remains the top female seller in Germany. When she appeared in the Philippines and Malaysia several years ago, the concerts were full and the rulers were calling out for requests. Her biggest song in the Philippines,is Wishing It Was You, and Connie was told she must sing it there. She did not recall the song and had to search for the arrangement. Sure enough, it was the queen's first request.

..Oh and not to mention, she was the first American to be invited to perform behind the Iron Curtain in Romania at he Brasnov Festival in the early 1970s.

Romania's Brasnov Golden Stag

Haha, Connie's troll seems to think that the events of 40 years ago remain as fresh in the world as they do in his mind. No one TODAY gives a shit about this woman from the '60s who mangled all of the popular songs unless they are as old as him and find themselves unable to move on in life.

R16The degree to which she is spoken about here attests to her popularity, and that also includes you.

That's a cool song, R13. And, yes, she is VERY popular in the Philippines.

Anyone know where she performed this? It looks like around the same year as the Romanian festival (1970).

The review of her Romanian debut is impressive:

Connie Francis at The Golden Stag Festival – March 3rd, 1970

Connie Francis did an awesome performance at The Golden Stag Festival in Brasov. She was absolutely fabulous and she didn’t miss a beat! The concert began right after the first competitors were introduced to the audience. Over 800 hundred fans applauded her while she made the entrance from the back of the stage.

The overture began with fans singing along. Connie made her entrance as the orchestra played the up-tempo version of Come e prima. The audience gave her an extended standing ovation and everyone was going wild! She opened the performance by singing Mamma.

Connie looked beautiful! She was wearing black pants with a red top and black shoes with high hills.

The audience sang along with Connie all her big hits including La Bamba, Strangers in the Night and Over the Rainbow. Everyone was excited to see Connie Francis perform!

This concert was part of The Golden Stag Festival so Connie said few words for Romanians during her performance: “I have strong feelings for your country. My boyfriend’s father is of Romanian origin, and my manager' parents were born in Romania. I have had all the reasons to be here tonight with you. I think you are great people and you have a beautiful country.”

At the end of her concert no one wanted her to leave the stage, so Connie sang an emotional version of a popular Romanian song with everyone standing and singing along. Many people were even crying – that is how beautiful it was.

Connie donated the money she received for her performance to the orphan children. After the show she stayed in the lobby signing autographs and talking with her fans.

The artist stayed at the Carpati Hotel in the presidential suite for three nights. She was very impressed by the Romanian cuisine.

Huge in Germany even in the 90s.

Over The Rainbow, La Bamba, and Strangers in the Night, are not HER hits. They're mediocre covers (at best) of songs done by much better artists. I cannot believe this woman made it to a third thread.

"Strangers in the Night" was made famous by Frank Sinatra, but it has since then became associated with Connie Francis as well. Interestingly, Connie actually recorded it prior to Sinatra, but did not release it. She then did a second version for her 1966 album.

Many think Connie's version is better.

R23 Connie mentioned that song in that book signing interview that was posted in the previous thread - she said it was offered to her first but when she finally decided to record it 10 days later she found out that Sinatra already did that the night before.

I definitely associate that song with Connie Francis, r23, ever since she began entertaining male guests at that Howard Johnson's by the truck stop in New Jersey. It's too bad what happened to her, but that's why you need a pimp.

Whether you think her or Sinatra's version is better depends on the quality of your hearing aide. If you've got a cheap one, you'd prefer Connie's because her screeching and overemotive phrasing is the only thing you'd be able to hear.

Oh yeah right.

Ask anyone: "Who do you associate the song "Strangers in the Night" with?"... people will invariably say Frank Sinatra and Connie Francis.

Strangers In the Night was actually offered to Melina Mercouri, who felt that the lyrics were more suitable for a man, so she declined and then it was recorded by Frank Sinatra, and it was his biggest hit of all time.

Connie finally got around to recording it for "Filthy Whore Francis" the following year.

Yes, Connie Francis was fabulous at the Golden Stag Festival in Romania but she was totally upstaged by her opening act: the Babushka Sisters singing traditional Romanian songs while milking cows.

Connie BTW was the favorite singer of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu.

R24 Connie must have been drunk when she said that. She was NEVER offered the song before Sinatra. It was offered to Melina Mercouri, not Connie.

Funny that Sinatra HATED the song. Sinatra called it "a piece of shit" and "the worst fucking song that I have ever heard."

He still had a No. 1 hit with it.

Connie Francis was the favorite singer of Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych.

Ok hon, by now you should know every detail about Connie. It's part III for fuck's sake.

R31 Unfortunately most of the previous two threads consisted of the anti-Connie troll making lame jokes so there's a whole lot of stuff about Concetta left to discuss. For instance, I don't think we've talked about her crazy 1980s hairdo yet:

Connie really was Richard Nixon's favorite singer. Nixon's best friend, Charles "Bebe" Rebozo was a Florida con man and Mafia fixer who knew Connie through her brother. He'd bring her along on his visits to Nixon at the western White House in San Clemente, CA when Pat wasn't around. But there was never any hanky-panky between Bebe and Connie. Rebozo was gay, so while he was spending time with his good pal, Dick, his "girlfriend," Olive, was living it up with Connie.

Sales of this Connie classic were hurt when it was banned in the South.

r32, you're just mean! You try keeping your hair in line after electro-shock therapy!

Who the fuck cares about how Connie Francis... a total non-entity in the 1980s...wore her hair?

Connie talking about her involuntary stint in the mental hospital. Extra bonus: Mamie van Doren talking about how much she loves her gay fans at the end of the clip.

R37 Mamie van Doren saying she's the "girl who invented Rock & Roll" is like Brenda Dickson saying she invented reality TV and the red carpet.

Connie Francis has been a seminal figure in modern culture from the middle of the 20th century until now. There's a reason she's called the Forrest Gump of American music.

Speaking of which, Connie was Tom Hanks' and Rita Wilson's favorite singer and so he wanted her to play his mother in Forrest Gump but the age-inappropriate Sally Field swooped in and grabbed the role by sleeping with the director, Robert Zemeckis. Of course, Connie wouldn't have sullied herself by such an act for less than top billing, so score one for Field.

Did I just hear Mamie refer to herself as "The Girl Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll" in that clip?! She could use some psychiatric treatment as well.

Mamie starred in "Untamed Youth," which was considered the first rock 'n' roll movie. She also sang in the film, so her claim to being a rock pioneer is probably better than Connie Francis,' who warbled her way through some cloying little pop ditties and then abandoned any pretense of being a rock singer by doing cover versions of easy listening music.

I just got through reading the threads. Very entertaining. The Connie fan who pretends to hate her with his nonsense makes it very entertaining

Connie has a fine version of Strangers In the Night, but it is not a favorite song of mime. As was discussed in the first thread, Connie was often the first choice by songwriters, and she passed on Strangers In the Night, Angel Of the Morning, Danke Schoen, and Somewhere My Love. I think she especially should have accepted Angel Of the Morning.

[quote]Speaking of which, Connie was Tom Hanks' and Rita Wilson's favorite singer and so he wanted her to play his mother in Forrest Gump but the age-inappropriate Sally Field swooped in and grabbed the role by sleeping with the director, Robert Zemeckis.

Connie famously said, "Sally Field is a whore. I tried to conduct myself like a lady and always remained classy. When Sally was doing Gidget, I had to laugh. I had already played that role in my enormous hit 'Where the Boys Are.' It took her a long time -- and a lot of being 'friendly' -- to get into movies. By that time, I had grown tired of the whole thing. I have no regrets. Regrets, like Sally's TV shows, are for losers."

Other songs that Connie "passed" on: The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Oh, Susannah!, Home on the Range, Happy Birthday To You…the list is endless!

Connie was supposed to open for the Rolling Stones at Altamont . Mick was really looking forward to a duet of "Gimme Shelter" with her but once again, Connie's father interfered. He insisted on a larger typeface for Connie's name on the poster than that of the Stone's, since he had already grudgingly agreed that even though she was appearing first, her name should not be in top of the order. There were no hard feelings, though. Mick wrote "Brown Sugar" for Connie since she had been seeing Tina Turner at the time, but Connie didn't like it and passed.

American Horror Story

Re Mamie, "The Girl Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll" is her theme song.

Bitch- enough with your Connie Francis shit....Damn. Google that bitch.

Girls, girls, you're both pretty...weird to still be posting about this relic of the '60s.

love her voice and singing

wish she would have left pieces of her face alone.

Connie=three impressive threads

Dusty Springfield =bearly one

We can all see who evidently was more popular,even if anti Connie troll can't/won't

R51 C'mon, she's 80. I'm sure she looks better than you did when you were her age.

And with a little help from photoshop she still looks absolutely divine!

Me thinks the Connie Troll is Sandra Dee

Still upset about Bobby,an how Connie had his true love

Another fabulous, if slightly retouched, photo of Connie:

[R55]

The Connie hair is epic.....no wonder she is a superstar

[quote] Haha, Connie's troll seems to think that the events of 40 years ago remain as fresh in the world as they do in his mind.

40 years ago? That was Cher, Bette Midler and Donna Summer. You have to go back 60 years for Connie to be relevant.

Most of us. . .well. . .many of us. . .uh. . .a few of us weren't even born then.

Connie is approaching the status of the fabled Helen Lawson with these threads! DL at its laugh out loud BEST!

Connie still looks very young in this totally un-retouched photo:

The last time Connie Francis was relevant cars still had fins.

The last time Connie Francis was relevant humans still had fins.

[R58]

An Concetta will go out the way she came in. Head held high,wrapping in a luxurious scarf and very expensive sunglasses. This is way bitches ate mad....They are doped up Neely O'haras. Laying in alleys, singing Dusty Springfield records offkey.Mad their husbands have left them.All they have are the Dolls

Ok, fess up. Which poster on this thread is this?

R62 So fucking true. Love it!

Here's unretouched Connie standing next to the retouched Connie. Both are equally beautiful, if you ask me.

The white dress she was wearing that night was simply gorgeous. She looked almost angelic in it. Here she is with Neil Sedaka.

These are parody posts aren't they?

I really think Neil had a thing for Connie

Who wouldn't, she was a beautiful woman.

Unlike Musty Springfield

R66 That dress was made for her by Roberto Cavalli. Speaking of relevance, her music is often used on TV and in movies, and when the younger generation hears the voice and song, they flock to her youtube video of that particular song and place glowing comments; or when someone like Leona del Rey covers a Connie song, del Rey's fans flock to Connie's videos. I'd say that is pretty relevant!

R69 Is this pantsuit a Cavalli too? It looks very similar to that other dress.

I really like her red carpet style. Unlike some other bimbos of her generation (like Jane Fonda) she isn't trying to dress like she's still 26.

But she certainly misfires every now and then.

Three fucking threads? I suddenly feel a lot less embarrassed about my Pet Clark fixation.

After Connie's last couturier, Omar the Tentmaker, finally died, she decided she would expand her horizons somewhat, fashion-wise. Luckily for her, there is a nice consignment shop near her in Parkland, FL and she was able to pick up that white Cavalli number, which originally sold in department stores for over $200, for just $49.99! Obviously, money well spent!

If Connie and Neil had switched outfits in r66, they both would have looked better and felt more comfortable.

I'm 100% GAY and my father is 100% STRAIGHT but he LOVES Connie Francis!

[quote]I really think Neil had a thing for Connie

Neil Sedaka is a notorious masher! No gal is safe around his wandering hands.

Now that Connie has, clearly, transitioned to being a man, he will not longer catch Neil's eye.

That "Cavalli dress" was actually a top sheet from Roberto Cavalli's bedlinen collection.

Connie actually makes all her own gowns by using a Swingline stapler to combine more narrow dresses from the Ed Sullivan show.

All her gowns are designed to be birdcage covers. Some, she winds up wearing if her caftan is still in the dryer.

R70 I am nit sure if Cavalli made her the pant suit. It does look similar. The white gown was made for her when she was honored by the Friars Club.

That "creation" is not Roberto Cavalli and he has never made anything for her. This is completely made up.

Unless Roberto Cavalli licensed his name to Butterick Patterns, that is not a Roberto Cavalli.

Madaboutyou has proven himself to be the most knowledgeable DLer when it comes to Connie, so I don't think he'd make this up. If he says it's a Cavalli dress it's a Cavalli dress, goddammit!

Carry on Neely O'haras.....

Connie's star will always outshine your pitiful excuses for competition against Connie Francis

You all are just so angry Connie looks better in haute culture and makeup then YOU ALL do in stretch pants and polyester blouses.

Miss Francis has always been a fashion icon.

The perfect song for Connie's 2018 repertoire. Especially in that Cavalli get-up.

One of her Nolan Miller gowns.

Interesting stats:

[quote] In 1958, Cashbox, Billboard and the Jukebox Operators of America named Connie Francis as the #1 Female Vocalist. She was named Top Female Vocalist by all the trades for six consecutive years – a record never surpassed. ​ [quote] Connie Francis was the top-selling female vocalist of the Sixties and, despite the sensational advent of Madonna, the longevity of Diana Ross and the multi-format generations of the 80's and 90's, she remains the most commercially successful female singer of all time with an estimated world-wide sales figure well in excess of two hundred million.

[R88]

Amazing tidbit,thanks for posting.More proof Connie is an icon

R89 No doubt!

Sales does not equate to quality. Connie's dated singing style and sappy choice of music rendered her completely irrelevant even before the British invasion. When your most famous song comes from a D-level beach pic and you're more known for recycling hoary old songs in your patented weepy vibrato than for releasing new material in a fresh, modern way, it doesn't matter how many people forked over 39 cents for one of your singles in 1962.

Who the fuck would know or care what dress Connie wore at the Friars' Club? Christ, what a wasted life!

Oh Trollina, please provide us with in-depth information about what brand of toilet tissue Connie uses. Since you go through her trash looking for "souvenirs," this should be an easy one for you.

At the Connie Francis Heritage Auction in Beverly Hills.Connie's 13 carat diamond and emerald cocktail ring stunned the crowds.

To bad neither Petula Clark or Dusty Springfield had such finery [R92].But i am not surprised,those you stan for in the world of super stardom.Where all clearly lowbudget,like you

The Friar's Foundation Honors Connie Francis was THE event of the season.

The glittering celebration featured a roster of A-List celebrities... a veritable Who's Who of today's entertainment world.

Guests included: Tony Orlando, Pat Cooper, Dick Capri, Stewie Stone and Neil Sedaka.

All of this for America's most iconic song stylist!

See for yourself at the link below.

[R94]

What a great event to showcase Connie's immense talent and style

In the list of stars, I forgot to mention Jay Black of "Jay and the Americans" fame .....and how could I forget Danny Aiello!

They ALL came out for Connie!

[R94]

She danced with Abe Vigoda(who admitted he was smitten)and her dancing with Uncle Junior of Sopranos fame made for a few jokes.

Yes I forgot him too....the impressive line up of stars included Abe Vigoda.

Tony Orlando, Pat Cooper, Dick Capri, Stewie Stone, Jay Black and Abe Vigoda.

All in one evening!

[quote]Connie Francis - one of the greatest pop stars of all time or just a glorified lounge singer?!

Honey, most "great" pop stars wish they were as good as lounge singers.

Hah, that so funny R98!

Oops, I mistakenly sounded like a rapper in r100 (or a white girl on instagram trying to mimic one).

[R98]

The Waldorf had never seen such pageantry or glamour.

Brenda Lee was said to have declined her invite.

Video report of the event. Connie brought some old world glamour back to the Big Apple for one night.

Thread closed.

Please!

Had Connie had a stroke in that clip at r103 or did she have a few too many banana daiquiris?

That lovely white dress will look equally good as a shroud.

But where was Wayne Newton? Where was Loni Anderson?

Laugh all you want, but when the history of 20th century music is written, Connie Francis will be a MAJOR footnote!

Neil Sedaka in that video clip couldn't have said it better when he called Connie: "the greatest female American singer of all time". Perhaps I'd just add that she's the greatest WHITE female American singer of all time - I would personally rank Nina Simone and Aretha slightly above her, but when it comes to white bitches Connie had absolutely no competition in the US.

[R109]I love the picture of Neil's wife hugging Connie....evidently the two have a very close relationship.IE she has gotten over Neil's love for Connie

Too bad,Connie Haters,Brenda Lee dosen't have the same maturity, much like her stans

Connie Francis was Leonid Brezhnev's favorite singer and she started singing Russian folk songs phonetically at his request. Her album, "Communist Connie," would have been a Soviet smash had it not been scheduled for release one day before the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962 and subsequently shelved.

Still not believing Connie drove Cadillacs. I would have thought she was more of a Chrysler Imperial kind of girl.

R112 Skip to the 9:35 mark in this video to see Connie's legendary pink cadillac. And notice the proud display of the American flag in the background - Connie is a great patriot.

[quote]Neil Sedaka in that video clip couldn't have said it better when he called Connie: "the greatest female American singer of all time".

What is it about Connie and heterosexual he-men? That just can't keep their hands off her!

[quote]Skip to the 9:35 mark in this video to see Connie's legendary pink cadillac

"I got it selling Mary Kay when my records stopped selling. Ten years ago. [laughs] God, that's some cheap makeup, but the gals who bought it -- many Daddy's floozies -- loved it and they got me that Caddy. I'm so proud of that car. Funny, Mary gave me more recognition than the people who ran the movie or record businesses. That's because she's a woman. We look after our own. Men won't."

-- Connie Francis, 1974

[R112]

Cadillac's scream wealth,prestige and class. Why wouldn't Connie drive one?She is wealthy,classy and very prestigious in the world of Rock&Roll

What would you expect her to drive.Pick up trucks like Dusty Springfield

She receives too much attention at DL.

[R117]

If her stardom shines to bright for your basic eyes and lackluster musical appreciation abilities, away

Tony Orlando, Pat Cooper, Dick Capri, Stewie Stone, Jay Black, Abe Vigoda and Danny Aiello!

They all came out to honor Connie! Is there any doubt that she's the greatest pop star of all time?

Pop star? All her life Connie's been a serious vocalist.

Yes, indeed! And you can see from that guest list how seriously she's considered!

[quote]Cadillac's scream wealth, prestige and class.

Obviously written by someone who fits the demographics of Connie Francis' fan base.

The ONLY reason Connie Francis is not in the rock and roll hall of fame is because Jann Wenner is a petulant little bitch. Wenner wanted Connie to be on the first cover of his rag sheet start-up Rolling Stone, which would have guaranteed sales in the millions. But Connie listened to her father's wise counsel and refused, not wanting to let Wenner ride on her coattails. So he's blackballed her ever since.

Oh my God, the THIRD mother effing thread of this never ending pissing contest about Connie Francis' legendary vs. non-entity status. We have been golden showered enough!!! So much so that we really don't give a fuck either way. Let her and us alone and end this perpetual nightmare of a thread that is nothing but fodder for delusionalists, shit stirrers, and hack comedy writer wannabes who are about as funny as a double mastectomy. END IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[R124]

Yet you run in every thread like a deranged stalker/groupie

You evidently love Connie Francis too

[quote]The ONLY reason Connie Francis is not in the rock and roll hall of fame is because Jann Wenner is a petulant little bitch. Wenner wanted Connie to be on the first cover of his rag sheet start-up Rolling Stone, which would have guaranteed sales in the millions.

Yes, it's Rolling Stone Vol 1 No1 1967.... the year Connie Francis released "Mama" but Jann Wenner had to settle for second best and go with John Lennon.

R114 It was her otherworldly beauty. I think even Connie haters must admit that she was a gorgeous-looking woman in her prime. Just look at this album cover below - Connie looked like a Golden Age movie star in it.

It looks like the kind of photo you might see on a can of imported tomatoes.

[R128 ]

I just screamed.......you guys are treacherous

Based on the above photographic evidence, even when Connie was young, she looked old. She's probably lucky, though. When her face and figure dropped, it wasn't much of a fall.

Connie was passable for a guidette but she was no Anette Funnicello. I can't imagine anyone ever lusting after Connie...even her husbands!

Connie, herself, did not know how pretty she was. She joked to her audiences saying, "Do you think I look this good off stage?" I have Leonardo DaVinci backstage to make me up! This obsession with her cars. She has had a few Jags, a Rolls, and now has Lexuses. Many were white. The Rolls was white with Connie written in pink on a window. The pink Caddy convertible is a novelty for her. As for her Where The Boys Are movie, it was MGM's biggest movie of the year and is on the list of top 10 best comedies. Not bad for a "D list" picture. As for the sond, it sold millions world-wide and is quite a difficult song to sing correctly, as you can hear by most lousy covers. LeeAnn Rimes is the only one who sang it correctly when imitating Connie. Not bad for a "D list" song. She an dPatsy Cline influenced LeeAnn.

All I can say is that the Connie hater is so fascinated by her, or he would have stopped posting. If you do not care about a topic, you stop posting! He is likely the biggest fan on here, similar to the Connie basher in Ohio who booked her at his college without her or her manager's knowledge and before that, said very nasty things about her and stalked her., as written in the Ohio newspaper.

R126 You aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer, are you?

[quote]and is on the list of top 10 best comedies.

Right Up there with "Some Like It Hot"? Wow...who'da thought!

Link please.

[quote]As for her Where The Boys Are movie, it was MGM's biggest movie of the year

More bullshit.

MGM's top movie of 1960 was "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" with Doris Day, followed by "Butterfield 8" with Elizabeth Taylor, followed by "Home from the Hill" with Robert Mitchum.

America's Top 5 Favorite Songs of All Time

1. God Bless America.

2. White Christmas

3. Where The Boys Are

4. Hey Jude

5. Amazing Grace

Going back a bit - Mamie did indeed sing "The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll" in the movie TEACHER'S PET - the movie starred Clark Gable, Doris Day, and Gig Young.

Mamie has always said her role was cut down because Day was jealous of her. It is my opinion that Doris did even know Mamie was IN the movie.....

*didn't*

Love Connie - and Annette DID beat her onto the Billboard Top Ten Charts by a few weeks with her song "Tall Paul" - but Connie had the bigger signing career by far of the two Italian cuties.

One of Connie's better songs. Should have been released as a single. Part of the Twist fad.

R140 Are there any Connie songs that aren't crass attempts to jump on some fad or new market to sell a gimmicky song?

I think Connie always looked much older because of all those matronly hairdos. The only hair she wore in her 20s that actually looked good on her was that iconic asymmetrical bouffant do (which was later copied from her by many other artists) but most of her other hairdos weren't flattering at all.

I think Connie was at her most alluring in the late 70s/early 80s, when she wore her hair down. I hate to sound like a douchebro but in the pic below (taken in 1981) she looks like a real MILF. Unfortunately more bad hair and plastic surgeries followed soon after that but luckily her pre-plastic surgery beauty will forever be immortalized in pictures.

Another faboo pic of Connie with her hair down. And for a shrimp like she was she sure had nice legs.

I have no idea when this pic was taken, but those look like the Spanish Steps she's sitting on. Connie always talks about how much she enjoys travelling to the land of her forefathers.

[R141]

Beverly Sills once said i can sing good music or sing to make money.Just because Connie was a little commercialized dosen't mean her music was less then.Her ability to evoke emotions in her lyrics set the pace for many who followed her.

Connie Francis helped bring the European Bouffant to the United States,something that demonstrates how popular she is.But Connie haters won't acknowledge that,even as their knockoff stars try to emulate Connie's hair.

R143 Connie is, as always, serving up some Real Housewives of New Jersey realness.

[R145]

Wayyyy before it was in fashion to do so.Connie is Iconic

Connie is wearing mules in that great picture.

[quote]Connie is wearing mules in that great picture.

They match her face.

To the Connie lovers, you should be happy to know that Barbra's "No Walls" album debuted 2 weeks ago at # 4 and is now out of the Billboard Top 200 effective this week. That's how innovative and novel she and her autotuned interpretation of fresh material is. Albums by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Michael Buble, Lady Gaga, even Burl Ives--yes, Burl Ives--are up there, mostly Christmas stuff. But not Barbra. And sadly, not Connie. I would hope her Christmas album is still in print on CD. I actually love that album. I have it on vinyl. "Baby's First Christmas" is Connie's "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire."

One of the top 10 teen movies and, according to some critics, the best comedy of the year. While it introduced Connie as an actress, it was actually a vehicle for her.

R149 Her Christmas LP is still in print. Different releases have different additional tracks, but I like the original. She should have released I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter as her Christmas release, instead of Baby's First Christmas. Baby's First Christmas was penned by her new writing team, Davis and Murray, but Winter would have been a much better Christmas release. It is festive and happy.

Fuck you, you fucking dumb bitch cunt, R4!!

Where the Boys Are is the quintessential teen movie. Before everthing went to mean, unkind hell.

R144 Yes, Beverly Sills did say that and she chose to make money. She actually stated that she could limit her output and keep her voice, or sing more and make money. She chose the latter. Yes, Connie's 45s were commercial, and her LPs were more selective, but she also has acknowledged that she released a lot of mistakes. Those mistakes, however, made her famous and made her money. It was the time of the commercial singles. At age 12, she had a fabulous voice, perhaps too mature for her age. Connie at 25:30.

"Where the Boys Are" was one of the most influential movies of its time - it was so popular that it (along with Gidget) inspired a whole new film subgenre, those dreadful beach party films. Of course all the other films Connie was in were utter dreck, but she can at least claim to have been in one bona fide film classic.

Even DL fav Paglia is a big fan of that movie, thanks to its date rape storyline. Here's what she had to say about it:

[quote] The theatrics of public rage over date rape are [feminists'] way of restoring the old sexual rules that were shattered by my generation. Because nothing about the sexes has really changed. The comic film Where the Boys Are (1960), the ultimate expression of '50s man-chasing, still speaks directly to our time. It shows smart, lively women skillfully anticipating and fending off the dozens of strategies with which horny men try to get them into bed. The agonizing date rape subplot and climax are brilliantly done. The victim, Yvette Mimieux, makes mistake after mistake, obvious to the other girls. She allows herself to be lured away from her girlfriends and into isolation with boys whose character and intentions she misreads. Where the Boys Are tells the truth. It shows courtship as a dangerous game in which the signals are not verbal but subliminal.

Connie had many tragedies in her life, but she also had a career that was second to none. It afforded her wealth, fame, experiences with Presidents, kings and queens, etc., ability to change the world in important ways through the tragedies, and friendships with the most famous individuals in the world. She, being so humble, has contributed to many charities, and having no PR through out her career even during her heyday. The latter, I believe was a mistake. The one time she hired a PR man which was during the 50th anniversary of the movie WTBA, she fired him as she ended up accompanied by porn stars. She however, made a joke about it, stating that everyone has to make a living.

R155 The movie led to the numerous beach films which were inferior to WTBA. It als led Alan Carr to film the 1984 sequel which was terrible,a nd Connie refused to sing in it or make a cameo. Lorna Luft, Judy Garland's daughter, ended up taking the part and singing the song.

For Christmas music, you cannot beat Burl Ives or Como. Connie and the others are also staples. Connie should have released a second Christmas LP.

Pater noster, qui es in cœlis, sanctificetur nomen tuum

R159 That was for the Bob Hope TV Showcase. She played a nun in The Sister and the Savage. The movie was good for the music never released.

[R158]

Totally agree with this....I think its why Brenda Lee fans are so furious with Connie... (that holiday album which iam Bobby played,an its standing as a staple during the holidays for America)

Did Brenda Lee or Dusty Springfield even have holiday music that became staples,iam not familiar with their sub-par songs

[R159]I have often wondered if Connie inspired the Sister Act films with Whoopie Goldberg

Yes. Connie did one Christmas LP and that was it. She should have done a Christmas Around The World LP with her penchant for languages. Imagine Silent Night in German and Tu scendi dalle stelle in Italian! Connie's Christmas LP was recorded in a marathon session at Abbey Road Studio where she recorded her famed Italian Favorites LP, her country and western LP, and others. Geoff Love was the conductor and arranger. Recorded Aug. 1959.....not 1967. There was a set of 5 LPs released as a Connie Francis Spectacular.

I think I want to marry you Madaboutyou - it would be kind of fun to have a living Connie Francis encyclopedia walking around the house. I just hope you're at least half as knowledgeable about other things as you are about everything Concetta-related.

Connie invented the technology that became Bluetooth while trying to figure out a way to communicate with her hot-rollers.

She never got the patent or credit because her father thought dames shouldn't be such know-it-alls.

It's sad, as she would have, otherwise, been worth MILLIONS.

No wonder she killed Daddy.

R165 She IS worth millions, you chalk-faced whore!

And money just keeps coming her way. One crazy suicidal fan even left Connie $300,000 in her will before offing herself a while ago.

[quote]One crazy suicidal fan even left Connie $300,000 in her will before offing herself a while ago.

Many people feel like doing that after listening to a Connie Francis album.

[R166]

Connie's pantsuit is so glamorous,i see why the Connie haters are jealous

Together at last! Connie and Elvis duet.

R169 Their voices don't go together well at all. Connie's mellow voice makes Elvis sound like a croaking frog.

Connie Francis is the woman who, in the movie the Craft, is the singer for every song that the ugly lippy white trash girl's ditch-pig mother wanted on the jukebox that she purchased with the money received from her "husband's" insurance policy after he died from a magically induced heart attack following the sexual harassment of the aforementioned ugly lippy white trash girl.

Connie is God's favorite singer, which is why he put her through a series of tragedies, Job-like, because that's just the way God is. Her horrible plastic surgeries, series of gay husbands, cultural irrelevance, dwarfism, incestuous relationship with her mother, fatal lack of taste -- why, God, why!!!

The Connie trolls continue to rewrite history.

[quote]WTBA ....according to some critics, the best comedy of the year

What?? What critics? Name them. The comedy of the year 1960 was "The Apartment" with Jack Lemmon and Shirely McLaine. Rave reviews. Best Picture Oscar.

WTBA came in at 26th place for box office that year. Not a particularly great showing.

[quote]The movie led to the numerous beach films which were inferior to WTBA.

No, not true. The beach party film genre started with the success of "Gidget" in 1959.

"Gidget" BTW inspired 2 movie sequels. A TV series. And 4 telefilms. WTBA cannot compare to it nor to the success of the Annette/Frankie beach party films.

[quote]Did Brenda Lee or Dusty Springfield even have holiday music that became staples

LOL. The most streamed song of the entire 1950s (Spotify) is "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree".

"Now, people always used to say that Judy had the hairiest pussy in show biz. I don't know about that. No offense, but she was a little too old -- and crazy -- if you know what I mean. But Connie? Man, oh, man, oh, man! Brother needed a machete to eat that thing!"

-- Quincy Jones, 2018

[R174]

Oh sure,something from a heroin addict....

Is this really the best you can do Connie hater,leave crass,juvenile remarks.First Dusty,now Quincy. ...do you surround yourself with such ill reputed people or are you like them.A drug addict yourself,mad at Connie's career.In some dirty basement,in run over shoes and your grandmothers wig repeatedly playing Brenda Lee records.

I'm a heroine addict! And my heroine is Miss Connie Francis, America's Favorite Singing Star!

r174 is the only reason people are still coming to this thread despite the lame subject matter, r175. For a few laughs. As well as for the imagery of your head exploding when someone says something you don't like about your beloved "Concetta."

There will never be a true bio of Connie Francis while she's alive. There's so much more to the story than the misfortunes that have been made public, i.e. her rape and battle with mental illness. Connie had her own mob connections aside from her brother that benefited her record sales, but they didn't come without a price back in the '60s when she was young and attractive. And some of the stories of her escapades in Vegas and alcohol and drug use there are sure to come out, too. Not too mention the revelations about her families, both parental and marital. When it does happen, it will be a very dramatic story: "good" girl singer with a definite "bad" side to her. It will bring a lot of attention to her, but probably not the kind that she wants at this point in her life.

[quote]When it does happen, it will be a very dramatic story... It will bring a lot of attention to her...

No one, but no one, will care or be interested in an entertainer that's been a has-been for decades.

Blow me, haters.

[R179]

Its been rumored for years about Connie's mafia ties,that will bring folks out in droves. While her fans will grab up anything about her.Don't you get it yet.Connie Francis is an icon.

I wish there had been a Disco Connie

She would have ruled the charts

R177 Oh, please - from the dozens of jokes he's made on these threads, the "imported tomatoes" remark above was the only one that was funny (sort of). Those rape jokes in previous two threads were especially lame.

By the way, does anyone happen to own that "Among My Souvenirs : The Real Story Vol. 1" coffee table book that came out in September? Is it worth spending 60 € on it?

R183. I bought it. Her first autobio, Who's Sorry Now, was better and made the NY Times Best Seller List. AMS is very much like it, but she tells more about specific things in her life. I found that there were too many quotes and too much slang used, talking like many people talk. There were interesting stories about her relationship with Sinatra, and others. There was too much on Bobby Darin, and the stories about her childhood were interesting. It needed tweaking IMO. He Las Vegas stores were interesting as well as her stories about Jules Podell, the owner of the Copa. If possible, I would buy the cheaper Kindel or paperback unless you want a coffee table book. It is worth the price if oyu want to hold on to it as a coffee table book. Lots of pix.

BTW...I do think thre is much left out, and much of the quotes, etc., could have been pmitted in favor of what was left out. However, she is working on Vol !!.

[R183]

Oh that looks lovely.....runs to Amazon, it came right up......Amazon must be Connie Central

If she's working on Volume II, what year does Volume 1 end at?

R187 I would say it ends at mid 70s. The book did not include the brother's murder.

R184 Thx for that mini review - I think I just found a Christmas present for myself. And I'm definitely gonna order the expensive, hardcover version - it would be a sacrilege to buy an epic book like that in paperback.

[quote] I found that there were too many quotes and too much slang used, talking like many people talk.

I agree. There as so much beatnik talk that the young crowd are so "hep" to "rap" about.

I didn't understand any of it either, so, naturally, I assumed it was very vulgar. (Talk about private things!!!)

I don't want the Blessed Virgin catching me reading that kind of trash. Not this close to my Reward. Glory!

Does she talk about whoring it up for the Jersey mob to get them to strong arm the radio stations to get airplay? How about whoring it up in Vegas when she was on benders? Or what kind of a loser you have to be to get married and divorced four times? Or is she saving all that for Volume II?

with Jason Gould.

R192 That tranny is dead to me.

And my son, too!

Let The Rest Of The World Go By

God, she looked decrepit even 5 years ago.

I love how her "fans" want to present her as some paragon of goodness and totally whitewash all the shit she pulled in her her tawdry life. Funny how they insist she's never had a publicist but fall all over themselves to present the old hag in a positive light. Of course they're being paid. Who'd care enough to do it for free?

Three Good Reasons by Les Reed

Did Connie's pussy stink?

R195 represents one of her biggest fans.

Brenda Lee fans rushed in.

Listen,its not Connie's fault Bobby Darin loved her more then your Bumpkin Queen Brenda. Connie was beautiful and men wanted her. Unlike Brenda (Shack)Lee or your Dusty Springfield. Even Petula Clark was ordinary next to the beautiful Connie Francis.Deal with it

Brenda Lee fans can't get over the fact that Connie had more hits than Brenda did: Connie's had 3 number one hits and 15 top ten songs, while Brenda's had only 2 number one hits and 12 top ten songs. The statistics speak for themselves, y'all. It's obvious that Connie was much more adored by the public.

Plus, Connie's had a much more lucrative career aborad. Mention Brenda Lee to any European and you'll hear nothing but crickets. But mention Connie to a German or an Italian and they'll go wild. Connie is adored WORLDWIDE!

[R200]

You chased out the evil Brenda Lee Groupies with facts.Thank you

This thread is about the phenomenonal Connie Francis,and they are can seeth all they want

Connie should have remade "A Star is Born"

Has Connie commented on the death of former Pres. Bush Sr?

[R202]

Chart Topping Connie probably is devastated, funny I don't think she commented on John McCains passing either though he too carried a lifelong crush on her.TMZ even floated rumors he had obtained her phone # and planned for her to sing at his ignaural celebration.Everybody seems to fall in love with Connie's style,class,demeanor and ambience.

[quote]John McCains passing either though he too carried a lifelong crush on her.TMZ even floated rumors he had obtained her phone # and planned for her to sing at his ignaural celebration.

LOL.

I wonder if hit maker Connie will ever do Vegas again?

Cheer up, Connie fans. Maybe next year.

Or never. Is never good for you?

In her latest book did Connie write about knocking me out Jersey style because she found me in flagrante delicto with her favorite Vegas showgirl? Connie didn't like to share. Meh

Brenda Lee fans can't get over the fact that it was always Connie's room number rapists asked for at the front desk. The statistics speak for themselves, y'all. It's obvious that Connie was much more adored by the public.

I think Connie does have the record, though, for most number of marriages.

Obviously, Connie called in sick that day so Billboard had to scramble to get Diana Ross as her replacement.

No wonder Connie was more popular than Brenda - Brenda had a decent voice, but she really had a face only a mother could love.

Meanwhile Connie just oozed beauty and sex appeal.

Bitches, Connie don't need no stinking Hall of Fame when she's being feted at event like this!

Housecoat by Versace Couture.

R211 Who needs that? Miss Connie Francis was honored by the Friars in a glittering ceremony attended by a "Who's Who" of A-list celebrities.

Everyone who is anyone came out to honor her: Tony Orlando, Pat Cooper, Dick Capri, Stewie Stone, Jay Black, Abe Vigoda.

And Danny Aiello!

The image at r213 is the one Connie gave her dad to keep in his wallet. The back reads, "Don't tell Mom! Tee-hee!"

[R215]

Danny Aiello too,jeez she really had Hollywood's old guard out in full force.Something like this only happens for stars of a certain magnitude.

No wonder Brenda Lee hucksters are upset.

Speaking of Marriages,I bet Brenda Lee was stepping out on her husband with Bobby Darrin.....

Connie's father chasing Bobby Darin away with a gun tells you all you need to know about that sick relationship. She and Daddy Dearest obviously had something going on that wasn't exactly a typical father-daughter relationship.

[quote]She and Daddy Dearest obviously had something going on that wasn't exactly a typical father-daughter relationship.

Say what?

"Call me a prude, but no one touched me before marriage. Daddy just made sure everything was working right."

-- Connie Francis, "Movie Star Weekly" (1964)

I rather discuss Brenda Lee's weight gain

In Rolling Stone Oct 2018 issue she is photo'd in her home with a bad wig discussing her weight

Rumors she she is +300 pounds,lets chat about that

JANE PAULEY: "What about rumors at MGM about . . . well, . . . scat?"

CONNIE FRANCIS: "What? I don't even know what that is."

JANE PAULEY: [inaudible]

CONNIE FRANCIS: "Oh, goodness! No. No! How do such horrible rumors get started? I hardly ever did that."

One of Connie's mod era songs. She's able to create the "girl group" sound even as a solo artist.

[quote]She's able to create the "girl group" sound

Nigga, please!

Do ALL of Connie's songs sound exactly the same i.e., sappy and overdone?

This thread is so sad.

R227 And having your yeasty old mussy around sure won't make it any more cheerful.

And it’s now confirmed that the Connie Francis Troll is also the Janet Jackson Troll.

I am out of here.

Jump!

While Connie sits at home wallowing in gin...and regret

Petula who?

Nice try....but its a tremendous fail.Was Petula making 12 grand a week at age 20.Nope

Connie Francis was.Connie is Queen. The End

Let's take a moment to review Petula's pitiful US chart history: only 30 of her songs ever made it to Billboard Hot 100. But Connie's had 71 (!) Top 100 hits. I'm not saying that having 30 Top 100 hits isn't impressive, but Connie was really in a superstar league of her own - Petula doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with her.

Sales have nothing to do with quality. Petula Clark's songs are appreciated today as classics, unlike Connie's silly beach movie theme. Petula is also older than Connie but has managed to keep herself together and still performs for appreciative audiences, while Connie drunkenly trolls Datalounge and unsuccessfully tries to convince people her sappy songs and ridiculously overblown delivery somehow gave her relevance. And talk about a fucking twisted life! Connie's a four-time marital loser and Vegas party girl with mob connections. Wow, what an amazing person to choose as your idol.

Well some of us prefer icons who come with a bit of drama. Petula is and always has been so fucking twee she actually hurts my feelings.

[quote] while Connie drunkenly trolls Datalounge and unsuccessfully tries to convince people her sappy songs and ridiculously overblown delivery somehow gave her relevance.

Lol, you seriously think Connie Francis is posting on here?

The problem with Connie is that she only knows how to sing a song one way: overemotively. There's no subtlety or understanding of the lyric. She also tended to choose songs that all sounded pretty much the same when she was recording her own songs, and then merely recorded other people's hits for the duration of her career. If she had had any kind of artistic credibility or creativity, she would have been pushing herself to find newer and more challenging material that would have given her some semblance artistic integrity. But she hadn't so she didn't. Better to sing "Mama" in Urdu than to actually stretch herself.

r236, how else to explain the nearly illegible responses that detail the most arcane "facts" of Connie's life? It would be so embarrassing to not be Connie but to know that much about her.

[quote]Nice try....but its a tremendous fail.Was Petula making 12 grand a week at age 20. Nope

While Connie Francis' career was on the skids. Petula was starring in movies with Fred Astaire and Peter O'Toole and her own TV specials.

While Petula was singing mega-hits like "Downtown" and "I Know A Place"...Connie Francis was singing embarrassing garbage that no one members today.

At least she did get get to sing one Tony Hatch song...a Petula Clark reject.

I also saw Petula Clark in the Broadway show "Blood Brothers."

Yes, it was crap, but Petula was still headlining when Connie was waking up in a pool of vomited martini olives and barbiturate capsules.

They share many of the same fans. Isn't Petula Clark known as the "Connie Francis of the UK"?

So if Petula was such a huge megastar as you try to make her sound, why is Connie's net worth almost three times the size of Petula's?! That's even more amazing when you consider Connie's been pretty much retired for the last 50 years and Petula never stopped working. It's Connie who's laughing all the way to the bank at the end of the day, bitches!

[quote]Isn't Petula Clark known as the "Connie Francis of the UK"?

Uh no. And no matter how much Connie Francis tries to make fake photoshopped album covers of her together with other stars... there is absolutely no ties between the careers Connie Francis and Petula Clark.

Connie'sr Christmas lp is also reissued on vinyl and on ebay as well as from Walmart.

One of the songs Tony hatch wrote for her.

R237 Nothing could be further from the truth. Connie's vast catalogue speaks for itself....different styles and subtle intonations when needed. She is known for her great versatility. To appreciate Connie, you must be familiar with her LPs. A New Kind Of Connie, Songs To A Swinging Band, The Exciting Connie Francis, Love Italian Style, The Swinging Connie Francis are her best IMO.

[quote]One of the songs Tony hatch wrote for her.

That song was not written for her. It was a song written earlier and shelved.

The song did not chart in the US or UK. Petula probably could have made it a hit.

It was written especially for Miss Francis and was a Top 100 hit, R247. And was top 10 in other countries (she recorded it in different languages).

That album cover is hilarious - putting musical tastes aside, you have to admit there's no doubt which one of the two looked better. Connie looks like a seductive gorgeous siren in it while Petula has a totally shapeless bone structure and a weird vacant stare, that's typical of the ugly British chicks.

Whoever put this cover together was team Connie, that's for sure.

[quote]it was written especially for Miss Francis and was a Top 100 hit

No, it was NOT written for her. And it peaked at briefly peaked at #66. That's not a hit.

[quote]Nothing could be further from the truth. Connie's vast catalogue speaks for itself....different styles and subtle intonations when needed. She is known for her great versatility. To appreciate Connie, you must be familiar with her LPs. A New Kind Of Connie, Songs To A Swinging Band, The Exciting Connie Francis, Love Italian Style, The Swinging Connie Francis are her best IMO.

Tony Orlando, Pat Cooper, Dick Capri, Stewie Stone, Jay Black and Abe Vigoda would certainly agree with you.

And Danny Aiello too.

*And it peaked at briefly at #66. That's not a hit.

But if there's one thing I give Petula credit for, it's that she has allowed herself to age naturally. All that bad work Connie had done in the last few decades was a huge mistake.

Petula was trying to look like Connie on that album cover but failed.Instead Petula looks sleepy.Only Connie Francis could pull off a seductive look.That’s why millions fell of men fell in love with her.Where are those adoring men in Petula's life......probaly all taking naps and searching for their glasses.Petula was no sex siren,infact Petula looks like she is the lesbian you all claim Connie was.Hands down,money....class,hits,glamorous clothes.....Connie Francis wins dearhearts.

Petula is just a sad pretender,so seeth harlots

While Connie Francis' look remained "Miss 1958"...Petula represented the swinging '60s.

At her sexy best.

Please,Petula looks like she can't even dance much less swing....

Your reaching Sweetie

[quote]Please,Petula looks like she can't even dance much less swing....

Oh the stupidity.

Petula Clark and who?

Click to 2:20 of the video.

Billboard Hot 100 Official Chart, March 1969. Aquarius, Proud Mary, etc. The music landscape had changed, but there's Connie, still on the hit list (see #91). Higher than Led Zeppelin.

[R256]

That's your proof Petula can dance.She looks stiff......try again cretin

[quote]Billboard Hot 100 Official Chart, March 1969. Aquarius, Proud Mary, etc. The music landscape had changed, but there's Connie, still on the hit list (see #91). Higher than Led Zeppelin.

Songs go into the Chart and quickly leave. That abomination by Connie Francis PEAKED at #9.

The year end chart 1969... and of course Connie is no where to be found.

*Connie Francis PEAKED at #91.

[quote]So if Petula was such a huge megastar as you try to make her sound, why is Connie's net worth almost three times the size of Petula's?!

You people who believe the Internet about celebrity "net worth" are idiots.

Connie only has money because she sued Hojo's. Until that settlement check can in, she was turning tricks in the back of her Buick.

[R261]

Bullocks,Connie was making 12 grand a week in the sixties love.Can you not add and subtract.Do you even know what that would amout to today.

Petula is broke and obviously can't retire.How sad. At least Brenda Lee,with that sprawling southern mansion appears to have money like Connie. Petula is not in their league....at all,not even close

[quote]She looks stiff......

Stiff?

Petula on one of her TV specials...in 1970. Petula was older than Connie Francis but looked 10 years younger. Connie Francis' persona was stuck in the early '60s. Nothing contemporary about her.

[quote]That album cover is hilarious - putting musical tastes aside, you have to admit there's no doubt which one of the two looked better. Connie looks like a seductive gorgeous siren in it while Petula has a totally shapeless bone structure and a weird vacant stare, that's typical of the ugly British chicks.

The fake album cover really only serves to show how dated Francis was compared to Clark.

Clark looks like the epitome of a hip '60s chick, while Francis looks like a prim relic from the 50s.

Not coincidentally, they sounded that way, too.

[R264]

Petula's yoddling against Connie's singing

No,no dear they definitely do not sound alike. Clean out your ears

[quote]Petula's yoddling against Connie's singing

Singing? That teary-eyed whiney vibrato is singing?

[R266]

Thats hilarious, but you need to put your glasses back on hon....

Connie Francis......not Connie Franklin

Connie had all the makings of a great comedic actress, she definitely should have pursued more film and/or TV roles. Look at all of the women getting TV shows in the late '60s: Doris Day, Marlo Thomas, even Mary Tyler Moore. She would have been the right age to play a young carer woman and it would have totally refreshed her career. Was that her father's influence again, wanting to keep his cash cow daughter in the recording studio?

I don’t know,television used to be the last road Big Stars wanted to take,especially at the height of their fame.

Sitcom Connie wouldn't have been lucrative enough,i would imagine for someone of Connie's statue and celebrity. Petula yeah,Brenda most definitely. ...those girls had minimal spurts of fame.Way below Connie's iconic status

R268 Totally agree. I've only seen Connie in "Where the Boys Are" but her comic timing in that one was impeccable. That scene where she goes to some cafe and orders only water was hilarious.

Connie would have been tailor-made for one of the iconic TV roles of the '70s: Mrs. Roper on Three's Company! An aging nymphomaniac lush in a bad wig and caftans. Except it would have been typecasting.

[quote]television used to be the last road Big Stars wanted to take,

ALL the big stars were doing weekly series, single episodes, and TV specials. Who wasn't?

Connie Francis wasn't part of the contemporary scene after around 1964. No one would have given her a TV special or Christmas show after that time.

By 1969, Connie hadn't had a hit record for five years. All she was doing was playing Vegas and Atlantic City. Other than that, nobody was knocking on her door and her wildly inaccurate "wholesome" image was wearing thin. Branching out might have saved her from irrelevance but, once again, she didn't put forth the effort. I guess her trolls will blame her father or her manager or the war in Viet Nam, but the truth is, she was very limited in her skills and aspirations.

[R271]

No that would be Brenda Lee ,who chased after Bobby Darrin even while she was married

An road traveled with Bill Haley and the Comets. The loved her so much,they made a song about her

"We gonna Rock,rock,rock....around the clock "

We all know what your Brenda Lee was doing

R268 Connie underestimated her comedic acting skills. Pasternak told her that he could foster her into a great comedic actress as he had done for others. However, Connie disliked making movies. While Looking For Love is notable only for the music, Connie's comedic acting in it showed potential. BY the time she made her last movie, When The Boys Meet The Girl;s, she could not wait to get through with it.

Connie is a singer ,not an actress...period. Her mega hits and chart topping status attest to that

R273 LV and AC were very lucrative for her. She entered the 1980s wealthy, and then went on million dollar spending spres and squandered money and went broke. Her millions of today was earned from the early 1990s on. Connie herself stated that MGM had not provided any guidance for her, and likely was interested only in the money being brought in.

[R277]

Vegas Connie was wildly popular.....people don't realize it

If Connie was born in 1937, that means she would have been in her late 20s by the mid '60s -- old enough to fire her father and hire an agent and/or manager whose job it would have been to seek new opportunities for her. Her supporters seem to think that Connie was born a superstar and has remained so until the present day. While their devotion is admirable, it's also misguided. She was essentially old news at 30, an age when some of her contemporaries were branching out into other areas of show business or working with different producers and writers to move beyond what was expected of them. Connie was obviously comfortable with the status quo: singing standards other people had hits with and doing rounds of the casinos. She's essentially spent the past 50 years rehashing her hits of the late '50s. She might be financially comfortable (and I hope she is) and she might be a draw at old-time venues with her dedicated fan base, but it's too bad for her she never spread her wings to really see if she could fly.

[R279]

Oh Connie flew,first class and continues to do so,thank god.She is a survivor which i think pisses off Connie haters.They want to see her at her worst. But she keeps getting back up......what a legendary icon.

[quote]Vegas Connie was wildly popular.....people don't realize it

Particularly the audience.

[quote]Vegas Connie was wildly popular.....people don't realize it

No, not really. She was never one of the major headliners like Lola Falana, Barbra, Diana Ross, Ann-Margaret, Cher, Eydie Gorme... she was not in the top league.

r280, you're obviously behind the times. Connie has not been allowed to fly commercially since 1998, when she and her girlfriend, Maxine, were caught having a sex under a blanket in business class. Despite repeated warnings to stop, they refused and the plane had to be sent back to Newark airport. What made the situation more egregious is that Connie exposed herself to the flight attendant and told her, "Don't just stand there, make yourself useful."

Connie's attorney had her plead innocent by reason of insanity but she had to do 2000 hours of community service, which consisted of agreeing not to perform publicly during that time. Now she takes the bus. They're more forgiving of that sort of thing as long as you keep it in the back rows.

The Las Vegas review lists Connie's act as one of the best to ever hit the strip.

No mentions of Petula,Brenda or Dusty

What kind of a fucked up name even is "Petula"?! I was shocked when I found out that's actually her stage name (she was born as Sally). Why anyone would pick such a lousy stage name is beyond me. Connie, on the other hand, was definitely a huge improvement over Concetta.

Lola Falana makes the cut. Connie is nowhere to be found.

This article makes mention of Cher, Diana Ross and Barbra Streisand. No Connie.

PUBLICIST: “We need something. Something that makes people notice again.”

CONNIE: “I could sing.”

PUBLICIST: “No! Don’t do that, doll!”

CONNIE: “I could pee myself at Spencer Gifts at the mall.”

PUBLICIST: “Again??? No, we need something big.”

CONNIE: “Tyrone is big. He could pretend to rape me after that musicfest.”

PUBLICIST: “I like it!”

CONNIE: “Yeah, I know! Me? I like the kitty.”

Those sites aren't my source

The Source was the Las Vegas Review

There is a glowing article about Connie selling out a venue with $75 dollar tickets.For the 1980s that was huge.But i am not surprised, as has been said before. . ..Vegas Connie was enormously successful Which is why you skanks are mad.

Beverly Sills NEVER said I can sing good music or make money!

Her husband was worth millions. She never had to sing a note.

She said " I can sing the same shit for 20 years and have a long dull career OR take risks and have a brilliant short one"!

Connie never took any risks. She never even tried too.

[quote] An employee, working for room service, at Defendant Howard Johnson's said that on the night in question she answered a called to Plaintiff's room. Plaintiff allegedly barked, "Bring every goddamn chicken wing you have!" The employee said the guest sounded inebriated. Another employee later gave a statement that he had seen a trail of uneaten chicken wings from the parking lot to the Plaintiff's room. This witness was unable to testify at trial, as he was killed in an automobile accident, when another vehicle, traveling at great speed, ran his Comet off the road into a billboard post. Rumors immediately swirled that this was a New Jersey mob hit, but there is no proof to substantiate this wild accusation. Plaintiff denied any knowledge of either the employee or the reasons for his demise.

Petula Clark and Edie Gorme did Broadway.

Why didn't Connie??? The Bridges and Tunnels were BUILT for a Connie Francis on Broadway...but no..

Theater is a communal thing - even as a star and it's hard work...

Connie and Papa wanted neither of those things...

She didn't want films because - guess what - it was a risk and it required using skills she hadn't used.

Again - WORK!! RISK!!

Singing Mama for the 100th time that year was not and is not work.

What a travesty! A whole book about "Women Who Rock" and nary a mention of Connie Francis! But somehow they found room to profile 104 other women who probably never sold as many singles as Connie did 1959-1961, or who covered "Mama" in 54 languages!

[R292]

Mama may not appease your deluted tastebuds

But to many its an anthem.

And no its not broadway,but it made Connie rich Too bad Petula,Dusty or Brenda can't say that

Link, please, r289.

[R293]

The hate for Connie was immense, I blame the Brenda Lee groupies

Madonna is worth $500 million dollars.

Streisand is close to that amount as well.

Diana Ross is likely at $100 million dollars. Cher about $200 million.

Bette Midler was earning a million a month on Broadway last year.

It is ridiculous on all accounts that Connie and her money is mentioned here in the same breath as the women above....and even more ridiculous that anyone would assume money equals artistry..

I have no doubt that Petula, Dusty and Brenda never regretted having "Mama" in their repertoire. As serious artists, it would have destroyed any artistic credibility they had. As Connie had none, it was the perfect choice for her.

[quote]Arthur Laurents approached Connie Francis about playing Rose in a revival of Gypsy. "You'd be swell. You'd be great!" he said. But Connie, while flattered, said, "I don't play with kids. And we need to lose the strippers. Daddy would never approve. You need to make Rose likable. And pretty. Costumes are what make a song." He went with Angela Lansbury instead.

R284 Connie was the Queen of the LV Strip throughout the 1960s. She had a 10 year contract with The Sahara. She did closed circuit shows with SInatra for the high rollers, and The Imoerial paid her handsomely to appear there for one show. She was the female act to see. She has THE star on the LV Walk of Fame.

R290 What Sills really said was that she could sing a great deal and make money or sing less and save her voice.

The only reason Connie is still alive is due to her 60-odd year old mob connections. Otherwise, trained assassins paid by The Official Brenda Lee Fan Conglomerate would have slit her throat long ago.

As it is, when Connie's 84-year old live-in Mafioso bodyguard, Vito, goes, so does the protection, since everyone else she knew from the mob died decades ago. So when that happens, all bets are off.

r300, link, please. And Connie's bio does not count as a reliable source.

R297 You are right....money does not equat artistry. However, as was said above, Connie would have had much more than what she has know had she not gone on many million dollar spending sprees and squandered her money. By mid 1980s, she was broke and she earned her current wealth from the 90s on. Not bad!

Can Brenda Lee afford assassins

I thought she was eating most of her money

Miss Francis and the Sahara Hotel are practically synonymous.

[R306]

Connie ruled Las Vegas,they can't take that from her

That star is proof,something Dusty,Brenda nor Petula could ever acquire

Remember he was married to singing great Connie Francis and reportedly dated Shirley MacLaine. His temper got him into big problems with Connie and who knows what he laid on Shirley. One time I bumped into Izzy walking into our local voting station. He said imperatively, “You have to vote for Kathy McClain!”

Connie also had to pay off Izzy's gambling debts. Interesting information on Connie's second husband, Izzy Marion.

Miss Brenda Lee would certainly not approve if she knew what her Fan Club was up to regarding Connie Francis. No, the millions of members in the group have all ponied up a few bucks of their own to put Connie out of their collective misery. They are just THAT consumed by jealousy of her ever-youthful vitality and cultural relevance . All they can do to deal with their impatience is to hit replay on the youtube video of Brenda at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and of her top-selling recording even now of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.

[quote]Miss Francis's career and the Sahara Desert are practically synonymous.

Christ, that guy is fuck ugly, r308. Connie had horrible taste in men. He also sounds like a real winner if she had to pay his debts.

Straight from the Entertainment Director of the Sahara Hotel:

"We at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas are proud that she is one of our most consistent box office attractions..."

That's a puff piece written for the recording, r312. You would expect it to be positive. Here's a comprehensive article about the Sahara, including its entertainment. Mentions performers such as Sonny and Cher. But not Connie. And the Sahara was past its prime by the mid-'60s, much like Connie, so we can agree that it probably was a good place for her.

No mention of Connie Francis in histories about the Sahara:

"Performers at the resort over the years have included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Lena Horne, Jack Benny, Tony Bennett, Paul Anka, George Carlin, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Wayne Newton, Bill Cosby, Ann-Margret, Louis Prima, Joey Bishop, Shelley Berman, Kiss, Buddy Hackett, The Drifters, Don Rickles, Bobby Darin, The Coasters, Sonny & Cher and many others. In 1964, The Beatles stayed at the Sahara and played two shows at the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center."

She was not in the same league as those mentioned.

Link, please r307.

Connie's star burns so brightly,your all running around trying to find sunglasses to deflect its glare

Good luck with that,cretins

Is R316 drunk again or having a stroke?

Petula Clark on the other hand was ranked with Las Vegas' greatest performers:

R319 That is so funny! LOL

Connie Francis has the most gorgeous skin I've ever seen. Hair, skin and eyes to die for.

Vegas

The link just above for the Sahara mentions Connie many times and features her.

More Sahara mentions and review.

REVIEWS 1966 - (Source: Variety) - Congo Room, Hotel Sahara, Las Vegas, NV - November 8 - December 11, 1966.

"Stunning Connie Francis, yummy as a wedding cake icing in glitter-studded white lace evening pajamas, makes it a perfect evening at the Sahara. In an entirely new program, with the exception of her heart-wrenching "Mama", the top ranking femme singing star enchants with medleys of rock and roll ditties, a wow batch of bossa-novas, a tuneful salute to George Gerschwin compositions and a trio of sock show tunes. Interspersed are Connie's pulse-hopping version of "What the World Needs Now", "Witchcraft" and her thrilling "The Impossible Dream" closer. A witty gal, with a cute way with a comedy line, she tosses in topical comments plus a funny bit on the strange names of musical groups, and even stranger titles of their hit tunes, in Variety's current best-selling charts. There is no faulting Connie Francis and her spine-tingling way with a song - ...Joe Mazzu is her musical conductor."

I thought the r323 clip was written as a joke, then realized it was posted by Connie's troll, so it had to be serious. Well, that hard-hitting review really tackles Connie's act from a critical perspective and convinces me that she was a very competent lounge singer. Yummy, indeed!

[quote] Well, that hard-hitting review really tackles Connie's act from a critical perspective and convinces me that she was a very competent lounge singer.

You mean OP's question has been officially answered?

This thread should be performed on stage as a comedy act.

[R326]

Yes,the mentions about Petula Clark,Dusty Springfield and Brenda Lee were very funny. They will never be at Connie's level ,face it.....neophytes.

Connie sits in her luxurious condo,sipping champagne and laughing at the Connie Haters. They actually keep her name in the press and make sure her income rises.She says "Thanks to you bitches,i can lounge in semi-retirement " And laughs,very loudly

Connie, Frank, Dean...... TOP 10 Best Known Italian American Singers

R328 Love that she was given the sub phrase Everybody Loves Connie Francis.....in the above article.

R328 It's fun to see the real names of those Italian American singers. So were Frank Sinatra and (unlisted) Annette Funicello the only ones who kept their birth names?

The left out the other Connie -- Connie Stevens (Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia).

It's interesting that Connie picked such an unitalian-sounding last name, because most of those who changed their names at least picked slightly ethnic-sounding ones (Mario Lanza, Al Martino, Frankie Valli & Avalon...)

R318 That is a lie! Connie is listed.

(As "and many others")

[quote]"Stunning Connie Francis, yummy as a wedding cake icing in glitter-studded white lace evening pajamas, makes it a perfect evening at the Sahara. In an entirely new program, with the exception of her heart-wrenching "Mama",

Never a good sign when the publicity blurb for a singer starts with her clothes.

Evening pajamas? What a slob!

R318 God, Steve and Eydie were homely AF!

These were likely the type of pajamas.

r328, you left out "...from the '50s and '60s." No one disputes that Connie was a Jersey guidette and mob moll back then.

Is she had mob connections, why couldn't she protect her own brother?

"Connie sits in her luxurious condo...and farts, very loudly."

Fixed that for you.

r338, once you fuck with the mob's money, you are a dead man, no matter how much your sister whores herself out for you.

R332 She did not pick her stage name. Arthur Godfrey simply introduced her as Connie Francis one night. It stuck and had to because she won the talent show.

Dean's and Bobby D's stage names are not similar to their real names. Connie's father had a fit with Arthur Godfrey, but she won under the name and was hired for The Star Time Kids in NYC. Otherwise, if she wanted to shorten her name, she could have made it Franco. Neverheless, Francis replaces Franconero.

John Gotti went nuts over Connie, and she sang at his daughter's wedding. What is funny about the photo is that Gotti stands beside Connie while his wife is way off to the side and his daughter,, Victoria, is to the back!

(R343)

Connie Francis is a timeless beauty,Gotti recognized that immediately as do the millions who love Connie.Connie haters stars don't enjoy this type of adulation.

No one is running after anything named Petula or Dusty......

[quote]Is she had mob connections, why couldn't she protect her own brother?

Did you even see the Godfather?

R343 Connie sure looked gorgeous in that photo. Plain and simple.

Connie looked classy in the Gotti photo.

[quote]Connie looked classy in the Gotti photo.

LOL.

[quote]Connie sure looked gorgeous in that photo. Plain and simple.

Connie always looks plain and simple.

Here's a sharper image of the pic. It was taken in 1984.

R350 Who's that creature in the lower right corner? Looks like a Sicilian urchin.

My God, wedding were so tacky in the 1980s!

And Connie looks to be exhibiting Extreme Boozehound Face in that pic.

In a wedding picture with John Gotti... now that's class!

R353

No, that's not class -- that FUCKING CLASS!

Damn right.

Yeah, Connie doesn't look good at all in that wedding pic. She looks kind of bloated. Weird how quickly her looks have deteriorated in just three years, if you compare her with that 1981 pic at R142, where she still looks absolutely divine. I'm sure her health problems in that period had something to do with it.

R355 That's the best Connie ever sounded.

Good for her.

Connie looks FABULOUS in that photo!

But Connie still looked better then butter faced Petula Clark,hippy chick pycho Dusty Springfield and Fat Brenda Lee Connie Haters......yes she did

Funny, R357.

So the mob killed Connie's brother but she still showed up to sing at Gotti's daughter's wedding. Yes, totally classy. For a fucking Italian whore.

That picture destroys any credibility Connie may have had as a decent person. You consort with trash and you ARE trash.

Connie was Saddam Hussein's favorite singer and he loved to play her records as he and his sons gang-raped virgins and slaughtered innocent people because he knew her caterwauling would drown out the screams of his victims.

Connie was Pol Pot's favorite singer and once he heard her Cambodian-language version of "Mama," he took it as a sign to begin his murderous purge of the country's intellectuals. To this day, Cambodia still uses it as an emergency signal over the airwaves and all it takes is the first couple of notes to be broadcast for people to flee to safety, screaming.

Pol Pot used to love Connie Francis songs.

He would often regard a fresh pile of the skulls of his enemies and sing, "Who's Sorry Now?"

His shrieking giggles could be heard across Phnom Penh.

Connie sent him several notes thanking him for jewelry made from bones and semi-precious stones.

Apparently the Connie Pol Pot connection is rather well known . . . LOL

[quote]To this day, Cambodia still uses it as an emergency signal over the airwaves and all it takes is the first couple of notes to be broadcast for people to flee to safety, screaming.

In fairness, this is the reaction ALL cultures have to the first few notes of a Connie song.

Love this pic.

Connie was Osama bin Laden's favorite singer and the way they were able to track him down was by creating a faux box set of Connie's recordings on Amazon and offering free shipping and wait for him to order it. Bingo!

R367, that picture was taken during Connie's lean time in the '80s when she couldn't get arrested -- until she got arrested for streetwalking! It did lead to a mini comeback of sorts with her song "Hooking in Hoboken," which peaked at #97 on the Billboard chart, giving her her first "hit" in 24 years.

Rare Connie Francis trading cards.

Two days on the chart at #97 constitutes a hit for Connie Francis fans.

Christ, she looks about 70 in that trading card on the right.

What's that blue thing she's holding in the card on the far left?

I don't know, some kind of duck? Here's better pic. The guy is Peter Kraus, a German singer she did duets with.

Jetsetter Connie has many big international stars as her friends and admirers

Peter Kraus has spoken highly of Connie,and his glamorous friends all agree.Connie is an international star.Alot of Connie haters can't take that,hence the negative comments in this thread. They are jealous of her....simple as that.

The deluded Connie Troll must have thought that pic of her at the Gotti wedding was going to show -- what? How classy she was? How connected? But it only shows how comfortable she was around the type of people who murdered her brother. How desperate she was for any gig.

Well, for once the sycophant is right: you wouldn't have seen Dusty, Petula, Brenda, Barbra, Diana or Dionne at such an affair.

[quote]Jetsetter Connie has many big international stars as her friends and admirers

This we already know. I mean, look at the stars that showed up for her Friars Club honors.

Abe Vigoda... Dick Capri...Pat Cooper....and Danny Aiello.

You need to read her autobiography book to understand her relationship with Gotti. Due to her relationship with Gotti, she was often mentioned on The Sopranos for insiginifcant things, such as meeting Connie Francis in a store, nbd being Carmela Soprano's favorite singer.

The Impossible Dream.

Connie's mother's family had relatives in the mob. Connie's father tended to stray away from them, but they were relatives. Through her friendship with Sinatra, she knew more of them in addition to the ones she had grown up around.

R379 Connie used to refer to that song as "The Impossible Lyrics" (and, later in life, "That Impossible Note").

She would complain to friends, "What does it mean? How the hell do I know? It's just like any lyrics -- words attached to notes. They write it; I sing it. I just try to pause where they say to. Song as like throw-pillows. They don't MEAN anything -- they just make life pretty."

R377 That's what you think. They wold have been breaking down the door to get there, especially Barbra. (just for the free food).

Connie's rendition of The Impossible Dream is magnificent. As many of the comments below the video...one of the best, if not the best version.

"The Impossible Dream" is one of those bombastically schmaltzy Broadway show songs that because wildly popular in the '60s and '70s.

Nobody would dare sing that shit now.

Connie was famous in the Congo Room in Vegas for refusing to go on until the staff had placed two six-packs of Sprite backstage that she would drink during her performance.

The staff had been instructed each night to dump out the Sprite, replacing it with Russian vodka.

R384 You don't say! It is still a very popular song sung by many. She sang it in the late 1970s on record and live. A magnificent job with the song.

R386....error...she sang it in the late 1960s.

[quote]Connie's rendition of The Impossible Dream is magnificent. As many of the comments below the video...one of the best, if not the best version.

Yeah....YouTube comments are soooo meaningful.

And oops! she's left out of this list too: "The Impossible Dream .- Notable renditions"

My gosh... even Shani Wallis gets a mention....

"The Impossible Dream"

What a timeless classic.Too bad many don't have the ear to appreciate it.As demonstrated above by the negative comments.Thanks Connie haters,you have proved yet again that your pedigrees and tastes evolved from a brewery.Probably where Dusty,Petula or Brenda Lee worked.

Even Jim Nabors' rendition gets a mention on that list. But yet again... no Connie Francis.

Connie Francis invented/popularized the spring break.I saw a picture of her at the International Polo Country club and member were saying before "Where the Boys Are"....there really wasn't an established holiday for youth during college breaks. Thanks to Connie Francis,that all changed and made Florida a national destination spot.

Connie Francis might have single handedly revived Florida tourism. God Bless her.....

R390 Her version is one of the best. So what itr is not mentioned. She usually is in Wiki for rendition of songs. She recorded over 7000 tracks!. The youtube comments are significant in that they reflect what the public enjoys!

R391 That ias well known and her name is engraved in the sidewalks in Fort Lauderdale.

That was a stinky linky. Hopefully this one works:

[R394]

I don't think Brenda Lee,Petula Clark or Musty Springfield have similar accolades for their vocalistic stylings.

[quote] The youtube comments are significant in that they reflect what the public enjoys!

YouTube comments reflect what ancient fans who Googled, moments before they died, think.

R328 She is the only one given that phrase in Everybody Loves Italian 10 Best Known.....So very true!

I don't think Miss Francis' career ever really recovered after the release of "Mafia Whore Connie," with such songs as "Theme from the Godfather" and Band Bang I Shot Him Down." People thought it was pretty tasteless to release it the same week as her brother's murder, especially when her only public comment about him at the time was, "Snitches are bitches."

Just think of how many drunken frat boys have pissed on r394's plaque! So heartwarming!

That's one of those things that anyone with a sense of shame would want to keep hidden, but Connie's trolls think it indicates something noteworthy on her part. Has-been Connie and her low-rent fans are truly made for each other.

[quote]I don't think Brenda Lee,Petula Clark or Musty Springfield have similar accolades for their vocalistic stylings.

Well, it's nice to see Connie Francis has a star on a sidewalk in Florida.

Miss Vikki Carr

Miss Dionne Warwick

Miss Ross

Donald Trump

Carr,Warwick,Ross...really Connie haters at the beginning you claimed Petula Clark,Brenda Lee,Dusty Springfield were what YOU considered better then the great Connie Francis. After failing miserablely to prove that ,you pull in new stars to support your weakass claim that Connie Francis is not superior to YOU and your obviously flawed musical appreciation abilities. If YOU have not sidewalk awards for Brenda Lee,Petula Clark or Dusty Springfield. YOU HAVE LOST the debate sunshine. Go have your golden shower [R399]fantasies elsewhere,freak.Connie is the winner,again in this war.An you peasants need to just pack up your tattered clothes,obviously musty wigs and scraped shoes and hobble away. Guttersnipe harlots

It's no secret that any bimbo can buy a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (all you have to do is pay the trust behind it $40,000, for "maintenance").

But the one Connie has in Florida is trully unique. Something like that cannot be bought. Connie is for Fort Lauderdale what Anita Ekberg is for Rome or Audrey Hepburn for Paris - a star, that will always be synonymous with that place.

[quote]Something like that cannot be bought. Connie is for Fort Lauderdale what Anita Ekberg is for Rome or Audrey Hepburn for Paris

LOL.

Here's some of the Stars Connie Francis shares her sidewalk plaque with:

Louise Crocco "Legendary Cardinal Gibbons High School Girls’ Volleyball Coach"

Marcia Pinder - "Award-winning Dillard High School Girls’ Basketball Coach"

Woody Woodbury - "Comedian, Actor and Television Personality"

Gosh...this is almost as exciting as the crew that came out for the Friars Honors!

Connie is on many walk-of-fames. Including internationally.

The Araneta Center Starwalk in Manilla. One of the very few Americans to achieve that honor.

Ah yes, the Walk of Fame in Toronto's Little Italy.

Unfortunately there's usually a food truck selling fried calamari parked over Connie's star.

"You need to read her autobiography book to understand her relationship with Gotti."

As tempting as the idea of wading through Connie's tortured prose would be, I think I'll pass.

Gotti was a murdering thug. A horrible person. The kind of man who killed her brother. Everyone knew it. But there's Connie, pleased as punch to be there at the wedding.

Some people here like her music but she's obviously a pathetic excuse of a human being, and all of her "charity" work and being "friends with the gays" and whatever other bullshit her trolls admire can't make up for that.

One of Gotti's children was killed when he was struck by a neighbor's car while riding his bike. The neighbor was "disappeared" and never heard from again. I don't think there's any doubt what happened to him.

[quote]"No, we weren't that close. Mr. Gotti paid me money to be at his daughter's -- I forget her name -- wedding," recalled Miss Francis. "And he paid cash. The second I finished singing, one of his executives gave me an envelope. I didn't need to count it. I just know it was exactly what he said he'd pay me. He was a man of his word."

Yeah, whenever Gotti promised to kill someone, he kept his word.

Wonder if Connie reported that cash windfall to the IRS.

Checking as I type . . .

Who would have thought there'd be so much interest in this old windbag? Guess she's sort of a low-rent Liza, with the added benefit of BBC.

Oh, surely Liza had some big black cock along the way.

They probably had an equal number of gay husbands, though.

Liza and Connie were both messy, but Connie was a genuine pop star, while Liza never sold any records (she's too hammy for pop).

On the other hand, Liza has an Oscar and, due the nepotism, is Show Biz Royalty.

They are both, however, almost wholly forgotten by anyone younger than 60.

Apples and oranges. Liza is an Oscar-winning international superstar. Connie is a has-been lounge singer who consorted with mob figures and who's best known for screeching an incredibly sappy song called "Mama" in 57 languages.

[quote]Apples and oranges.

Rotten apples and spoiled oranges.

Liza idolized Connie Francis.As did many bigname stars.Too bad your lowclass mentality, Connie Haters....prevents you from respecting and appreciating her high class status.

But then i am not shocked. Most of you are to busy humming Dusty Springfield tunes into your Vodka breakfasts.Hoping one day you will meet Connie Francis

Liza Minnelli: "Connie Francis was like a mother to me. A crazy drunk."

Goodness, wild threads. She can definitely sing (Impossible Dream).

Mafia Whore Connie and her troll tribe are such whack jobs, it's hard to know what's fiction and what's not. I mean, it's funny that they work so hard to convince us of her mediocrity. "Connie has a star on the Ft. Lauderdale Sidewalk of Fame!" and "Connie was celebrated at the Friar's Club with Abe Vigoda!" but it's just damning with faint praise. I guess if you like her style of singing, that's the kind of singing you like. But the woman herself was certainly no paragon of virtue, no matter how much she or they try to pass her off as a friend of the vets or the gays. Whoever started these threads actually did her a disservice, as it just brought attention to her professional limitations and mob-related activities.

[quote]She can definitely sing (Impossible Dream).

She has technical skills, but it is unbearably bombastic song.

That's like saying "He can definitely paint (Thomas Kinkade)

We can rest easy now that charlie has weighed in.

[quote]Mafia Whore Connie

There is only circumstantial evidence that Connie was a prostitute for the Mob.

Please stop writing that as if it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

That, my friend, is libel!

We'll just call her Cuntface Connie. There's no doubt of that.

After the brutal HJ attack Connie became paralysed with fear so she stayed away from performing and public appearances.

It was her pal, Dick Clark, who finally convinced her to come back. To say her return was emotional is a huge understatement.

That was sweet of Dick Clark to get so teary. But who was the drag queen who was using that in her act? That doesn't seem very respectful.

Do you mean this one?

R404 Connie was offered the Star on the Walk of Fame in the early 60s and turned it down, as did Madonna. It is no honor as you must pay for the cermony and pay to maintain it. Ma y stars have turned it down.

Connie Francis also turned down a nomination for an Academy Award, an Emmy and a Grammy.

BUT she does have a plaque up at a shopping mall in the Philippines.

R404 Whereas her star on the FL walk was earned and notes her importance in the history of the city and how she changed it. She did not have to pay for that star,

Gee... just think of all the stars that wish THEY had a plaque on a sidewalk in Florida.

...the same for the LV Walk and AC Wall.

Any star would like a mark in any sidewalk in any city if it meant me/she was being honored for the city's importance.

All three of those honors were free for Connie and are symbols of what she represents to those cities' histories. The Hollywood Walk Of Fame, on the other hand, requires that hte star pay $15,000.00 for the ceremony and additional costs and an annual maintenance fee. Some honor!

R440 Gee...it seems as though it takes advantage of the star and his narcissism to make something else or someone else lucrative.

R441 I always wondered why so many minor celebrities and reality stars have a star on the Walk Of Fame. Just about anyone who is willing to pay can get a star, especially if many turn it down such as Connie and Madonna.

I resemble that!

I have heard Connie loves the color pink?

Someone called her former luxurious bedroom in New Jersey pepto bismol pink?

Connie is so regal

Link, please, r434, to Connie turning down the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And please don't cite something written by Connie.

This cocksucker who always says "links please" I'd like to kick in the fucking balls. You can provide all the links in the world and he's still not going to believe you. Just like the "Sure, Jan" cunt.

Link or no link.....it is not an honor if you have to pay for it! The 3 that she has are honors, not the Walk of Fame which anyone can have if you a re willing to pay!

Sure she was offered the Star on the Walk of Fame in the early 60s. She was then pne of the biggest star on the planet Others form the movie WTBA were also offered.

In addition, she was inducted into the NJ Hall of Fame, but when she discovered that there were stipulations that really did not make it a true honor, she opted not to attend. This and the Hollywood Walk of Fame take advantage of the stars. They are not honors. Just about any celebrity can have a star on the Walk of Fame if they pay.

Well, if you can't provide source material, r446, then you could be making shit up. Surely you're able to understand that. Or do I need to provide a link for you?

The egocentricity of the hater is not to be believed. I might not like a certain artist, but I realize that others do and, if an artist has achieved a certain level, they must have talent albeit maybe not singing talent as many of the current artists lack, but they have some entertainment talent. The hater in his persistence demonstrates his intense interest in Connie, or else he would have ceased a long time ago. In addition, with his insane jokes about rape, he is demonstrating his weak and twisted character.

Connie Francis is a Legend FFS. To disavow this obvious fact is beyond idiotic. Get a grip, haters.

Milk and Honey

When's the last time Connie got laid?

Connie Francis was a vocal contortionist who had some hit songs of no great quality in the late '50s - early '60s. Then she moved on to lounge singer, covering other people's hits. You may like her, others may not. The point where the threads went off the rails is when her trolls opined that she was a combination of Maria Callas, Sophia Loren and Mother Theresa, to the exclusion of any other performer of worth during her era. This is Datalounge; such naked, misguided enthusiasm for a footnote in American pop culture was going to be fodder for a lot of jokes. It's the trolls' sheer determination to make Francis something she is not, i.e. an artist of lasting value and reputation, that is driving this string of threads.

The fact that Connie was a Mafia whore, er...mob moll is just gravy.

[R451]

The rape/sex innuendo's clearly signal the Hater or Haters have a crush on Connie Francis.A crush bordering on obsession. Maybe the hater or haters can tell us exactly why they are including themselves in 3,soon to be 4 threads about a woman they claim to hate.Or stop junior high school masturbating and move onto another thread with an artist they approve of.Hey why not educate us on Brenda Lee,who cheated on her husband with Bobby Darrin....

"Footnote in American pop culture" my ass! Connie is a NATIONAL TREASURE and together with the internet and the polio vaccine probably America's greatest gift to mankind in the 20th century. Stars like Connie, who happen to be beautiful, talented and good-hearted, come along once in a lifetime. While I was born long after Connie's heyday, I still consider it an honour to share this Earth with someone like her. I hope Connie haters start appreciating her too, before it's too late.

I stand by my comments in R451 even more. Your last post demonstrates your your obtuse egocentricity.

Connie's (album only) version of "I Swallow His Kids" was arranged by Peter Matz.

The arrangement was so lush and beautiful it was stolen by many of the top female singers of the 1960s.

I'd very much like to see RAI TV's tribute to Connie. Has anyone here seen it? I'm not able to find it online.

.

R457 Are you the same poster who compared Connie to Mozart?

[quote]which anyone can have if you are willing to pay!

More bullshit from the Connie trolls.

[quote]I'd very much like to see RAI TV's tribute to Connie.

RAI television has never done a tribute to Connie Francis.

RAI TV's tribute to Connie.

The RAI has never done a tribute to Connie Francis.

The link that you provide says this: Connie Francis sings Italian and American songs in this Italian TV show...

30 years ago she may very well have had a guest segment on a TV show that aired on the RAI...or even a Special (though I doubt it)...but to say the RAI gave a tribute to her is false.

The RAI is a network comprised of 3 channels...it is a TV network, it would be like saying CBS did a "tribute" to a particular singer when she appeared on one of the network's shows.

Conne Francis (as in the US) is a non entity in Italy. Some grandmothers may remember her. But that's it.

Her sings topped the charts in Italy during the 60's. Her"Jealous of You" (Tango Della Gelosia) was number 1 in Italy, the first time by an American artist. "Where The Boys Are" was also number 1 in Italy. 16 hits in Italy overall. See for yourself.

[quote] “Italy’s Most Beloved Italian American Singer”

[quote] "Female Entertainer of the Century".

[quote] “Japan’s Most Popular Singer"

[quote] European Golden Lion Award as “Most Popular Artist-Male or Female on the European Continent.”

As I said: Conne Francis (as in the US) is a non entity in Italy. Some grandmothers may remember her. But that's it.

And those quotes at R467 are hilarious! Connie Francis....“Italy’s Most Beloved Italian American Singer”...Connie Francis? Says who exactly?

Today in Italy no one knows who she is, but Italian-Americans Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett all live on.

And the European Golden Lion Award as “Most Popular Artist-Male or Female on the European Continent.” ???

I see absolutely no listing for Connie Francis.

[quote]Her sings topped the charts in Italy during the 60's. Her"Jealous of You" (Tango Della Gelosia) was number 1 in Italy, the first time by an American artist.

What in the world are you talking about? Plenty of American artists have been number 1 in Italy long before that.

[quote]"Where The Boys Are" was also number 1 in Italy. 16 hits in Italy overall. See for yourself.

She may have had one number 1 in Italy, ...so? plenty American of artists have.

You understand absolutely nothing about the music scene in Italy.

That's a different award, R468.

There is only one Golden Lion award that anyone has ever heard of and that's the one I've linked to... but Ok... what is the "European Golden Lion Award"?

Are you from northern Italy, Italian guy? You seem to have that annoying snobby attitude the northerners over there are famous for.

R473 Maybe you can tell us what the "European Golden Lion Award" is....or is it just more stuff that you guys make up?

Connie Francis was Patsy Ramsey's favorite singer.

[quote] "I like that Connie can sing with class," said Patsy. "She never has to take off her clothes, like Madonna. They are both Catholics, but Connie has class. For a Catholic. I pray that she leaves that Mary Worshipping cult and comes to Christ. Madonna? She is right where she belongs!"

Connie of course is of southern Italian descent (half Calabrian and half Campanian), which is pretty obvious from her laid-back attitude and that big warm smile on her face. She doesn't act like she has a broom shoved up her bum, like the northern Italians (including the cunty poster above) do.

[quote]Connie of course is of southern Italian descent (half Calabrian and half Campanian), which is pretty obvious from her laid-back attitude and that big warm smile on her face.

Like the guy that shot her brother?

R465. You're an idiot. The RAI show was a tribute to Connie,a celebration of her work. That's a TRIBUTE. Connie sang a bit and others sang her songs for the full hour to HONOR her.

So STFU. You've already discredited yourself entirely by stating RAI never broadcast the show.

R478 What show was it and who conducted it and when was it aired?

There are TV hosts in Italy like Pippo Baudo or most likely Paolo Limiti who did shows dedicated to a certain artist...with each week featuring different one... but saying that the NETWORK did a tribute to her is ridiculous.

That link at R467 is more desperation: "Connie Francis and Dionne Warwick: Two divas in Las Vegas"

It should be noted that the two did not sing together.

R479 Don't tell me about Italy or RAI or your fucking grandmother (who died 35 years ago). I'm Swiss. Io parlo Italiano.

Face it, you're an idiot who makes false claims and stupid assumptions.

You Connie haters can yap until the rest of the rotten teeth fall out your mouth It will not change this Connie Francis is the first solo female american artist to have a #1 in Britain As for the northern italy remark,George Franconero Sr. was not from Northern Italy and it was his idea Connie sing his italian favorites. An idea which spawned Connie singing in 6 more languages to much accolades not only from her fans but peers. You haters like to say we who appreciate Connie Francis live in the past. Well evidently, so do you Springfield, Clark and Brenda Lee idolizers.They were in the past too.Einsteins. The mob/rape jokes are tasteless and crass. Mainly because payola/mob mess affected alot of singers in the early days of music. If you were old enough,you might know that. Lastly,Connie Francis thanks you. You are inadvertently helping her sell records and widening her audience everytime your stupid ass posts anything on social media.So trolls keep it up,Connie is laughing all the way to the Bank. Neophytes

You come from a country whose greatest musical contribution to the world was yodeling - I'm surprised you even have nerves enough to lecture others on music.

R481 The only RAI listings I can find are both rather minor:

A show in 1998 on RAI Due (not the premier channel) with Al Bano and Romina Power and Connie Francis.

That, and one of Paolo Limiti's nostalgia shows: "Seguono moltissimi speciali di prima serata, tra cui quelli su Maria Callas, Claudio Villa, Al Bano e Romina, Connie Francis, Gina Lollobrigida,Lucio Battisti, Dalida, Wanda Osiris, Julio Iglesias, Milly, e Marylin Monroe"

R481, if you know about the RAI ... please tell us when the NETWORK ever did a "tribute" to Connie Francis.

Thanks in advance.

Oh and we're still waiting for info on that "European Golden Lion Award". That know one has ever heard of.

*That no one has ever heard of.

R484 Are you too lazy to google it?

[quote]Connie, of course, is of southern Italian descent (half Calabrian and half Campanian), which is pretty obvious from her back hair.

Dai dai dai. Yes, divert when you've been revealed to be a clueless twit who doesn't know what he's talking about.

*sigh*

The quote was: "European Golden Lion Award as “Most Popular Artist-Male or Female on the European Continent.” "

The only "Golden Lion Award" is that out of Venice. And it's one of the most prestigious awards in Europe. See link.

The "The Radio Luxemburg Lions" are something else and have nothing to do with the "Golden Lion".

Note that the website says: Originally, Gold, Silver and Bronze Lions were presented to the most successful stars of the Radio Luxemburg Hitparade...

That she won some award from a radio station is nice. Good for her. But it's not the Golden Lion.

"You are inadvertently helping her sell records and widening her audience everytime your stupid ass posts anything on social media.So trolls keep it up,Connie is laughing all the way to the Bank."

Major news sources such as CNN have started reporting on "the great Datalounge controversy" over Connie Stevens, with fierce partisan battling on both sides. Embarrassed news anchors then had to broadcast a retraction, noting, "Forgotten octogenarian singers from New Jersey are all alike. It was that other Connie, the dark-haired one, that is causing the controversy."

Thanks to this, a renewed interest in the singer's work has propelled her Amazon sales from zero to one, maybe two, downloads a week, and raising her sales ranking from "not listed" to no. 489,572,349,523,472,904.

Here's a funny quote from the link on Golden Lion awards above:

[quote] Radio-Journal.de reminds users that international stars weren’t always popular at the Lion Awards: in 1969, Dusty Springfield performed to boos and whistles from the audience, which demanded “Va-len-te”.

LOL I wonder how Musty fans are gonna comment on this one?

The Golden Lion What?

A yes, Luxembourg ...always hip...always with it...screaming for Caterina Valente....

r491, nobody cares. Anyone who's a fan of Dusty Springfield doesn't have to go searching back almost 50 years to some unknown (in the U.S.) radio awards program to find validation.

Unlike the Connie Francis trolls, who continue to embarrass their idol by constantly bringing up "honors" supposedly bestowed upon her that are easily discounted. The big question is, how far up Connie's saggy ass do they have to be to even have heard about some of this shit? Seriously, Connie gets mentioned in a list of performers at the Sahara or on a radio program in Luxembourg and she suddenly becomes the "star of the decade" (60 years ago) or the subject of a tribute. Connie's trolls should just sit back and listen to "Mama" in Mandarin on repeat and stop making shit up about how popular the old broad was. Let her die in peace.

All part of the making of a Legend, r494.

Connie Francis had the No. 1 Album in Scilly in 1966!

Connie will be 80 years old on December 12th. Happy Birthday, honey!

Anti-Connie loon is the Uwe Boll of photoshopping. Those pics look fucking terrible.

R497 Actually she's gonna be 81. Her official birthyear is still cited as 1938 but she was really born in 1937 and already celebrated her big anniversary last December.

Seminole Casino even threw her a big birthday bash.

[quote]Those pics look fucking terrible.

What a horrible thing to say about dear Connie.

Yes, she was always a bit homely, but it's what's INSIDE that counts.

[quote]Seminole Casino Coconut Creek will host “An Evening with Connie Francis & Friends” on Friday, December 15, at 8 p.m. in celebration of the legendary singer’s 80th birthday.

Guests of honor will be Dick Capri, Pat Cooper, Danny Aiello, Stewie Stone, Jay Black and Abe Vagoda

R500. That must have been good fun. Did you attend? If so, spill.

Aside from Where The Boys Are (hardly a masterpiece of songwriting), Who's Sorry Now ( which was a cover), and Mama (also a cover), what was Connie Francis known for? It seems she just sang other people's hits in her "expressive" kind of way. The big difference between Connie Francis and the other singers who have been compared to her is that they all had a number of songs that were original hits FOR THEM. They had albums of original material, not recycled songs that somebody else had already been known for. That's why I'm not quite understanding this controversy. Connie Francis was a lounge act. Her "popularity" in Las Vegas and Atlantic City is a testament to that. Maybe her singing The Impossible Dream or Born Free or whatever brings tears to your eyes, but the only reason she sings them is because they'd already been made popular by others.

And even if her early records were original songs, none of them seem to have survived in public memory. A cursory examination on youtube shows a lot of forgettable songs pretty much indistinguishable from each other. Not much of a legacy for someone considered so "legendary."

^That's why Connie will never be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They have nothing to build a tribute around. I'm sure her trolls think that she should get a Kennedy Centers honor as well. But as evidenced by Cher's tribute this week, they have different people perform a number of songs that the star had hits with. There's such scant material that is accredited to Connie that you can't build a show around it. A drag queen act, sure.

[R502]

Thanks for the update on Connie's birthday. I anxiously await the star studded pictures she will most definitely post from that eclectic gala. I love the way she brings out old Hollywood in full force,something the Connie haters lackluster stars can never say.I will be sure to wish her a happy birthday on her very active social media sites.Since she occasionally acknowledges her adoring fans. I know she will be dressed to the nines. In the diamonds and furs she is well known for. I don’t think i have ever seen overweight Brenda Lee,Dusty (drugaddicted)Springfield or Petula (2 song)Clark ever in diamonds or furs.They must be broke and destitute like the Connie Haters in this thread.Filthy mongrels

[quote]I anxiously await the star studded pictures she will most definitely post from that eclectic gala. I love the way she brings out old Hollywood in full force,

Such as who exactly?

Wasn't the birthday bash last year? I seem to remember seeing something about it on one of these threads. Unfortunately, Abe Vigoda had since passed away, so was only there in spirit. I'm sure Wayne Newton and Loni Anderson set their regrets. Don't now about Tony Orlando.

The joke is over! Enough about this pathetic has-been hag! There's trolling on both sides. Why in the world would you be so wrapped up in such a non-entity, even on Datalounge?

Girls, girls, you're both ugly!

[quote]Even Frank Sinatra used to joke with casino owners: “Don’t fuck with Connie. I may be connected [to the mob], but I don’t suck their dicks!”

Frank Sinatra wanted Connie as a girlfriend/wife and she curbed him.He was pissed after that and talked trash about her.He actually sat in her parents home for 3 hrs waiting for her. Connie said she wasn't interested,he was too damn old......so she went against her Papa and family and kept him at arms length.

I have not seen it. She once went over to Italy and performed for her parents' extended family that remained in Italy.

She sang and they kept rhythm while stomping grapes.

Connie dated Don Rickles so I find it hard to believe Sinatra was "too old" for her.

Sinatra dated some of the most beautiful women in the world and was married to Ava Gardner. At the time when he first met Connie, he was dating Lauren Bacall.

Yes, of course, he would be interested in the midget Jersey guidette who obviously gave lousy head.

And troll at r512, other trolls have written about what good friends they were in Vegas. If she had ever kept him waiting or treated him rudely, they would NOT have been friends.

This thread is nearing 600 and with hope to God, Satan, the angels, the demons, the reptiles, or whatever fucking force there is, let there be an end to this dissociative identity bitch who I feel is the supporter and the opposition and the half-assed shit bird comic writer wannabe.

Connie Francis is not legendary. She's a faded wisp of a memory in the minds of those 70+ and her music fails to even be made into Muzak versions. Like R504 and R505 pointed out, she does not have any standards unique to her that have stood the test of time, other than the bubble pop of the late 1950s, which even people of that era are embarrassed by. That is not to shortchange her vocal potential, which in certain songs, seems quite impressive, notably "Malaguena." She had opportunities for comebacks that never amounted to anything more than Vegas or AC gigs, which might have been lucrative and entertaining, but not artistic or innovative in any way. There needed to be new music, new albums, and new standards written expressly for her and with which she would ever after be identified. There was possibility with the piece "If I Never Sing Another Song," but like so many other attempts, it failed. It doesn't matter if it was the bipolar, PTSD, her father, or anything else.

It's great that Connie is still with us and still talked about at this point in time. She's a survivor, and that's commendable, although I don't feel that all is pristine with her, and there might have been much more to that Hojo's incident than meets the eye. Sadly, if she'll be remembered for anything, it'll be that.

Listen to the music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others. You'll see and hear why their careers endured and why their music is timeless. Within less than 5 seconds, their voices were instantly recognizable. Top composers wrote expressly for them and crafted STANDARDS not POP TRASH with which they would forever be identified. They were expertly arranged, orchestrated, and produced. For all the creative control MGM gave Connie, where was the artistic direction? Nowhere.

Sinatra did a number of TV specials his guests included Leslie Uggams.... Ella Fitzgerald... did duets on shows with Dinah Shore...Rosemary Clooney....Judy Garland ....Lena Horne...did Vegas together with Liza... did duets on his albums with Barbra, Aretha, Gloria Estefan, Natalie Cole, Carly Simon, Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt, Eydie Gormé .... but Connie Francis?

Nope.

It's interesting that the two biggest selling records of the 20th Century were both Christmas songs!

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and Connie Francis' "I'm Takin' Santa to the Prom!"

My God, 500 Connie fans cant be wrong:

As of last night - on Amazon.com:

"Connie's 15 Greatest Hits" is now at #37189 in CDs & Vinyl > Pop

also

"Connie"s Gold" is #23,681 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)

Her contemporaries fare a little better:

Cher's Dancing Queen is at #381

and Barbra's "walls" is at #28

Connie is laughing all the way to the bank burning fifties on her caddie!!

R489, look at R486's link, it is very clear:

[quote] Past winners of GOLDEN LIONS and Honorary Lions include: Abba, Peter Alexander, Lale Andersen, The Bee Gees, Roy Black, Rudi Carrell, Drafi Deutscher, Fats Domino, Fischer Chöre, CONNIE FRANCIS.....

Since it is quite obvious there will be a PART IV to this controversial super star, we should start a vote on what pic will adorn the new thread. I like this pic:

Or something more racy?

R521 Your pic gets my vote. I love how she looks almost a bit smug there.

But maybe, with Christmas time fast approaching, we should go with a slightly more holiday-flavoured pic. I fucking hate her hair in this one but it is full of Christmas joy!

Or maybe this one, which contains both Christmas and racy elements in one (but it is more of a painting than an actual photo):

Another contender.

R520 Are we supposed to be impressed about an award from a radio station in Luxembourg?

RE: photo...I really like the photo she did for S&H Green Stamps at R523.

R523 is cute pic but I can't get over the bad hair.

Here's another attitude pic.

I'm surprised Connie haters are trying to discredit her Golden Lion award as well, since both of their idols (Musty Springfield and Petula "Butterface" Clark) are on the list of recipients as well.

R527 Love her rack in that photo. Connie was the best-filled thing to come from Italy since ravioli.

R528 The award is so insignificant that I doubt they'd even bother to mention it. After all: they've got Grammys.

[R516]

You really think HOJO's was Connie's fault?Really?

Iam glad you Connie Haters have expressed interest in thread number 4.Coming right up.....

Nancy Sinatra's book mentions the date Connie never went on with her father.Turns out Connie was great friends with Nancy Sr.That’s probably why she never considered touched you all's sleazy Frank Sinatra (weird you dummies won't condemn him for his mob friends but want to hold that against Connie).

To everyone that's posted factoids about the Great Star known as Connie Francis.Thank you.I have enjoyed laughing at the juvenile haters and the trivia facts.Please,lets start a 4th thread.....maybe the haters might stay the hell out of that one. Douchbags

[quote] After all: they've got Grammys.

So do Milli Vanilli and Justin Bieber. I wouldn't really brag about owning an award like that.

Call in your Birthday Greetings for Connie! MyBNR.com will be airing a live broadcast with Connie herself at 3:00pm (NY Time) on December 12th.

US; 1-877-577-2630 Option 4 International Callers; 540-288-4001 Option 4

You may also email a greeting; Connie@mybnr.com

Connie was close friends with Dolly Sinatra, mother of Frank, and mother of Don Rickles, as well. They would attend her concerts. Dolly organized a benefit concert for the blind and Jimmy Roselli was to perform, but he wanted to get paid. Frank took care of that, and asked Connie step in to perform. That runined Roselli's career.

Sinatra did a number of TV specials his guests included Leslie Uggams.... Ella Fitzgerald... did duets on shows with Dinah Shore...Rosemary Clooney....Judy Garland ....Lena Horne...did Vegas together with Liza... did duets on his albums with Barbra, Aretha, Gloria Estefan, Natalie Cole, Carly Simon, Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt, Eydie Gormé .... but Connie Francis?

Where were Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. on these specials! Sinatra and Connie were close and were on stage in LV together. Connie was out of commission throughout the 70s There had to be a reason why the 3 of these were not on. He was on with her on the Sullivan show in 1964, however.

Connie's done plenty of duets:

Bobby Darin

Pat Boone

Andy Williams

Danny Thomas

Hank Williams

Peter Klaus

Marvin Rainwater (her first charting record)

Her great rendition of The Shadow Of Your Smile.

She has no idea what she's saying ...there is no phrasing...its one big lump....

Barbra -- sung like an angel...

R538 Nonsense...the phrasing is superb. The public likes it immensely. You keep spewing nonsense after nonsense. Yet, you are overwhelmingly interested in her.. Contradictions.

R539 One of her worse. Look- IN-to My- Eyes. Her staccato phrasing is insane. Her high notes are off. Many words are over-enuncitated. Connie's version is superb.

For gods sake - if you are not gonna care about phrasing - at least listen to someone who makes up for it with sheer voice, beauty, rhythmic propulsion, perfect pitch, invention and innate musicality,,,

R452 I like her version, but that is not perfect pitch and there is way too much vibrato. Connie's is still better.

Connie's and Sarah;s versions are quite good. I prefer Connie's. Bab's version as said above is horrendous. One must consider a singer's style. Each singer has a personal style, and colors each song with it. It is usually good, as long as it goes not go overboard, as Bab;s does.

R539 Really, really bad!

Barbara 's theatrics kill her version. I definitely do prefer Connie's.....its less drama filled.

Which is probably why Connie haters prefer Babs. You girls live for the drama....evidently

You want Bland and no phrasing - her ya go...Gorgeous and better looking than Connie ever was,,,Hes not saying a thing but what he is doing is so musical and well sung and Direct you don't care....

There is nothing direct about Connie....

Connie is like singing box of Cream of Wheat...its all mush...

Saying that one of Connie's records isn't "drama-filled" is like saying that the Atlantic Ocean isn't very wet.

Connie had one method to every thing she sang, from the silliest pop ditty to the most dramatic torch song: overdone. She knew nothing of subtlety or sophistication in her phrasing or approach and never troubled to learn. She sounds the same from the start of her career to its end, the same sappy style, which is why she was never considered one of the greats of the 20th century.

It surprises no one that her trolls here prefer Connie's version of whatever song she covered. They have the same limited lowbrow taste as she does. The sad thing is, they're so eager to defend it.

Serious question: where can I buy a Connie Francis style wig? Can't find one for a big (man's) head online Hell, I can't find one in any size on line

This style would work.

"CONNIE GOES TO LONDON"

Connie waves one last time to her homeland before taking off.

Connie sitting under the Big Ben.

Connie talking with a tall policeman atop the Tower Bridge.

Connie taking a cruise on the Thames, waving to her fans who've gathered on the banks.

Connie posing for the British members of the press.

Connie giving an annoying journalist a stink eye.

You're missing the photo of Connie being tossed from her hotel room for having a young woman of ill repute in it after hours. Her expression is priceless!

Gorgeous photo of Connie in the early 80s. Just look at that divine slim figure! This was probably the skinniest Concetta ever was.

Connie flies Delta, R550, not TWA.

After seeing all these pics I'm starting to see the resemblance between Connie and Romy Schneider, that was pointed out in some other thread. Needless to say, both women were breathtaking beauties.

Not one of you Connie queens has a wig connection? No wig dealer in Jersey?

Where Connie gets her fabulous wigs done was the third secret of Fatima. You can't get an information so highly prized just like that!

Connie Francis wigs are a hot seller.

Like any of you gurls are worthy of a Connie wig

Stick to Brenda Lee's wigs,Connie haters....they fit your 500+ pound behinds much better.

Love the Connie Francis pictures,thanks for posting. Connie is a Jet Setter

I guess that's why the hating trollops in this thread are so mad.They realize their daily trips to the Piggly Wiggly for cake and pie dosen't qualify them to be part of the international jet set.

No, I realized long ago without Connie's help that my daily trips to the store didn't qualify me to be part of the international jet set.

Why do I get the impression that none of Connie's trolls have ever had sex? They seem so angry all the time and the stuff they spout is just so fucking hilarious, it's like they don't live in the real world but are as mad as hell that other people do. No surprise then that they've chosen an over-emotive has-been who sounds as if she's one step away from hysteria, with four blink-and-you'll-miss-it marriages, a history of mob connections, and a series of mishaps and mental illness to be their high priestess of mediocrity. They identify with losers.

If only Connie would die now so that she would qualify for sainthood!

Barbra, Jack Jones and Sarah Vaughn mentioned in the same breath with Connie Francis? Oh my sides!

I prayed to Connie even though she's not dead yet and my cystic acne got a little better, so Connie is responsible for a miracle! That's the first qualification for canonization, covered!

Did Connie have all those marriages annulled? If not, she was an adulterer and a fornicator. Likewise, all that time spent whoring it up with the mob. And let's face it, her caterwauling was a crime against humanity. But I guess, if you're Catholic, all you have to do is go to confession and then write a check and all is forgiven.

You are so correct, r567! The others were accomplished vocalists and Connie was a pathetic lounge singer. To mention her in the same breath is laughable.

R539 I listen to that and wonder how I every liked Streisand. The over-enunciation, the theatrical reading of "LOOK. IN. TO. MY. EYES!" . . . oy.

That being said, at least Streisand sounds as if she is trying to make sense of the stupid lyrics (the shadow shines? What?).

On the other hand, Connie Francis sings every lyric as if she is phonetically reciting sounds in a language she never learned. It's always about imagined pathos, not what the words actually talking about. She had a lovely voice, but is so mediocre as a song interpreter.

(ever liked, not every lied.)

What's all this fuss about a forgotten relic from the last century? The only thing she's done of note in the past 50 years is to not die. We might as well be honoring Bozo the Clown or Captain Kangaroo except that they at least had the distinction of being original and not just copying other, better performers. And if we want to take note of 80-year old Connies from New Jersey, at least Connie Stevens was pretty. All this talk about Francis and the "honors" heaped upon her like the obscure award decades ago from a radio station somewhere in Europe or being celebrated by a flock of unknowns at the Friars' Club just makes her more ridiculous and her followers all the more ridiculous.

No one has to try to convince us that Dusty Springfield or Petula Clark or Brenda Lee or Barbra Streisand or Diana Ross or Cher are legends; the whole world knows it. Trying to force Caterwauling Connie into their ranks is ridiculous.

Once her bubble gum pop career had died, Connie Francis was content to sit back and wait for other people to have hits and then cover them in her particular way. She lacked any kind of creative vision or drive that would have made her a force to be reckoned with. She definitely could sing; it's just sad that she was satisfied with never moving beyond the pap she was producing.

[quote]All this talk about Francis and the "honors" heaped upon her like the obscure award decades ago from a radio station somewhere in Europe or being celebrated by a flock of unknowns at the Friars' Club just makes her more ridiculous and her followers all the more ridiculous.

The Connie trolls sound like used car salesmen.

BTW: I wish someone would start a Jack Jones thread...handsome and one of Judy Garland's favorite singers.

Connie haters mad about her singing style but wanting to buy her wigs.So funny.

Sorry bloated Heifers,but manufacturer's of Connie wigs have banned you all from ever purchasing them. Something about her wigs being allergic to trash and polyester wearers smelling like vodka and moonshine.So you all cannot buy a Connie wig.Ever.

From Wikipedia: Wigs by Connie was a Hoboken, NJ-based business operating as a front for a mob-run bookmaking operation. The establishment was located adjacent to a pet grooming business, which supplied the wigmakers with the discarded clippings after each day's business was done, to use as raw product for the hairpieces. Popular versions included the Connie, the Connie and the Connie, but in different lengths depending on what kind of dog had been groomed that day.

The business operated from 1964 through 1983, when local police raided the facility for crimes against humanity. The bookmaking operation remained intact. The wigs themselves have become collector's items in recent years by drag performers who prize them for their unnatural sheen and outlandish proportions.

Review...great phrasing!

Connie Francis has such a distinctive voice and I remembered it well from my younger years. Her phrasing makes you want to sing, these songs are timeless. Few female vocalists are as distinct. She had quite a few hits and all the ones I remember are here.

[quote]Connie Francis has such a distinctive voice and I remembered it well from my younger years. Her phrasing makes you want to sing...

No, not true.

If that WERE true, songwriters from the mid 60s on would have been writing for her. They would have wanted her to introduce their songs. But those songs aren't there.

Please don't cite the weak efforts by Tony Hatch or Les Brown...they saved their top material for others.

Neil Sedaka didn't have Connie Francis introduce ""Solitaire" or "Love Will Keep Us Together".

The fact is songwriters knew she was passé.

[quote]Connie haters mad about her singing style but wanting to buy her wigs.So funny. Sorry bloated Heifers,but manufacturer's of Connie wigs have banned you all from ever purchasing them. Something about her wigs being allergic to trash and polyester wearers smelling like vodka and moonshine.So you all cannot buy a Connie wig.Ever.

OK, I knew Connie Francis fans had not taste in music, but they apparently have no taste in humor either.

This unfunny read sounds like the drunk ramblings of a third-tier drag queen, teetering on a bar stool, and finishing off a pack of Virginia Slims, in Dothan, Alabama.

If you squint at the OP photo, there's a downward-pointing cock in the middle.

The 12 Greatest NJ SIngers

R579 No..Not True...

She has also had a long history being a composer's first choice to interpret songs that went on to become major hits for other artists, including "Somewhere My Love," "Strangers in the Night," "Angel in the Morning," and "When Will the Apples Fall."

Within 10 seconds of a CF song, you know it is she. She has such a distinctive voice. Very True.

[quote]She has also had a long history being a composer's first choice to interpret songs that went on to become major hits for other artists, including "Somewhere My Love," "Strangers in the Night," "Angel in the Morning," and "When Will the Apples Fall."

Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound?

Please tell us...who cares about woulda...coulda...shoulda?

The point is: she didn't.

I really don;t think that the hater knoiws what phrasing, pitch, and other musical terms mean, especially since put up that Bab's and Sarah's versions of The Shadow Of Your Smile. These demonstrate that he has no music knowledge.

I didn't even know many of these songs weren't originally written for Connie, because her versions are the best and most famous ones. You know, if you manage to put your own twist on someone else's song, then it couldn't possibly matter less if it was written for you or not.

Many other iconic singers made their careers by singing cover songs, Linda Ronstadt for instance. But just like Connie she totally made all of those songs her own and in most cases improved the original versions.

R585 I sound? That is Wikipedia! Also when Neil wrote Solitaire and Love Will Keep UIs Together (a lousy song), Connie was out of commission.

[quote]Connie was out of commission.

More woulda, coulda, shoulda....

She was out of commission...she was "playing with her lithium"... someone else recorded the song the night before ... she didn't like the lyrics... her father told her not to do it...her dog ate the sheet music...

The [person who posted about those so/so singers...you know..Barbra...Sarah...Jack..has a degree in Opera..You know...real music...all of which Barbra...and Sarah ...and Jack could have sung....

but not Connie...

It's pathetic watching you guys pick on Connie, one of the few superstars around without a mean bone in her body. She was everything you ever wanted to be but never will - beautiful, talented and good-hearted.

I'm sure there's a whole bunch of mean, fug and talentless celebs who'd deserve your wrath a whole lot more.

So have we decided on the pic for Part 4? I going with R521.

R521 is a good choice. She looks super sassy there and the title on that cover sounds like a message to all of her haters around here.

Connie haters.....stay mad bitches Your musical knowledge reflects not on your bad hearing,but the gutters you all were reared in. Connie is one of the best singers of ALL TIME. Period.So continue your rape jokes and snide remarks,nothing you say can change that.

[R580]

So?I had wondered where you haters resided.Not surprised its the deep south. Go back to screwing your sister and playing "Defiance"in the woods with your retarded brother's trash heap.As your Queen Brenda Lee plays tunes in the obvious pig pen you fell out of.Rape is not funny to those of us with an iota of sense.Neither are mob murders.But your dumb ass finds humor in those low budget talents.Meaning YOU are low budget

Part IV here

"She has also had a long history being a composer's first choice to interpret songs that went on to become major hits for other artists, including "Somewhere My Love," "Strangers in the Night,"

It's already been established that she was no one's first choice for "Strangers." She also had nothing to do with Maurice Jarre's composition of "Lara's Theme," which was composed for "Doctor Zhivago." She asked for lyrics to be written, which she then derided as being "too corny" but after Ray Coniff had a hit with it, Connie recorded it, and did not have a hit with it.

R590 Impossible. He does not know the musical terms. and what they are.

Absolutely insane this is going to a part 4

STOP MANUALLY ADDING THE BRACKETS!

Muriel, close down this thread!