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New York Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
The tragic true story of the Jersey Girl whose forgotten song ‘Pretty Little Baby' is blowing up TikTok
Who's sorry now? Not Connie Francis. The Jersey girl was a pop superstar of the '50s, '60s and '70s with hits such as 'Who's Sorry Now?' and 'Stupid Cupid.' She retired after a life filled with both immense success and incredible tragedy, including being raped and her brother's murder. Now, at age 87, she's back on the charts with a song she hardly recalls cutting. Her little-known B-side 'Pretty Little Baby' — originally recorded in 1961 when JFK was President and Dick Clark's 'American Bandstand' was plugging young Connie's records — has gone viral on TikTok. More than 2 million videos using the song have been posted to the social network, and the tune is now trending on Spotify's Viral 50. The lyrics include 'You can ask the flowers/I sit for hours/Telling all the bluebirds … Pretty little baby, I'm so in love with you' making it an ideal soundtrack for videos of pets, babies and date night prep. Advertisement 6 Connie Francis' B-side 'Pretty Little Baby: is suddenly trending thanks to TikTok. The octogenarian has been shocked by the song's sudden success, calling it 'so unexpected' on her official Facebook page. 'My initial response was to ask [about TikTok] 'What's that?'' she wrote. 'I am thrilled and overwhelmed at the success of 'Pretty Little Baby.' I recorded that song 63 years ago, and to know that an entire new generation now knows who I am, and my music, is thrilling to me.' Advertisement In her heyday, Francis was, of course, quite well known. With golden oldies such as 'Lipstick on Your Collar,' and 'Stupid Cupid,' she had a remarkable 15 Top 10 hits — topped only by Elvis Presley, who had 16. 6 Francis, 87, said on Facebook that she's been 'thrilled and overwhelmed' by the song's unexpected success. Mychal Watts 6 The sweet lyrics of 'Pretty Little Baby' have made it a popular soundtrack for social media posts featuring babies and pets. briiii_s/ TikTok Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconaro, her career began at age 4 when her father, an Italian immigrant and roofer, began taking her to talent shows to compete. But the fame and success that followed was marred by shocking crimes and misfortune. Advertisement In 1974, a few weeks shy of her 38th birthday, Francis was appearing at the Westbury Music Fair. A knife-wielding man broke into her room at the nearby Howard Johnson Motor Lodge at 5:30 in the morning and violently raped her, then tied her to a chair, bound her hands behind her back, and covered her with a mattress. The man fled with her mink coat and jewelry, and the police never found him. 6 While a new generation is just discovering Francis, she was hugely popular in her day. With golden oldies such as 'Lipstick on Your Collar,' and 'Stupid Cupid,' she had a remarkable 15 Top 10 hits — topped only by Elvis Presley, who had 16. Getty Images Emotionally and physically debilitated by the attack, Francis suffered a breakdown — lying in bed for months and never leaving home. She hid from the world for seven years before she appeared again on stage, choosing, bravely, the Westbury music venue near where she had been attacked. She sued the motel chain for failing to protect her and was awarded nearly $1.5 million. Not long after the rape, her third husband, Joseph Garzilli, walked out on her after she financed his successful travel business. She later told The New York Times that his last words to her were, 'You've become a loser and I don't like losers.' Her first two marriages each lasted just a few months. Advertisement In press interviews and later in her bestselling 1984 memoir, 'Who's Sorry Now?' she revealed that she was in psychotherapy for a number of years and saw psychiatrist after psychiatrist. 6 But her fame and success that was marred by shocking crimes and misfortune. Getty Images In March 1981, Connie's beloved brother, lawyer George Franconero, was gunned down by two men outside his home in a ritzy section of North Caldwell, N.J. The assailants fled in a car, and George was found bleeding by his wife. He was just 40 years old. The shooting was considered by authorities to be a mob hit. In the past, George was said to have given information to a state commission about alleged organized-crime dealings, and feared for his life. At the time of his death, he was facing a two-to-three year prison term on a land fraud conviction in Morris County, N.J. In 1978, he had pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges, and received a two-year suspended prison sentence and three years' probation. Of all the men in her life, Connie's true love was Bobby Darin, with whom she had a brief romance. They first met when he came to her office in 1956 to show her a song he had written. The two had an immediate connection, and would often exchange love letters.. 6 Francis wrote in her memoir that Bobby Darin was the great love of her life. But the two never married and he died at age 37. CBS via Getty Images Advertisement But their dreams for the future sadly ended in December 1973, when Darin, who had had rheumatic fever as a child, died unexpectedly after heart surgery. The 'Mack the Knife' singer, who won two Grammys and was nominated for an Oscar, was just 37. 'He was very sweet in all his letters,' Francis wrote in 2017 tell-all memoir, 'Among My Souvenirs.' 'In one he wrote that he knew his feelings were genuine, and that every time he thought of me, he felt a lump in his throat like the one you get when you're going to cry.'
NBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
A 60-year-old song is a viral hit thanks to TikTok — even if the singer wasn't sure what it is
TikTok often popularizes songs from music's biggest and buzziest artists. But one of the most viral songs right now was recorded in 1961. More than six decades ago, singer Connie Francis recorded enough music to fill three albums. Buried on the back of one of those records was the song 'Pretty Little Baby.' It wasn't nearly as popular as her other hits of the time, including 'Stupid Cupid' and 'Who's Sorry Now?' But in recent weeks, the forgotten song has found new life on TikTok. Millions of videos have been created with the song on the audio-forward app. It's been featured on videos from everyday users to popular influencers and celebrities. Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner are each featured in videos set to the 60s-era tune. Streams of the song are growing. It's now on some of Spotify's playlists of popular, viral songs. Francis posted about her now-viral hit on Facebook, writing, 'My thanks to TikTok and its members for the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception.' She wrote that she was 'clearly out of touch,' because when she found out the song was trending on TikTok, her initial response was to ask 'what's that?' But she's not out of touch anymore.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'60s Singer Has the Best Reaction to Song Going 'Viral' 6 Decades Later
Connie Francis has a viral hit on her hands, even though she originally released it over 60 years ago. The iconic singer, 87, recently found out that her 1962 track "Pretty Little Baby" is now a viral hit on TikTok and charting for the first time ever—and Francis' reaction to the news was priceless. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Taking to Facebook on Saturday, May 17, the "Stupid Cupid" songstress wrote, "My thanks to TikTok and its members for the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception given to my 1961 recording 'Pretty Little Baby.'" She then explained how the news had been brought to her attention by Ron Roberts, President and Creative Director for her record label, Concetta Records—but at the time, Francis didn't even know what "viral" meant. 'The first I learned of it was when Ron called to advise me that I had 'a viral hit.' Clearly out of touch with present day music statistics terminology, my initial response was to ask: 'What's that?'" Francis was still grateful for the accomplishment nonetheless, writing to her followers, "Thank you everyone!" "Pretty Little Baby," was a non-single released as part of Francis' 1962 abum Connie Francis Sings Second Hand Love. According to Billboard's estimations, the song could be nearing a Hot 100 debut nearly 63 years after its initial release.
Axios
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
SLC weekend events: Valentine's Day edition
It's Valentine's Day weekend and there's plenty to do for both couples and singles. 🎨 Dreamscapes: The "immersive art experience" opens to the public on Valentine's Day at The Gateway. When: Arrive between noon and 1pm to enjoy the exhibit "created with love," per its website. Admission: $16.99 per adults; $12 per child 🧘♀️ Steamy yoga: Break a sweat and bring a buddy to any class for free at Salt Lake Power Yoga (250 E. Broadway #200) on Valentine's Day. When: Classes run all day between 6am-6pm Admission: $15-$25 per class without a membership 🩷 Stupid Cupid drag show: Poke fun at Cupid at a queer comedy and burlesque performance at the State Room, featuring comedian Craig Sorensen and burlesque drag star Madazon Can-Can. When: 8pm Valentine's Day Admission: $29 per person 💔 Heartless Ball: Hosted by HachiCon, the villain-themed cosplay party will feature dancing, non-alcoholic beverages and a costume contest with prizes at Church & State (370 S. 300 East). When: 8-11pm Saturday Admission: $20 per person; $35 per couple 🩰 Cinderella: Watch this classic story performed by Ballet West at the Capitol Theatre. When: Now through Feb. 15. Admission: Tickets start at $15 Go deeper: Where to wine and dine on Valentine's Day in Salt Lake City
