Connie Francis, the iconic singer of such timeless Fifties and Sixties classics as “Where the Boys Are” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” is trending on social media. Indeed, at 87, she recently became a TikTok star! This announcement coincides with the resurgence of her classic song “Pretty Little Baby,” which she originally recorded 63 years ago. The song, first released on her 1962 album “Connie Francis Sings ‘Second Hand Love’ & Other Hits,” has recently gained traction on various platforms, attracting both old fans and new listeners alike.
“Pretty Little Baby” was not just another single, but the first release off a full album— Pretty Little Baby —that reached No. 111 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. In recognition of her enduring contributions to music, Bruce Resnikoff, president and CEO of Universal Music Enterprises, presented Francis with a commemorative plaque at her home in Parkland, Florida. This celebration was a fitting tribute to her legacy as well as the unexpected resurgence in the song’s popularity.
“Pretty Little Baby,” which was only previously available, mostly, in the original Japanese, now gets a new dance floor-ready reinvention from German dance duo Lizot. It is now available for the first time digitally in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish! This single even opened up Spotify’s Global and U.S. charts to her for the first time ever – just in May of this year! TSNY’s accomplishment is a positive breakthrough for the organization’s unique history.
Makers on TikTok have embraced the challenge, featuring “Pretty Little Baby” in their videos. Celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, North West, Kylie Jenner and Ariana Greenblatt, have all helped propel it into viral heights of popularity. It’s no wonder that in a poignant, yet hopeful, recent TikTok video shared over the weekend, Connie Francis thanked her fans for the love and support.
“My thanks to you all for the huge reception you have given to ‘Pretty Little Baby’. I am delighted to join the TikTok Community and share this moment with you.” – Connie Francis
Tracy Gardner, TikTok’s global head of music business development, commented on the song’s viral success. In her post, she commented on the unprecedented influence of music discovery on TikTok. It even has the power to shine a spotlight on more obscure songs from previous decades.
“Thanks to the TikTok community, this little-known track from the 1960s has been given a new lease of life, and has introduced Connie Francis and her incredible legacy to a whole new audience, both on and off the platform.” – Tracy Gardner
Connie Francis reflected on her song’s resurgence in today’s digital landscape, noting how overwhelming it is to connect with new generations of audiences.
“I’m flabbergasted and excited about the huge buzz my 1962 recording of ‘Pretty Little Baby’ is making all over the world,” she stated. “To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me.” – Connie Francis
