LOVE HURTS – by Des Kelly
One of my favourite female singers of the 1960’s was the very beautiful Connie Francis. I believe she came from a very strict Italian background and “scored” an ultra- protective father who felt that it was his duty to ensure that his daughter “scored” only the very best partner in life.
Cannot say that I blame him, because Connie was not only very beautiful, but talented as well. She was still very young when her vocal talents were noticed and she also began to write her own songs.
Enter Bobby Darin, a good looking young bloke who had heard about Connie’s songwriting, and being a budding vocalist himself, brought her a song that he thought, needed a review. Connie listened to it, made a few changes that Darin didn’t agree with, so he decided to go his own way, because “this lady doesn’t cut it” (he thought), as he made his way out. So it certainly wasn’t love at first sight, for either of them.
A week or so, later, Bobby realized that he wanted to see her again, and did, beginning a two-way torrid love affair with this beautuful damsel, whose father, very quickly, began contemplating the riddence of this bad rubbish from his daughter’s life.
Connie and Bobby were very much in love, but unfortunately Bobby’s doctor had diagnosed that this patient’s life span was bound to be much shorter than usual because of a medical condition that was incurable.
Bobby was aware of this and informed Connie that he had decided to live out his life fully until he was twenty five years old. There was nothing that Connie could do about this, so their’s waa simply a spasmodic love affair.
Bobby Darin did move around, had several other girlfriends who fell for his good looks and vocalizing abilities, but then passed-on at the age of 37.
Connie Francis was heart-broken at the demise of the only real love of her life, and said so, went on, despite her dad’s fierce protection of her, to marry four times.
LOVE HURTS, I know, but when you listen to Connie sing the song that I have chosen as one of her besr (and she has had many), you will also love Connie, as everyone does.
Desmond Kelly.
(Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka.
