A 1960s song is taking over TikTok — and its 87-year-old singer is in shock: ‘I am thrilled and overwhelmed

Scoring million-selling hits such as Who’s Sorry Now? and Lipstick on Your Collar, she was one of the most successful and popular female artists of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, with Italian ancestry, Connie Francis was the first woman in history to top the Billboard 100 with Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool in June 1960.

Her popularity extended way beyond the United States - Francis enjoyed widespread success in Germany, the UK, Italy and even recorded an album in Spanish.

And six decades on, a forgotten about song tucked away on the B side of a single has made a comeback on social media. Connie recorded Pretty Little Baby in 1962. The song first appeared on her 12-track MGM LP Second Hand Love And Other Hits (also issued as Connie Francis Sings) which hit shops in Spring 1962.

One cut off the album was re-released as a single for Christmas - I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter featured on the A side, and while a cover of Carlo Donida’s Al Di Là was on the flip of the US release, Pretty Little Baby appeared on the singles issued in the UK, Norway and South Africa.

“The song features Connie in her most sparkling, beat balladeering style and has already sprung into the American hit parade within a fortnight of its release,” quoted one review at the time. However, the single otherwise didn’t have much of an impact, making it to number 48 in the UK charts.

‘Pretty Little Baby’ gets new lease of life

Over 60 years on, Pretty Little Baby has been introduced to a brand new generation who likely would have never heard of Connie Francis, who is now 87 and retired from the music business in 2018. The song has gained a new lease of life after being revived on TikTok where it has featured in over 1.3 million videos and generated 600+ daily creates.

No one was more surprised that Connie herself. She took to Facebook to express her delight that one of her early songs has not only made such a huge comeback but has reached a newer, larger audience than when it was originally released.

“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 for me. Thank you so much everybody, thank you TikTok.

“The first I learned of it was when [copyright manager, Ron Roberts] 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?’ Thank you everyone!”

‘Pretty Little Baby’ videos on TikTok

Social media creators have been filming videos of themselves wearing retro outfits and singing to their partners, babies and pets, especially to the line, “You can ask the flowers/I sit for hours/Telling all the bluebirds/The bill and coo birds/Pretty little baby, I’m so in love with you.”

And non-English speakers can also now enjoy Pretty Little Baby which is now available in French (La Seul Qui T’aime), German (Alle Jungen Leute), Italian (Baby), Japanese (Kawaii Baby), Spanish (Linda Muchachita) and Swedish (Sjunger Pa Svenska) on a digital release: Pretty Little Baby - International Versions.

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