Where the Boys Are is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield and first recorded by Connie Francis.Premise
When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed Connie Francis for a major starring rôle in the motion picture Where the Boys Are (based on the novel of the same name by Glendon Swarthout), Francis solicited the services of Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, who had written hit songs for her previously (e. g. “Stupid Cupid”), to write original material for her to perform on the film’s soundtrack including a Where the Boys Are title song.
Sedaka and Greenfield wrote two potential title songs for the film, but producer Joe Pasternak dismissed the song preferred by Francis and the songwriting team. The dismissed version in question was never recorded, not even for demonstration purposes, as Francis (vocal) and Sedaka (piano) had presented both songs as a live performance for Pasternak.
Francis recorded the record version of Where the Boys Are on 18 October 1960 in a New York City recording session with Stan Applebaum arranging and conducting. The same session also came up with Francis’ hits Many Tears Ago and Breakin’ in a Brand New Broken Heart as well as the songs On the Outside Looking In, Happy New Year Baby, and Mein Herz weiß genau, was es will, which all would remain unreleased until the 1980s.
Subsequently, Francis recorded “Where the Boys Are” in six other languages on November 9, 1960:
Where the Boys Are (1960) is an American coming-of-age comedy film, written by George Wells based on the novel of the same name by Glendon Swarthout, about four Midwestern college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The title song “Where the Boys Are” was sung by Connie Francis, who also co-starred in a supporting role. The film was aimed at the teen market, featuring sun, sand and romance. Released in the wintertime, it inspired thousands of additional American college students to head to Fort Lauderdale for their annual spring break.
Where the Boys Are was one of the first teen films to explore adolescent sexuality and the changing sexual morals and attitudes among American college youth. It won Laurel awards for Best Comedy of the Year and Best Comedy Actress (Paula Prentiss). The kind of cool modern jazz (or west coast jazz) popularized by such acts as Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, and Chico Hamilton, then in the vanguard of the college music market, features in a number of scenes with Basil. Called “dialectic jazz” in the film, the original compositions were by Pete Rugolo.
MGM had bolstered the film’s success potential by giving a large role to Connie Francis, the top American female recording star and a member of the MGM Records roster. Francis had solicited the services of Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, who had written hit songs for her, to write original material for her to perform on the film’s soundtrack including a “Where the Boys Are” title song. Sedaka and Greenfield wrote two potential title songs for the film, but producer Joe Pasternak passed over the song Francis and the songwriting duo preferred in favor of a lush ’50s style movie theme. Francis recorded the song on 18 October 1960 in a New York City recording session with Stan Applebaum arranging and conducting.
Although it only peaked at # 4 in the US, the theme song of “Where the Boys are” became Connie Francis’s signature tune, followed by several cover versions.
By Connie Francis
http://www.youtube,com/watch?v=wUBT69YWqBA
Lyrics
Where the boys are, someone waits for me A smilin’ face, a warm embrace, two arms to hold me tenderly
Where the boys are, my true love will be He’s walkin’ down some street in town and I know he’s lookin’ there for me
In the crowd of a million people I’ll find my valentine And then I’ll climb to the highest steeple and tell the world he’s mine
Till he holds me I’ll wait impatiently Where the boys are, where the boys are Where the boys are, someone waits for me
Till he holds me I’ll wait impatiently Where the boys are, where the boys are Where the boys are, someone waits for me