Nancy Ajram
Encyclopedia
Nancy Nabil Ajram (born May 16, 1983) is a multi-platinum Lebanese
singer and Goodwill Ambassador
for UNICEF. With the support of her father, Nancy began performing as a child and released her first studio album by the age of 15. Her breakthrough occurred with the start of her collaboration with well-known producer Jiji Lamara, when she released her smash-hit "Akhasmak Ah" and 3rd studio album, Ya Salam
. In 2004, she released her second international best-seller "Ah w Noss
", which spawned several smash-hits, "Ah w Noss", "Lawn Ouyounak", and "Inta Eih" at which point Nancy had established pop icon
status in the Middle East
.
Her 2008 album "Bitfakkar Fi Eih" spawned seven singles and won Nancy's first World Music Award
as Best-selling Middle Eastern Artist, the youngest Arab WMA winner to date. She has released seven studio albums to date and numerous other chart-topping singles such as "Sehr Ouyouno", "Atabtab", "Moegaba", "Ehsas Jdeed", "El Donya Helwa", "Mashi Haddi", and "Fi Hagat".
Nancy Ajram is the first and only female sponsor and spokesperson of Coca-Cola
in the Middle East and Arab world. Considered by many as an Arabic music icon of the decade, Nancy was described on the Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the most influential personalities of the Middle East. Nancy has made the list of Most Powerful Arabs on Arabian Business several times, and was similarly listed by Newsweek as one of the most influential Arabs. Nancy's official Facebook page is the most subscribed Arabic artist page on the social-networking site and the first to reach 1 million subscribers, and her music video for "Fi Hagat" was an Internet phenomenon and is currently the most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet,
on Youtube
.
, a district in Beirut
, Lebanon
.
In 1995, at the age of twelve, Nancy Ajram took part in a variety show, Noujoum Al-Moustakbal
, ("Stars of the Future"), a Lebanese reality television competition, which finds new solo musical talent. Ajram won a gold medal in the Tarab category after singing a song by Umm Kulthum.
Ajram studied music with renowned Lebanese musicians and despite being less than 18 years old at the time, the syndicate of professional artists in Lebanon accepted her as a member. Her first singles were titled "Hobbak Allam Albi elGheere" by Abdo Mounzer, and "Oulha Kelma Ala Shani". At the age of 15, she released her first album, Mihtagalak
("I Need You') in 1998. It was followed by Sheel Oyoonak Anni
("Stop Staring") in 2000, which achieved more success.
("Yes, and a half"), was released on April 12, 2004, and it was also an important marking point in Nancy's career. The tremendous success that "Ah w Noss" achieved, stabilized Nancy's position as an A-List star in the Arab music industry. Nancy then filmed "Lawn Ouyounak" (Color of Your Eyes), which portrayed Nancy as a bride in a traditional Lebanese wedding. After the release of the album, Nancy Ajram signed-up with Coca-Cola to be their official celebrity spokesperson for the Levant, Arabia and North Africa regions. Her first Coke commercial featured her hit, "Oul Tany Kida?" (Say That Again?), which was filmed with the international Italian director Luca Tomassini. The commercial's success lead to it being filmed as a music video behind the scenes of the commercial. The 4th hit single from the album, "Inta Eih?" (What Are You?), was a slow directed by Samir Sfeir. Nadine Labaki directed another clip that featured Nancy as a wife who sees her husband cheating on her yet she hides it in torment to save their relationship. The music video received tremendous positive reviews and Nancy was greatly praised. Leading Egyptian actors and directors, like Faten Hamama
praised Nancy's acting abilities and movie offers doubled for Nancy. Nancy also opened for Enrique Iglesias
's first concert in Egypt in 2004.
Her fifth album, Ya Tabtab Wa Dallaa was released on February 15, 2006. Atabtab was considered Nancy's best album to date, with six music videos released, eight radio hits, and five songs used for commercials.
The title song's video was Nancy's last video directed by Nadine Labaki, as she then started working on her movie Caramel
. Nancy then released the video of her Coca-Cola hit "Moegaba" (Admirer), as well as a video and commercial for her newly signed Damas Jewelry contract advertising their "Farfasha" set. The song used was Ana Yalli which was promoted before the album's release. Nancy then cooperated for the first time with prominent Lebanese director Said el Marouk, filming "Ehsas Jdeed" (A New Feeling) which is widely considered to be the most successful song of the album. The video, which was a salute from Said to his deaf and mute parents, depicted the story of a rich woman who falls in love with a deaf and mute man. Later in 2007, Nancy released all together the video of "Elli Kan" (All That Was) for Damas's second campaign, her Coca-Cola Side of Life commercial featuring a new single "El Donya Helwa" (Life is Beautiful), and a video and album directed towards children, titled Shakhbat Shakhabit
(Scribbled Scribbles). "El Donya Helwa", Nancy's 7th commercial, is considered one of her most successful commercials representing her style and Coca-Cola's with colors, happiness, and music, and it led her to release a Live album featuring the single.
Ajram's sixth album was fully dedicated to children with a variety of songs aimed towards teaching children good values and morals, something she has wanted to do for a long time. The music video was her second cooperation with Said El Marouk and featured four songs from her album, the most successful of which were "Shakhbat Shakhabit" & "Shater Shater". Nancy performed these songs at several fund-raising events for children and other children's events, such as the children's TV channel MBC3, and the children's entertainment TV Show "Star Zghar". She then filmed with Fadi Haddad, the director of photography of her previous works with ElMarouk, a video for the song "Resala Ilal Aalam" (A Message to the World) which talks about world peace. The video was released on May 25, 2008, the day the Lebanese president General Michel Suleiman was elected ending a deadlock that lasted since November. It was the first video for Nancy that had an entirely graphical world that implied the suffering of children worldwide and the need to bring out a more colorful and happy world for them. Old rumors claimed that the video was presented to the UNICEF. In 2007, Nancy performed alongside Lionel Richie
in Egypt at a launching event.
). The single was an instant hit and served as a highly successful promotion 5 months before the release of the album.
Nancy released her seventh studio album after several delays on July 30, 2008, which has been highly anticipated by fans for almost three years. This long awaited comeback album held lots of surprises for her fans with a huge change in her style that presented her matured vocal abilities like never before. Nancy's 7th album, Betfakkar Fi Eih?!
, is considered to be one of her most successful albums so far as it won her first World Music Award in her career.
The album included her first "Tarab" song called "Biteegy Sirtak" since 1998's Mihtagalak album, and in general had a wide mix of several different styles ranging from dance, beat, pop, to drama, romance, Tarab and oldies.
Even though the hit video had mixed opinions, the second video of "Min Dally Nseek" was much more accepted, peaking at #1 for seven consecutive weeks in Melody Hits. The same musical trio who created "Ehsas Jdeed" did one of the instant radio-hits of the album, "Lamset Eed" (Touch of a Hand), which was filmed with Leila Kenaan with a high budget, and the song and music video peaked charts for months. With this album Nancy signed a celebrity endorsement deal with Sony Ericsson
, as a special w595 phone was released holding Nancy's signature, and Wana Ben Idek was chosen as the commercial song.
On November 9, 2008, about a month after her marriage, Nancy Ajram won her first World Music Award for her best-selling album Betfakkar Fi Eih
. In her short speech, Nancy thanked her parents, Jiji Lamara, her fans and album makers, and husband, saying "2008 has been a fantastic year - a successful album, my wedding, and now a World Music Award, what can I ask for more?"
On September 28, 2009, the Oprah Winfrey Show aired an episode titled "Fame Around the World" that talked about the most famous celebrities around the globe in brief reports. Representing the Middle East region and Arab world, Nancy Ajram appeared in a report featured on the show and was described by Oprah as "the Britney Spears
of the Middle East". Nancy Ajram is the first and only Middle-Eastern artist ever mentioned on the show.
, his international hit and song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, "Wavin' Flag
". The Arabic version, titled "Shaggaa Be Alamak" and directed to the Middle East region, had its Arabic parts written by Ayman Bahgat Amar (who previously wrote Ah w Noss, Atabtab, Eftah Albak for Nancy) and the music remastered by Tarek Madkour
. The original music video was used for K'naan's parts while Nancy's parts were filmed separately in Lebanon on the same protocol under Leila Kenaan's co-direction. Both the video and song were aired heavily during the FIFA season and part of the song was particularly played during commercial breaks on Al-Jazeera channel, which exclusively aired the games to the Arab world.
On August 30, 2010, Nancy's official Facebook
page posted a 16-second preview of the music video for Nancy's next single, "Fi Hagat". The preview shows Nancy wearing her makeup and getting in the car on a rainy day. Later, it was announced that Nadine Labaki
directed the video, thus making her comeback to music video direction after her 4-year break. The video is also the first collaboration between Ajram and Labaki since 2006's "Atabtab." The full music video premiered on September 6, 2010 at 8:00PM on Arabica TV and MTV Lebanon. As of January 2011, Nancy became the first and most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet.
In November, 2010, Nancy's Facebook
page hit one million fans, becoming the most subscribed Arabic Facebook page on the site. Nancy expressed how thankful she was and promised her followers to add news and updates to the page. Later, the page announced "Sheikh El Shabab" and "Ya Kether" as the second and third singles from 7, respectively. The video for the second single premiered on December 23, and received favorable reviews from Arabic media, however, it did not achieve the same explosive rate of Internet views as did the first single "Fi Hagat", with only 750,000 views in a month.
The album marks a shift in Ajram's career and launches her to a more international image, and is, to date, her second fastest selling album.
commercial. She also participated in several concerts, such as Layali Febrayer and received her World Music Award.
On May 16, 2009, Nancy gave birth to her first child, a daughter she named "Mila." Short for Milagrosa (miraculous in Spanish), Mila is also a traditional, Levantine name popular in rural Lebanon and meaning a "blooming tree". However, Nancy revealed that the name was Fadi's choice inspired by the Ukraine-born US actress, Milla Jovovich
. Nancy released a song for her daughter, "Ya Rab Tekbar Mila" (I Pray that Mila Grows Up) on the same day. In a survey done by Rotana Magazine
, Nancy was voted as the "Most Beautiful Mom" of 2009. Nancy chose not to reveal photos of her daughter Mila until they both appeared on the cover of "Prestige" magazine in an exclusive photoshoot. Mila later appeared in the set of Nancy's music video "Ya Kether" in the presence of the media who publicized her pictures.
In October 2010, a month after the release of her seventh studio album, Nancy announced that she was four months pregnant with her second child, a girl. During that period she had filmed "Sheikh El Shabab" and "Ya Kether" consecutively to be released during her pregnancy period. Nancy Ajram revealed on Mothers day special on MTV that she decided to name her daughter Ella. Ella was born on 23 April 2011.
Nancy also released a song about peace, "Resala Ilal Aalam" (A Message to the World), in her children's album as a music video, which was rumored to be presented to the Unicef. Ajram also participated amongst over 100 other prominent Arab artists in a huge production called "ElDhameer elArabi", a 10-year sequel to "AlHelm Al Arabi" that outlines the major political events in the Arab world in the past ten years.
In June 2008, Nancy participated in The Big Ball, a charity event in Dubai which raised over Dhs 940,000 for helping underprivileged children by auctioning one of her favourite dresses and encouraging children's fund-raising events; she announced, "The Big Ball is doing a wonderful thing and I'm happy to support it. I'm coming for my love of children and because I want to help underprivileged children find a happy place in this world. Children inspired my latest album Shakhbat Shakhabit and especially the song "Resala lel3alam" (A Message to the World)."
Ajram, however, continues to refuse announcing her other charitable projects to the public.
On October 22, 2009, the UNICEF chose Ajram to be the first female regional ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa, as was announced in a press conference held in Beirut. Nancy announced that she will be starting her charity projects in 2010. In late 2009 she appeared in the UNICEF's commercial marking the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, joining other influential Middle Eastern celebrities such as Kazem el-Saher, Saber el-Rebai and Karess Bashar.
football tournament, taking it by storm. Its video showed Egyptians representing the diversity of the country lip-sync the patriotic lyrics of the song. Nancy also released a song for the rival Egyptian soccer teams "Ahly and Zamalek", being the first to do so after Sabah
. Nancy released a sensual song for Lebanon called "Habib elOmr" composed by Ziad Boutrous, which preceded the 2006 Lebanese war. After the 2007 "Nahr el Bared" war, Nancy dedicated a song composed by Samir Sfeir to the Lebanese Army, called "Khalleek Bwejj elGhadab".
Group works
Soundtracks
Ramadan 2009: Ibn elArandaly
Ramadan 2011: "samara"
released their international trademark campaign of their popular slogan "The Coke Side of Life", which focused on themes such as fun, happiness, colors, and life. A collaboration with Nancy Ajram lead to the making of the song "El Donya Helwa" (The World is Beautiful) for which a commercial was filmed with an American director on international standards and hi-tech effects. Nancy insisted on filming in Lebanon which had been hit by war a while back. "El Donya Helwa" is considered Coca-Cola Middle East's and Nancy Ajram's most successful commercial to date; the single became one of Ajram's most successful songs, leading to its release as a single track in a "Live" album with live performances from her last studio album Atabtab.
In 2009, as the campaign was sequeled internationally with "Open Happiness
", Coke Middle East and Nancy released "Eftah Albak Tefrah". However, due to Nancy's pregnancy and giving birth, she was unable to participate in the print or TV campaigns that year and the song was used on the International commercial instead. A website was launched for that campaign entitled "Eftah Tefrah".
In 2010, Coca Cola released an Arabic version of Wavin' Flag
originally by K'naan
. The Arabic version "Wavin' Flag / Shagga' Bi Alamak Da" (In Arabic
شجّع بعلمك ده) has Nancy Ajram featuring K'naan and meant for pan-Arab promotion of 2010 FIFA World Cup
to be held in South Africa
.
|+ Official Music Videos
|-
! Year
! style="width:200px;"|Title
! style="width:150px;"|Album
! style="width:200px;"|Director
|-
| 1998 || "Mihtagalak" || Mihtagalak
|| Elie Fghaly
|-
| 2001 || "Sheel Ouyounak Anni" || Sheel Ouyounak Anni
|| Guy Zahlan
|-
| 2002 || "Akhasmak Ah" ||rowspan="3"| Ya Salam...
||rowspan="5"| Nadine Labaki
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2003|| "Ya Salam"
|-
| "Sehr Oyouno" (Yey)
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2004|| "Ah w Noss" ||rowspan="4"| "Ah w Noss"
|-
|"Lawn Ouyounak"
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2005|| "Oul Tany Kida" || Luca Tommassini
|-
| "Inta Eih"|| rowspan="2"| Nadine Labaki
|-
|rowspan="4"|2006|| "Ya Tabtab Wa Dalla"|| rowspan="6"| Ya Tabtab..Wa Dallaa
|-
|"Moegaba"|| Harry Rankin, Mike Lipscombe
|-
|"Ana Yalli"|| Pascale D'Ash
|-
|"Ehsas Jdeed"|| Said elMarouk
|-
|rowspan="3"|2007|| "Elli Kan" || Diamantino Ferreira
|-
|"Mishtaga Leik"||Mirna Khayyat|
|-
|"Shakhbat Shakhabit"
(ft. Katkouta, Shater, Eid Milad)
|rowspan="2"|Shakhbat Shakhabit
[Children's Album]
|Said elMarouk
|-
| rowspan="3"|2008|| "Risala Ilal Aalam" || Fadi Haddad
|-
|"Betfakkar Fi Eih" || rowspan="5"|Betfakkar Fi Eih?!
|| rowspan="2"|Said elMarouk
|-
|"Min Dally Nseek"
|-
|rowspan="3"|2009||"Lamset Eed"||Leila Kanaan
|-
|"Ibn elGiran"||Mike Harris
|-
|"Mashi Haddi"||Leila Kanaan
|-
|rowspan="3"|2010|||"Shaggaa' Be Alamak" (Wavin' Flag)
(with K'Naan
) || Single || Codirector: Leila Kanaan
|-
|"Fi Hagat"|| rowspan="3"|7
||Nadine Labaki
|-
|"Sheikh El Shabab" ||Leila Kanaan
|-
|2011||"Ya Kether"||Sophie Boutros
|-
|||"Wahshani Ya Masr"||Single||Fadi Haddad
|-
|2011||"Papa Porto"||Single (AD for Porto)||Sherif Gamal
|-
and Sony Ericsson
and Damas Jewelry. Nancy remained the only Arab star promoting Coke until late 2007 when Egyptian sensations Mohammed Hamaki and Tamer Hosni joined in as well, as she still remains the only female. Coca-Cola and Nancy formed a great team since five years making commercials and music videos that stood out in the Arab world, synchronising local campaigns with worldwide slogans.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto;"
|+ Middle East Coke Campaigns
|-
! width =|Year
! width =|Coke Hit
! width =|Theme
! width =|# of Ads
! width =|Campaign
|-
|rowspan=2|2005||Oul Tany Kida||Concert||3||TV,MV,print
|-
|Instrumental: Lawn Ouyounak||Tickle, Munroe, Wink||3||TV,print
|-
|rowspan=2|2006||Moegaba||Circus||1||TV,MV,print
|-
|Ashtiki Minno||Coke Bottle||1||TV
|-
|rowspan=2|2007||ElDonya Helwa||The Coke Side of Life||1||TV,print
|-
| -||Have a Coke||-||print only
|-
|2008||Meen Ghayri Ana? Noss elKawn||Live on the Coke Side of Life||3||TV,MV,print
|-
|2009||Eftah Albak Tefrah||Open Happiness
||-||print
|-
|2010||Shaggaa' Be Alamak (Wavin' Flag)||2010 FIFA World Cup
||-||MV,print
|}
DAMAS's youth-inspired set called "Farfasha", which are gold collections from the World Gold Council
said to be chosen by Nancy herself, was promoted by her in three different campaigns. Each campaign had a new collection for the set and a song, commercial, and music video, starting with "Ana Yalli", then "Elli Kan" from Atabtab, and last with "Ibn elGiran" from Betfakkar fi eih?!
.
A survey by Sony Ericsson
where Nancy was named the most popular Arab star led them into signing a deal with her as their celebrity spokesperson. The company co-sponsored the release of her best-selling album Bitfakkar Fi Eih. In Febrauary 2009 the W595i phone was officially released with a Nancy special edition kit that held her signature on the back of the phone, a free copy of her album and ringtones of her songs. This was accompanied by print advertising, a press conference in Dubai, as well as a commercial set in March 2009 that featured Nancy and the song "Wana Ben Idek" from her best-selling album Bitfakkar Fi Eih.
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
singer and Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
for UNICEF. With the support of her father, Nancy began performing as a child and released her first studio album by the age of 15. Her breakthrough occurred with the start of her collaboration with well-known producer Jiji Lamara, when she released her smash-hit "Akhasmak Ah" and 3rd studio album, Ya Salam
Ya Salam
Ya Salam is the third album by Arabic Pop singer Nancy Ajram released in 2003. It's considered to be her breakthrough album, of which contained the smash hit "Akhasmak Ah".-Track listing:...
. In 2004, she released her second international best-seller "Ah w Noss
Ah W Noss
Ah W Noss is the hit 2004 album from Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. This was the follow-up project to 2003's Ya Salam. In 2003, the album launched Nancy Ajram to the heights of Arab music, thanks to a string of hit singles which have become part of pop culture today...
", which spawned several smash-hits, "Ah w Noss", "Lawn Ouyounak", and "Inta Eih" at which point Nancy had established pop icon
Pop icon
A pop icon is a celebrity, character, or object whose exposure in pop culture constitutes a defining characteristic of a given society or era. The categorization is usually associated with elements such as longevity, ubiquity, and distinction. Moreover, "pop icon" status is distinguishable from...
status in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Her 2008 album "Bitfakkar Fi Eih" spawned seven singles and won Nancy's first World Music Award
as Best-selling Middle Eastern Artist, the youngest Arab WMA winner to date. She has released seven studio albums to date and numerous other chart-topping singles such as "Sehr Ouyouno", "Atabtab", "Moegaba", "Ehsas Jdeed", "El Donya Helwa", "Mashi Haddi", and "Fi Hagat".
Nancy Ajram is the first and only female sponsor and spokesperson of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
in the Middle East and Arab world. Considered by many as an Arabic music icon of the decade, Nancy was described on the Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the most influential personalities of the Middle East. Nancy has made the list of Most Powerful Arabs on Arabian Business several times, and was similarly listed by Newsweek as one of the most influential Arabs. Nancy's official Facebook page is the most subscribed Arabic artist page on the social-networking site and the first to reach 1 million subscribers, and her music video for "Fi Hagat" was an Internet phenomenon and is currently the most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet,
on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
Early life and beginnings
Ajram was born to father Nabil Ajram and mother Raymonda Aoun, on May 16, 1983 in AchrafiehAchrafieh
Achrafieh, , is one of the oldest Christian districts of East Beirut, Lebanon.-Overview:It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercial district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and...
, a district in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
In 1995, at the age of twelve, Nancy Ajram took part in a variety show, Noujoum Al-Moustakbal
Noujoum Al-Moustakbal
Noujoum Al-Moustakbal is a Lebanese TV program presenting new music stars on Future TV.Nancy Ajram, a famous Lebanese pop artist was featured on the show....
, ("Stars of the Future"), a Lebanese reality television competition, which finds new solo musical talent. Ajram won a gold medal in the Tarab category after singing a song by Umm Kulthum.
Ajram studied music with renowned Lebanese musicians and despite being less than 18 years old at the time, the syndicate of professional artists in Lebanon accepted her as a member. Her first singles were titled "Hobbak Allam Albi elGheere" by Abdo Mounzer, and "Oulha Kelma Ala Shani". At the age of 15, she released her first album, Mihtagalak
Mihtagalak
First album by the Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram released in 1998. Title "Mihtagalak" means "I need you".The breakthrough came with the third album Ya Salam...
("I Need You') in 1998. It was followed by Sheel Oyoonak Anni
Sheel Oyoonak Anni
Sheel Oyoonak Anni - released in 2001 - was the second Album by Nancy Ajram. The title of the album which is also a song on the album translates "Take your eyes off me"...
("Stop Staring") in 2000, which achieved more success.
2002-2004: Akhasmak Ah
Ajram's breakthrough was when she began working with Jiji Lamara, an experienced producer and manager. In early 2003, Ajram rose to instant fame with the success of the lead single "Akhasmak Ah" and the release of her third studio album, Ya Salam ("Oh Wow") which was a best-seller. The music video of "Akhasmak Ah" caused a controversy; reminiscent of older Arabic films, Nancy appeared as a cafe manager who dances and flirts with its customers. The release of the next music videos, "Ya Salam" and "Sehr Ouyouno" quietened down criticism as they better introduced Nancy's vocal abilities and style to the public.2004-2006:Ah w Noss, Coca-Cola
Her fourth album, Ah w NossAh W Noss
Ah W Noss is the hit 2004 album from Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. This was the follow-up project to 2003's Ya Salam. In 2003, the album launched Nancy Ajram to the heights of Arab music, thanks to a string of hit singles which have become part of pop culture today...
("Yes, and a half"), was released on April 12, 2004, and it was also an important marking point in Nancy's career. The tremendous success that "Ah w Noss" achieved, stabilized Nancy's position as an A-List star in the Arab music industry. Nancy then filmed "Lawn Ouyounak" (Color of Your Eyes), which portrayed Nancy as a bride in a traditional Lebanese wedding. After the release of the album, Nancy Ajram signed-up with Coca-Cola to be their official celebrity spokesperson for the Levant, Arabia and North Africa regions. Her first Coke commercial featured her hit, "Oul Tany Kida?" (Say That Again?), which was filmed with the international Italian director Luca Tomassini. The commercial's success lead to it being filmed as a music video behind the scenes of the commercial. The 4th hit single from the album, "Inta Eih?" (What Are You?), was a slow directed by Samir Sfeir. Nadine Labaki directed another clip that featured Nancy as a wife who sees her husband cheating on her yet she hides it in torment to save their relationship. The music video received tremendous positive reviews and Nancy was greatly praised. Leading Egyptian actors and directors, like Faten Hamama
Faten Hamama
Faten Hamama is an Egyptian producer and an acclaimed actress of film, television, and theatre. She was regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from melodramas to historical films and occasional comedies, though her chief successes were romantic dramas...
praised Nancy's acting abilities and movie offers doubled for Nancy. Nancy also opened for Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
's first concert in Egypt in 2004.
2006-2008:Ya Tabtab Wa Dalla, Shakhbat, El Donya Helwa
The title song's video was Nancy's last video directed by Nadine Labaki, as she then started working on her movie Caramel
Caramel (film)
Caramel , the first feature film by Lebanese director/actress Nadine Labaki, is a 2007 Lebanese film. The film premiered on May 20 at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, in the Directors' Fortnight section.It ran for the Caméra d'Or....
. Nancy then released the video of her Coca-Cola hit "Moegaba" (Admirer), as well as a video and commercial for her newly signed Damas Jewelry contract advertising their "Farfasha" set. The song used was Ana Yalli which was promoted before the album's release. Nancy then cooperated for the first time with prominent Lebanese director Said el Marouk, filming "Ehsas Jdeed" (A New Feeling) which is widely considered to be the most successful song of the album. The video, which was a salute from Said to his deaf and mute parents, depicted the story of a rich woman who falls in love with a deaf and mute man. Later in 2007, Nancy released all together the video of "Elli Kan" (All That Was) for Damas's second campaign, her Coca-Cola Side of Life commercial featuring a new single "El Donya Helwa" (Life is Beautiful), and a video and album directed towards children, titled Shakhbat Shakhabit
Shakhbat Shakhabit
Shakhbet Shakhabeet is an album by the Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. It was released in 2007 exclusively for kids, after Ajram discovered that they were a large part of her fan base. Nancy has always wanted to dedicate a work for children in her life,so Nabil El Chami told her to do this, and the...
(Scribbled Scribbles). "El Donya Helwa", Nancy's 7th commercial, is considered one of her most successful commercials representing her style and Coca-Cola's with colors, happiness, and music, and it led her to release a Live album featuring the single.
Ajram's sixth album was fully dedicated to children with a variety of songs aimed towards teaching children good values and morals, something she has wanted to do for a long time. The music video was her second cooperation with Said El Marouk and featured four songs from her album, the most successful of which were "Shakhbat Shakhabit" & "Shater Shater". Nancy performed these songs at several fund-raising events for children and other children's events, such as the children's TV channel MBC3, and the children's entertainment TV Show "Star Zghar". She then filmed with Fadi Haddad, the director of photography of her previous works with ElMarouk, a video for the song "Resala Ilal Aalam" (A Message to the World) which talks about world peace. The video was released on May 25, 2008, the day the Lebanese president General Michel Suleiman was elected ending a deadlock that lasted since November. It was the first video for Nancy that had an entirely graphical world that implied the suffering of children worldwide and the need to bring out a more colorful and happy world for them. Old rumors claimed that the video was presented to the UNICEF. In 2007, Nancy performed alongside Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
in Egypt at a launching event.
2008–2010: Betfakkar Fi Eih, WMA, Oprah, UNICEF & motherhood
In February and March 2008, Nancy released three Coca-Cola commercials that featured a brand new hit from her long awaited album. The song, "Meen Gheyri Ana (Noss elKawn)" (Who Else?) was made by the successful Yey and Ana Yalli trio (Nizar Francis, Samir Sfeir, and Tarek MadkourTarek Madkour
Tarek Adel Madkour, born in Cairo with a passion in music made his father bring a piano teacher to teach him the basics. In primary school, the music room was the place where you can usually find him all day long....
). The single was an instant hit and served as a highly successful promotion 5 months before the release of the album.
Nancy released her seventh studio album after several delays on July 30, 2008, which has been highly anticipated by fans for almost three years. This long awaited comeback album held lots of surprises for her fans with a huge change in her style that presented her matured vocal abilities like never before. Nancy's 7th album, Betfakkar Fi Eih?!
Betfakkar fi eih?!
Betfakkar Fi Eih is the sixth full-length studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released July 30, 2008 in the Arab World, and August 1 of the same year elsewhere, to reach remarkable career-defining success that none of Nancy's previous records has achieved.The album brought Ajram...
, is considered to be one of her most successful albums so far as it won her first World Music Award in her career.
The album included her first "Tarab" song called "Biteegy Sirtak" since 1998's Mihtagalak album, and in general had a wide mix of several different styles ranging from dance, beat, pop, to drama, romance, Tarab and oldies.
Even though the hit video had mixed opinions, the second video of "Min Dally Nseek" was much more accepted, peaking at #1 for seven consecutive weeks in Melody Hits. The same musical trio who created "Ehsas Jdeed" did one of the instant radio-hits of the album, "Lamset Eed" (Touch of a Hand), which was filmed with Leila Kenaan with a high budget, and the song and music video peaked charts for months. With this album Nancy signed a celebrity endorsement deal with Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
, as a special w595 phone was released holding Nancy's signature, and Wana Ben Idek was chosen as the commercial song.
On November 9, 2008, about a month after her marriage, Nancy Ajram won her first World Music Award for her best-selling album Betfakkar Fi Eih
Betfakkar fi eih?!
Betfakkar Fi Eih is the sixth full-length studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released July 30, 2008 in the Arab World, and August 1 of the same year elsewhere, to reach remarkable career-defining success that none of Nancy's previous records has achieved.The album brought Ajram...
. In her short speech, Nancy thanked her parents, Jiji Lamara, her fans and album makers, and husband, saying "2008 has been a fantastic year - a successful album, my wedding, and now a World Music Award, what can I ask for more?"
On September 28, 2009, the Oprah Winfrey Show aired an episode titled "Fame Around the World" that talked about the most famous celebrities around the globe in brief reports. Representing the Middle East region and Arab world, Nancy Ajram appeared in a report featured on the show and was described by Oprah as "the Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
of the Middle East". Nancy Ajram is the first and only Middle-Eastern artist ever mentioned on the show.
2010–present: World Cup, N°7
In the summer of 2010, Nancy was nominated by Coca-Cola Middle East to sing, along with K'naanK'naan
K'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
, his international hit and song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, "Wavin' Flag
Wavin' Flag
"Wavin' Flag" is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K'naan from his album Troubadour. The song was a global hit, reaching the top ten in 19 charts around the world and was chosen as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted by South Africa. The English version was released as...
". The Arabic version, titled "Shaggaa Be Alamak" and directed to the Middle East region, had its Arabic parts written by Ayman Bahgat Amar (who previously wrote Ah w Noss, Atabtab, Eftah Albak for Nancy) and the music remastered by Tarek Madkour
Tarek Madkour
Tarek Adel Madkour, born in Cairo with a passion in music made his father bring a piano teacher to teach him the basics. In primary school, the music room was the place where you can usually find him all day long....
. The original music video was used for K'naan's parts while Nancy's parts were filmed separately in Lebanon on the same protocol under Leila Kenaan's co-direction. Both the video and song were aired heavily during the FIFA season and part of the song was particularly played during commercial breaks on Al-Jazeera channel, which exclusively aired the games to the Arab world.
On August 30, 2010, Nancy's official Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page posted a 16-second preview of the music video for Nancy's next single, "Fi Hagat". The preview shows Nancy wearing her makeup and getting in the car on a rainy day. Later, it was announced that Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki is a Lebanese actress and director. She is one of the well known directors in the Arabic music video industry...
directed the video, thus making her comeback to music video direction after her 4-year break. The video is also the first collaboration between Ajram and Labaki since 2006's "Atabtab." The full music video premiered on September 6, 2010 at 8:00PM on Arabica TV and MTV Lebanon. As of January 2011, Nancy became the first and most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet.
In November, 2010, Nancy's Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page hit one million fans, becoming the most subscribed Arabic Facebook page on the site. Nancy expressed how thankful she was and promised her followers to add news and updates to the page. Later, the page announced "Sheikh El Shabab" and "Ya Kether" as the second and third singles from 7, respectively. The video for the second single premiered on December 23, and received favorable reviews from Arabic media, however, it did not achieve the same explosive rate of Internet views as did the first single "Fi Hagat", with only 750,000 views in a month.
The album marks a shift in Ajram's career and launches her to a more international image, and is, to date, her second fastest selling album.
Personal life
In September 2008, Nancy wed Dr. Fadi El Hachem in Cyprus after a three-year relationship; the wedding ceremony, in Lebanon, was attended mainly by close friends and family and was only made based on their request. Nancy continued her work during pregnancy, during which she filmed "Min Dally Nseek", "Lamset Eed" and her first Sony EricssonSony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
commercial. She also participated in several concerts, such as Layali Febrayer and received her World Music Award.
On May 16, 2009, Nancy gave birth to her first child, a daughter she named "Mila." Short for Milagrosa (miraculous in Spanish), Mila is also a traditional, Levantine name popular in rural Lebanon and meaning a "blooming tree". However, Nancy revealed that the name was Fadi's choice inspired by the Ukraine-born US actress, Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich December 17, 1975)is an American model, actress, musician, and fashion designer. Over her career, she has appeared in a number of science fiction and action-themed films, for which music channel VH1 has referred to her as the "reigning queen of kick-butt".Milla Jovovich began...
. Nancy released a song for her daughter, "Ya Rab Tekbar Mila" (I Pray that Mila Grows Up) on the same day. In a survey done by Rotana Magazine
Rotana Magazine
Rotana Magazine is an pan-Arab arts and entertainment weekly magazine published in Arabic by Rotana Group owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal....
, Nancy was voted as the "Most Beautiful Mom" of 2009. Nancy chose not to reveal photos of her daughter Mila until they both appeared on the cover of "Prestige" magazine in an exclusive photoshoot. Mila later appeared in the set of Nancy's music video "Ya Kether" in the presence of the media who publicized her pictures.
In October 2010, a month after the release of her seventh studio album, Nancy announced that she was four months pregnant with her second child, a girl. During that period she had filmed "Sheikh El Shabab" and "Ya Kether" consecutively to be released during her pregnancy period. Nancy Ajram revealed on Mothers day special on MTV that she decided to name her daughter Ella. Ella was born on 23 April 2011.
Awards and titles
- 1995 Nojoom Al Mustaqbal Golden Award - (Ajram's most significant pre-stardom award)
- 2003, 2005, 2007 Murex D'or Award - Best Female Lebanese Singer of the year, Beirut
- 2003, 2006 Murex D'or Award - Best Video of the Year, Beirut.
- 2003: Ya Salam - Nadine LabakiNadine LabakiNadine Labaki is a Lebanese actress and director. She is one of the well known directors in the Arabic music video industry...
, 2006: Ehsas Jdeed - Said elMarouk) - 2003 The Golden Lion Award, Egypt
- 2003, 2007 LG Music Award
- 2003, 2005 Zahrat elKhaleej Magazine - Best Female Arab Singer, Dubai
- 2004, 2010 Zahrat elKhaleej - Best Music Video of the Year, Dubai (Lawn Ouyounak, Fi hagat - respectively)
- 2004 Arabian Music Awards - Best Female Arab Singer of the year, Dubai
- 2005 Newsweek - Most Influential Arab Personalities, Kuwait
- 2005 - Honor from the Opera House of EgyptCairo Opera HouseThe Cairo Opera House , part of Cairo's National Cultural Center, is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital. Home to most of Egypt's finest musical groups, it is located on the southern portion of Gezira Island in the Nile River, in the Zamalek district west of and near downtown...
- 2007 - Certificate from the Pope of Rome
- 2007 Middle East Music Awards (Mobinil) - Best Female Arab Singer of the year, Cairo
- 2007, 2009 Arabian Business - World's Most Influential Arabs, Most Influential Contemporary Female Singer in 2007, Most Powerful Arab Singers
- 2007 Kol elArab Survey - Best Arabic Star of the year 2007
- 2008 9th Annual Doha Festival - Honor Award, Doha
- 2008 World Music Award - World's Best-Selling Middle-Eastern Artist, 20th Annual WMA, Monaco
- 2008 Student Choice Award - [College Student Survey]: Best Album of the Year 2008, Beirut
- 2008 AlJumhuriya newspaper, Freedom Magazine - Best Female Arab Star of 2008, Egypt.. only?
- 2009 Regional Ambassador for the UNICEF in the Middle East & North Africa
- 2009 Al-Jazirah Newspaper survey : Best Female Arab singer of the Year. Saudi Arabia
- 2010 Stars Cafe Magazine - Best selling female artist of the decade.
- 2010 World Travel Award - Best Female world singer of the Year .
- 2010 Sama Al Noujoum-Best Female Singer 2010/Fi hagat Best Music Video
- 2010 Panet Survey-Best Female singer
- 2010 Arab Sound Awards -Best Arabic Female Singer
- 2010 Music My Life- Fi Hagat Best Song Of 2010
- 2010 Best Of Lbc 2010- N 7 Best Album/Fi Hagat- Best Music Video
- 2010 Panorama Fm (MBC)-N 7 Best Arabic Album.
- 2010-2011 Jaras Scoop Awards-Best Female Singer
- 2010-2011 Melody Fm Awards-Best Female Singer
- Stars Cafe Awards 2010:
- Best Female Artist
- Best Album : 7
- Best Song: Fi Hagat
- Best Lyrics: Fi Hagat
- Best Arrangement: Fi Hagat
- Best Music Video: Sheikh El Shabab
- 2011 Won two awards from "Murex D'or 2010" ceremony in Lebanon. First award as the Star of Lebanese song, and the second award for the category of best music video for the song "Sheikh El Shabab."
- 2011 Best Female Singer- "Woujouh Men Lebnan" awards.
- 2011 Arabian Business- Most Famous Celebrity in the Middle East
Philanthropy and humanitarian work
Ajram has participated in numerous charity events and concerts that she considers a priority in her music career. In the year 2006, Ajram opened an organization under the name "Jam'iyet Nancy Ajram Al-Khayria" (Nancy Ajram's Charity Organization) in Beirut, Lebanon, that works on collecting and distributing money for the poor.Nancy also released a song about peace, "Resala Ilal Aalam" (A Message to the World), in her children's album as a music video, which was rumored to be presented to the Unicef. Ajram also participated amongst over 100 other prominent Arab artists in a huge production called "ElDhameer elArabi", a 10-year sequel to "AlHelm Al Arabi" that outlines the major political events in the Arab world in the past ten years.
In June 2008, Nancy participated in The Big Ball, a charity event in Dubai which raised over Dhs 940,000 for helping underprivileged children by auctioning one of her favourite dresses and encouraging children's fund-raising events; she announced, "The Big Ball is doing a wonderful thing and I'm happy to support it. I'm coming for my love of children and because I want to help underprivileged children find a happy place in this world. Children inspired my latest album Shakhbat Shakhabit and especially the song "Resala lel3alam" (A Message to the World)."
Ajram, however, continues to refuse announcing her other charitable projects to the public.
On October 22, 2009, the UNICEF chose Ajram to be the first female regional ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa, as was announced in a press conference held in Beirut. Nancy announced that she will be starting her charity projects in 2010. In late 2009 she appeared in the UNICEF's commercial marking the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, joining other influential Middle Eastern celebrities such as Kazem el-Saher, Saber el-Rebai and Karess Bashar.
Criticism and controversy
- Many rumors of boycotts against Ajram's concerts filled the internet, although none appeared to be true.
- In October 2003, a riot broke out outside a concert by Ajram in BahrainBahrain' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. Islamists from the country's main opposition parties, including Al WefaqAl WefaqAl Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, attacked concert goers. Al Wefaq's leaders defended the action, as it was the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In May 2006, Ajram returned to perform in BahrainBahrain' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
without any incidents.
- On her official website, Nancy Ajram has apologized for anti-Iranian remarks falsely attributed to her on a website posing as her homepage.
- Nancy Ajram has expressed extreme anger towards recent circulating rumors in Egypt regarding the spread of nude photos of her on mobile phones. A large number of youths around Egypt and around the Arab world have been spreading nude photos of the singer supposedly taken at a women's spa for a full body wax. Nancy, however, denies the spa visit and claims such photos are fake.
Studio albums
- 1998: MihtagalakMihtagalakFirst album by the Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram released in 1998. Title "Mihtagalak" means "I need you".The breakthrough came with the third album Ya Salam...
- 2001: Sheel Oyounak Anni
- 2003: Ya SalamYa SalamYa Salam is the third album by Arabic Pop singer Nancy Ajram released in 2003. It's considered to be her breakthrough album, of which contained the smash hit "Akhasmak Ah".-Track listing:...
- 2004: Ah W NossAh W NossAh W Noss is the hit 2004 album from Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. This was the follow-up project to 2003's Ya Salam. In 2003, the album launched Nancy Ajram to the heights of Arab music, thanks to a string of hit singles which have become part of pop culture today...
- 2006: Ya Tabtab...Wa DallaaYa Tabtab...Wa DallaaYa Tabtab...Wa Dallaa is the fifth studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released February 15, 2006....
- 2008: Betfakkar Fi Eih?!Betfakkar fi eih?!Betfakkar Fi Eih is the sixth full-length studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released July 30, 2008 in the Arab World, and August 1 of the same year elsewhere, to reach remarkable career-defining success that none of Nancy's previous records has achieved.The album brought Ajram...
- 2010: 77 (Nancy Ajram album)7 is the seventh full-length studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released on September 6, 2010 to wide commercial and critical success, to follow the footsteps of Ajram's previous sets, making her one of the most successful Arabian female artists of all time...
DVDs and live albums
- 2004: Live at the Jarash Festival [DVD] - MegaStar
- 2005: Ma La Ta'arifunahu 3an Nancy Ajram [DVD] - MBC
- 2006: Ah w Noss: Collector's Edition [CD and DVD] - MegaStar
- 2006: Ya Salam: Collector's Edition [CD and DVD] - MegaStar
- 2007: Shakhbat Shakhabit [DVD]
- 2007: ElDonya Helwa - Live [Live CD]
- 2008: The Best of Nancy Clips [DVD]
- 2008: Greatest Hits [Compilation CD] - EMI
- 2009: Awwel Marra [Old Live Songs CD] - Artline Music
Non-album singles
Nancy released several songs dedicated to special countries in the Arab world, starting with "Kuwait alShahama" in 2005. In early 2006, she released a single, "Ana Masry" ("I am Egyptian"), timed to coincide with Egypt's hosting and winning of the African Cup of NationsAfrican Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
football tournament, taking it by storm. Its video showed Egyptians representing the diversity of the country lip-sync the patriotic lyrics of the song. Nancy also released a song for the rival Egyptian soccer teams "Ahly and Zamalek", being the first to do so after Sabah
Sabah (singer)
Sabah , Wadi Chahrour, Lebanon is a Lebanese singer and actress.She has released over 50 albums and has acted in 98 movies, as well as 20 stage plays...
. Nancy released a sensual song for Lebanon called "Habib elOmr" composed by Ziad Boutrous, which preceded the 2006 Lebanese war. After the 2007 "Nahr el Bared" war, Nancy dedicated a song composed by Samir Sfeir to the Lebanese Army, called "Khalleek Bwejj elGhadab".
- 2005 "Kuwait Al Shahama"
- 2005 "Ana Masry"
- 2005 "Agbal" - (released in "Afdal Ma Endana" UAE compilation album)
- 2006 "Ahli w Zamalek"
- 2006 "Habib el Omr"
- 2007 "Bwejj el Ghadab"
- 2007 "El Dunya Helwa" [Coke Single] - (featured in Live performances album)
- 2009 "Ya Rab Tikbar Mila"
- 2009 "Efta7 Albak Tefra7" [Coke Single] - (released on Coke official website)
- 2010 "Masr el Ma7rousa"
- 2010 "Salemoli 3alaih"
- 2011 "Wahshani Ya Masr Moot"
- 2011 "7adri La3bek"
- 2011 "papa Porto"
Group works
- 2003 Il7a2ni (Follow Me) for the Lebanese Marathon, featuring Haifa WehbeHaifa WehbeHaifa Wehbe born in Mahrouna, Lebanon on March 10, 1976 is a Lebanese model, actress, and singer born to a Lebanese father and Egyptian mother who rose to fame in the Arab world as runner up for Miss Lebanon and later through the release of her debut album Houwa El-Zaman in 2002...
, Dina Hayek, Joe Ashkar, and Yuri Mrakadi. - 2005 La Ma Khelset El Hekaya (It's Not Over) after the assassination of late president Rafiq elHariri, featuring Nawal elZoghbi, Haifa Wehbe, Wael Kfoury, Sabah, Maya Nasri, and many others.
- 2008 ElDhameer el 3arabi (The Arab Conscience) the sequel to the well-known "elHelm al3arabi" along with more than 100 artists including Wadih elSafi, Assala, Latifa, and Cheb Khaled.
Soundtracks
Ramadan 2009: Ibn elArandaly
- Intro: "Ya Ibn el Arandaly"
- Outro: "Kol elHekaya"
Ramadan 2011: "samara"
- intro:"samara"
- outro:"samara"
Global Coke slogans
Coca-Cola Middle East have always incorporated International Coke slogans into pan-Arab campaigns with Nancy. In 2007, Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
released their international trademark campaign of their popular slogan "The Coke Side of Life", which focused on themes such as fun, happiness, colors, and life. A collaboration with Nancy Ajram lead to the making of the song "El Donya Helwa" (The World is Beautiful) for which a commercial was filmed with an American director on international standards and hi-tech effects. Nancy insisted on filming in Lebanon which had been hit by war a while back. "El Donya Helwa" is considered Coca-Cola Middle East's and Nancy Ajram's most successful commercial to date; the single became one of Ajram's most successful songs, leading to its release as a single track in a "Live" album with live performances from her last studio album Atabtab.
In 2009, as the campaign was sequeled internationally with "Open Happiness
Open Happiness
Open Happiness is a global marketing campaign for The Coca-Cola Company that was rolled out worldwide in the first half of 2009, following the company's "Coke Side of Life" advertising campaign...
", Coke Middle East and Nancy released "Eftah Albak Tefrah". However, due to Nancy's pregnancy and giving birth, she was unable to participate in the print or TV campaigns that year and the song was used on the International commercial instead. A website was launched for that campaign entitled "Eftah Tefrah".
In 2010, Coca Cola released an Arabic version of Wavin' Flag
Wavin' Flag
"Wavin' Flag" is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K'naan from his album Troubadour. The song was a global hit, reaching the top ten in 19 charts around the world and was chosen as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted by South Africa. The English version was released as...
originally by K'naan
K'naan
K'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
. The Arabic version "Wavin' Flag / Shagga' Bi Alamak Da" (In Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
شجّع بعلمك ده) has Nancy Ajram featuring K'naan and meant for pan-Arab promotion of 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
to be held in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Videography
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto;"|+ Official Music Videos
|-
! Year
! style="width:200px;"|Title
! style="width:150px;"|Album
! style="width:200px;"|Director
|-
| 1998 || "Mihtagalak" || Mihtagalak
Mihtagalak
First album by the Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram released in 1998. Title "Mihtagalak" means "I need you".The breakthrough came with the third album Ya Salam...
|| Elie Fghaly
|-
| 2001 || "Sheel Ouyounak Anni" || Sheel Ouyounak Anni
Sheel Oyoonak Anni
Sheel Oyoonak Anni - released in 2001 - was the second Album by Nancy Ajram. The title of the album which is also a song on the album translates "Take your eyes off me"...
|| Guy Zahlan
|-
| 2002 || "Akhasmak Ah" ||rowspan="3"| Ya Salam...
Ya Salam
Ya Salam is the third album by Arabic Pop singer Nancy Ajram released in 2003. It's considered to be her breakthrough album, of which contained the smash hit "Akhasmak Ah".-Track listing:...
||rowspan="5"| Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki is a Lebanese actress and director. She is one of the well known directors in the Arabic music video industry...
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2003|| "Ya Salam"
|-
| "Sehr Oyouno" (Yey)
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2004|| "Ah w Noss" ||rowspan="4"| "Ah w Noss"
Ah W Noss
Ah W Noss is the hit 2004 album from Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. This was the follow-up project to 2003's Ya Salam. In 2003, the album launched Nancy Ajram to the heights of Arab music, thanks to a string of hit singles which have become part of pop culture today...
|-
|"Lawn Ouyounak"
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2005|| "Oul Tany Kida" || Luca Tommassini
|-
| "Inta Eih"|| rowspan="2"| Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki is a Lebanese actress and director. She is one of the well known directors in the Arabic music video industry...
|-
|rowspan="4"|2006|| "Ya Tabtab Wa Dalla"|| rowspan="6"| Ya Tabtab..Wa Dallaa
|-
|"Moegaba"|| Harry Rankin, Mike Lipscombe
|-
|"Ana Yalli"|| Pascale D'Ash
|-
|"Ehsas Jdeed"|| Said elMarouk
|-
|rowspan="3"|2007|| "Elli Kan" || Diamantino Ferreira
|-
|"Mishtaga Leik"||Mirna Khayyat|
|-
|"Shakhbat Shakhabit"
(ft. Katkouta, Shater, Eid Milad)
|rowspan="2"|Shakhbat Shakhabit
Shakhbat Shakhabit
Shakhbet Shakhabeet is an album by the Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. It was released in 2007 exclusively for kids, after Ajram discovered that they were a large part of her fan base. Nancy has always wanted to dedicate a work for children in her life,so Nabil El Chami told her to do this, and the...
[Children's Album]
|Said elMarouk
|-
| rowspan="3"|2008|| "Risala Ilal Aalam" || Fadi Haddad
|-
|"Betfakkar Fi Eih" || rowspan="5"|Betfakkar Fi Eih?!
Betfakkar fi eih?!
Betfakkar Fi Eih is the sixth full-length studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released July 30, 2008 in the Arab World, and August 1 of the same year elsewhere, to reach remarkable career-defining success that none of Nancy's previous records has achieved.The album brought Ajram...
|| rowspan="2"|Said elMarouk
|-
|"Min Dally Nseek"
|-
|rowspan="3"|2009||"Lamset Eed"||Leila Kanaan
|-
|"Ibn elGiran"||Mike Harris
|-
|"Mashi Haddi"||Leila Kanaan
|-
|rowspan="3"|2010|||"Shaggaa' Be Alamak" (Wavin' Flag)
(with K'Naan
K'naan
K'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
) || Single || Codirector: Leila Kanaan
|-
|"Fi Hagat"|| rowspan="3"|7
7 (Nancy Ajram album)
7 is the seventh full-length studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released on September 6, 2010 to wide commercial and critical success, to follow the footsteps of Ajram's previous sets, making her one of the most successful Arabian female artists of all time...
||Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki is a Lebanese actress and director. She is one of the well known directors in the Arabic music video industry...
|-
|"Sheikh El Shabab" ||Leila Kanaan
|-
|2011||"Ya Kether"||Sophie Boutros
|-
|||"Wahshani Ya Masr"||Single||Fadi Haddad
Fadi Haddad
Fadi Haddad is a Lebanese music video director.He has worked with some Lebanese singers, including Najwa Karam, Nancy Ajram, Fares Karam, Maysam Nahas, Hind, Deena Hayek, and Madline Matar.- References :...
|-
|2011||"Papa Porto"||Single (AD for Porto)||Sherif Gamal
|-
Commercials and Official music videos
Ajram's success as a singer led to high-profile advertising deals with Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
and Damas Jewelry. Nancy remained the only Arab star promoting Coke until late 2007 when Egyptian sensations Mohammed Hamaki and Tamer Hosni joined in as well, as she still remains the only female. Coca-Cola and Nancy formed a great team since five years making commercials and music videos that stood out in the Arab world, synchronising local campaigns with worldwide slogans.
|+ Middle East Coke Campaigns
|-
! width =|Year
! width =|Coke Hit
! width =|Theme
! width =|# of Ads
! width =|Campaign
|-
|rowspan=2|2005||Oul Tany Kida||Concert||3||TV,MV,print
|-
|Instrumental: Lawn Ouyounak||Tickle, Munroe, Wink||3||TV,print
|-
|rowspan=2|2006||Moegaba||Circus||1||TV,MV,print
|-
|Ashtiki Minno||Coke Bottle||1||TV
|-
|rowspan=2|2007||ElDonya Helwa||The Coke Side of Life||1||TV,print
|-
| -||Have a Coke||-||print only
|-
|2008||Meen Ghayri Ana? Noss elKawn||Live on the Coke Side of Life||3||TV,MV,print
|-
|2009||Eftah Albak Tefrah||Open Happiness
Open Happiness
Open Happiness is a global marketing campaign for The Coca-Cola Company that was rolled out worldwide in the first half of 2009, following the company's "Coke Side of Life" advertising campaign...
|-
|2010||Shaggaa' Be Alamak (Wavin' Flag)||2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
||-||MV,print
|}
DAMAS's youth-inspired set called "Farfasha", which are gold collections from the World Gold Council
World Gold Council
The World Gold Council is a non-profit association of the world's leading gold mining companies, established in 1987 to promote the use of gold. It aims to stimulate demand for gold from industry, consumers, and investors. The Council's Chief Executive Officer is Aram Shishmanian, former head of...
said to be chosen by Nancy herself, was promoted by her in three different campaigns. Each campaign had a new collection for the set and a song, commercial, and music video, starting with "Ana Yalli", then "Elli Kan" from Atabtab, and last with "Ibn elGiran" from Betfakkar fi eih?!
Betfakkar fi eih?!
Betfakkar Fi Eih is the sixth full-length studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released July 30, 2008 in the Arab World, and August 1 of the same year elsewhere, to reach remarkable career-defining success that none of Nancy's previous records has achieved.The album brought Ajram...
.
A survey by Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
where Nancy was named the most popular Arab star led them into signing a deal with her as their celebrity spokesperson. The company co-sponsored the release of her best-selling album Bitfakkar Fi Eih. In Febrauary 2009 the W595i phone was officially released with a Nancy special edition kit that held her signature on the back of the phone, a free copy of her album and ringtones of her songs. This was accompanied by print advertising, a press conference in Dubai, as well as a commercial set in March 2009 that featured Nancy and the song "Wana Ben Idek" from her best-selling album Bitfakkar Fi Eih.
External links
- Nancy Ajram Official Website
- Fiascos affect Arab music awards, 17 May 2004 BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
(Ajram voted best newcomer) - Arab youth revel in pop revolution by Sebastian Usher, 21 May 2007, BBC