Nancy Ajram
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Nancy Ajram or Nancy Agram (Template:Lang-ar) (born May 16, 1983) is a multiple award-winning Lebanese pop singer and dancer. She is best known for her studio albums, music videos, commercials and songs such as Akhasmak Ah, Ya Salam, Ah W Noss and Ya tabtab Wa Dalla.
She has sold over twelve million records in the Arabian world,one of the richest Lebanese singers; her personal wealth, mostly earned from her high album sales and commercials, has exceeded $16 million,Having sold over four million albums in Lebanon and ranks as the third best-selling female artist in Lebanese and Egyptian music history.[citation needed]
She came to fame as a winning member of the entertainment show Noujoum Al-Moustakbal ("Stars of the Future"), a Lebanese television musical competition, in mid-1990s, after which she produced two unsuccessful albums, Mihtagalak ("I Need You') in 1998, followed by Sheel Oyoonak Anni ("Take Your Eyes Off Of Me") in 2000. She subsequently emerged at the forefront of the pop music scene in the early 2003.Ya Salam ("How Fantastic"), which was crafted by Lebanese producer Jiji Lamara. Her second album, Ah W Noss, was released in 2004.
In the early 2000s, Ajram's success as a singer led her to high-profile advertising deals, most notably for Coca-Cola, as well as Damas Jewelry. Her second and third albums were released during this era and included more artistic input that Ajram developed.
In 2006, she confirmed on Akid Akid Maestro with Nishan Derharoutnian that she is planning to marry next year, but has not named the groom.
Childhood and discovery
She was born in Ashrafiyeh, Lebanon to Nabil and Raymonda Ajram. Ajram' sister, Nadine (born 1984), is an actress and her brother Nabil Ajram (born 1969) is a singer.
At the age of twelve she participated in a TV program called Noujoum Al Mostakbal, and won a golden medal/Tarab category. Then Nancy disappeared from the public eye and started studying vocal and music theory with the best music teachers in Lebanon. Although she was less than 18 years old, the syndicate of professional artists in Lebanon accepted her as a member because they found her to be an exceptional talent and deserved to be qualified as a professional artist. Nancy launched her first album Mihtagalak in 1998, then in 2001 she launched her second album Sheel Oyoonak Anni. Both albums disappeared quickly from the charts and the lead singles were, then, her biggest failure to-date.
Musical career
In 2003 her third album, Ya Salam ("How Fantastic") included the song Akhasmak Ah ("I'll taunt you"), which became an enormous hit, as did its provocative music video. Reminiscent of older Arabic films, it features the singer as a cafe manager who dances for and flirts with her customers. Two other singles from the album were shot as music videos: Ya Salam had Ajram playing a 1930s style cabaret performer, while Yay (Sehr Oyoono) ("Oh,the Magic of his Eyes") became a mini-drama with Ajram discovering romance as a demure Beirut hairdresser.
In 2004 Ajram released her fourth album Ah W Noss ("Yes, of course"), which also spawned several videos.
In 2005, Ajram signed a contract for a Coca-Cola endorsement. "Oul Taany Keda" ("Tell Me That Again") from Ah W Noss was used in the commercials, and its video contains Coke product placement.
She was named as the best Arabic singer by the magazine Zahrat el Khalij for both 2003 and 2004. She was also named by the Arabic version of Newsweek as one of the most influential personalities of the Arab world in 2005.
In early 2006, she released a single, Enta Masry ("You're Egyptian"), timed to coincide with Egypt's hosting of the African Cup of Nations football tournament. Its accompanying video is unusual in that the singer does not appear; instead, Egyptians representing the diversity of the country lip-sync the patriotic lyrics of the song.
Yatabtab...Wa Dalla was released in February 2006.The title song's video, again directed by Nadine Labaki, preceded its release; it has a circus theme that is echoed in other videos drawn from the album's songs.
Previously, Ajram has appeared and used the song "Mo'gaba" ("An Admirer") in her latest Coca-Cola commercial. She has been described as "that most effervescent of Arab sex kittens."[1]
"Ehsas Jdeed" is considered the most successful song for Ajram of her Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa album. It has been reported that she is currently working on a dual project where she'll be releasing 2 studio albums at once. One will carry her usual style, yet the other will be dedicated for children. A sample from the children's album, titled Chakhbat Chakhabit leaked on the internet, two songs titled "Chakhbat Chakhabeit" and "Agmal Bannouta" are in the sample. The albums are expected to be released this summer, according to her official website the album supposed to be released back on the 4th of May, 2007.
Criticism
- In an interview on Lebanese television, Ajram made controversial statements about religion, stating that she deserved to be rewarded in the afterlife. Rumors of boycotts against Ajrams concerts filled the internet, although none appeared to be true.[2] In May 2006, Ajram performed again in Bahrain without incident.
Singles
| Single | Arabian Charts | Lebanese Charts | Egyptian Charts | Year | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akhasmak ah | 1 (10 weeks) | 1 (8 weeks) | 1 (11 weeks) | 2003 | Diamond |
| Ya salam | 1 (8 weeks) | 1 (7 weeks) | 1 (8 weeks) | 2003 | 5x Platinum |
| Yay (Sehr Ouyonoou) | 1 (7 weeks) | 1 (5 weeks) | 1 (6 weeks) | 2003 | 2x Platinum |
Shipment sales: 3.6 Million
Ah W Noss
Cover Art]]
| Single | Lebanese Charts | Egyptian Charts | Arabian Charts | Year | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ah W Noss | 1 (9 weeks) | 1 (7 weeks) | 1 (7 weeks) | 2004 | Diamond |
| Lawn Oyounak | 1 (5 weeks) | 1 (2 weeks) | 1 (4 weeks) | 2004 | 2x Platinum |
| Oul Tany Keda | 1 (4 weeks) | 1 (2 weeks) | 1 (4 weeks) | 2005 | Platinum |
| Enta Eih | 1 (7 weeks) | 1 (7 weeks) | 1 (9 weeks) | 2005 | 8x Platinum |
Shipment sales: 4.9 Million
Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
| Single | Lebanese Charts | Egyptian Charts | Arabian Charts | Year | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa | 1 (5 weeks) | 1 (3 weeks) | 1 (3 weeks) | 2006 | 2x Platinum |
| Mo'gaba | 1 (2 weeks) | 2 | 1 (1 week) | 2006 | Gold |
| Ana Yalli | 1 (1 week) | 4 | 2 | 2006 | Gold |
| Ehsas Jdid | 1 (7 weeks) | 1 (5 weeks) | 1 (5 weeks) | 2006 | 4x Platinum |
Shipment sales: 3.1 Million
Achievements
- According to several sources, Nancy Ajram has sold over 12 million albums in the Arab world.[dubious – discuss]
- Nancy Ajram is the only Arabic female artist in history to have her first three albums debut at number one. Nancy Ajram, Samira Saeed, Elissa, Nawal Al-Zoghbi, Najwa Karam and Latifa are the only female artists with multiple diamond (shipped over three million copies) albums (Ajram has two: Ya Salam and Ah W Noss).
- She holds the record for youngest Arab artist (at age nineteen) to have his or her first single (Akhasmak Ah) and first album (Ya Salam) simultaneously reach number one on the Arabian Charts (Lebanese and Egyptian Charts).
References
- ^ Stack, Megan K., "Even war can't stop her party", The Los Angeles Times, November 16, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2006
- ^ Arab Pop Video: "Weapon of Singing Destruction"?, Associated Press, October 23, 2003.Retrieved November 23, 2006