Nancy Ajram

Nancy Ajram

Nancy Ajram in 2012
Background information
Native name نانسي نبيل عجرم
Birth name Nancy Nabil Ajram
Born (1983-05-16) May 16, 1983
Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
Origin Beirut, Lebanon
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1998–present
Labels
Associated acts Elissa, Fadl Shaker, Ragheb Alama, Wael Kfoury
Website Official website

Nancy Ajram (Arabic: نانسي نبيل عجرم‎, born May 16, 1983 in Beirut) is a Lebanese singer, world music awards winner for 3 times in 2008, 2011 and 2014 as best selling middle eastern artist, and multi-platinum recording artist. 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 eight studio albums to date and numerous other chart-topping singles such as "Sehr Ouyouno", "Atabtab", "Moegaba", "Ana Yalli", "Ehsas Jdeed", "Mashi Haddi", "Fi Hagat", "Ya Kether", "Ma Tegi Hena", "Ya Ghali 3layi", and "Maakoul el Gharam"

Nancy Ajram is the first and only female sponsor and spokesperson of Coca-Cola in the Middle East and Arab world, releasing several promotional Coke anthems that became instant smash-hits, such as "Oul Tany Kida", "El Donya Helwa", "Noss elKawn" and "Shaggaa' Bi Alamak (Waving Flag)". 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.[1][2] Nancy's official Facebook page is the second most subscribed female Arabic artist page on the social media network[3] after the Lebanese star Elissa.[4]

Early life and beginnings

Nancy Ajram was born into an Eastern Orthodox Christian family on May 16, 1983 in Achrafieh, 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.

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.

Music career

2003–2004: Akhasmak Ah

In early 2003, Ajram rose to 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.

2004–2006:Ah W Noss, Coca-Cola

Her fourth album, Ah W Noss ("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 led 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.

2006–2008:Ya Tabtab Wa Dalla, Shakhbat, El Dounya Helwa

Main article: Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
Ajram in her first Damas (Farfasha) campaign, photographed by Fares Al Jammal. 2006

Her 5th 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 Dounya Helwa" (Life is Beautiful), and a video and album directed towards children, titled Shakhbat Shakhabit (Scribbled Scribbles). "El Dounya 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.

2008–2010: Betfakkar Fi Eih, World Music Award, Oprah

Main article: Betfakar Fi Eih

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 Madkour). 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.[5] 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.

2010–2012: World Cup, and N°7

Main article: 7 (Nancy Ajram album)

In the summer of 2010, Nancy was nominated by Coca-Cola Middle East to sing, along with K'naan, 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,[6] 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.[7] As of January 2011, Nancy became the first and most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet.[8]

2012–present: Arab Idol, Super Nancy and Nancy 8

She released in late 2012, her second album dedicated to children, entitled Super Nancy with the lead single "Ya Banat". She released her eighth full-length studio album entitled Nancy 8 on March 21, 2014. The album's lead single, "Ma Tegi Hena", was well received by music critics who compared it to "Akhasmak Ah," Ajram's debut single.

Personal life

In September 2008, Nancy wed her dentist Fadi El Hachem in Cyprus.

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, meaning "blooming tree".[9] 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.[10] She gave birth to her second daughter, Ella, on April 23, 2011.[11]

Awards and titles

Philanthropy and humanitarian work

Ajram has participated in numerous charity events and concerts that she considers a priority in her music career. 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[28] 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)."[29] 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 Kadhim Al-Sahir, Saber el-Rebai and Karess Bashar.

In 2013, Nancy Ajram wrote and performed the theme tune for Worth 100 Men - "Be 100 Ragl" in Arabic - a radio fiction series produced by The Womanity Foundation,[30] a Swiss foundation started by Yann Borgstedt in 2005, which focuses on women's education, training and development in Afghanistan, Brazil, India, the Middle East and North Africa.[31]

Criticism and controversy

Discography

Studio albums

Children's albums

DVDs and live albums

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 Nations 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"

Ramadan 2013 : "Hekayat Banat"

Ramadan 2014 "Radio program"

Global Coke slogans

Coca-Cola Middle East have always incorporated International Coke slogans into pan-Arab campaigns with Nancy. In 2007, Coca-Cola 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. In 2014, Nancy recorded for Coca Cola "Shagaa' 7elmak" feat Cheb Khaled for the FIFA world Cup as well .

Videography

Official Music Videos
Year Title Album Director
1998 "Mihtagalak" Mihtagalak Elie Fghaly
2001 "Sheel Ouyounak Anni" Sheel Ouyounak Anni Guy Zahlan
2002 "Akhasmak Ah" Ya Salam... Nadine Labaki
2003 "Ya Salam"
"Sehr Oyouno" (Yey)
2004 "Ah w Noss" "Ah w Noss"
"Lawn Ouyounak"
2005 "Oul Tany Kida" Luca Tommassini
"Inta Eih" Nadine Labaki
2006 "Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa" Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
"Moegaba" Harry Rankin, Mike Lipscombe
"Ana Yalli" Pascale D'Ash
"Ehsas Jdeed" Said elMarouk
2007 "Elli Kan" Diamantino Ferreira
"Mishtaga Leik"
"Shakhbat Shakhabit"
(ft. Katkouta, Shater, Eid Milad)		 Shakhbat Shakhabit

[Children's Album]

 Said elMarouk
2008 "Risala Ilal Aalam" Fadi Haddad
"Betfakar Fi Eih" Betfakar Fi Eih Said elMarouk
"Min Dally Nseek"
2009"Lamset Eed" Leila Kanaan
"Ibn elGiran"Mike Harris
"Mashi Haddi" Leila Kanaan
2010"Shaggaa' Be Alamak" (Wavin' Flag)
(with K'naan) 		Single Codirector: Leila Kanaan
"Fi Hagat"7 Nadine Labaki
"Sheikh El Shabab" Leila Kanaan
2011 "Ya Kether" Sophie Boutros
2012 "Super Nancy" Super Nancy Leila Kanaan
2014 "Ma Tegi Hena" N8 Joe Bou Eid
2014 "Moush Far'a Ktir" N8 Said El Marrouk
2014 "Ma Aw'edak Ma Ghir" N8 Fady Haddad
2014 "Yalla" N8 Angy Jammal
2014 "W Bkoun Jayi Wade'ak" N8 Fady Haddad

Commercials and official music videos

Ajram's success as a singer led to high-profile advertising deals with Coca-Cola 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.

Nancy in the Coca-Cola "Circus" Campaign, 2006
Middle East Coke Campaigns
Year Coke Hit Theme # of Ads Campaign
2005Oul Tany KidaConcert3TV,MV,print
Instrumental: Lawn OuyounakTickle, Munroe, Wink3TV,print
2006MoegabaCircus1TV,MV,print
Ashtiki MinnoCoke Bottle1TV
2007ElDonya HelwaThe Coke Side of Life1TV,print
-Have a Coke-print only
2008Meen Ghayri Ana? Noss elKawnLive on the Coke Side of Life3TV,MV,print
2009Eftah Albak TefrahOpen Your Heart to Happiness-print
2010Shaggaa' Be Alamak (Wavin' Flag)2010 FIFA World Cup-MV,print
2012Farha-
2014Nancy Ajram feat Cheb Khaled - Shajaa Helmak2014 FIFA World Cup-

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 four 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, "Ibn elGiran" from Betfakar Fi Eih, and the last one "Meen Elli Ma Endo" from 7.

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 Betfakar Fi Eih. In February 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 Betfakar Fi Eih.

Nancy also made some other musical videos featuring Nancy using a specific product or products such as a scene of her drinking a cup of Pepsi coke happily with her boyfriend and, most of her music videos contain these adds with different brands such as: Close-Up, Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

References

  1. ↑ "Nancy Ajram – Power 100". arabianbusiness.com. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "The Most Powerful Arab Singers". Arabian Business. 2007. Retrieved December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Security Check Required".
  4. ↑ "Security Check Required".
  5. ↑ "銀座のクラブ｜銀座彩（いろどり）".
  6. ↑ "Facebook".
  7. ↑ "Nancy Ajram - Nancy's album is finally out! Buy an... - Facebook".
  8. ↑ YouTube.
  9. ↑ سليمى حمدان - mbc.net. "فن ونجوم – نانسي عجرم تضع مولودتها.. وتطلق عليها اسم ميلا". MBC.net. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  10. ↑ "نانسي عجرم أجمل أم في". 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Nancy gives birth to second daughter". Al Bawaba Entertainment. April 25, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Murex d'Or – 2004". Adserver.naharnet.com. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  13. ↑ "Mobinil Music Awards – Nancy Ajram Best Arab Female 2007". mobinil.com. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Power 100, 2009". Arabian Business. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  15. ↑ Arabian Business
  16. ↑ "نانسي عجرم نجمة العام". elaph.com. December 28, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  17. ↑ http://www.worldmusicawards.org
  18. ↑ "تكريم النجوم". Elaph. January 20, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  19. ↑ "احتفالية حب في عيد ميلاد "الجمهورية" و"حريتي"". gom.com.eg. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  20. ↑ "جريدة البشاير - نانسي عجرم أفضل مطربة ولطيفة الأسوأ -".
  21. ↑ موقع بانيت وصحيفة بانوراما. "PANET - نتائج استطلاع بانيت لشخصيات واحداث 2010". Panet.
  22. ↑ "Arabsounds - Arabic music videos, songs, albums & more!". Arabsounds.net.
  23. ↑ http://www.lbcfanclub.tk/
  24. ↑ mbc.net Archived November 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  25. ↑ Bisara7a. "موقع بصــراحــة الفنّي Bisara7a-Homepage - موقع بصــراحــة الفنّي". موقع بصــراحــة الفنّي.
  26. ↑ "Arab stars receive top honors at Murex d’Or Awards". Daily Star (Jounieh). 25 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011. Nancy Ajram, who like Wehbe has triumphed at the ceremony in past years, won the best Lebanese singer prize, as well as best music video for 'Shiekh al-Shabab.'
  27. ↑ "Prince Alwaleed the world's most powerful Arab". Arabian Business.
  28. ↑ The Big Ball raises over Dhs940,000 for the benefit of underpriviledged children across the region, AME Info, October 28, 2008
  29. ↑ Nancy Ajram to attend The Big Ball as it aims to raise $250,000 for the education of underprivileged Arabian Business, May 8, 2008
  30. ↑ "The Womanity Foundation - Women Empowerment".
  31. ↑ "The Womanity Foundation". website.
  32. ↑ Arab Pop Video: "Weapon of Singing Destruction"?, Associated Press, October 23, 2003. Retrieved November 23, 2006.
  33. ↑ "Page Not Found - RadioJavan.com".
  34. ↑ Nancy Ajram Official website – Response contained under "News" section
  35. ↑ Nancyajram.com Retrieved on July 1, 2007

External links

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