Nancy Nabil Ajram (Arabic: نانسي نبيل
عجرم) (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.
By 2007, Ajram had sold over 30 million records ranking 3rd best selling female artist in
Lebanese history. 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, with more than 20 million views on Youtube.
Early life and beginnings
Ajram was born to father Nabil Ajram and mother Raymonda Aoun, 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.
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.
Music career
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.[citation needed]
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 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.
2006-2008:Ya Tabtab Wa Dalla, Shakhbat, El Donya Helwa
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.
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 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.
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–present: World Cup, N°7
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, 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, within four
months, the video hit more than 10 million views and thus became the first and most viewed Arabic
music video on the Internet.
The album became a massive critical and commercial success, selling over a million units a month
after its release and gathering many positive reviews from critics, who favored Nancy's classy
style and the variety of musical genres she offers on the album.
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.
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
Ericsson 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.
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 Labaki, 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 Egypt
- 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 Bahrain. Islamists from the country's main opposition parties, including
Al Wefaq, 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 Bahrain 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.
Discography
Studio albums
- 1998: Mihtagalak
- 2001: Sheel Oyounak Anni
- 2003: Ya Salam
- 2004: Ah W Noss
- 2006: Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
- 2008: Betfakkar Fi Eih?!
- 2010: 7
Other albums
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 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".
- 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 Wehbe, 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"
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.
Videography
Commercials
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.
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.