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Moustafa Amar (Arabic: مصطفى قمر‎) (born Moustafa Ahmed Mohamed Hassan Amar Arabic: مصطفى أحمد محمد قمر‎ on September 22, 1966) is an Egyptian musician and actor.

Early life[link]

Moustafa Amar attended Al-Shaheed Abbas School where his talent and love for music and singing earned him the role of lead singer in the school concert. His father got him a guitar when he was ten and he began taking summer classes. Amar attended the University of Alexandria, then he moved to Cairo to find a production company.

Personal life[link]

Amar is married to Ghada Essa and they have two sons, Eyad and Tayam. Eyad was born in 1993. Tayam was born in 1996. They're currently attending AIS: the American International School in Egypt. Both were in his movies, Qalb Garee and Bahibak Wana Kaman. Eyad likes to play the guitar and Tayam likes to play the drums.

Career[link]

Amar's first song was "Wala Yabou Khad Gameel", released on a collective album, and in 1990, he released his first solo album, Wassaf. In 1992-1993, he released his second album, Layaleki, which sold well. He has collaborated with actress Nilly ("Papa Noel"), arranger/singer Hamid El Shari and Gipsy Kings. In 2004, he released Enssa, his 14th album.

In addition to writing his own music, he has composed for other Arabic singers, including Ehab Tawfik and Ali El Haggar.

Discography[link]

• Wassaf (1990)
• Layaleki (1993)
• Seket Al-Ashe'en (1994)
• Eftekerney (1995)
• Ela Man Yehomo Al-Amr (1996)
• Tal Al-Leil (1997)
• Nar El-Hob (1998)
• Enaek Wahshaney (1999)
• Aisheen (with Gipsy Kings) (2000)
• Haiaty (2001)
• Monaya (2002)
• Rohy Feek (2003)
• Bahebak Wana Kaman (2003)
• Enssa (2004)
• Lessa Habayeb (2006)
• Heya (2010)

Singles[link]

• Ghazali (ft Hamid El Shari) (2000)
• Sotak mosh kefaya (ft sheirn wagdy) (2006)

Videography[link]

• Dabadebou
• Habibi
• Bahebak
• Remsh Eynou
• Sekat Elasheen
• Ermi Almandeel
• Feen Habibi
• Eftkerni
• Salmoli
• Tal El-leel
• Elsood Eyouno
• El-leela Doob
• Dabadebou
• Ghazaly (1998) featuring Hamid El Shari
• Aisheen (2000) featuring Gipsy Kings
• Law Sa'aloony
• Haiaty (2001)
• Monaya (2002)
• Meen Gherak (2003)
• Lessa Habieb (2006)
• Mabahbkeesh (2007)
• Howa Da Aebo (2007)
• Mareed Bil Hob (2009)
• Heya (2010)

Filmography[link]

• Al Batal (1997)
• Al Hob Al Awal (2000)
• As'hab Walla Business (2001)
• Alb Garee' (2002)
• Bahebbak Wana Kaman (2003)
• Hobbak Nar (2004)
• Hareem Kareem (2005) (with Dalia El Behery)
• Ali Ya Weeka (TV serieis)
• Esabet Al-Doctor Omar (2007)
• Mafeesh Faida (2008)
• Montaha elaeshaa (2010) (TV series) with Diana Karazon

External links[link]

• Official website
• Facebook page
• @Moustafaamar
• Moustafa Amar at MySpace
• Moustafa Amar at Ghaneli
• Mustafa Qamar at the Internet Movie Database

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Tamer Hosny (Arabic: تامر حسنى‎, IPA: [ˈtæːmeɾ ˈħosni]; born August 16, 1977) is an Egyptian singer, actor, composer, director, producer and songwriter. Hosny first came to attention when he appeared on mix tapes with other Egyptian artists. He launched his solo career with the 2004 album Hob, becoming a successful singer of romantic music and earning the nickname "King of Generation" from his fans.^[1][2]

Early life[link]

Hosny's mother brought him up alongside his older brother Hossam in the absence of their father, Hosny Sherif Abbas. Tamer Hosny grew up with an interest in soccer and played the sport for 9 years.^[3] As a child, he was a fan of singer Abdel Halim Hafez. He graduated from October 6 University, with a Bachelor's degree in Media Studies.

He was introduced by Salma El Shamaa to the opera. Afterwards, he was recognized by Nasr Mahrous, the manager and owner of Free Music production company. Later on he signed a contract with Free Music in 2002. Tamer didn't debut with Sherine's first mix tape. Instead, he was featured in previous mix tapes, and one of them featured other artists like Khaled Agag and Mohamed Mounir. He released five successful albums with Free Music.

Then in 2009, he signed with Mazzika group Alam El Phan.^[4]

He is an endorser of Pepsi, a well-known soft drink around the world.^[5] He was also the "first Arab celebrity" to advertise the Police brand of sunglasses.^[6]

Music career[link]

Hob

In 2004, he released his first studio album with Ahamd Albanna as a solo artist. Titled Hob, the album featured the single "Arrab Habibi". The album was quite a success with his hit, "Arrab Habibi", which was subject to heavy rotation on satellite music channels.

Enayyah Bethebbak

Enayyah Bethebbak (My Eyes Love You) is his second full-length studio album. Released at the end of 2005, the album was produced by Free Music. The album's main hits were "Enayyah Bethebbak" and "Ba'ish". The album was a success in Egypt and the Middle East. After the release of Enayyah Bethebbak.

Ya Bent El-Eih

Ya Bent El-Eh is his third full length studio album. Released in March 2007 by Free Music, the album featured thirteen songs. Nine of them were stolen and leaked on the internet almost a week before it was released to the market. The Egyptian media^[who?] says about this album: "It's a nice album that considered being his first real step in his musical life".^{[citation needed]} The album has seven hits composed and written by him. Four of the songs were used in his film Omar & Salma; "A'reft Elly Feha", 'Ana Walla A'aref", "Sotek" and "Ergaaly".

Arrab Kaman

Hosny released his fourth studio album Arrab Kaman on June 24, 2008. This album has 9 hits composed and written by Tamer Hosny: "Matwasnesh", "Arab Kaman", "Askoty", "Aftkarly", "Ya taabany", "Albi el habak", "Esma wa nasseb", "Heya de", "Roh alby" and "Asaab ahsas". Four songs from Arrab Kaman were used in his movie Captin Hima.

ElGana Fi Byotna

ElGana Fi Byotna is his fifth full length studio album of Islamic and Ramadan-themed songs, released in September 2007 in the same year of Arrab Kaman. He filmed one music video from this album, "Ana Mesh aref atghyar". The album includes 13 tracks; he wrote and composed all 13 songs.

Ha'eesh Hayaty

In 2009 Hosny released his sixth studio album,Ha'esh Hayaty. This was his first studio album recorded under Mohsen Gaber's Alam El Phan label. Ha'esh Hayaty included Hosny's first English-language song, "Come Back to Me". From this album he filmed one music video, Ta'aba Koll El Nas. Yasser Sami, the director of Omar & Salma also directed the music video. The second part includes two songs from the album, "Khontek Embareh and "Bagher aleeha".

Ikhtart Sah

Ikhtart Sah is his seventh studio album released in 2010. This is the second studio album recorded under Mohsen Gaber's Alam El Phan. It was commercially successful and included "Sweet Melody", Hosny's second English song. Tamer Hosny filmed music videos for three of the album's songs, "Saheet ala sotha", "Taarafy" and "Law hakoun gher leek".

Elly Gai Ahla

Elly Gai Ahla (2011) is the 8th studio album by Tamer Hosny. This is the third studio album recorded under Mohsen Gaber's Alam El Phan. From this album Hosny had four music videos: "Elly Gai Ahla" directed by Yasser Sami, "Dayman Ma'ak", "Matsaa'lnesh" featuring Moroccan singer Bassma Boussil and "Aklemha" directed by Hossam L. Hosseiny. Commercially, it was very successful, reaching number one on the Egyptian charts during its first week of release.^{[citation needed]}

Directing career[link]

Tamer Hosny started his first directorial experience in 2010 by directing his music video "Saheet ala sotha". Hosny had always wanted to be a director; he had dreamed of making his own music video.^[7]

Film career[link]

Hosny starred in the 2003 Egyptian movie, Halet Hob (A State of Love).^[8] The movie featured music by Hosny himself. Halet Hob is a modern film addressing the issues of young people in today's Egypt, including family, immigration, work, and love, as well as how Arab immigrants are viewed and treated abroad. When Nour decides to immigrate to France, his wife refuses to go, so they decide to split the family. She stays in Egypt with their son Youssef, and Nour leaves the country with their other child Seif. As time passes, the split family drifts apart. Although many young people are trying to leave Egypt, after facing the reality of anti-Arab sentiment in France, Seif and his Tunisian/French girlfriend decide to return, seeking to find and help his brother with his budding singing career. His goal is not only to reunite with Youssef, but to use art and music as a forum for bringing youth from around the world together and giving a voice to Arabs abroad. There are many obstacles in the way and bringing the family together will not be easy.

The movie Sayed El Atefy^[9] was released in 2005, and featured two songs, "Koll Marra" and "Nour Einy"; both were performed within the movie. The full versions of the songs accompanied the performance in addition to scenes from the movie were made into music videos. They were initially exclusive to Melody Hits channel. The film is about a simple woman called Um Sayed (Abla Kamel) who raises her son after his father dies. She works as a taxi driver and car pickups to face life's burdens. At the same time loving the Al-Ahli Team so much and sponsor her son Sayed (Tamer Hosny), who is facing several problems at the university with his uncle. Um Sayed and friends try to lifting the injustice done to her son in the comic style concert.

At the beginning of June 2007, Hosny released his third movie Omar & Salma with Mai Ezzedine. Omar (Tamer Hosny) is a young man who likes to flirt with all kinds of girls and has never been a serious relationship. That all changes when he meets Salma (Mai Ezz El Din) who totally changes the way he thinks, but their new relationship turns out to be a bumpy ride.

In 2008, he released Captin Hima,^[10] a social comedy about a young man who is crazy about soccer. Hima (Hosny) believes soccer is a panacea for all problems and "plays" hard to achieve his goals and dreams.

In May 2009, he released Omar & Salma 2,^[11] a sequel to the romance comedy. Starring Tamer Hosny and May Ezzeddin, Omar & Salma 2 features a new arrival, Merihan Hussein, a Star Academy 5 contender. May Ezzeddin (Salma) plays the nagging wife, and Tamer Hosny (Omar) a bored husband longing for good old days of bachelorhood. Salma demands that they move because the block where they live is packed with women. So they move to a block inhabited by a widow, a divorcee and a gay man. Omar ends up having an affair with Carma (Merihan Hussein), an employee at his father’s (Ezzat Abu Owf) business. Salma finds out about the affair and the couple almost file for divorce.

In May 2010, he released the movie Noor Einy (The Light of my Eyes). This is a romantic comedy and drama about Ahmad (who uses the stage name Noor), a young music composer Tamer Hosny and a blind girl named Sarah Menna Shalabi and the great love story between them. Sarah breaks up with Noor after a misunderstanding, and she decides to go to America for surgery in order to regain her eyesight. While Noor has to deal with the death of his brother, he has to deal with the fact that Sarah has left him. As she moves on with her life, she falls in love with her doctor Tarek Amro Yousef, who decides to marry her in back Egypt. What she does not know is that Tarek and Noor are childhood friends, and when Noor meets Tarek in the airport he finds out that his friend's fiancee is his love, Sarah. While Sarah thinks that she sees Tarek's friend Ahmad, she doesn't know the fact that it's Noor. Noor ends up facing the heartbreak silently until the events lead up to the discovery of this strange twist of fate.

In December 2011 , Tamer Released his latest Movie " Omar and salma 3" the 3rd part of his movies Omar and Salma , In this part Omar decided to become a rap singer and Salma Refused this , so Salma Forced Omar to get divorced , so both of them started to make a play on each others to teach each others a lesson the message from this movie was social comedy to discuss that the divorce is the not the solution for the marriage problems , the story was written by Tamer Hosny directed by Mohamed Sami. this part achieved a huge success and preside the wills

Drama[link]

During Ramadan 2011, Hosny starred in the television drama Adam. Directed by Mohammad Sami, the drama also featured Dina Fouad, Ahmad Zaher and Mai Izz.and this series achieved Big Success and high views on YouTube and win best series in 2011 in many votes^[12] His next film Omar and Salma 3 is scheduled to release in November during the Eid al-Adha holiday.^[13]

2011 Egyptian revolution[link]

On January 25, 2011, demonstrations spread across Egypt and ultimately forced Hosni Mubarak to cede power to the military. Tamer Hosny was already outside Egypt on a tour of the Netherlands and the United States. He was scheduled to perform many shows. After performing at Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam on 29 January 2011 and hearing the news, he cancelled his tour of Canada and the United States, and flew back immediately.

On February 9, 2011, Hosny appeared on stage at Tahrir Square in Cairo, where the Egyptian protesters had gathered. Protesters grew angry at the sight of him and immediately told him to leave the square as he was not welcome. It was initially unclear what his intended message to the protesters in the square was going to be, but he was later quoted on Al Jazeera television as saying that he wanted to tell the protesters that he had made a mistake, and now supported the protests.^[14]

Tamer Hosny has organized charity activities supporting the families of those killed,^[15] launched a blood donation campaign in Egypt with his fans, and called upon them to donate to the victims of the latest events.

He launched two new songs to mark the events: Good Morning Egypt,^[16] and another in memory of those killed, Martyrs 25 Jan.^[17][18]

Collaborations[link]

Supporting new talents

During two years Tamer Hosny had discovered more than 20 new talents in lyricts and composing, more than 5 new talented singer, more than 10 new talented actors and Mohamed Sami as a Drama and Cinema director "Director of his series Adam",^[19]

"Bokra-Tomorrow" Charity Single

Tamer sang Bokra Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me) a charity single that was released on 11/11/2011 at 11:11PM, along with Shakira, Rim Banna, Akon, Diana Karazon, Marwan Khoury, Latifa, Souad Massi, Hani Mitwassi, Saber El Roba3i, Kathem El Saher, Wa3ed, Sherine and other Arab Artists. The single will distribute the proceeds of its donations to various organisations, institutions and charities with arts and culture programs. The eight minute song was written by Majida Al-Roumi, and produced by Quincy Jones and RedOne. More information about the song can be found on official website of the song.

New Duet with Shaggy

Tamer Hosny has recorded a new duet song with Shaggy, named "Smile". The song, written and composed by Tamer Hosny, will be distributed all over the world. The music video has been released at the beginning of 2012; the music video was shot in New York City, and it has achieved huge success; it has achieved more than one million views in only 3 days on Youtube, and for this exceptional growth rate, Youtube awarded the music video a trending medal.^[20]

Duet with Snoop Dogg

Tamer Hosny has recorded a new duet song with Snoop Dogg, Named Si L Sayed. It will be released in 2012. Tamer Hosny and Snoop Dogg shot the music video in Los Angeles .

Discography[link]

In addition to:

• Free Mix 2000 (2000)
• Free Mix 3 (2002)
• Free Mix 4 (2005)

Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Tamer Hosny Official website
• Tamer Hosny at the Internet Movie Database
• Tamer Fans
• Tamer Hosny official Facebook fan page
• Tamer Hosny official Google plus

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Nancy Ajram نانسي عجرم
Nancy Ajram in December 2007
Background information
Birth name	Nancy Nabil Ajram
Born	(1983-05-16) May 16, 1983 (age 29)
Origin	Beirut, Lebanon, Arabia
Genres	Arabic Pop, World, pop
Occupations	singer
Years active	1998–present
Labels	EMI Arabia (1998) Megastar (2001–2005) In2Musica (2008–present)
Website	Official website

Nancy Nabil Ajram (Arabic: نانسي نبيل عجرم‎), (born May 16, 1983) is a multi-platinum recording artist and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.^[1] 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.^[2][3] Nancy's official Facebook page is the most subscribed Arabic artist page on the social-networking site and the first to reach 3 million subscribers,^[4] 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 with over 26.3 million views to date.^[5]

Early life and beginnings[link]

Nancy Ajram was born into an Orthodox Christian family on May 16, 1983 in Achrafieh, a district in Beirut, Lebanon.^[6]

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[link]

[edit] 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]}

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.^[7] 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.

[edit] 2010–2011: 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,^[8] 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.^[9] As of January 2011, Nancy became the first and most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet.^[10]

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. It earned Nancy her second World Music Award as the middle east's best selling album.

2010–2012: Second kids' album[link]

In 2012, Ajram joined social networking website Twitter, and received ten thousand followers in two days. She immediately followed fellow singer Elissa and was followed back by her. The singer took her personal account to announce the video shoot of a fourth video from her seventh album, titled "Min Ma Ando." She also announced in late February that was nearly done working on a second album dedicated for kids. Ajram is set to embark a US tour in the summer of 2012.

Personal life[link]

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".^[11] 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.^[12] 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 Ajram is an Orthodox Christian.^[13]

Awards and titles[link]

• 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 ^[14]
• 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 ^[15]
• 2007, 2009^[16] Arabian Business - World's Most Influential Arabs, Most Influential Contemporary Female Singer in 2007,^[17] Most Powerful Arab Singers^[3]
• 2007 Kol elArab Survey - Best Arabic Star of the year 2007 ^[18]
• 2008 9th Annual Doha Festival - Honor Award, Doha
• 2008 World Music Award - World's Best-Selling Middle-Eastern Artist, 20th Annual WMA, Monaco ^[19]
• 2008 Student Choice Award - [College Student Survey]: Best Album of the Year 2008, Beirut ^[20]
• 2008 AlJumhuriya newspaper, Freedom Magazine - Best Female Arab Star of 2008, Egypt.. only? ^[21]
• 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^[22]
• 2010 Panet Survey-Best Female singer^[23]
• 2010 Arab Sound Awards -Best Arabic Female Singer^[24]
• 2010 Music My Life- Fi Hagat Best Song Of 2010
• 2010 Best Of Lbc 2010- N 7 Best Album/Fi Hagat- Best Music Video^[25]
• 2010 Panorama Fm (MBC)-N 7 Best Arabic Album.^[26]
• 2010-2011 Jaras Scoop Awards-Best Female Singer ^[27]
• 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."^[28]
• 2011 Best Female Singer- "Woujouh Men Lebnan" awards.
• 2011 Arabian Business- Most Famous Celebrity in the Middle East ^[29]
• 2011 World Music Awards World's Best-Selling Middle-Eastern Artist (Nancy 7)

Philanthropy and humanitarian work[link]

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 ^[30] 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)." ^[31] 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[link]

• Many rumors of boycotts against Ajram's concerts filled the internet, although none appeared to be true.^[32]

• 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.^[32] In May 2006, Ajram returned to perform in Bahrain without any incidents.

• On her official website, Nancy Ajram has apologized^[33][34] for anti-Iranian remarks ^[35] 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.^[36]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Nancy Ajram Discography

• 1998: Mihtagalak
• 2001: Sheel Oyounak Anni
• 2003: Ya Salam
• 2004: Ah W Noss
• 2006: Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
• 2008: Betfakkar Fi Eih?!
• 2010: 7

Children's albums[link]

• 2007: Shakhbat Shakhabit
• 2012: TBA

DVDs and live albums[link]

• 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[link]

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"

Ramadan 2011: "Samara"

• intro: "Samara"
• outro: "Samara"

Global Coke slogans[link]

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[link]

Commercials and Official music videos[link]

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.

Middle East Coke Campaigns

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.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Nancy Ajram Official Website
• Fiascos affect Arab music awards, 17 May 2004 BBC (Ajram voted best newcomer)
• Arab youth revel in pop revolution by Sebastian Usher, 21 May 2007, BBC