Name	Amr Diab
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Amr Abdel Basset Abdel Azeez Diab
Alias	Father of Mediterranean music (Hadaba)
Birth date	October 11, 1961
Origin	Port Said, Egypt
Instrument	Vocal, Guitar
Genre	Mediterranean
Occupation	Singer, composer, arranger, actor
Years active	1983–present
Website| url	www.amrdiab.net/
Nationality	Egyptian
Nickname	The Empror
Father	Abdul Basset Diab
Spouse	Sherine Rida (1989-1992)

Amr Abdel Basset Abdel Azeez Diab (; born October 11, 1961) is an Egyptian singer and composer of geel music; the contemporary face of Egyptian el-geel pop music, according to World Music. Diab is the best-selling Arab recording artist of all time, according to Let's Go Egypt. He was awarded the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist four times: 1998, 2002, 2007 and 2009. He has also sold over 50 million albums worldwide. He is currently the top singer in the Arab world, and considered a living legend by many of his fans in the Arab world.

Amr Diab is known as the Father of Mediterranean Music. He has created his own style which is often termed "Mediterranean Music" or "Mediterranean Sound", a blend of Western and Egyptian rhythms.

In The Mediterranean in Music, David Cooper and Kevin Dawe referred to his music as "the new breed of Mediterranean music".

According to author Michael Frishkopf, Amr Diab has produced a new concept of Mediterranean music, especially in his international hit, "Nour El Ain".

According to the BBC, Diab "has ruled the Arab music world, especially Egypt and the Middle East, since the mid '80s, continually breaking sales records".

Musical career

In 1983, Diab released his first studio album, Ya Tareeq. Diab released three more albums between 1984 and 1987. 1988's "Mayaal" garnered huge success all around the Middle East. It was produced, arranged and remixed by German musicians, Frank Von Dem Bottlenberg and Jörg Evers, with various releases. More success followed in the following years including the albums Shawakkna, Matkhafesh, and We Yloumouni.

Amr Diab quickly developed fame for his new style of "Pan-Mediterranean" Arabic music, fusing touches of flamenco and raï with western pop with traditional Arabic rhythms. By 1992, he became the first Arabic artist to start making high-tech music videos. and by July 3, 2009 Wayah had sold more than 1.5 million copies in the first week. Later on Amr Diab's administration announced that the album has become the highest selling album in Diab's career. This album sold 3 million copies.

On October 18, 2009 Amr Diab won four 2009 African Music Awards in the following categories: best artist, best album, best vocalist and best song for "Wayah" and Amr Diab has been nominated by the Big Apple Music Awards

Aslaha Betefre' (2010)

Amr Diab has released a mini album for the first time in his career history, produced by Rotana, in July 2010. The mini album contains 1 song with 3 arrangements (Original song + Club Mix + Karaoke).

Music videos

Diab is one of the first singers to popularize music videos in the Arabs World and the first Egyptian singer to appear in music videos. His third movie was released in 1993, and was named Deahk We La'ab (Laughter and Fun). The film premiered in the Egyptian Film Festival in 1993. Amr played alongside international Egyptian movie star Omar Sharif (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago) and Yousra in the movie. Overall, Diab did not experience the same level of success in film that he had with his music career. Since 1993, Diab has focused on his singing career.

Endorsements

Amr Diab has taken part in an internationally known Pepsi commercial featuring four other pop musicians: Beyoncé Knowles, Pink, Jennifer Lopez, and Britney Spears. In the US version, Enrique Iglesias takes the role of Caesar. But in the pan Arab version, the four American singers were retained but the male figure was replaced with Diab. This was not the first Pepsi commercial Diab has done; he also filmed commercials featuring his songs "Ana Aktar Wahed" (I'm the most), "Allem Alby" (teach my heart) and "Khad Alby Ma'aa" (She took my heart with her). Diab also appeared in a commercial alongside Jennifer Lopez, singing The Troggs hit "Wild Thing". In 2009 Pepsi decided not to renew his contract. In 2010 he was the star of "Hayat" bottled water campaign.

Local record labels

Diab's earliest albums were released by Delta Sound. In 1996 Diab moved to Alam Al Phan were he released his greatest hits. In between 2003 and 2004, and after a long successful career with Alam El Phan, Diab officially announced the termination of his contract with Mohsen Gaber (owner of Alam El Phan) and move to Rotana Records.

International record labels

Over 18 international companies have produced studio albums, compilations and exclusive music for Amr Diab across the globe.

Ariola - Germany

Hot Records - Germany

EMI Music - Greece

EMI Music - Arabia

EMI Music - Turkey

EMI Music - Canada [Hemisphere]

EMI Music - Europe

EMI Music - International

World Music Network - USA

George V Records - France

Putumayo World Music - USA

Wagram Music - France

Virgin - International

Nascent - UK

Milano 2000 - Italy

Reverb Music - UK

Toast Records - Italy

Warner Bros. - France

Collaboration with international musicians

Various international musicians have collaborated with Amr Diab:

Stuart Crichton (The founder of Progressive House)

Frank Von Dem Bottlenberg - Germany

Jorg Evers - Germany

Shazz (Didier Delesalle) - France

Klubbheads (Koen Groeneveld and Addy van der Zwan) - Dutch

Phunk Phorce (Leon and Matthew Roberts) - UK

Rhythm Masters (Robert Bruce Chetcuti and Steve McGuinness) - UK

Pete Beachill - UK

Simon Gardner - UK

Andy Greenwood - UK

Kevan Gallagher - UK

Jon Bishop - UK

Juan Cerro - Spain

Angela Dimitriou - Greece

Amr Diab was not mentioned in any academic study.

Amr Diab in movies

Amr Diab's songs have appeared in several films, including: "Wala Ala Baloh" in Divine Intervention (2002) "Awedouni" in The Dancer Upstairs (2002) "El Alem Alah" and "Nour El Ain" in O Clone (2001) "Nafs El Makan" in Double Whammy (2001)

"Tamally Ma'ak" and "Nour El Ain" in the French movie, Coco (2009)

"Nour El Ain" in Malcolm in the Middle TV series (Season 4, Episode 4, Episode name: Stupid Girl), released on 9 January 2000 (USA)

Further reading

Mediterranean Mosaic by Goffredo Plastino

Egypt by Virginia Maxwell, Mary Fitzpatrick, Siona Jenkins, Anthony Sattin

World Music by Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, Richard Trillo, Orla Duane, Vanessa Dowell

Teens in Egypt by Barbara A. Somervill

Syria & Lebanon by Terry Carter, Lara Dunston, Andrew Humphreys, Damien Simonis

World Music by Richard Nidel

The Mediterranean in Music by David Cooper, Kevin Dawe

The Middle East by Library Information and Research Service

Let's Go Egypt by Let's Go, Inc., Joey Shabot, Dave Newman, Elizabeth Ogburn, Charlotte Houghteling

Discography

Aslaha Btefre' (Because She makes a difference) - (2010) Single

Wayah (With Her) - (2009)

El Leila De (This Night) (2007)

Kammel Kalamak (Keep Talking) (2005)

Greatest Hits (1996-2003) (2005)

Leily Nahary (Cd-Single) (2004)

Leily Nahary (My Night, My Day) (2004)

Greatest Hits (1986-1995) (2004)

Allem Alby (Teach My Heart) (2003)

Aktar Wahed (The Most One) (2001)

Tamally Maak (Always With You) (2000)

Amarein (Two Moons) (1999)

The Best of Amr Diab (1999)

Awedoony (They Got Me Used To) (1998)

Nour El-Ain (Light Of The Eye - Habibi) (1996)

Ragaeen (We'll Be Back) (1995)

Zekrayat (Memories) (1994)

W Ylomoony (And They Blame Me) (1994)

Ya Omrena (Our Life) (1993)

Ice Cream Fi Gleam (Ice Cream In Gleam) (1992)

Ayamna (Our Days) (1992)

Habiby (Baby) (1991)

Matkhafeesh (Don't Worry) (1990)

Shawaana (Missing You) (1989)

Mayyal (In Love) (1988)

Ya Helwa (Hey Pretty) (1988)

Khalseen (We're Even) (1987)

Hala Hala (Welcome, Welcome) (1986)

We Mneen Ageeb Nas (To Whom I Complain?) (1985)

Ghanny Men Albak (Sing From Your Heart) (1984)

Ya Tareea (O Road) (1983)

References

External links

http://www.diabcafe.com/ - Fans Website

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Egyptian actors Category:Egyptian singers Category:People from Port Said Category:World Music Awards winners

Name	Nancy Ajram
Background	solo_singer
Born	May 16, 1983
Origin	Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
Genre	Arabic Pop, World
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1998–present
Label	EMI Arabia (1998) Megastar (2001–2005) In2Musica (2008–present)
Url	www.nancyajram.com

Nancy Nabil Ajram () (born May 16, 1983) is a multi-platinum Lebanese singer and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. By 2007, Ajram had sold over 30 million records ranking 3rd best selling female artist in Lebanese history. She has released seven studio albums to date and appeared in a number of music videos and commercials. She participated in the most significant Arabic festivals and won multiple awards, most importantly the 2008 World Music Award as Best-selling Middle Eastern Artist, the youngest Arab WMA winner to date. 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. With more than one million subscribers, Nancy's official facebook page is now the most subscribed Arabic artist page on Facebook. Nancy is the first Arab that has reached this number.

Early life and beginnings

Ajram was born to a Christian (Maronite Catholic) family, 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.

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 MBC 3, 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.

2008–2009: Betfakkar Fi Eih, WMA, Oprah, UNICEF

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: 7

On August 30, 2010, Nancy's official Facebook page posted a 16-second preview of the music video for Nancy's next single. 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.

The album became a massive cirtical 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 annouced "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 exploded with YouTube views and favorable reviews from Arabic media.

The album marks a shift in Ajram's career and launches her to a more international image, and is, to date, her fastest selling album.

Marriage and motherhood

In September 2008, Nancy married Dr. Fadi after a three-year relationship; the wedding was attended mainly by close friends and family. Nancy continued her work during pregnancy, during which she filmed "Lamset Eid" 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.

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 Zahrat elKhaleej - Best Music Video of the Year, Dubai

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

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 Dhour El shweir - Best Singer .

2010 TYR - For Mother Day .

2010 Sama Al Noujoum-Best Female Singer 2010/Fi hagat Best Music Video

2010 Jaras Scoop Fm Survey-Best Female Singer 2010

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 Zahrat Al Khalij-Fi Hagat Best Music Video

2010 Best Of Lbc 2010- N 7 Best Album/Fi Hagat- Best Music Video 2010 Panorama Fm (MBC)-N 7 Best Arabic Album..

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. 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.

Melissa Corken, the World Music Award representative defended the award, threatening to sue whoever claims it is bought by its recent Arab winners (Nancy Ajram, Elissa, and Amr Diab), and scandaled several Arab singers and major production company Rotana, claiming they attempted to purchase it. This came as a response to the riot caused by fans of Elissa who had a competing album for the award; however Corken shut the fuss down by announcing Ajram's album sold more; Rotana, with whom Elissa has a record deal, claimed that they did not send any sales numbers internationally, showing no clear reason for that.

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

2007: Shakhbat Shakhabit

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"

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

Official music videos

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.

References

Further reading

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

Nancy Ajram's Videography

External links

Official Website

Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Lebanese Christians Category:Lebanese Maronites Category:Lebanese female singers Category:Lebanese singers Category:Lebanese musicians Category:Arabic-language singers Category:UNICEF people Category:World Music Awards winners

Melhem Zein, also transliterated Melhem Zain () (born in Shmistar, Lebanon on October 21, 1982) is a Lebanese well-known pan-Arab singer. He is married to the daughter of Ali Salim al-Beidh, the former President of Democratic Republic of Yemen.

Earlier, when he was 16, Melhem Hussein Zein first participated in an Amateur Singing Program called Kaas Al Nojoum (The Cup of the Stars) on the Lebanese LBC Channel for singing Mohammed Abd El Wahhab's "Ya Jarat Al Wadi" (The Neighbour of the Valley).

His pan-Arab stardom came particularly after coming third in Super Star 1, the Pan-Arab version of Pop Idol. Melhem receives the title of "Al Rayyes" (The Boss) of the Lebanese folklore songs from George Ibrahim El Khouri and his fans for singing Lebanese singer Wadih El Safi's "Endak Bahriyya Ya Rayyes" on Super Star. Demonstrations and riots erupted throughout Lebanon when it was known he had been eliminated in the semi-finals by the pan-SArab voting against finalists Diana Karazon (from Jordan), the eventual winner of the series and Rouwaida Attieh (from Syria), the eventual runner-up. But despite his defeat in the semi-finals, he became a very successful pabn-Arab artist.

Zein has released three albums Enti Msheeti (2004), Baddi Hibbik (2006) and Aalawa (2008). All three albums have enjoyed great success throughout the Arab world solidifying Melhem's status as a star.

Melhem includes Wadih El Safi, Mohammed Abd El Wahhab and Nazem Al Ghazali as his main musical inspirations.

Discography

2004 Enti Msheeti

2006 Baddi Hebbek

2008 Aallawa

SuperStar Performances

Top 55: خطرنا على بالك ("Khatarna Ala Balak") by Toni Hanna

Top 12: عندك بحريه ("Andak Bahriyya") by Wadi El safi

Top 10: رمشة عينك ("Remshet Aaynik") by Wadi El Safi

Top 8: سهروني الليل ("Sahharoni El Lail") by Ragheb Alama

Top 7: دقوا المهابيج ("Deggo El Mahabeej") by Fairuz

Top 6: على جرى ("Alli Jara") by Oulaia El Tunisiya

Top 5: وبعاد كنتم ("Webaad Kentom") by Mohammed Abdo

Top 4: سمرا وانا الحاصودي ("Samra Wana El Hasoudi") by Ali El Deek

Top 4: صرخة بطل ("Sarkhet Batal") by Wadi El Safi

Top 3: انت عمري ("Enta Omri") by Um Kulthum

Top 3: يا غايب ("Ya Ghayeb") by Fadel Shakir

Top 3: ولا مره ("Wala Marra") by Melhem Barakat

External links

Melhem Zein's Website

Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Arab people Category:Idol series participants Category:Lebanese singers Category:Super Star (Arabic television show)