She has sold over twelve million records in the Arab world making her one of the richest Lebanese singers. Her personal wealth, mostly earned from her high album sales and commercials, has exceeded $16 million. She has sold over four million albums in Lebanon and ranks as the third best-selling female artist in Lebanese music history.

She came to fame as a winning member of the entertainment show Noujoum Al-Moustakbal ("Stars of the Future"), a Lebanese television musical competition, in mid-1990s, after which she produced two unsuccessful albums, Mihtagalak ("I Need You') in 1998, followed by Sheel Oyoonak Anni ("Take Your Eyes Off Of Me") in 2000. She subsequently emerged at the forefront of the pop music scene in the early 2003.Ya Salam ("How Fantastic") was crafted by Lebanese producer Jiji Lamara. Her second album, Ah W Noss, was released in 2004.

In the early 2000s, Ajram's success as a singer led to high-profile advertising deals, most notably for Coca-Cola and Damas Jewelry. Her second and third albums were released during this era and included more artistic input that Ajram developed.

In 2007, Nancy Ajram released a statement that she is not planning to marry at the moment and is currently focusing on her career.

Childhood and discovery

She was born to an Orthodox Christian Lebanese family. Her father the real estate agent Nabil Ajram and her mother Raymonda Ajram. Her sister Nadine (born 1984), is an actress and her brother Nabil Ajram (born 1985) is a singer.

At the age of twelve she participated in a TV program called Noujoum Al Mostakbal, and won a golden medal/Tarab category. Afterwards, Nancy disappeared from the public eye and started studying vocal and music theory with music teachers in Lebanon. Although she was less than 18 years old, the syndicate of professional artists in Lebanon accepted her as a member because they found her to be an exceptional talent and deserving to be qualified as a professional artist. Nancy launched her first album Mihtagalak in 1998. In 2001 she launched her second album Sheel Oyoonak Anni. Both albums disappeared quickly from the charts and the lead singles were her biggest failure to-date.

Musical career

In 2003 her third album, Ya Salam ("How Fantastic") included the song Akhasmak Ah ("I'll taunt you"), which became an enormous hit, as did its provocative music video. Reminiscent of older Arabic films, it features the singer as a cafe manager who dances for and flirts with her customers. Two other singles from the album were shot as music videos; Ya Salam had Ajram playing a 1930s style cabaret performer, while Yay (Sehr Oyoono) ("Oh,the Magic of his Eyes") became a mini-drama with Ajram discovering romance as a demure Beirut hairdresser.

In 2004 Ajram released her fourth album Ah W Noss ("Yes, of course"), which also spawned several videos.

In 2005, Ajram signed a contract for a Coca-Cola endorsement. "Oul Taany Keda" ("Tell Me That Again") from Ah W Noss was used in the commercials, and its video contains Coke product placement.

Nancy Ajram performing in a concert in Chicago on March 25, 2007She was named as the best Arabic singer by the magazine Zahrat el Khalij for both 2003 and 2004. She was also dubbed by the Arabic version of Newsweek as one of the most influential personalities of the Arab world in 2005.

In early 2006, she released a single, Enta Masry ("You're Egyptian"), timed to coincide with Egypt's hosting of the African Cup of Nations football tournament. Its accompanying video is unusual in that the singer does not appear. Instead, Egyptians representing the diversity of the country lip-sync the patriotic lyrics of the song.

Yatabtab...Wa Dalla was released in February 2006.The title song's video, again directed by Nadine Labaki, preceded its release. It has a circus theme that is echoed in other videos drawn from the album's songs.

Previously, Ajram has appeared and used the song "Mo'gaba" ("An Admirer") in her latest Coca-Cola commercial. She has been described as "that most effervescent of Arab sex kittens."[1]

"Ehsas Jdeed" is widely considered to be the most successful song of Ajram's Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa album. It has been reported that she is currently working on a dual project where she will be releasing 2 studio albums at once. One will carry her usual style while the other will be dedicated to children. Two songs from the children's album, titled Chakhbat Chakhabit, were leaked on a sample posted on the internet. One song carries the album's title while the other is entitled "Katkouta". According to her official website, the album was supposed to be released back on the 4th of May, 2007. They are now expected to be released this summer instead.

Early this June, a music video for the song 'Elli Kan' taken off her album Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa was released, promoting the new Damas jewellery Ajram is currently endorsing. At around the same time, the new commercial for Coca-Cola was released, carrying another new song entiltled 'El Donia Helwa' (Life is Good). To top it all off, promos for Shakbat Shakhabit began airing on TV.

Criticism

In an interview on Lebanese television, Ajram made controversial statements about religion, stating that she deserved to be rewarded in the afterlife. Rumors of boycotts against Ajrams concerts filled the internet, although none appeared to be true.[2]
In 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.[3] In May 2006, Ajram performed again in Bahrain without incident.

Discography

Mihtagalak (1998)
Sheel Oyoonak Anni (2001)
Ya Salam (2003)
Ah W Noss (2004)
Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa (2006)
Shakhbat Shakhabit (2007)

Non-album tracks
La Ma Khelset El Hekaya (Along with other singers)
Il7a2ni/Follow Me (Along with other singers)
Enta Masry
Habib El-Omr
Ahly W Zamalik
Damar El 3arabi
Kuwait El Shahama

Videography

Mihtagalak
Mihtagalak

Sheel Oyoonak Anni
Sheel Oyoonak Anni

Ya Salam
Akhasmak ah
Ya Salam
Yay
Nasseto Garho

Ah W Noss
Ah W Noss
Lawn Oyounak
Oul Tany Keda
Enta Eih

Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
Mo'gaba
Ana Yalli
Ehsas Jdid
Elli Kan

Shakhbit Shakhabit
3 Videos in 1: Shakhbat Shakhabit/Katkouta/Shater

Non-album tracks
La Ma Khelset El Hekaya (Along with other singers)
Il7a2ni/Follow Me (Along with other singers)
Enta Masry
Habib El-Omr
El donia helwa

Achievements

According to several sources, Nancy Ajram has sold over 13.5 million albums in the Arab world.
Nancy Ajram is the only Arabic female artist in history to have her first three albums debut at number one. Nancy Ajram, Samira Saeed, Elissa, Nawal Al-Zoghbi, Najwa Karam, Latifa and Amal Hijazi are the only female artists with multiple diamond (shipped over three million copies) albums
She holds the record for being the youngest Arab artist (at age nineteen) to have his or her first single (Akhasmak Ah) and first album (Ya Salam) simultaneously reach number one on the Arabian Charts (Lebanese and Egyptian Charts).

Nogomalarab.com