Nancy Ajram

Nancy Ajram was born into a Lebanese Christian family on May 16, 1983, in Achrafieh, a district in Beirut, Lebanon. She is the eldest child of Nabil Ajram and Raymonda Aoun. She has one sister, Nadine, and one brother, Nabil Jr.[10] Ajram was only eight when she started her journey singing the good oldies with her grandmother. She carried on with successful participation in children's contests in two local television stations, TL and LBC. In 1995, at the age of twelve, Ajram took part in a variety show, Noujoum Al-Moustakbal (English: Stars of the Future) on Future TV, 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.[11] Ajram studied music with renowned Lebanese musicians and although she was less than 18 years old, the syndicate of professional artists in Lebanon accepted her as a member. At the age of 13, she released her first singles. The first was "Hobbak Allam Albi El Gheere", written by Antoine Harfouch and composed by Abdo Mounzer. The second was "Oulha Kelma Ala Shani".[12] At the age of 15, Ajram released her debut album, Mihtagalak, followed bySheel Oyoonak Anni three years later.

In early 2002, Ajram signed a contract with renowned Lebanese producer and artist manager Jiji Lamara, four months after his splitting with Aline Khalaf. They started working together in preparation for the third studio album shifting her musical style and image away from the decent girl.[13] Ajram's breakthrough single, "Akhasmak Ah", was released in December. The music video caused a controversy; reminiscent of older Arabic films, she appeared as a café manager who dances and flirts with its customers. It received criticism from various news publications, and it was meant to be banned on several Arabic televisions due to its sexually suggestive content. However, in early 2003, Ajram rose to fame, propelled by the success of the single, and the release of her third studio album, Ya Salam which was a best-seller.[14]

Her fourth album, Ah W Noss, was released on April 14, 2004, and it was also an important marking point in Ajram's career. The tremendous success that Ah W Noss achieved, stabilized Ajram's position as an A-List star in the Arab music industry. Ajram then filmed "Lawn Ouyounak" (Color of Your Eyes), which portrayed Ajram as a bride in a traditional Lebanese wedding. After the release of the album, Ajram signed-up with Coca-Cola to be their official celebrity spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa region. Her first Coke commercial featured her hit, "Oul Tani Keda?" (Say That Again?), which was filmed with the international Italian director Luca Tomassini. The commercial's success led to it being filmed as a music video behind the scenes of the commercial.[15] The 4th hit single from the album, "Inta Eyh?" (What Are You?), was a slow composed by Samir Sfeir. Nadine Labaki directed another clip that featured Ajram 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 Ajram was greatly praised. Leading Egyptian actors and directors, like Faten Hamama praised Ajram's acting abilities and movie offers doubled for Ajram.[16]

Her fifth album, Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa was released on February 21, 2006. Ya Tabtab was considered Ajram's best album back then, with six music videos released, eight radio hits, and five songs used for commercials.[17] The title track's music video was Ajram's last collaboration with Nadine Labaki, as she then started working on her movie Caramel.[18] Ajram then released the video of her Coca-Cola hit "Moegaba" (Admirer), as well as a video and commercial for her newly signed Damas Jewellery contract advertising their "Farfasha" set. The song used was "Ana Yalli" (I'm the One) which was promoted before the album's release.[19] Ajram then cooperated for the first time with prominent Lebanese director Said El Marouk, filming "Ehsas Jdeed" (A New Sentiment) 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.[20][21] In December 2006, Ajram performed alongside Lionel Richie in Egypt at a launching event.[22] Later in 2007, Ajram released all together the video of "Elli Kan" (What Used to Be) for Damas's second campaign, her Coca-Cola Side of Life commercial featuring a new single "El Donia Helwa" (Life is Beautiful), and a video and album directed towards children, titled Shakhbat Shakhabit (Scribbled Doodles). "El Donia Helwa", Ajram's seventh 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.[23]

Ajram's first album which was fully dedicated to children included 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".[24] Ajram 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".[25][26] She then filmed with Fadi Haddad, the director of photography of her previous works with El Marouk, a video for the song "Risala Lil 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 Ajram 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.[27]

Ajram performing at an event in Cairo, 2008

In February and March 2008, Ajram released three Coca-Cola commercials that featured a brand new hit from her long-awaited album. The song, "Meen Ghairy Ana (Noss El Kawn)" (Who Else But Me?) was made by the successful "Yay" 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.[28] Ajram released her sixth studio album after several delays on July 30, 2008. This long-awaited comeback album held many surprises for her fans with a huge change in her style that presented her matured vocal abilities like never before. Ajram's sixth 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.[29] 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.[30] Even though "Betfakkar Fi Eih" music video had mixed opinions, the second single video, "Min Dally Nseek" was much more accepted, peaking at No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks in Melody Hits.[31] On November 9, 2008, about two months after her marriage, Ajram won her first World Music Award for her best-selling album Betfakkar Fi Eih. In her short speech, Ajram 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?".[29] 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 Kanaan with a high budget, and the song and music video peaked charts for months.[32] With this album Ajram signed a celebrity endorsement deal with Sony Ericsson, as a special w595 phone was released holding Ajram's signature, and "Wana Ben Ideik" was chosen as the commercial song.[33]

Ajram during a concert in Bahrain, 2010

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, Ajram appeared in a report featured on the show and was described by Oprah as "the Britney Spears of the Middle East". Ajram is the first and only Middle-Eastern artist ever mentioned on the show.[34]

In the summer of 2010, Ajram was nominated by Coca-Cola the 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, Ya Tabtab and Eftah Albak for Ajram) and the music remastered by Tarek Madkour. The original music video was used for K'naan's parts while Ajram's parts were filmed separately in Lebanon on the same protocol under Leila Kanaan'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. One month later, Ajram filmed a commercial for her newly signed contract with Lactalis advertising their Lactel yoghurt.[35]

On August 30, Ajram's official Facebook page posted a 16-second preview of the music video for Ajram's next single, "Fi Hagat". 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 "Ya Tabtab". The full music video premiered on September 6, 2010, at 8:00 pm on Arabica TV and MTV Lebanon, the same day of her seventh full-length studio album release entitled Nancy 7. As of January 2011, Ajram became the first and most viewed Arabic music video owner on the Internet.[36]

In August 2011, Nissan chose Ajram to be the official ambassador in the Middle East and North Africa. On September 7, Ajram officially launched the all-new 2012 Nissan Micra at a special press conference in Lebanon.[37]

On January 6, 2012, it was officially announced that Ajram won her second World Music Award as the World's Best-Selling Middle Eastern Artist for Nancy 7 album sales in 2011.[38][39]

On September 13, 2012, Ajram released her second album dedicated to children, entitled Super Nancy with the lead single "Ya Banat". By the end of the moth, Anlene named Ajram their new regional Ambassador for the fortified adult milk brand.[40] The commercial was filmed in August with Lebanese born American director Oliver Ojeil in Beirut. In a press conference held in Dubai on October 20, Ajram stated that she will help raise awareness of osteoporosis and bone health amongst women in the Middle East.[41] A month later, it was officially announced in that Ajram joined the second season of the popular talent show Arab Idol, joining fellow judges Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama, Emirati singer Ahlam and Egyptian record producer Hassan El Shafei.[42] After many delays, Ajram finally released her eighth full-length studio album entitled Nancy 8 on March 21, 2014, which has been highly anticipated by fans for almost four years. The album's lead single, "Ma Tegi Hena", was well received by music critics who compared it to "Akhasmak Ah," Ajram's breakthrough hit single. Two months later, Ajram received her third World Music Award as the best-selling Middle Eastern artist on May 27, 2014, in Monte Carlo, Monaco.[43][44]

In September 2014, Ajram returned as a judge on the third season of Arab Idol. Three of the four judges, including her, returned with Ragheb Alama being replaced, after two consecutive seasons, by another well-known Lebanese singer, Wael Kfoury.[45] A month later, October 2, 2014, Huawei announced Ajram as its Middle East and North Africa Brand Ambassador at the launch of the Ascend Mate 7 smartphone in Dubai.[46] A day before, the TV commercial came out on Ajram's official Facebook page featured her hit "Nam Bi Albi" from Nancy 8 album, which was filmed with Lebanese director Said El Marouk and produced by Oliver Ojeil under the label of his production company Chiaroscuro Films. 48 hours later, the TVC reached 1 Million views.[47]

Ajram at the 4th season of Arab Idol in 2016

In July 2015, Ajram was officially confirmed as a judge in the first season of the highly acclaimed TV show The Voice Kids alongside Kathem Al-Saher and Tamer Hosny.[48] The show premiered on MBC1 on January 2, 2016.[49] As of 2020, Nancy was still a judge on the show's 3rd and most recent season wherein her contestant won.[50]

On its 20th anniversary, Home Centre announced Ajram as brand ambassador. During the launching event that took place on October 13, 2015, in Dubai, Ajram said: "I'm delighted to be part of the Home Centre family. Homes are an extension of one's personality through which they are able to express themselves and Home Centre very well gives you the kind of products that help you create that space. As someone who takes pride in my home, Home Centre is certainly a brand I can connect to. I look forward to our association in the months to come."[51]

A year after Ajram began working on her ninth studio album, the single "Maakoul El Gharam" was released on November 15, 2015, which reached the No. 1 spot on Anghami, setting a new record in 12 hours;[52] it was ultimately removed from the final track listing for her ninth studio album. Ajram returned as a judge on Arab Idol for its fourth season alongside fellow judges Wael Kfoury, Ahlam and Hassan El Shafei; the fourth season premiered on November 4, 2016.[53]

Ajram performing at the 2017 Dbayeh International Festival

On April 21, 2017, Ajram released her ninth studio album, Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek), through In2Musica. The album peaked at number one on the Hit Sorter's Best-Selling Albums Chart and remained atop for 16 continuous weeks since its release.[54][55][56] The record topped Virgin Megastores sales in Lebanon for 4 continuous months, while in Egypt it remained atop for 15 continuous weeks, as well as in KSA, UAE and Bahrain for continuous weeks.[57][58] The album was supported by the release of two singles, including the lead single "Aam Betaala' Feek", which broke a new record as the fastest song to reach one million streams on Anghami.[59] The song also received commercial success, topping several Arabic music charts and radio stations for consecutive weeks.[60]

In the Arabic dub of "Power of Four," a one-hour special episode of The Powerpuff Girls, Ajram voices the fourth Powerpuff Girl, Bliss, who appears in the episode. "Power of Four" premiered on Cartoon Network MENA on November 9, 2017.[61]

In 2018, Ajram became the first Lebanese singer to surpass 100 million views on YouTube with her song "Ya Banat" on an unofficial YouTube channel.[62] In September 2018, she released the single "Badna Nwalee El Jaw" first on Anghami and then on her official YouTube channel.[63] It was followed by another single "Albi Ya Albi" in January 2020.[64] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ajram performed in an exclusive live concert on YouTube in May 2020, titled Hope Beyond Borders. It was followed by another live concert on TikTok in September 2020, titled The 2020 Live Show. The event was scheduled to take place in August but was delayed due to the 2020 Beirut explosion.[65]

Ajram marked Mother's Day by releasing the song "Emmi" in March 2021.[66] Between May and July 2021, she released four promotional singles from her upcoming tenth album.[67] The album titled Nancy 10 was released on July 10, 2021.[68]

In the early hours of January 5, 2020, an armed trespasser named Mohamed Hassan Moussa broke into Ajram and her husband Fadi El Hachem's villa in Sehaileh, Keserwan District. However, Moussa was shot dead by El Hachem. Lebanese prosecutor Ghada Aoun later issued an arrest warrant for El Hachem and investigations into the incident began. Ajram herself sustained a minor injury on her right leg.[88] On January 7, El Hachem was released from prison with prevention from travelling abroad until investigations are concluded.[89][90] Ajram noted that her husband's "reaction to the killer was after intense threatening that took place for almost 6 to 7 minutes".[91]

Other sources reported that the murdered trespasser was born in 1989 in Basqala, Idlib Governorate, Syria, who was married with kids, and used to work as a gardener for El Hachem, hence he broke in with a fake unloaded gun, asking for his unpaid financial dues.[92] Meanwhile, Ajram denied that they knew him nor he worked for them.[93]

The trespasser was seen masked via CCTV, who waited outside for a couple of hours before entering the villa, despite the existence of bodyguards. Later on, he pointed a gun at El Hachem before he entered the children's room, when El Hachem claimed that he acted in self-defense and shot and killed the trespasser. According to the forensic pathology report, Al-Moussa was shot 17 times with a Glock 17 pistol:[94] once in the right forearm, twice in the left shoulder, once under the left armpit, three shots in the chest, two shots in the abdomen, seven shots in the back, and one shot in the left thigh.[95][96] In the meantime, Ajram was hiding in the bathroom shaking while calling her father.[97] The family of the burglar initially refused to take his corpse from hospital, since El Hachem was released from custody before burial, which contradicts their traditions;[98] however, they took the corpse to be buried in Damascus as investigations should continue.[99]

On November 24, 2020, El Hachem was charged with intentional murder; however, it was considered as a legitimate act of self-defense.[100]