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Nancy Ajram نانسي عجرم
Nancy Ajram in a promo still from Yatabtab...Wa Dalla'.
Background information
Born	May 16, 1983
Origin	Beirut, Lebanon
Genre(s)	Arabic
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1998 — present
Website	www.nancyajramonline.com

Nancy Ajram or Nancy Agram (Arabic: نانسي عجرم‎) (born May 16, 1983) is a multiple award-winning Lebanese pop singer and dancer. She is best known for her studio albums, music videos, commercials and songs such as Akhasmak Ah, Ya Salam, Ah W Noss and Ya tabtab Wa Dalla.

Ajram has sold over twelve million records in the Arabian world. Having sold over four million albums in Lebanon, Ajram ranks as the third best-selling female artist in Lebanese and Egyptian music history.^{[citation needed]}

Ajram is one of the richest Lebanese singers; her personal wealth, mostly earned from her high album sales and commercials, has exceeded $16 million.^{[citation needed]}

Ajram first 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 2000s, thanks to her third album, Ya Salam ("How Fantastic"), which was crafted by Lebanese producer Jiji Lamara. Her second album, Ah W Noss, was released the following year.

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

In 2006, she confirmed on Akid Akid Maestro with Nishan Derharoutnionan that she is planning to marry next year, but has not named the groom.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Childhood and discovery 2 Musical career 3 Criticism 4 Singles 4.1 Ah W Noss 4.2 Ya Tabtab...Wa Dalla 5 Achievements 6 References 7 External links

Ajram was born in Ashrafiyeh, Lebanon to Nabil and Raymonda Ajram. Ajram' sister, Nadine (born 1984), is an actor and her brother Nabil Ajram (born 1969) is a singer.

At the age of four, signs of artistic sensations appeared on her face every time she heard a song or a tender voice from the TV or radio, or even from her own parents. Her father took her to concerts, where, sometimes, Ajram sang on stage.

At the age of twelve she participated in a TV program called Noujoum Al Mostakbal, and won a golden medal/Tarab category. Then Nancy disappeared from the public eye and started studying vocal and music theory with the best 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 deserved to be qualified as a professional artist. Nancy launched her first album Mihtagalak in 1998, then in 2001 she launched her second album Sheel Oyoonak Anni. Both albums disappeared quickly from the charts and the lead singles were, then, her biggest failure to-date.

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.

Ajram was named as the best Arabic singer by the magazine Zahrat el Khalij for both 2003 and 2004. She was also named 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]

Then, she shot the fourth single [[Ehsas jdid]] who became the most successful hit for Ajram since the classical ballad Inta Eih (her fourth single from her [[Ah w noss]] album. Ajram is currently working on her sixth video album which will be released in the summer of 2007.

• In October 2003, a riot broke out outside a concert by Ajram in Bahrain. Islamists from the country's main opposition parties, including Al Wefaq, attacked concert goers. Al Wefaq's leaders defended the action, as it was the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
• In 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 May 2006, Ajram performed again in Bahrain without incident.

• Ajram was blamed for the way she shot her first three videos from her fifth album Ya tabtab wa dalla. The concept of the circus was featured on the two first singles of the album. Ana Yalli ("I love you") was filmed for a Damas Jewelry commercial, then released as a video. Elli kan ("Everything before") was expected to be filmed too, as was Moshtaga leik ("I miss you").

• Ajram has also been a focus of the public eye on the topic of plastic surgery. Since her debut, it is widely acknowledged that Nancy's facial features - namely her nose, cheeks, and lips - have undergone some reconstructive surgery. It is sometimes reported that she has had 27 surgeries,which is false. It is reported that she had one surgery for breathing purposes.

• Her religion is disputed over whether she is a Shia Muslim or a Maronite Christian.

Arabian Charts	Year	Certification
Akhasmak ah	1 (10 weeks)	1 (8 weeks)	1 (11 weeks)	2003	Diamond
Ya salam	1 (8 weeks)	1 (7 weeks)	1 (8 weeks)	2003	5x Platinum
Yay (Sehr Ouyonoou)	1 (7 weeks)	1 (5 weeks)	1 (6 weeks)	2003	2x Platinum

Shipment sales: 3.6 Million

Chart Positions: in Lebanon #1, in Egypt #1

Main article: Ah W Noss

Single	Lebanese Charts	Egyptian Charts	Arabian Charts	Year	Certification
Ah W Noss	1 (9 weeks)	1 (7 weeks)	1 (7 weeks)	2004	Diamond
Lawn Oyounak	1 (5 weeks)	1 (2 weeks)	1 (4 weeks)	2004	2x Platinum
Oul Tany Keda	1 (4 weeks)	1 (2 weeks)	1 (4 weeks)	2005	Platinum
Enta Eih	1 (7 weeks)	1 (7 weeks)	1 (9 weeks)	2005	8x Platinum

Shipment sales: 4.9 Million

Chart Positions: in Lebanon #1, in Egypt #1

Main article: Yatabtab...Wa Dalla'

Single	Lebanese Charts	Egyptian Charts	Arabian Charts	Year	Certification
Ya Tabtab... Wa Dalla'	1 (5 weeks)	1 (3 weeks)	1 (3 weeks)	2006	2x Platinum
Mo'gaba	1 (2 weeks)	2	1 (1 week)	2006	Gold
Ana Yalli	1 (1 week)	4	2	2006	Gold
Ehsas Jdid	1 (7 weeks)	1 (5 weeks)	1 (5 weeks)	2006	4x Platinum

Shipment sales: 3.1 Million

Chart Positions: in Lebanon #1, in Egypt #2

• According to several sources, Nancy Ajram has sold over 12 million albums in the Arabian world.

• Currently, 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 and Latifa are the only female artists with multiple diamond (shipped over three million copies) albums (Ajram has two: Ya Salam and Ah W Noss).

• Additionally, she holds the record for youngest Arabic 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).

1. ^ Stack, Megan K., "Even war can't stop her party", The Los Angeles Times, November 16, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2006
2. ^ Arab Pop Video: "Weapon of Singing Destruction"?, Associated Press, October 23, 2003. Retrieved November 23, 2006

• Official website