Nancy 8
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Nancy 8 is the eighth studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram. The album was released on March 21, 2014 following the release of lead single "Ma Tegi Hena" which broke the iTunes record of fastest selling Arabic song of all time upon its release on March 8. Nancy 8 is Ajram's first full-length album in four years, the last being 7.
Development and release
After the second season finale of Arab Idol, on which Nancy was featured as a judge, Nancy embarked on an Arab Tour during the summer of 2013 to prepare for the release of her eighth album. Ajram was then featured on several magazine covers including Sayidati and Harper's Bazaar. In October, a video of Nancy in studio was posted by a friend of hers on YouTube, during which she mentioned that she had finished recording her eighth album and production was about to begin for the album's artwork and promotion.
On January 22, a sneak peek of "Mosh Faraa Kteer," a song on Nancy 8 was posted via Instagram. The song was thought to be the album's lead single, but later on, Arjam's Facebook page revealed the artwork, title and lead single for Nancy's eighth album, as well as the single's release date.
On March 8, "Ma Tegi Hena" was released on iTunes as the lead single along with several teaser videos and images for its video. That same day Nancy 8 was made available for pre-order on iTunes and was set for a March 21 release date.
Style and Composition
8 picks up where its predecessor left off. Nancy continues expanding her original signature sound, but also experiments further into modern music. The genre of Nancy 8 remains ambiguous, but the sounds incorporated on the album root back to Arab Folk music from Lebanon, Egypt and the Arab Gulf. Music merges with modern music styles including EDM and Techno.
The opening track and lead single, "Ma Tegi Hena" returns Ajram to her original Egyptian folk sound she became popular with in the early 2000s with her worldwide phenomena "Akhasmak Ah." Ajram later based most of her career's successes on that of the latter hit, taking on its sound as her signature style with later hits like "Ah W Nos" and "Ya Tabtab." "Mosh Far'a Kteer" is a breakup ballad featuring a Pop rock beat and empowering lyrics thematically referring to rising up from heartbreak and agony.
"Men el Yawm" was described as "the wedding song" and is sung in Lebanese dialect very reminiscent of 2004 hit "Lawn Ouyounak." The song is about marriage and unity in love. "Yalla," a standout party track, is an encouraging anthem about falling in love which incorporates foreign Pop sounds.
"Tisabeg El Rih" is a traditional love song inspired from Khaliji singing gatherings, in which Nancy has taken part of in collaboration with MBC Group. "Rahent Aleik" is a breakup ballad with elements of R&B.
"Shou Hal Ossa" is an EDM-inspired love song, which may be Ajram's most experimental song to date, featuring elements of pop and techno, merged with Arabian instruments and sounds.
"Nam Bi Albi" speaks of love, while "Etnen Souhab" is an attempt of healing after heartbreak. "Ma Awedak Ma Ghir" is a moody traditional Khaliji song with heavier instrumentation from the Arabian Gulf. "Ba'a Kol Da" is a deeply regretful song about the inability of life without the presence of a lover who is away.
"Fakra Zaman" is a cheerful youth anthem with a hint of sadness for the old days of childhood and teenage and how they were spent, and the effect of this concept of Ajram's way of thinking in the present.
The album's standout track, "Ya Khayen" is a bitter revenge track on the pain of betrayal, the lyrics of which list the favors a lover does in return for just a love they did not even receive. The strong lyrics are sung against a Lebanese-inspired traditional beat with heavy drums, flutes and violins. The concluding track "Bel Raha" is a calm love song.
Promotion
The album's pre-release strategy was internet-based. Ajram became highly active on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as the album's release date approached. She is set to embark on a world tour and to join the judges' panel on Arab Idol for its third season. In addition, Nancy joined the cast of MBC's celebrity reality TV show Shat Bahr el Hawa (Love Sea's Beaches) where she takes on a journey with other celebrity friends including Wael Kfoury and Tamer Hosny.
Singles
- "Ma Tegi Hena" was released as the album's lead single on March 8, its video is set to premiere on March 21 along with the album's release. The song was well received by music critics who compared it to "Akhasmak Ah," Ajram's debut single. The song became the fastest selling Arabic song in iTunes history, beating Ahmed Chawki's "Habibi I Love You."
Reception
Commercial
Nancy 8 became the fastest selling Arabic album in iTunes history within only its pre-order period. The album is expected to appear on top of charts across the entire Arab Nation, with a possible sales figure of one million digital/physical combined sales.
Other songs
- "Mouch Fara Ktir" was initially meant to be the lead single but was replaced by "Ma Tegi Hena."
Track listing
The track list was announced via iTunes on March 8, 2014.[1]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Translation | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ma Tegi Hena" | "Won't You Come Here" | 4:13 | |
| 2. | "Mouch Far'a Ktir" | "Doesn't Matter" | 5:02 | |
| 3. | "Men El Yawm" | "Starting From Today" | 3:42 | |
| 4. | "Yalla" | "Come On" | 3:55 | |
| 5. | "Tisabeg El Rih" | "Racing the Wind" | 3:23 | |
| 6. | "Rahent Aleik" | "I Betted On You" | 4:09 | |
| 7. | "Shou Hal Ossa" | "What a Story" | 4:20 | |
| 8. | "Nam Bi Albi" | "Sleep In My Heart" | 4:00 | |
| 9. | "Etnen Souhab" | "Two Friends" | 4:13 | |
| 10. | "Ma Aw'edak Ma Ghir" | "Can't Promise Not to Be Jealous" | 4:47 | |
| 11. | "W Bkoun Jayi Wadeak" | "I Come Intending Goodbye" | 3:37 | |
| 12. | "Ba'a Koli Da" | "All This" | 3:55 | |
| 13. | "Fakra Zaman" | "I Remember the Past" | 4:07 | |
| 14. | "Ya Khayen" | Melhem Barakat* | "Traitor" | 3:36 |
| 15. | "Bel Raha" | "Easy On Me" | 3:56 |
Notes:
- "*" signifies provider of both lyric and music.