Nancy 8 (also stylized as N #8) is the eighth studio album by Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. It was released on March 21, 2014, by In2Musica nearly four years after the release and international success of her seventh studio album Nancy 7. Like her previous albums, Ajram collaborated with several producers, including Tarek Madkour, Hadi Sharara and Ahmed Ibrahim, along with new collaborations with Hussam Kamil, Khaled Nabil and Muhannad Khoder. The music of "8" features R&amp;B, ballad, pop rock and dance-pop styles in order to emphasize the singer's vocal abilities.
"8" received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Commercially, it became Ajram's eighth album to reach number one in the Arab World. In order to promote the record, "Ma Tegi Hena" was released as the album's lead single on March 9, 2014, going number one all over the Middle East.
Promotion and release.
In mid 2013, Ajram announced via social media that her eighth studio album would be released sometime during the year, serving as the follow-up to her seventh studio album "Nancy 7" (2010). However, the album was later scheduled for November. In January 2014, 10-second snippets of the album tracks were leaked online. After a long wait, Ajram finally revealed via social media the new album title and its artwork on February 5, saying: "Happy to reveal to you the album cover..be ready for the songs' samples in a few". One week later, the video teaser of the long-awaited "Ma Tegi Hena" was released. On March 9, the new album was listed for pre-order to be available on March 21. Lebanese streets were filled with the album billboards in early March. After three and a half long years, the wait is finally over, "Nancy 8" was digitally released worldwide on March 21, simultaneously with the physical release in MENA region.
Style and composition.
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". "Mouch 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&amp;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" is a moody traditional Khaliji song with heavier instrumentation from the Persian 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.
"Ma Tegi Hena" music video.
Development and content.
The music video for "Ma Tegi Hena" was directed by Joe Bou Eid. It was filmed on September 30 and October 1, 2013, between Sin El Fil, Jezzine and Sidon in Lebanon. The video premiered on March 21, 2014, at 12:00 a.m. on Arabica TV. The video opens with Ajram, the watermelon merchant, performing Arabic freestyle oriental dance moves to her customers and rubs her body against that of Mister Lebanon winner Ayman Moussa, who plays a police officer, causing a commotion in the market. The next scene shows Ajram coming across an accident, which causes a road traffic, then the policeman comes and arrests her and eventually she somehow manages to escape.
Reception.
The video generated controversy and criticized for its sexual imagery, presenting Ajram's old seductive public image, eliminating her "girl next door" image. Many critics compared the video to her breakthrough hit, "Akhasmak Ah". The conservative crew also have cast a very critical opinion on the provocative piece. Ajram, however, refused to admit her music video is scandalous in the least, defending in a radio interview:
According to Laha Magazine, she added: {
Despite the criticism for Ajram's return to a seductive and sexual appeal, the video broke YouTube records as the fastest viewed Arabic music video of all time, collecting over a million views in less than 24 hours.
Commercial performance.
"Nancy 8" debuted at number one on the Best-Selling Albums Chart of "HitSorter" and stayed atop for continuous weeks. It also debuted at number 10 on the "Billboard World Albums chart". The album was 2014's highest debut for a female album in the Middle East. As a result, Ajram received World Music Award as the best-selling Middle Eastern Live Act. "Nancy 8" topped Virgin Megastores sales in the Arab world for 9 continuous weeks, then remained among the Top 10 highest-selling albums for non-continuous weeks.
Critical reception.
The reception to "Nancy 8" was mixed to positive.
"Bitajarod" website gave the album a positive review, saying Ajram "created, excelled, won and refreshed the music scene with an artistic bomb with which she rebelled with performance and emotion".
"Lone Reviewer" website gave a mixed review to the album, saying "Overall just above-average album from Nancy, some good songs but I expected better." The website criticized the lack of coherence and of inspiration in this album.
Track listing.
The track list was announced via iTunes on March 9, 2014.
Standard edition
Notes:
Personnel.
Adapted from the album liner notes.
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