Living abroad is a full body immersion in another culture. You’re hit by a cacophony of accents and slang, the aromatic smells and tastes of new foods, and the unique rhythms of different musical styles. For me, the deepest impressions often come from this new music. In Egypt, I vividly remember hearing the latest hits as I sat in local cafes, shopped at the tiny supermarket near my apartment, and zipped through morning traffic in the front of a taxi.

Looking back now, I see that Lebanese pop stars dominated the charts at the time, with artists like Nancy Ajram, Ramy Ayach, and many more. Today’s post features four Lebanese songs from that era, the early 2000’s. These catchy songs and classic music videos pull me back to my time in Cairo. I think they’ll pull you in too.

Nancy Ajram and More…

Album cover of Ya Tabtab wa Dalaa, by the Lebanese
Nancy Ajram’s album “Ya Tabtab Wa Dallaa”

Discussions of Lebanese pop songs, especially from the 2000’s, often start with one name: Nancy Ajram. For sure, her hits Akhasmak Ah (2003), Ah W Noss (2004) and Ya Tabtab Wa Dallaa (2006) were on full rotation at that time. But music is never about one star. What other Lebanese artists scored popular hits during this period? And what songs were big before Nancy’s megahits? Let’s not forget these ones from Aline Khalaf, Ramy Ayach, Elissa, and Yuri Mrakadi….

A’zza A’laya (2001)

The title track to Aline Khalaf’s album A’zza A’laya is irresistibly upbeat, with a chorus of backup singers echoing Aline’s lines and the music maintaining a joyful, pulsing rhythm. The lyrics deliver a fierce rejection however. Aline sings that she was abandoned, forgotten, and betrayed by her lover. When he insists she take him back, the answer is immediate: “no no no, a thousand times no!”

In the video, Aline sings and dances, looking directly into the camera, as we flash to shots of a boxing ring. Kickboxers begin a brief sparring match, before two male ballet dancers powerfully twirl and dance around the ring.

Albi Mal (2002)

Ramy Ayach’s song Albi Mal, from the album of the same name, has a catchy, lyrical melody with a fantastic chorus. Ramy was young when this became a hit, though this was his fifth album since winning the competition Studio Al Fan at the age of 17.

The video portrays Ramy as a down and out race car driver, living alone on the edge of town, but pursued by an executive who is eager to bring him back to the track. Against this racing backdrop, Ramy’s rolling voice sings a love song that’ll make you dance. Albi Mal means “my heart became inclined,” or more loosely “my heart fell for you.” The chorus continues, “You are the one who occupies my thoughts, there is no one but you in my life.”

Ayshalak (2002)

Elissa’s video of her hit single Ayshalak is unique for several reasons. Not only was it filmed in Paris, but she is featured wearing Christian Dior. This was the first time the designer had collaborated with an Arab artist. Elissa’s collaborations and savvy business moves only grew from there.

The song Ayshalak, from the album of the same name, grabs you with its beat and its lyrics. Ayshalak (I live for you) goes the repeated chorus. ”My dream was to be with you.” Elissa rolls through these lyrics beautifully, punctuating them with exquisite vibratos. The delicate rhythms of a guitar, keyboard and strings tie it all together.

Arabiyun Ana (2001)

Talk of popular Arabic songs from the 2000’s wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Lebanese musician Yuri Mrakadi. His hit Arabiyun Ana took the Arab world by storm. The chorus “I am an Arab,” weaves tightly into his message of love, ”I adjusted my heartbeats for you,” and is backed by a strong musical riff.

Arabiyun Ana propelled Yuri’s self-titled album to great success. The video pans around him and his band, as they play atop a rocky plain. In sharp red glasses, Yuri sings and pivots around a standing mic. Contrast this with a live version of the song, shot more recently along Beirut’s corniche in 2017. Here we see just Yuri and his acoustic guitar, see below:

What Next?

If you liked these artists’ songs, buy or listen to more of their music! Their work is available for sale or streaming on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and other platforms.

Then let us know which of these songs you liked best. Had you heard some of them before? If you’re a fan of Lebanese music, who are your favorite artists? (Added bonus if they have have hits from the early 2000’s!) Leave a comment below with your recommendations. I’m always looking for new albums to listen to and new artists to follow.

Lastly, swing by some of the other posts on the blog. I’ve written about amazing Algerian musicians (have you heard the song Zina?), explored modern art by eight Iraqi painters, profiled the outstanding article of the magazine and website AramcoWorld, and dived into the recipes and flavors of six stunning Middle Eastern cookbooks.