| Ya Salam يا سلام | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Nancy Ajram |
| Cover: | YaSalamCover.png |
| Recorded: | 2002–2003 |
| Prev Title: | Sheel Oyoonak Anni |
| Prev Year: | 2001 |
| Next Title: | Ah W Noss |
| Next Year: | 2004 |
Ya Salam (Arabic: يا سلام, English: How Wonderful) is the third studio album by Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. It was released on February 24, 2003 by Relax-In and Megastar. Ajram worked with all new collaborations, including Tarek Madkour, Adel Ayesh, Samir Sfeir, Salim Salameh and Tony Saba. Described as a turning point in Ajram's career, it represents a departure from the classical sound of her previous releases, Mihtagalak (1998) and Sheel Oyounak Anni (2001). Apart from the sound, she also endorsed a new image for the release going from an innocent girl to an edgier and more sexual look.
Upon its release, the record received generally positive to mixed reviews from music critics, some of them praised its composition and Ajram's new musical direction, while others criticized its lack of musical focus. Thanks to Ya Salam, Ajram received several Awards, including Murex d'Or and The Golden Lion Award.
Ya Salam spawned three singles, the lead single an Egyptian hit song, "Akhasmak Ah" was met with criticism and controversy due to its sexual music video but was an international hit. The follow-up "Ya Salam", another Egyptian classical song, was praised by critics and garnered chart success in the Arab World. The last single, "Yay", became a top 10 hit in various Arab countries. Ajram performed several songs from Ya Salam live during a number of shows, notably during El Hawa Hawana on Dream TV with Hala Sarhan, the 2003 Sham El Nessim Festival in Egypt[1] and Jerash Festival in Jordan.[2] In support of the album, Ajram embarked on her first Middle Eastern concert tour. The album was reissued in 2007, packaged with both audio and visual discs with a different artwork.
By chance, Ajram met the renowned Lebanese producer and artist manager Jiji Lamara through a mutual friend, songwriter and composer Suhail Fares. They shared the same interests, as Lamara looked for a new talent after splitting with Aline Khalaf, while Ajram had no artist manager back then. After a short period they signed a six-month contract extension as they get along to continue. In mid 2002, they began work on her third studio album. Looking to transition from the folk and classical styles of her debut album (1998) and second album (2001), Ajram took creative control over her next album project, both musically and lyrically, under supervision of Lamara. She also changed her public image and established her new alter ego. Musically, its music incorporates pop with influences from different genres, including ballad and rock.[3]
In late 2002, Ajram started to record her then-upcoming material. The recording sessions took place in studios around Beirut, Lebanon and Cairo, Egypt, including Saba and Boudy Naoum Studios in Beirut and Leila Studio in Cairo. As executive producer, Ajram's then-new manager Lamara enlisted a wide range of new collaborators for the album, including Lebanese famous songwriter Nizar Francis, Lebanese noted singer-composer Samir Sfeir and well known Egyptian musician and record producer Tarek Madkour, who created the track "Yay". In addition, Egyptian songwriter Mustafa Zaki, who wrote the title track "Ya Salam", Lebanese composer Salim Salameh, who composed three tracks in the album and Egyptian record producer Mohammed Mustafa, who also produced three tracks.[4] [5]
Egyptian songwriter Fawzi Ibrahim and composer Mohammed Saad had created the track "Akhasmak Ah" in 2002 and offered it to Lebanese singer Aline Khalaf, who rejected the song and preferred another one entitled "Haymana", stating she had enough songs for her to record; at the time, Khalaf was working on her seventh studio album Law Andak Kalam. Then they reached out to Jiji Lamara, who bought the record and forwarded it to Ajram.[6]
In December 2002, "Akhasmak Ah" was released as the album's lead single, followed by the album official release on February 24, 2003.
The album was re-released on February 14, 2007 by EMI Music Arabia for the Middle Eastern and European markets. It's re-packaged as Ya Salam: Collector's Edition with the audio and visual discs and a different artwork. The audio disc is a digitally remastered version of the album which also contains mobile wallpapers, the visual disc contains three music videos and other three live performances.[7]
Notes
Adapted from the album liner notes.[12]
| Year | Award | Nominated | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | International Video Clip Festival (Egypt) | Nancy Ajram | Best Arab Singer | [13] | |
| "Akhasmak Ah" | Best Music Video | ||||
| Murex d'Or | Nancy Ajram | Best Female Lebanese Singer | |||
| "Ya Salam" | Best Music Video | ||||
| The Golden Lion Award | Nancy Ajram | Youngest Arab Singer | [14] | ||
| LG Music Award | Nancy Ajram | Honor | [15] | ||
| Zahrat Al Khaleej Magazine | Nancy Ajram | Best Female Arab Singer | [16] |