Elissa (Lebanese singer)

Elissa's musical career began in 1992, when she won the silver medal in Studio El Fan, a Lebanese music competition.

Her first studio album, Baddy Doub (I Want to Melt), was released by EMI Records in 1999.[7] For the album’s hit single, she included a second language by teaming up with Spanish singer, Gerard Ferrer.[7][11] In the same year, Elissa got her first big brand deal when shampoo brand Head & Shoulders took her on as the empowering and bold face of the company in the Middle East.[7]

Elissa released her second album, W Akherta Maak (To the End With You), which included the duet, "Betghib Betrouh" (You Disappear, You Go...), sung with Lebanese recording artist Ragheb Alama. She was the only Arabic artist to perform in front of former United States President Bill Clinton at the Stars Charity show in Dubai. In that year, she won the Murex d'Or award for Best Female Artist.

Her third studio album, Ayshalak (I Live For You), was released in 2002.[7] For the album’s titular hit single, she filmed a music video in Paris, dressed by Christian Dior.[7][12] This was the first time Dior had worked with an Arabic artist.[7] Her clip for "Ajmal Ihssas" (Best Feeling) won an Arabic Music Award for Best Video Clip in Dubai. In 2002, Elissa inaugurated Kuwait's Virgin Megastore with Sir Richard Branson.

In 2003, Elissa signed a promotional deal with Pepsi, becoming the Middle East’s brand ambassador title she held for four years.[7] Subsequently, she shot two advertisements with American pop star Christina Aguilera for Pepsi for the World Football Cup. Both advertisements were shot in Los Angeles. She collaborated with Irish singer Chris De Burgh in the duet, "Lebanese Nights."

In 2004, Elissa signed with Rotana, under which she released her fourth studio album, Ahla Dounya (The Best in the World) during that year on 5 June. The album had many singles and accompanying music videos including "Koul Youm Fi Oumri" (Every Day of My Life), "Irjaa Lilshowk" (Return to Love) and "Hobak Wajaa' (Inta Lameen)" (Your Love Hurts / Who Do You Belong To?). The tracks "Arably" (Come Closer to Me) and "Law Nirjaa Sawa" (If We Return Again) were respectively used for the album's promotion in two Pepsi advertisements. In 2005, Elissa became the first Lebanese artist to ever receive a World Music Award for Best Selling Artist from the Middle East.[7] The ceremony took place in Hollywood's Kodak Theater. In December 2005, she received the Murex d'Or for Best Lebanese Artist and Best Video Clip for "Hobak Wajaa'". Despite the huge success, Elissa revealed in an interview in 2017, she felt that this album was a step back from "Ayshalak", although it is a fan favorite.

In February 2006, she released her fifth studio album Bastanak (Awaiting You). The album had the hit single of the same name and "Law Taarafou" (If You Knew Him), both received accompanying music videos. The as well as "Kermalak" (For You), "Taa" (Come), "Fatet Sineen" (Years Passed), and "Zanbi Ana" (My Fault). The latter was composed by Marwan Khoury. On 15 November 2006, Elissa received her second World Music Award in a row for the sales of this album.

Elissa in 2009

Elissa's sixth studio album Ayami Beek (My Days With You) was released on 20 December 2007. Including one of Elissa's bigger hits "Betmoun" (I Owe You) as well as "Awakher El Shita" (The End of Winter), "Ayami Beek" and "Khod Balak Alaya" (Take Care of Me). Tesadaa Bemeen (Who Do You Believe), her seventh studio album, was released on 26 December 2009 and included one of her signature songs "Aa Bali Habibi" (Darling I Want...) and titular song "Tesadaa Bemeen". Elissa garnered her third World Music Award for Tesadaa Bemeen. In November 2010, she was awarded the prize for "Best Arab Female Artist" in the Jordan Music Awards and the Big Apple Music Award for "Best Female Artist" in the Middle East a few days later. Tesadaa Bemeen is considered to be a fan favorite due to its differing and darker themes and stronger vocal delivery throughout the album, including songs such as "Min Gheir Mounasba" (For No Reason), "Fi Shi Nkasar" (Something Broke) and "Eftakart" (I Remembered).

Her eighth studio album, Asaad Wahda (The Happiest One), was released in June 2012. The album spawned music videos for the titular song and "Teebt Mennak) (Tired Of You). The latter's video was released the following year. During the summer of 2012, Elissa released the title song for the "Maa Sabk Al Esrar" series.[13] In December 2012, Elissa was chosen to be one of the judges of The X Factor Arabia; It was on the air the first four months of 2013. On 23 June 2013 Elissa received two Murex D’or awards, for the Best Lebanese Singer and Best Arabic Song "Asaad Wahda". During the summer of 2014, Elissa released a song titled "Law" (What If) written by long term collaborator Marwan Khoury.[14]

Elissa released her ninth studio album Halet Hob (A State of Love) in July 2014. The album included covers of the songs "Awel Mara" (First Time) and "Helwa Ya Baladi" (My Sweet Homeland). She released the first music video of "Hob Kol Hayati" (Love of My Life) on 12 December 2014.[15] Elissa returned as a judge on The X Factor for its second season on 14 March 2015. Elissa released her cover version of "Mawtini" on 29 April 2015, along with its music video. The second video from her ninth studio album was released on 14 May 2015, for "Ya Merayti" (My Mirror). The titular song was released as the final single in early 2016. The lyric video of "Halet Hob" has amassed more than 100 million views on YouTube.[16]

Elissa released her tenth studio album Saharna Ya Lail (Keep Us Up All Night) during the summer of 2016, which included singles "Saharna Ya Lail", "Maliket El Ehsas" (Queen of Emotions) and "Aaks Elli Shayfenha" (The Opposite of What You See). Despite not being released as a single, the lyric video for "Maktooba Leek" (Written for You) amassed over 120 million views (as of August 2019) on Rotana's official YouTube page, making it the most watched video on their channel. [17] The following year, Elissa released a music video for "Aaks Elli Shayfenha".[18][19] Directed by Angy Jammal,[20] the video reached 3 million views during its first week of release[21] and as of August 2019, has garnered over 60 million views on YouTube. In May 2017, Elissa announced that she is the new face of Freshlook Air Optix Colors.[7]

In August 2017, Elissa was featured on Forbes Middle East English edition's August cover[22] and gave a concert as part of Beirut Holidays Festival 2017.[23] On 14 August, Elissa released a remix for the song "Ana Majnouni" (I'm Crazy)[24] which was previously released 3 years ago.[25] "Ana Majnouni" marked the third collaboration with her brother Camil Khoury and amassed more than half a million plays during its first 2 days of release.[26] In early September, it was announced that Elissa will be one of the new The Voice season 4 coaches alongside Emirati singer Ahlam, Lebanese singer Assi El Hallani, and Egyptian singer Mohamed Hamaki.[27][28]

In 11 July 2018, Elissa released the first lead single titled "Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni" (To All Those Who Love Me) from her eleventh studio album of the same name.[29][30] On 16 July 2018, Elissa dropped a promotional single from the album entitled "Krahni" (Hate Me), marking the fourth collaboration with her brother Camil Khoury who handled the song's arrangement.[31][32][33] Camil additionally handled the arrangement for two more songs on the album: "Maridit Ehtimam" (Attention Seeker) and "Enta W Maii" (When You're With Me). All three songs are in the Lebanese dialect. Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni was released on 25 July 2018.[34] The album includes various dramatic, orchestral and emotional tracks,[35] such as "Al Mekhfi" (Our Secret) and "Ana Wahida" (I'm Alone).[36] Additionally featuring poppy songs such as "Men Inaya Di" (I'm Yours) and also including "Wahashtouni" (I Miss You)[37], a cover of Warda's song of the same name.

On 7 August 2018, Elissa released the music video for 'Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni'[38] where in the music video, Elissa disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis in late December 2017 along with her treatment and recovery. [39][40][4] The music video went viral and amassed more than 9 million views during its first week of release[4]

On 10th of August 2018, Elissa gave a concert as part of Beirut Holidays Festival 2018; among the attendees was Armenian entertainer Lubluba.[41] She also gave a concert in Tunisia.[42] In September 2018, the Lebanese Information Minister honored Elissa for her career.[9] In October 2018, Elissa hinted at possible problems with label Rotana due to their exclusive deal with the Paris-based music streaming service Deezer, prompting the immediate removal of her entire discography from online digital services such as Anghami, Spotify and iTunes along with various Rotana-signed artists.[43][44] On 22 April 2019 she released the music video for her song "Krahni".[45]

In November 2018, Elissa announced on Twitter that she had begun work on her upcoming twelfth studio album.[46] On 18 January 2019, Elissa performed a benefit concert in Egypt.[47][48] In July, she announced a partnership with makeup artist Bassam Fattouh, releasing an eyeshadow palette titled 'The Star'.[49] On 22 July, a promotional song for Telecom Egypt's 'WE' mobile service titled "Ably Aya Hadi" (Without A Limit) was released and as of August 2019, gained over 15 million views on YouTube. [50]

Elissa	Twitter
@elissakh

I am preparing this new album with a lot of love and passion. The reason is that it will be the last one in my career. I am announcing this with a heavy heart but with a lot of conviction because I can’t work in a field that is similar to mafias. I can’t be productive anymore

Aug 19, 2019[51]

On 18 August 2019, she announced her retirement from the music industry via Twitter, stating her upcoming twelfth studio album will be her last and describing the music industry field as "similar to the mafias."[52] The news of her retirement shocked fans and fellow artists as #كلنااليسا (#WeAreAllElissa) began to trend on Twitter, being offered support for the singer by fans and artists alike.[53]

• Baddy Doub (1999)
• W Akherta Maak (2000)
• Ayshalak (2002)
• Ahla Dounya (2004)
• Bastanak (2006)
• Ayami Beek (2008)
• Tesadaa Bemeen (2010)
• Asaad Wahda (2012)
• Halet Hob (2014)
• Saharna Ya Lail (2016)
• Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni (2018)

• Maa Sabk Al Esrar (2012)
• Law (2014)
• Mawtini (2015)
• Anti L Tohro Ya Mariam (2017)
• Zakaria (2017)
• Eisht W Shift (2018)
• Bokra Btechroq Shams El Aied (2018)
• Abl Ay Had (2019)
• Aam Thour (2019)
• Hanghani Kaman We Kaman (2020)
• Ahwet El Madi (2020)

• Betghib Betrouh (with Ragheb Alama) [2000]
• Lebanese Night (ft. Chris de Burgh) [2002]
• Kount Fi Sirtak (ft. Cheb Mami) [2006]
• Jouwa El Roh (ft. Fadl Shaker) [2009)]
• Wara El-Shababik (ft. Tamer Hosny) [2017]