| YaTabtab...Wa Dallaa | ||||||||||
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| Studio album by Nancy Ajram | ||||||||||
| Released | February 15, 2006 | |||||||||
| Genre | Arabic | |||||||||
| Length | 48:10 | |||||||||
| Label | Art-Line Music | |||||||||
| Producer | Jiji Lamara | |||||||||
| Nancy Ajram chronology | ||||||||||
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Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa (Arabic: "يا طبطب ... ودلع") is the fifth studio album by Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram, released February 15, 2006.
The album continues with Nancy's earlier style, with nine Egyptian traditional tracks and two Lebanese-inspired songs, one of which, "Lawn Ouyounak" (The Color of Your Eyes) became a massively successful single.
Inspired by a humorous Egyptian traditional vibe, Ya Tabtab was a remarkable turn in Nancy's career. Its lead single and title track was released as a response for critics who had accused Nancy of singing "with [her] body." Ironically, the singer appeared in the lead single's video fully dressed as a clown, showing no skin at all, wearing baggy clothes and singing about a man who does not treat her right, in a very childish, innocent way.
Contents |
Lead single/album title Ya Tabtab Wa Dalla3 ("I Pat & Spoil") a.k.a Atabtab was released on February 10, peaking at #1 where it remained for three weeks. In a cute and funny way, Nancy complains about her lover's immaturity and selfishness.
Nadine Labaki directed the video, where Nancy appears as a clownish girl part of a little carnival that does little shows in public. The plot is much inspired from the 1950s Fellini film La strada and Nancy's character has a kind of adapted resemblance to that of Souad Hosni's. Nancy and her strong lover make a living by drawing a crowd around their shows, as Nancy helps the magician do his magic tricks, presents the strong man, and dances with children as a clown. Nancy, who appeared as a poor beggar in baggy clothes was both criticized and praised for the change. Even though it is generally categorized as Comedy, Atabtab's video holds a deep social message as well as revival of old long-missed images. In fact, the video is to blame for a year-lasting wave of Arabic videos directed towards children, after which Nancy came back with a whole album and video dedicated entirely, and innocently, for children, Shakhbat Shakhabit.
Atabtab's #1 spot was taken by none other than the album's second single, Moegaba ("Admirer"). In the song, Nancy is too shy to admit to her crush about her feelings and wants people to do it for her. This single was a major hit, especially in Egypt. Moegaba was the 4th Coca-Cola commercial, and Coke song of the season, and it is considered the first hit from "Atabtab" since it came out on November 24, 2005, 3 months before the album's release. The video was continued on March 9, 2006, with fascinating circus themes and portrayals.
The third single, Ana Yalli ("I'm the One"), is probably the most popular among people ,The song was composed by prominent Lebanese composer Sameer Sfeir, whose works, as usual, stand out in an album reaching everybody's hearts from all tastes. (Of his previous hits with Nancy: Inta Eih, Yey (Sehr 3youno)..). The video, similarly to Moegaba, continues Nancy's first DAMAS Jewelery & World Gold Council commercial (Farfasha Collection) rather than Coke. The jewerly collection & its commercial/video, the song, and Nancy all share together fun, simplicity, and beauty.
Ehsas Jdeed ("A New Feeling") probably achieved the most tremendous success as a song, and so did its video that won Best Arabic Video for 2006 in 'La Murex D'Or Annual Awards'.
Ehsas Jdeed was the fourth video from the album, (yet second big production) and was directed by prominent Lebanese director Said el-Marouk; this was Nancy's first cooperation with him. The 8-minute long video had tremendous success even months after its release. In the video, Nancy falls in love with a deaf, mute man, who lives in a cottage in the middle of nature's beauty - choosing him over the rich fiance her rich dad has chosen for her. Ehsas Jdeed along with Ana Yalli and Law Dallalouni are the three Lebanese-dialect songs in the album. 'Ehsas Jdeed' stood more than 10 weeks at number one in all the Arabian countries, including Lebanon where it topped the charts for 12 consecutive weeks. It was the last number one song in 2006 and the first in 2007.
In late fall of 2007, Nancy surprised her Khaleeji (Gulf) fans with a video for the only Khaleeji song of the album Mishtaga Leik ("Missing You"). Nancy with well-known Khaleeji composer Ya'agoub elKhoubeizi succeeded at creating a somewhat both fun and sad, traditional and modern Khaleeji song that brought a new style in Nancy, and in the traditional Khaleeji song. Mirna Khayyat, the first female director in the middle east, was chosen to direct the clip. This first cooperation between Khayyat and Nancy comes after Nancy's huge successes with Nadine Labaki & Said elMarouk. Unsatisfied critics advised Nancy not to cooperate with Khayyat again.
Ashtiki Minno ("Should I Complain About Him?") was the song used for Nancy's fifth Coca-Cola Commercial. Though video-less, this song is one of the album's big hits. It is a fast song, great for belly-dancing, and it stands out from previous works for Nancy.
Ya Sissayyed ("Master") with the magic of Middle Eastern tunes, and a traditional Egyptian style and lyrics, will not get the chance to be filmed. The song is composed by Mhd. Saed, who previously composed "Akhasmak Ah" and "Oul Tany Kida" for Nancy. The song was supposed to be released in Nancy's previous album, "Ah W Noss", but a defect in the studio caused Nancy's voice to be erased from it. The song had to be remixed and sung again, and Nancy had to wait for the next album (Atabtab) to release it. Rumors say it was an attempt to steal the song from Nancy.
Elli Kan (Everything Before You) is the fifth video of the album. The video is an extension of Nancy's second DAMAS (Farfasha) & World Gold Council commercial, and in it she portrays a college student who falls in love with her stalker. The song holds Egyptian tradition with its simple traditional Oud and flute background, and was also a huge success in Egypt even before it was filmed. It is one of Nancy's favourites, and one of the three songs in the album composed by Waleed Saed (along with Moegaba, and Sabrak Alayya), who brought out a very touching song with an oriental Tarab style. Saed has previously composed "Hobbak Leyya" (Your Love is Mine) for Nancy from her hit album "Ah W Noss", and "Ana Masri", Nancy's song dedicated to Egypt that took Egypt's African Games by storm.
Oul Hansaki ("Say You'll Forget Me") was candidate to be filmed. A slow 6-minute song with very sad and sincere feelings, where Nancy dares her heartbreaking inconsiderate lover to say the words "I will forget you" (only one word in Arabic - "Hansaki"). Yet she advises him not to say it, and promises him that she will forget him before he even says it.
In Ya Tabtab, Nancy cooperated with the greatest names in the Arabic music industry, like:
- Samir Sfeir: only one song in this album, but it is one of the greatest unforgettable hits. Previous songs for Nancy: "Inta Eih", "Gayyin Ye2ulouli", "La Teloom" from her hit album Ah W Noss, and "Yey (Sehr 3youno)" from Ya Salam. Sameer Sfeir has been composing the greatest Arabic hits for more than 25 years, and he takes part of the credit of the birth of stars like Nawal elZoghbi, Assi elHellani, and Wael Kfouri.
- Tarek Madkour: who arranged 5 songs in the album, and composed Atabtab. Madkoor has previously composed Nancy's famous hit song Ah W Noss, and has arranged: "Yey", "Inta Eih", "Oul Tany Kida", and of course "Ah W Noss". Tareq has been in the industry for more than 20 years, and started his work with Amr Diab, an old friend that he still does songs for. Most of the greatest Arabic hits hold his signature.
- Waleed Saed: leading Egyptian composer, composed 3 songs in the album, Moegaba, Sabrak Alayya and Elli Kan. Previously composed "Hobbak Leyya", a slow song from Ah W Noss and "Ana Masri", Nancy's song for Egypt. Elli Kan has Saed's clear Tarab and sad touch seen in works for Assala (Asfa), or Misheet Khalas (Wael Jassar) and even the legendary Warda.
- Yaagoub elKhoubeizi is the only Khaleeji composer with the only Khaleeji song Mishtaga Leik, its his first cooperation with Nancy. He has previously worked with Assala and Nawal elZoghbi.
- Salim Salama, who previously composed Nancy's first best selling album's title "Ya Salam", with "Ahla Jaw" and "Nasseito Garho" , and Hadi Charara (award-winning Lebanese music arranger - Ehsas Jdeed)
- Hassan Abou-elSaoud, the late president of the Egyptian Music Association.
- Mhd. Saed, who composed Nancy's fame debut hit "Akhasmak Ah", and Nancy's first Coke hit "Oul Tany Kida.
- Mhd. Mustafa, Egyptian music arranger for more than 20 years.
- Suheil Fares, who made most of the songs in Nancy's album "Sheel 3younak 3anni" before she stepped into fame, and to whom she still shows loyalty.
"Atabtab" is notable for the use of many of its songs as commercials.
- November 24, 2005: Nancy's 4th Coca-Cola Commercial, "Moegaba" came 3 months before the Album's release. The circus 'Moulin Rouge' theme of the commercial was continued later on in a video for Moegaba that was released on March 19, 2006.
- February 4, 2006: Nancy's first commercial for the World Gold Council & Damas Jewelry Farfasha collection, that need a popular fun song like "Ana Yalli" to help promote the album 10 days before its release.
- July 10, 2006: Nancy's 5th Coca-Cola Commercial, "Ashtiki Minno" was the 4th hit of the album.
- May 2007: Nancy's second Gold-Damas Farfasha Commercial, "Elli Kan" came a few weeks before the video's release on June 3, along with an advertising campaign.
~ September 17, 2007: Mahmoud Saeed & Casanova launch "Mishtaga Leik" perfume, 2 months before the video's release.
Fans have requested Nancy to make "Ya Sissayyed" a Coca-Cola commercial, however this was not done due to the release of "El Donya Helwa", the 2007 Coca-Cola hit for the huge "Coke Side of Life" campaign. The next Coke commercial was released in 2008, featuring part of "Meen Gheri Ana" the first single from Nancy's long awaited upcoming album. Three commercials were released, for the song, its instrumental version, and its Acapella version. The song is composed by Sameer Sfeir, arranged by Tareq Madkoor, and became a hit from a mere 30-second release.
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Egypt Virgin Megastores | 1 |
| UAE Virgin Megastores | 1 |
| Lebanon Virgin Megastores | 1 |
| Qatar Virgin Megastores | 3 |
| Jeddah Virgin Megastores | 2 |
| Jordan Virgin Megastores | 1 |
| Bahrain Virgin Megastores | 3 |
| Riyadh Virgin Megastores | 2 |
| Algeria Virgin Megastores | 1 |
| Tunisia Virgin Megastores | 1 |
| Morocco Virgin Megastores | 1 |
| Rotana Albums Top 100 | 3 |
| Alam El Phan Albums Top 50 | 3 |
| Heart Seekers Albums Top 20 | 1 |
| HitMarker | 1 |
| Nojoom Top10 Albums | 1 |
| All Arab Albums Top 50 | 1 |
| Track | Release Order | Music Video (director, year) | Commercial Use? | Performed Live? | Chart Peaks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atabtab | 1st | Nadine Labaki 2006 | [Unofficial] MBC Wanasah | TV & Concert | |
| Ehsas Jdeed | 5th | Said elMarouk 2006 | TV & Concert | ||
| Moegaba | 2nd (first single) | Harry Rankin/Mike Libscombe | Coca-Cola- Circus 2006 | TV & Concert | |
| Mishtaga Leik | 7th | Mirna Khayyat 2007 | [Unofficial] Perfume | TV & Concert | |
| Ana Yalli | 3rd | Pascal D'Ash 2006 | Farfasha Damas-World Gold Council2006 | Concert | 7 weeks |
| Ashtiki Minno | 4th | ? | Coca-Cola- Bottle 2006 | TV & Concert | |
| Oul Hansaki | - | ||||
| Elli Kan | 6th | Diamentino Ferriera | Damas-World Gold Council2007 | Concert | |
| -Ya Sissayyed | - | ||||
| Sabrak Alayya | - | ||||
| Law Dallalouni | - |
Setlist:
Song - Writer - Composer - Arranger
The album cover photography by famous Lebanese photographer David Abdallah, did not gain much satisfaction from fans. However, the inside layout of the album, and the booklet's inner photography by rival Fares Jammal was one of Nancy's most successful photosessions, as it promoted Nancy's first Jewellery campaign. The beautiful photographs were spread across the streets, malls, & magazines of the UAE, as well as Lebanon.
Make-up, by Nancy's famous make-up artist Fadi Kataya
Hair stylist Wasim Morqoss from Pace & Luce
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