Tuesday, December 30, 2008


Nawal Al Zoghbi (Arabic نوال الزغبي), full name Nawal George Al Zoghbi, is a successful Lebanese Arab singer. Performing in Arabic she has a solid fan base throughout the Arab world and extending into North America and Europe[citation needed]. She has had a musical career spanning over 15 years. Zoghbi believes her success is due to the true emotional she delivers through her voice. She is quoted as saying 'whether a voice is big or small, if it lacks emotion it will never succeed'. She is also one of the highest selling Arab artists of all time.[citation needed]

Biography

Nawal Al Zoghbi was born June 29, 1972 in Lebanon. Nawal began singing at an early age, despite family opposition to the lifestyle of a musician. Members of her family changed their minds when they realized she was serious in her ambitions.

Recording career

1992-1995: Debut and initial success

Inspired by her appearance on Studio El Fan in 1988 (singing competition), Nawal became a professional singer in 1991. After a visit to her birth city of Beirut she released her debut album "Wehyati Andak" in 1992.

With that success[citation needed] she released a string of hit albums such as "Ayza El Radd" and "Balaee Fi Zamany". The video "Wala Behimini" from the album "Balaee Fi Zamany" secured her stardom with her image being broadcast on several billboards and in magazines such as the Arabic version of "ELLE".

1996-2002: Stardom and controversy

In 1996 Nawal released one of her most successful albums to date named "Habeit Ya Leil". The album spawned 3 hit singles with "Habeit Ya Leil", "Noss El Alb", and "Ghareeb El Ray". This was her final album with the label Music Box International, with which she terminated her contract.

In 1998 Nawal Al-Zoghbi released her album and single titled Mandam aleik. Nawal's next album Maloum was released in 1999.

Nawal's next two releases El Layali 2000 and Tool Omri 2001 were both released within a year of each other, and provided Nawal with continued success, reclaiming her spot atop the pantheon of Arabic pop.

In 2002, Al Zoghbi worked with controversial music video director Sherif Sabri to create a new image for her song 'Elli Tmaneito'. [1] Nawal was angry with Sherif, so she quit dealing with him. Teasers were aired on Egyptian satellite channel, Dream TV. After the full broadcast, the album received luke warm reviews. Al Zoghbi blames its failure on her decision to not promote the album. Nevertheless, the album of the same name spawned 2 successful singles, 'Elli Tmaneito' and 'Byilba'lak'.

2004-2006

After a two year break, her face became big with some Botox injections and a makeover, Nawal's next album Eineik Kaddabeen was released in the summer of 2004 at a lavish album launch party in Cairo Inn. This album was accompanied by two singles: 'Eineik Kaddabeen' and 'Bi'einek' and was flopped.

Immediately after promoting that album, Nawal then began work on her album titled Yama Alou. She released the first single 'Rouhi Ya Rouhi' in August 2005. Her first live performance of 'Rohi Ya Rohi' was at a concert she held at the Hammersmith Apollo, in London. The next single released from Yama Alou was 'Shou Akhbarak' in February 2006.

Nawal in a Photo Shoot for Yama Alou (2006)

As part of the promotion for her 11th album Yama Alou, her production company, Alam el Phan, began previewing short clips from some of the upcoming albums songs on a telephone line that listeners could call. Shortly after, an advertisement campaign was launched. It began with a television advert showing the camera moving from a woman's boots upwards, but stopping before her face was revealed, the screen went dark and the word 'soon' appeared on the screen.

A week or so later, the next advertisement followed a similar format to the previous one, however, in this new advert, the face of the woman was revealed and the figure was Nawal herself. After this, the next advert showed clips of Nawal from the albums promotional photo shoot while playing small clips of the songs 'Yama Alou', 'Aghla el Habbayib', 'El Assi', 'Habaytak' and 'Shou Akhbarak'.

The television campaign was accompanied by large billboards and posters of Nawal in Egypt and Lebanon. The music video for Yama Alou, began to air at the beginning of July 2006, roughly a week before the album release date. The music video was aired on the Mazzika and Zoom music channels across the Middle East and the song was played exclusively on the Sawt el Ghad radio station in Lebanon as well as on Nagoum FM in Egypt.

Yama Alou was intended to be released throughout the Middle East on the 17th of July 2006, however, due to the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, its release was postponed. It was then released on 26 July 2006 in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In the following weeks, the album was made available in other countries around the Middle East and was finally released in Lebanon on the 14 September 2006, once the war was over.

2007

Nawal at the Rotana Press Conference (2007)

On the 23rd of March 2007, it was announced that Nawal al Zoghbi would be producing her next album with the production company Rotana. Nawal officially joined Rotana at a press conference at the Movenpick in Beirut on the 28th of March, 2007.

At a press conference held by LG global at the hotel Dosit in Dubai on the 25th of April 2007, it was announced that Nawal Al Zoghbi will be the face to advertise LG cellular phones which the company will put out in 2007-2008 in the Middle East. The conference was attended by a large crowd from various media, which exceeded a variety of over 100 means of information between written, visual and audible.

On Sunday, May 20th, 2007, Nawal Al Zoughbi was a guest on the hit show Taratata (Dubai TV Channel) along with four other singers. Nawal sang duets with the other four singers who will be making appearances on the show. Ibrahim Al-Hakami of Superstar 4) and the Lebanese-Canadian singer Massari were among the four guests that appeared and sang with Nawal on Sunday.

On Tuesday, June 12th, 2007 Nawal released the music video of her song, "Aghla El Habayib" from her album "Yama Alou" which was a continuation to the song "Shou Akhbarak" from the same album

On August 8th, 2007 Nawal Al Zoughbi returned to the Carthage Festival after an 8 year absence.

2008

In early January 2008, billboards appeared in cities across the Arabian world with the phrase 'Sawa Min Jadeed' (English: Back Together) and the letters NZ. This was a pre-release promo to advertise the reuniting of Rotana and Nawal and the release of her new album. On 10th January 2008, Rotana began airing tv adverts showing samples from the new album, entitled "Khalas Sameht". The first single from the album "Albi Is'alou" (English: Ask My Heart) began airing on Arabic radio stations on the 15th of January 2008.

Nawal appeared on the show, Taratata, alongside famous Arab star Kathem El Sahr on the 20th of January.

Khalas Sameht was released on the evening of the 22nd of January 2008 in Nawal's native Lebanon and internationally on the 23rd of January, 2008. It reached # 1 on the charts the first day, and sold extremely well the first week.[citation needed]

The first music video from the new album, titled Albi Esalou, was first shown on TV channels on the 5th of February 2008. The album was then officially launched at a press conference in Cairo, Egypt on the 12th of February 2008.

Leih Moushtalak was the second music video for the album, Khalas Sameht. It was released on July 25th of 2008, later on it debuted at number 2 on Rotana's PEPSI Top 20, eventually dropping to number 9 on the chart.

Family

Nawal is the oldest of her three brothers and one sister. She got married in 1990, to Elie Deeb (who became, and still is, her Personal Manager) who she divorced in August of 2008. They had three children: a daughter Tia (b. Nov 1998), and twin sons Georgy and Joey (b. Dec 2001). She prefers to keep her personal life private. She released a song titled Tia in 1999, which was dedicated to her daughter and her birth. She also owns a production company named after her daughter, Tia Productions.

Image and Career Control

Nawal has been known for her distinctive performances, and has always taken her image into careful consideration. She constantly has changed her image much like Madonna and has also been called the Madonna of the Arabic world.[citation needed]

Nawal has always been known to take special care with her music. She has final say over her lyrics and songs as well as promotion. She has stated controlling her career is one of her keys to success.

Nawal Zoghby who is close to divorce her husband Elie Dib, states, December 2008, that he is no longer her manager and that her work contact with Rotana is still on.

Politics

Nawal has released a song on her own dedicated to Palestine called "Ya Quds" (O Jerusalem).

Nawal has also participated in several political singles such as the patriotic song "Ya Omati" with other Arabic artists, "Hikayt Watan" a song with Lebanese singers for the liberation of South Lebanon, as well as the song "La Ma Kholsit Le Hkayeh" after the death of Rafic Hariri.

Discography

Albums

Music Videos

Awards

1997

  • "Lions" Award for the best singer in Lebanon & Jordan
  • "Best Female Singer" in Lebanon
  • "Best Female Singer" in Arabic World

1998

  • "Best Singer" in the UAE

1999

  • "First Arabic Singer"
  • Best Female (Jordan)
  • Best Female (Lebanon)
  • Best Female (Egypt)
  • Artist of the Year

2000

  • Best Lebanese Singer
  • Best Arabic Singer (Egypt)

2004

  • Murex D'or Award: Best Female Lebanese Singer of the year
  • Arab Music Awards: Best Female Singer
  • Arab Music Awards: Overall Best Song
  • Best Arabic Singer (Egypt)
  • Best Album (Lebanon)
  • Best Lebanese Singer

2005

  • Best Arabic Singer (Egypt)

2006

  • Best Arabic Singer (T-A-C)
  • Album of The Year "Yama Alou" (T-A-C)
  • Song of the Year "Yama Alou" (T-A-C)
  • Clip of the Year "Yama Alou" (T-A-C)
  • Best Dancing Song of the Year "Yama Alou" (T-A-C)
  • Best Album "Yama Alou" (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Song "Yama Alou" (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Video "Yama Alou" (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Dance Song "Yama Alou" (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Entertainer Of The Week- 10 Times (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Entertainer Of The Year (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Fans for a singer (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Arabian Artist (Arabian Awards)

2007

  • Best Arabic Singer (T-A-C)
  • Song of the Year "Aghla El Habayeb" (T-A-C)
  • Clip of the Year "Aghla El Habayeb" (T-A-C)
  • Best Dancing Song of the Year "Adi" (T-A-C)
  • Best Song "Aghla El Habayeb " (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Video "Aghla El Habayeb" (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Dance Song "Adi" (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Lebanese Song "Aghla El Habayeb (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Khaliji Song for 'Adi' (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Entertainer Of The Year (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Fans for a singer (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Fan Group (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Website (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Fashion Idol (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Concert "Cartage" (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Artist In A TV Show appearance for Kanat Khamas Noujoum
  • Voting Star Winner (Lebanon Entertainment--LE)
  • Best Arabian Artist (Arabian Awards)
  • Artist of the Year (JE Awards)
  • Gold Dulex Album (JE Awards)
  • Favorite Female Artist (JE Awards)
  • Best Dressed Artist (JE Awards)
  • Most Famous in America (JE Awards)
  • Most Likely to Have the Best 2008 (JE Awards)
  • Best Album of The Year "Yama Alou" (JE Awards)
  • Best Khaliji Song for "Adi" (JE Awards)
  • Video of the Year "Aghla El Habayeb" (JE Awards)
  • Arab Hottie (JE Awards)

2008

  • Album of the Year (JE Awards)
  • Song of the Year "Albi S'alou" (JE Awards)
  • Video of the Year "Leh Mosthalak" (JE Awards)
  • Hottie of the Year (JE Awards)
  • Artist of the Year (JE Awards)
  • Best Dressed Artist (JE Award)
  • Trendsetter of the Year (JE Awards)
  • Most Likely to Have the Best 2009 (JE Awards)
  • Gold Delux Album (JE Awards)
  • Video of The Year "Albi S'alou" (Lebanon Entertainment-LE)

Endorsements

Nawal al Zoghbi has worked with Pepsi since 2001. She signed a 5 year contract with the company to make a number of advertisements that were accompanied by songs from her albums. She also used Pepsi products in some of her music videos, namely Eineik Kaddabin and Rohi Ya Rohi.

LG Electronics confirmed the appointment of Nawal Zoghbi as the face of LG Shine, the next model in LG’s ultra stylish Black Label Series mobile phones in April 2007. In a press conference on the 25th of April 2007 at the Dosit hotel in Dubai it was announced that Nawal will be the brand ambassador for LG mobile phones for the next 13 months. Her phone was featured in her clip Aghla El Habayib.


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