Elissa (Lebanese singer)


Elissar Zakaria Khoury, commonly known as Elissa, is a Lebanese recording artist who is one of Lebanon's most famous singers and one of the best known artists in the Arab world.
She has been among the highest-selling female Middle Eastern artists since 2005. In 2005, 2006 and 2010 she received the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist and became the first Lebanese singer to receive the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist in 2005. She has currently sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Elissa is also one of the richest celebrities in Lebanon, with a reported estimated wealth of over $40 million. As of 2019, Elissa has over 50 million followers on social media. In 2018, Elissa appeared as a judge on The Voice Ahla Sawt, the Arab edition of The Voice.

Early life

Elissa was born in Deir el Ahmar to a Syrian mother and a Lebanese father.
She has three brothers Ghassan, Kamil and Jihad and two sisters Norma and Rita. Elissa was raised in the Beqaa Valley with her other siblings.
She graduated from the Lebanese University with a degree in Political Science. Although she had a degree in politics, she was additionally interested in making music. Therefore, after graduating, she decided to pursue a professional career in show business and in music. To successfully combine her passion of politics and theater, Elissa joined Le Théâtre de Dix-Heures, a Lebanese Theatrical Group.

Career

1992–99: Career beginnings, Studio El Fan, and debut album ''Baddy Doub''

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, was released by EMI Records in 1999. For the album’s hit single, she included a second language by teaming up with Spanish singer, Gerard Ferrer. 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.

2000–2003: ''W Akherta Maak'' and ''Ayshalak''

Elissa released her second album, W Akherta Maak, which included the duet, "Betghib Betrouh", 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, was released in 2002. For the album’s titular hit single, she filmed a music video in Paris, dressed by Christian Dior. This was the first time Dior had worked with an Arabic artist. Her clip for "Ajmal Ihssas" won an Arabic Music Award for Best Video Clip in Dubai. In 2002, Elissa inaugurated Kuwait's Virgin Megastore with Sir Richard Branson.

2003–06: Further recognition, ''Ahla Dounya'' and ''Bastanak''

In 2003, Elissa signed a promotional deal with Pepsi, becoming the Middle East’s brand ambassador title she held for four years. 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 during that year on 5 June. The album had many singles and accompanying music videos including "Koul Youm Fi Oumri", "Irjaa Lilshowk" and "Hobak Wajaa' ". The tracks "Arably" and "Law Nirjaa Sawa" 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. 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. The album had the hit single of the same name and "Law Taarafou", both received accompanying music videos. The as well as "Kermalak", "Taa", "Fatet Sineen", and "Zanbi Ana". 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.

2007–10: ''Ayami Beek'' and ''Tesadaa Bemeen''

Elissa's sixth studio album Ayami Beek was released on 20 December 2007. Including one of Elissa's bigger hits "Betmoun" as well as "Awakher El Shita", "Ayami Beek" and "Khod Balak Alaya". Tesadaa Bemeen, her seventh studio album, was released on 26 December 2009 and included one of her signature songs "Aa Bali Habibi" 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", "Fi Shi Nkasar" and "Eftakart".

2012–15: ''Asaad Wahda'', ''Halet Hob'', and MBC The X Factor

Her eighth studio album, Asaad Wahda . 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. 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" written by long term collaborator Marwan Khoury.
Elissa released her ninth studio album Halet Hob in July 2014. The album included covers of the songs "Awel Mara" and "Helwa Ya Baladi". She released the first music video of "Hob Kol Hayati" on 12 December 2014. 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". 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.

2016–17: ''Saharna Ya Lail''

Elissa released her tenth studio album Saharna Ya Lail during the summer of 2016, which included singles "Saharna Ya Lail", "Maliket El Ehsas" and "Aaks Elli Shayfenha". Despite not being released as a single, the lyric video for "Maktooba Leek" amassed over 120 million views on Rotana's official YouTube page, making it the most watched video on their channel. The following year, Elissa released a music video for "Aaks Elli Shayfenha". Directed by Angy Jammal, the video reached 3 million views during its first week of release 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.
In August 2017, Elissa was featured on Forbes Middle East English edition's August cover and gave a concert as part of Beirut Holidays Festival 2017. On 14 August, Elissa released a remix for the song "Ana Majnouni" which was previously released 3 years ago. "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. 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.

2018–present: ''Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni'', retirement and ''Sahbit Raey''

In 11 July 2018, Elissa released the first lead single titled "Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni" from her eleventh studio album of the same name. On 16 July 2018, Elissa dropped a promotional single from the album entitled "Krahni", marking the fourth collaboration with her brother Camil Khoury who handled the song's arrangement. Camil additionally handled the arrangement for two more songs on the album: "Maridit Ehtimam" and "Enta W Maii". All three songs are in the Lebanese dialect. Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni was released on 25 July 2018. The album includes various dramatic, orchestral and emotional tracks, such as "Al Mekhfi" and "Ana Wahida". Additionally featuring poppy songs such as "Men Inaya Di" and also including "Wahashtouni", a cover of Warda's song of the same name.
On 7 August 2018, Elissa released the music video for 'Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni' where in the music video, Elissa disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis in late December 2017 along with her treatment and recovery. The music video went viral and amassed more than 9 million views during its first week of release
On 10 August 2018, Elissa gave a concert as part of Beirut Holidays Festival 2018; among the attendees was Armenian entertainer Lubluba. She also gave a concert in Tunisia. In September 2018, the Lebanese Information Minister honored Elissa for her career. 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. On 22 April 2019 she released the music video for her song "Krahni".
In November 2018, Elissa announced on Twitter that she had begun work on her upcoming twelfth studio album. On 18 January 2019, Elissa performed a benefit concert in Egypt. In July, she announced a partnership with makeup artist Bassam Fattouh, releasing an eyeshadow palette titled 'The Star'. On 22 July, a promotional song for Telecom Egypt's 'WE' mobile service titled "Ably Aya Hadi" was released and as of August 2019, gained over 15 million views on YouTube.
On 18 August 2019, she announced her retirement from the music industry via Twitter, stating her then-upcoming twelfth studio album will be her last and describing the music industry field as "similar to the mafias." The news of her retirement shocked fans and fellow artists as #كلنااليسا began to trend on Twitter, being offered support for the singer by fans and artists alike. In 2020, Elissa released two singles titled "Hanghani Kaman Wi Kaman" and "Ahwet El Madi" on 11 April and 25 May respectively. On 18 July 2020, she also announced her twelfth album "Sahbit Raey" and released the lead single of the same name on 23 July. An initial cover for the album/single with suggestive themes had caused controversy among audiences and had prompted Elissa's management to have it replaced with a different cover. The album is due for release exclusively on Deezer and Rotana's official YouTube channel during the Eid al-Adha season on 1 August.

Personal life and political views

In 2014, Elissa took to social media to condemn the atrocities committed by ISIS against minorities, stating "I'm Lebanese and I'm proudly Christian, shame on such people." Elissa is an outspoken advocate of women’s rights in the Middle East.
An advocate for Breast cancer awareness, Elissa revealed her previously private diagnosis and defeat of an early stage of the disease with the release of her music video for "Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni"; previously keeping it a secret from both the press and general public from her diagnosis in late-2017. The video ends with the following message:
"I've recovered, I've beaten the illness and I won... Early detection of breast cancer can save your life... Don't ignore it, face it... Do it not only for yourself, but for your loved ones." Many applauded her for "breaking the taboo" of breast cancer awareness in the Middle East and therefore influenced and encouraged women to be checked for the disease. The hashtags #Elissa and #To_All_Who_Love_Me began to trend in Lebanon and surrounding countries in the Middle East. In October 2018, Elissa was chosen as an ambassador for a breast cancer awareness campaign in Beirut.
She is strong woman mentally as she admitted in May Chidiac Foundation conference that she was subject of bullying for her mouth on Social Media, but she said, "When you achieve what I achieved in life, you can come and say whatever you want."
She is a supporter of Lebanese Forces party and its leader Samir Geagea as she backed him for presidency before the election of Michel Aoun.

Discography

Studio albums