Elissa




Elissar Zakaria Khoury, commonly known as Elissa (Arabic: إليسا‎ [ʔeˈliːsa, ʔeˈlis.sa]), is a Lebanese best-selling recording artist and one of the most prominent Arab women. Elissa is known for her distinct style of music which combines classical Arabic music (and lyrics) with elements of Western music and mostly relies on love ballads. Elissa has left her mark on the Arabic pop music industry through her popular romantic musical style, which has earned her the title "Queen of Feelings". Having sold over 30 million albums, Elissa was the highest-selling Middle Eastern artist for 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010. Accordingly, in 2005, 2006, and 2010 she received the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist. Additionally she has collaborated with regional and international musicians including Ragheb Alama, Cheb Mami, Fadl Shaker, Chris DeBurgh, Christina Aguilera, and Gérard Ferrer. Since 2013, Elissa has also been a judge on the television show The X Factor Arabia. Elissa's musical career began in 1992 when she won the silver medal in Studio El Fan, a Lebanese music competition. Her first album, Baddi Doub, released under EMI Records, which debuted in 1992, was followed by her albums W Akherta Ma'ak and her first major success, Ayshalak in 2002. Following her success, in 2004 she signed with a pan-Arab record label, the Saudi-owned Rotana, under which she released Ahla Donya, further launching her into stardom. After the 2006 release of Bastanak, her most critically acclaimed album to date, Elissa had solidified her status as an Arab icon and international Arabic singer. In 2009, Elissa released her eighth studio album, Tsadaq Bmein, which became the highest-selling Arabic album of 2009 and 2010 and most recently,In 2012 Elissa released As'ad Wahda' which was also hit. In 2014, Elissa released the album Halet Hob.