After cementing herself as an inimitable icon in the Arab world, Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram now has her eyes set on making a name for herself on the international stage.
The hitmaker, who’s been cruising on top of the Middle East’s charts for some time (read: the last two decades), has recently made history for having placed the first-ever Arabic song on the American Billboard Dance Charts. Accompanied by Philadelphia-born DJ and producer Marshmello, the record-breaking track, titled Sah Sah, made its memorable debut last Tuesday at the 38th position, in less than two weeks after its initial release.
Debuts on this week’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart:
#14, @KygoMusic w/ @deanlewismusic Lost Without You
#15, @DillonFrancis, @ILLENIUM & @EVANGIIA Don’t Let Me Let Go
#38, @marshmello & @NancyAjram Sah Sah
#41, @pitbull Cafe Con Leche
#47, @LoudLuxury ft. #KIDDO These Nights— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) July 19, 2022
Gaining more and more momentum by the day, the track is rapidly climbing up the ranks and also made it onto the US iTunes charts’ Top 10, while occupying the top spots of the iTunes electronic music section in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Although the single has racked up some impressive numbers across digital platforms — notably with 20 million views on YouTube and over one million streams on Spotify alone — Ajram isn’t the first Arab woman to stamp her name onto the US Dance Charts. In 2019, Riyadh-born Lebanese artist DD Foxx saw her track Need Your Love Tonight peak at #18, making her the first ever Middle Eastern female to secure a spot on the much-competitive chart.
However, Need Your Love Tonight, features English lyrics, meaning that Ajram’s Sah Sah is the first Arabic-language track to debut on the songs chart. Indeed, the one affectionately dubbed as the “Queen of Arab Pop” by her adoring fans is once again proving how she can continuously reinvent herself, generate buzz, and make headlines– even after 20 years in the industry.
