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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Ya Salam
(Salute)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular song "Ya Salam", which was sung by Nancy Ajram. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
Born May 16,1983 in the Beirut area, Nancy Ajram is an immensely popular Lebanese singer, ranking as the third most popular female singer in Lebanese history. At age 8, Nancy began singing favorite oldies with her grandmother. She entered children's talent contests sponsored by two local television stations, TL and LBC. She achieved stardom when she appeared on a talent competition called Noujoum Al Moustakbal (Stars of the Future) sponsored by Future Television. In 2003, Nancy released the song "Akhasmak, Aah", and prompted the Egyptian parliament to release an official decree banning the airing of its music video. The parliament said it was due to decency issues, both due to the nature of the video's content and also to the manner in which it was shot. |
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In August of 2003, Nancy was awarded Best Arab Female singer at the Music Video Oscar Awards for this song. Interestingly, at the end of the prize ceremony, Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy, who is also head of the judging committee, announced the names of the winners. They proved to be different from the ones previously decided on by the judging committee! When the judges heard Fahmy reading names that were different from what they had agreed upon, several of them stood up and walked out to protest Fahmy's changes! Ajram's major hit "Ah Wa Noss" was released in 2004. In 2005, she became Coca Cola's official celebrity spokesperson. Her first coke commercial used her hit "Oul Tany Kida". Ajram won the 2008 World Music Award in the category for best-selling Middle Eastern artist. |
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Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Bila’ain willa ileiydain, badaina bilsalam. Mosh fakra yoamha mean illi ibtada bilkalam. | With the eyes, or the hands, we started talking. I don’t remember who started talking that day. |
| Bila’ain willa ileiydain, badaina bilsalam. Mosh fakra yoamha mean illi ibtada bilkalam. | With the eyes, or the hands, we started talking. I don’t remember who started talking that day. |
| Laakin fakra a’iynayya lamma jiryate a’alaik. | But I remember when my eyes landed on you. |
| We la-ate allbi ib-thawani malyan minnak ib-gharam. | And in seconds, I found my heart filled with your love. |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ana shoftak, aalbi biysalem ma iaadsirtish ghair asalem. | I saw you. My heart greeted you. It could do nothing but greet you. |
| Ana shoftak, aalbi biysalem ma iaadsirtish ghair asalem. | I saw you. My heart greeted you. It could do nothing but greet you. |
| Dhamate aalbak fi hodhni iw a’aynaik aalitli khodni. | I embraced your heart, and your eyes said, "Take me!" |
| Mosh a’arfa aih illi hasallia iwkhalani is-har manaam. | I don't know what happened to me. It kept me up all night and I missed dreaming. |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| We laaetni ba-ool lirouhi istanni balash tirouhi. | And I found myself telling my soul, "Don't go away!" |
| We laaetni ba-ool lirouhi istanni balash tirouhi. | And I found myself telling my soul, "Don't go away!" |
| Dhihkitli el dounya taani we hawak bilshoaa malaani. | The world laughed for me again and your love filled me. |
| Mosh aadra istana tiji dana jayyalak awam. | I can't wait for you to come! I'm coming for you right away. |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
| Ya salam, ya salam addi eih hilwi ilgharam. | Ah, ah, love is so sweet! |
Translations of
Nancy Ajram's Songs on This Site
About the Translator
More than 80 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.
Sadly, Tahseen died on Sunday, October 15, 2006. See this link for his obituary.
To me, Tahseen was so much more than a contributor to my web site. Even though we lived far apart, I saw Tahseen and Kathe several times over the years. I always appreciated their warmth and generosity. I first "met" Tahseen online back in 1997 on the med-dance list on the Internet, where he periodically posted messages. I knew he was in Lawrence, Kansas, so when a business trip arose requiring me to travel to the Kansas City area, I emailed him to say I'd be in the neighborhood. He and Kathe came to Kansas City for an evening get-together at Tasso's restaurant, and they invited several local dancers to join us. I saw them on follow-up visits to Kansas City. They vended at Rakkasah for several years, and it was always a pleasure to greet them there in the anteroom off to the left of the main stage. I also enjoyed encountering them in Egypt at the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival. Tahseen will be missed by many. |
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