Sahbit Raey (Arabic: صاحبة رأي) (English: A Woman's Opinion) is the twelfth and last Rotana Records studio album by Lebanese recording artist Elissa, released on 1 August 2020 by Rotana.[1][2] Following her 2018 album Ila Kol Lli Bihibbouni, the album contains 18 tracks and was preceded by the release of three singles, including the lead single of the same name on 23 July 2020.

Sahbit Raey
صاحبة رأي
Studio album by
Released1 August 2020
Recorded2019–2020
Studio
  • Hadi Sharara (Beirut)
  • Michel Fadel
  • Metropolis (London)
  • ART (Cairo)
  • Raymond El Hajj
Genre
Length72:22
LabelRotana
Elissa chronology
Ila Kol Lli Bihibbouni
(2018)
Sahbit Raey
صاحبة رأي

(2020)
Singles from Sahbit Raey
  1. "Hanghanni Kaman W Kaman"
    Released: 11 April 2020
  2. "Ahwit El Madi"
    Released: 25 May 2020
  3. "Sahbit Raey"
    Released: 23 July 2020
20 Years special edition

In the album's physical booklet, Elissa wrote that Sahbit Raey is to be her final album released by Saudi-based group Rotana, marking her departure from the label since signing in 2004.[3] As a result, Rotana released a three-disc special box set CD featuring the album on the first disc, and twenty singles from her last eight albums split across the latter two.[4]

Background edit

In 2019, Elissa had announced on social media that recording sessions for her twelfth studio album had begun. However on 19 August, she posted on Twitter announcing her retirement; calling the Arab music industry "similar to the mafias" and that her then-upcoming album would be her last. Many fans and peers of Elissa reacted by sending support and paying tribute to her, along with trending hashtags such as "We Are All Elissa" (#كلنااليسا) as well as her name.[5] Throughout late-2019 and early-2020, Elissa teased fans with new music by posting pictures of her and producers in studio; announcing titles of songs such as "Ala Hess Hikayetna" and "Habbit Ehtimam".[6]

Release edit

On 11 April 2020, Elissa and Rotana released the single "Hanghanni Kaman W Kaman" on streaming platforms.[7] On the same day, a music video directed by Eli Rezkallah was published to Rotana's YouTube channel. As of December 2020, the music video has amassed over 10 million views.[8] On 25 May, she released another single titled "Ahwit El Madi" and published a lyric video on YouTube on the same day.[9][10]

In June, Elissa disclosed on a social media post that her album would be released on the day of Eid al-Adha. On 20 July, she announced the name of her album titled Sahbit Raey as well as the lead single of the same name, which was released three days later. The album was released exclusively on Deezer and other streaming platforms a week later. Upon unveiling the album's title and cover, Elissa stated on the aforementioned social media post saying:

"I faced a lot of criticism when I first began my singing career. However, my father taught me not to be afraid and to face my destiny. I celebrate 20 years of success and I thank God, and my conscience is relieved. Why? Because instead of being a victim, I decided to be a woman with an opinion."

Track listing edit

No.TitleLyricsMusicProducerLength
1."Sahbit Raey" (A Woman's Opinion)Ousama MostafaSamer Abou TalebHadi Sharara3:48
2."Aghanina" (Our Songs)Mohammed KayatiMohammed YehiaAdel Haqqi4:07
3."Azima" (Brilliance)Nader AbdallahMohammed RahimAhmad Ibrahim4:45
4."Wafi" (Loyalty)Ali MawlaYasim JamalCamil Khoury3:44
5."Moubaha Lik" (Accessible to You)Bahaa Eddine MohammedZaimNoor4:18
6."Habbit Ehtimam" (A Drop of Attention)Amir TeimaZiad BurjiIbrahim4:39
7."Ala Hess Hikayetna" (Spirit of Our Story)Ramy GamalRamy GamalWissam Abdel Meneim4:37
8."Haatebrak Mot" (Consider You Dead)MohammedMadianAhmed Abdel Salam3:16
9."Ghaltet Waet" (Mistake in Time)Ayman KomeihaKomeihaKhoury3:48
10."Ana Chebh Nsitak" (I Have Almost Forgotten You)TeimaWalid SaadIbrahim4:36
11."Hanghanni Kaman W Kaman" (We'll Sing Again and Again)Shady NourYehiaElham Deheima3:46
12."Smaany" (Listen to Me)MostafaAbou TalebGeorges Kassis3:09
13."Lek Liwahdak" (For You Alone)MostafaYehiaAbdel Salam3:09
14."W Enta Osadi" (When You're Beside Me)Malak AdelMadianAbdel Salam3:35
15."Eli Allah" (I Have God)Omar SaryMohammed BasharKhoury4:18
16."Benheb El Hayat" (We Love Life)Nasr MahrousMohammed RahimAmir Mahrous4:39
17."Ahwit El Madi" (Coffee of the Past)Siham ChaachaRahimKhoury4:36
18."Mourir sur scène" (Dalida cover)
  • Michel Jouveaux
  • Jeff Barnel
 Michel Fadel3:24
Total length:72:22
"20 Years special edition" box set - Disc 1
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Halet Hob"Halet Hob (2014)5:08
2."Aa Bali Habibi"Tesada'a Bemeen (2009)5:22
3."Ya Merayti"Halet Hob (2014)4:30
4."Kermalak"Bastanak (2006)4:59
5."Fi Ouyounak"Asaad Wahda (2012)4:31
6."Betmoun"Ayami Bik (2007)4:04
7."Sallimli Aleh"Tesada'a Bemeen (2009)4:48
8."Nefsi A'ollo"Ila Kol Lli Bihibbouni (2018)5:32
9."Maktooba Leek"Saharna Ya Leil (2016)5:16
10."Law Taarafou"Bastanak (2006)4:16
"20 Years special edition" box set - Disc 2
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
11."Aaks Elli Shayfenha"Saharna Ya Leil (2016)4:26
12."Ya Rait" (From the 2016 series "Ya Rayt")Saharna Ya Leil (2016)4:32
13."Teebt Mennak"Asaad Wahda (2012)5:03
14."Krahni"Ila Kol Lli Bihibbouni (2018)4:50
15."Koul Youm Fee Oumri"Ahla Dounya (2004)5:22
16."Ayami Bik"Ayami Bik (2008)4:40
17."Bastanak"Bastanak (2006)3:57
18."Asaad Wahda"Asaad Wahda (2012)4:36
19."Ila Kol Lli Bihibbouni"Ila Kol Lli Bihibbouni (2018)5:20
20."Saharna Ya Leil"Saharna Ya Leil (2016)4:16

Personnel edit

Adapted from the album liner notes.

  • Jean Nakhoul - executive producer
  • Elie Barbar - sound engineer, mixing (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14), mastering (track 11)
  • Ledes Díaz - backing vocals (track 2)
  • Sherif Fahmi - guitar (track 2)
  • Ledos Diaz - Spanish vocals (track 2)
  • Mohamed Sika - bass guitar (tracks 3, 6, 10)
  • Hamuso - clarinet (track 3)
  • Mostafa Aslan - guitar (tracks 3, 5, 6, 10)
  • Tamer Ghoneim - leader (tracks 3, 6, 10)
  • Mohammed Ads - recording (tracks 3, 5, 6, 10)
  • Alain Oueijan - guitar (track 4)
  • Mostafa Nasr - guitar (tracks 4, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15)
  • Edouard Meunier - mixing (tracks 4, 9, 15, 17, 18)
  • Ihab Jamal - strings (tracks 4, 9, 15)
  • Ahmed Ragab - bass guitar (track 5)
  • Said Kamal - strings (track 5)
  • Ahmad Ibrahim - strings (tracks 6, 10, 11)
  • Hasan Said - strings (tracks 7, 8, 13, 14)
  • Ammar Khater - recording (tracks 8, 13, 14)
  • Wael Najjar - accordion (track 11)
  • Oussama Hasan - bouzouki (track 11)
  • Ahmad Hussein - guitar (track 11)
  • Ahmad Rocket - guitar (track 13)
  • Nadim Rouhana - accordion (track 15)
  • Sam Amelian - saxophone (track 15)
  • Amir Mahrous - mixing (track 16)
  • John Davis - digital mastering
  • Eli Rezkallah - photographer
  • Mandy Merheb - fashion consultant
  • Bassam Fattouh - make up
  • Yehya Chokr - hair

References edit

  1. ^ Yara Sameh (1 August 2020). "Elissa's "Sahbit Raey" Album to be Released Today". Sada el Balad. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Elissa, Lebanese pop star, retires from 'mafia-like' music industry". BBC News. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  3. ^ "إليسا توجه رسالة لشركة "روتانا" على غلاف ألبومها الجديد بعد قرارها تركها.. صور". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Elissa to release new version from her album 'Sahbet Ra'ay' that houses some of her selected songs". EgyptToday. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. ^ Ali Khaled (20 August 2019). "Lebanese Pop Star Elissa Quits Music, Likens Industry To 'Mafia'". GQ Middle East. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. ^ هالة أبو شامة (7 December 2019). "صورة- إليسا في كواليس تسجيل أغنيتها الجديدة "حبة اهتمام"" (in Arabic). Filfan. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Elissa - Single - هنغني كمان وكمان". Deezer. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Elissa ... Hanghani Kaman Wi Kaman - 2020 - إليسا ... هنغني كمان و كمان - فيديو كليب". YouTube. Rotana. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Elissa - Single - قهوة الماضي". Deezer. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Elissa ... Ahwet El Madi - 2020 - إليسا ... قهوة الماضي - بالكلمات". YouTube. Rotana. Retrieved 7 December 2020.