Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram makes history with 'first Arabic song' to make top ten of US iTunes charts

Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram has released the "first Arabic song" to make it into the top 10 US iTunes chart, according to Arabic music fans.

Sah Sah - a collaboration with US producer Marshmello - peaked at #9 in the American electronic iTunes charts on Sunday and is now sitting at #12, according to Soundcharts’ music analysis platform.

Released last Friday, the cross-border collaboration has already accumulated more than eight million views on YouTube, and was categorised as an "Arabic hit" by the streaming platform Spotify.

The song features lively Arabic melodies paired with Ajram's well-loved voice and has gone down a treat with fans, who labelled the track "epic".

.@NancyAjram and @marshmello make history as the first and only Arabic song to reach the Top 10 on a US @iTunes chart with their new single "#SahSah." pic.twitter.com/2qacHaUqXW

— Nancy Data (@NancyAjramData) July 9, 2022

"Legend of success and this era," one fan wrote regarding the charting, calling her the "queen of pop".

LEGEND OF SUCCESS AND THIS ERA ⚡️💥🤩🙌 #SahSah #صحصح #نانسي_عجرم

— #Nancy10 شيخة (@SheikhaKWT1) July 10, 2022

Ajram has not yet commented on the charting or shared any tweets acknowledging the reported success.

However, the singer did retweet clips fans took of billboards across New York's Times Square showcasing promotional material for the song, as the star went international. 

صورة نانسي عجرم في ساحة التايم سكوار في نيويورك.. هيدا لبنان اللي بيشبهنا شكرا نانسي❤🇱🇧🔥@NancyAjram

pic.twitter.com/igbG8uvsNQ

— جيّو 🇱🇧 (@itssmegioo) July 9, 2022

The song Sah Sah is also sitting at #4 in Saudi and Egypt’s all genres iTunes chart, and at #8 in the UAE, according to music data monitor Soundcharts.

The news comes following recent controversy surrounding the singer, including accusations of blackface a harrowing murder case connected to her husband.