Did Elissa Really Quit Music?

Lebanese recording artist, Elissa announced that she will be quitting the music industry and compared it to “mafia”.

The singer, who has been one of Lebanese’s and the Middle East’s most talented voices over the past two decades, issued a statement on Twitter letting her fans know that she’s retiring from singing after she releases her new album, which will be the last in her career.

“I am preparing this new album with a lot of love and passion. The reason is that it will be the last one in my career. I am announcing this with a heavy heart but with a lot of conviction because I can’t work in a field that is similar to mafias. I can’t be productive anymore,” she tweeted on Twitter.

In the new album, she cooperates with a large number of poets and composers she previously worked with, including Amir Teima, Nader Abdallah, and Walid Said.

Her last released album was “Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni” (To All the Ones Who Love me)، which was released by Rotana production، on July 24، 2018.

[embed]https://twitter.com/elissakh/status/1163388917061705730[/embed]

"We Are All Elissa"

The hashtag #"We_Are_All_Elissa" alongside the phrase "never give up", in response, have been trending on Twitter ever since Lebanese pop star announcement.

Several of the biggest Middle Eastern pop stars responded to her decisions including Mohamad Hamaki, Haifa Wehbe, Ahlam, Ramy Ayach, and others.

Egyptian singer Mohamed Hamaki said he would “never want to imagine this field without you”.

“You have my full support with whatever [you] decide, but I wish you can give this another thought,” Hamaki tweeted.

Posting a broken heart emoji, Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe strongly rejected Elissa’s retirement.

“You have overcome tougher circumstances, Elissa! Neither us, nor your fan base, nor your people will accept this kind of decision. You need to continue singing and gracing stages and whoever doesn’t like it should be the one to leave!” wrote Wehbe.

[caption id="attachment_73196" align="aligncenter" width="399"] Elissa[/caption]

‘New Tweet’

This show of love and support prompted the singer to write a new tweet, in which she thanked those who supported her.

“Guys I totally understand your sadness and I appreciate all the messages I am getting from you. I only want you to know that I am doing this for my own good It’s still early to talk since I have my album my concerts and many events, and I promise that when I am ready to produce for myself I will do it.”

The singer’s decision rattled the public, media, and the social media platforms, but hope for the singer to back off from her decision was sparked anew for fans after the new tweet.

She has been the highest-selling female Middle Eastern artist since 2005. She has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

The singer is also one of the richest celebrities in Lebanon, with a reported estimated wealth of over $40 million.

She is known for her talent and for her frequent themes of love within her discography.

The singer is often referred to as ‘Maliket El Ehsas’ (Queen of Emotions) by fans and the media.