Mai Selim Hamdan (Arabic: مي سليم حمدان‎) (born in 1983 in Dubai), commonly… Read Full Bio ↴Mai Selim Hamdan (Arabic: مي سليم حمدان‎) (born in 1983 in Dubai), commonly Known as Mai Selim, is a young Arabic artist who started off her singing career in early 2005. Sister of Comedian Mais Hamdan. Born in Dubai to a Jordanian father, and a Lebanese mother Mai soon came to settle in Egypt where she grew up and met most of her close friends. Her love for arts and performing started at a very young age, and she wanted to be a ballerina, later on she shifted towards singing, where she joined the school choir.

She moved form performing with a group to performing within a duet. After graduating high school Mai toyed with the idea of joining Institute of Cinema in Egypt, but her parents didn’t agree. "They talked me into seeing it their own way by talking me into the idea of having a stable future and a career life" she says.

Instead she registered for a degree at the Maritime Academy majoring in Business Administration. The corporate world of facts and figures seems so far removed from her personality, yet she insisted on finishing and getting her degree. Looking back, Mai wonders what she would have done with a business degree if she had not signed with a music company. She has no problem admitting that she owes her first record deal to pure luck.

"I won't lie and give you the clichéd line of I've been working towards this all my life since I was a child and all that stuff. I knew I had a very strong artistic side to me, and I had a strong passion towards music, but I never thought I'd make a career out of it one day" she admits. One night, as she was invited for dinner, she met Tarek Al Arian, the well known film director.

Ya Downya
Mai Selim Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

عايزة إيه يا دنيا خليتيني واحدة ثانية
غيرتيني وبدلتيني ما بقتش أنا
من أقل حاجة بنكسر محتاجة
إيد تطبطب عليّ وتبقى حنينة

عيني يا شاف قلبي وقسى
عيني يا وبقيت حساسة
عيني يا شاف قلبي وقاسى

عيني يا وبقيت حساسة
عيني يا من اللي مخبية يا

عايزة إيه يا دنيا خليتيني واحدة ثانية
غيرتيني وبدلتيني مبقتش أنا

ما بقتش أمن أنا لا، لا، لا، لا، لا، لأي حد
طول عمر الضرب بتجيني من أقرب ناس بجد
ما بقتش أمن أنا لا، لا، لا، لا، لا، لأي حد
طول عمر الضرب بتجيني من أقرب ناس بجد

عيني يا شاف قلبي وقسى
عيني يا وبقيت حساسة
عيني يا شاف قلبي وقسى
عيني يا وبقيت حساسة
عيني يا من اللي مخبية

عايزة إيه يا دنيا خليتيني واحدة ثانية
غيرتيني وبدلتيني ما بقتش أنا

عيني يا
عيني يا) وبقيت حساسة)
عيني يا شاف قلبي وقسى

عيني يا وبقيت حساسة
عيني يا من اللي مخبية

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mai Selim's song "Ya Downya" express a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the world. The repeated phrase "A'iza eh ya donya" translates to "What do you want, oh world," reflecting the singer's questioning of the world's actions and how it has changed her. She feels that the world has transformed her into someone she no longer recognizes or desires to be. The lyrics also touch upon the vulnerability that comes with having a sensitive heart, as the singer laments how her heart has become hardened and how she has become more sensitive to the hidden intentions of others. Overall, the song conveys a sense of longing for a return to a simpler, more authentic version of oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

عايزة إيه يا دنيا خليتيني واحدة ثانية
What do you want, oh world, you made me someone else

غيرتيني وبدلتيني ما بقتش أنا
You changed me and replaced me, I am no longer myself

من أقل حاجة بنكسر محتاجة
Even the slightest thing can break me, I'm in need of a comforting hand

إيد تطبطب عليّ وتبقى حنينة
A hand to pat me and bring back nostalgia

عيني يا شاف قلبي وقسى
My eyes, as they saw my heart turn cold

عيني يا وبقيت حساسة
My eyes, they remained sensitive

عيني يا شاف قلبي وقاسى
My eyes, as they saw my heart become harsh

عيني يا وبقيت حساسة
My eyes, they remained sensitive

عيني يا من اللي مخبية يا
My eyes, from what you have concealed

ما بقتش أمن أنا لا، لا، لا، لا، لا، لأي حد
I no longer trust anyone, no, no, no, no, no, not anyone

طول عمر الضرب بتجيني من أقرب ناس بجد
Throughout my life, betrayal comes from those closest to me