Exploring the intersection of materials, chemistry, and design.
"" (فاكر), released in 2012 as a standout track on the album Asaad Wahda (The Happiest One), is a masterclass in the "romantic-sad" genre that earned Lebanese superstar Elissa her title as the " Queen of Emotions ". Despite the album’s upbeat title, "Faker" is a haunting exploration of betrayal, regret, and the irreversible damage caused by a partner who failed when they were needed most. Lyrical Breakdown: The Anatomy of Heartbreak
"Faker" is an characterized by Elissa’s signature breathy, emotive vocal delivery. Elissa - Faker (Audio) / إليسا - فاكر
: One of the most famous lines, "This is life, it makes us happy for moments then slaughters us," reflects a fatalistic view of love that resonated deeply with fans across the Arab world. Musical Style & Reception
The song’s title, which translates to "", sets a tone of painful reflection. The lyrics follow a woman confronting a former lover who is now trying to return to her life.
: The song opens with a devastating memory of a day the narrator went to her partner for strength, only to have him be the one who made her cry. This subversion of the "safe haven" trope is the emotional core of the track—realizing that the person supposed to protect you is actually the source of your pain.
: In the chorus, Elissa asks, "Why do you ask about me? Are we even still the same people?" . She emphasizes that time and pain have altered them so much that their own "features" or identities are no longer recognizable to each other.
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Principal Investigator, Professor of Chemistry
Panče Naumov leads the Smart Materials Lab and the Center for Smart Engineering Materials at NYUAD. His group is internationally recognized for pioneering crystal adaptronics and advancing adaptive molecular solids, with applications in sensing, robotics, optics, and energy systems.
Meet the Team"" (فاكر), released in 2012 as a standout track on the album Asaad Wahda (The Happiest One), is a masterclass in the "romantic-sad" genre that earned Lebanese superstar Elissa her title as the " Queen of Emotions ". Despite the album’s upbeat title, "Faker" is a haunting exploration of betrayal, regret, and the irreversible damage caused by a partner who failed when they were needed most. Lyrical Breakdown: The Anatomy of Heartbreak
"Faker" is an characterized by Elissa’s signature breathy, emotive vocal delivery. Elissa - Faker (Audio) / إليسا - فاكر "" (فاكر), released in 2012 as a standout
: One of the most famous lines, "This is life, it makes us happy for moments then slaughters us," reflects a fatalistic view of love that resonated deeply with fans across the Arab world. Musical Style & Reception Elissa - Faker (Audio) / إليسا - فاكر
The song’s title, which translates to "", sets a tone of painful reflection. The lyrics follow a woman confronting a former lover who is now trying to return to her life. : The song opens with a devastating memory
: The song opens with a devastating memory of a day the narrator went to her partner for strength, only to have him be the one who made her cry. This subversion of the "safe haven" trope is the emotional core of the track—realizing that the person supposed to protect you is actually the source of your pain.
: In the chorus, Elissa asks, "Why do you ask about me? Are we even still the same people?" . She emphasizes that time and pain have altered them so much that their own "features" or identities are no longer recognizable to each other.
We are proud that the Smart Materials Lab is the leading team in impactful chemistry research in the United Arab Emirates, with research output that, according to the Nature Index, accounts for 40‒60% of the total chemistry publications within the country, both in fractional count and weighed fractional count. The past and current research projects in the Smart Materials Lab have been sponsored by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), Human Science Frontier Program Organization (HFSPO), and the UAE National Research Foundation (NRF), in addition to generous financial support from NYUAD and the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute. The members of the Smart Materials Lab work closely with NYUAD's Center for Smart Engineering Materials (CSEM).