Pop princess Elissa is back with Assa’d Wahida [The Happiest One], an album with which she hopes to bring joy to a world in turmoil. That’s quite the challenge, and while Elissa doesn’t bring world peace, she does – as always – sounds like she’s blissed-out, even when she’s singing about loving a man who doesn’t love her back – which is quite often. She plays the damsel in emotional distress well (as evidenced by the princess-inspired artwork), but Elissa shines brightest when she sings traditional music – especially her covers of the late Algerian superstar Warda, and the late Lebanese singer Salwa Al Katrib. The past is definitely her happy place.