A successful Colombian music star, she had two number-one songs on Billboard's Latin Pop Airplay charts. She won a 2004 Latin Grammy Award for the self titled album "Soraya" as "Best Album by Songwriter", which she produced, and a 2005 Latin Grammy Awards nomination for "Female Pop Vocal Album" for her album El Otro Lado de Mí (literally "The Other Side of Me"). She was the opening act for the 2005 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Her career spanned ten years, and she recorded five albums.
She was born Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, a year after her father, mother, and brother moved to the United States from their native Colombia. The family moved back to Colombia when she was a baby, but when Soraya was eight years old, they returned to New Jersey. "Soraya" is a very common name in the Middle East, and its meaning can be translated "rich" or "princess". Soraya's maternal side of the family was Lebanese Christians who emigrated from Lebanon to Colombia. Soraya's mother, Yamila Gharib Cuevas, had been a housewife in Colombia. Soraya's father, Gregorio, worked for an exporting company in Colombia; in the U.S., life was hard for the family, so to make ends meet, he worked three or four jobs.
Soraya first became interested in music at the age of five when she heard her uncle playing music in Colombia. Her uncle played "Pueblito Viejo", a Colombian traditional folk song using an instrument called the tiple, which is a kind of guitar with triple strings. Her parents bought her a guitar, which she taught herself how to play. She became proficient in classical violin, and her first 'public' performance was at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a member of the N.Y.C. Youth Philharmonic. She was valedictorian of her class at Point Pleasant Boro High School, where she began writing her own music.
Soraya was only twelve years old when her mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer; she was eighteen when her mother had a recurrence and twenty-two when her mother died, in 1992. Soraya had said that her sense of responsibility increased because she needed to take care of her mother and do all of the chores around the house. She would also go to the doctor's office with her mother; together they did breast-cancer research and participated in the Race for the Cure.
Soraya attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she studied English literature, French philosophy, and women's studies. Initially, Soraya worried she might be too shy to play before big crowds, but she eventually triumphed over her fear and realized her tremendous talent as a live performer when she played to rapt audiences at coffee houses and rallies around the sprawling Rutgers campus. She worked as a flight attendant before starting her music career.
Soraya obtained a record contract with Polygram Records/Island Records in 1996. Her first album, released simultaneously in both English and Spanish was titled "On Nights Like This / En Esta Noche". Both versions received positive critical acclaim and enabled her to tour in the U.S., Latin America, and Europe, as a guest performer in concerts for famous musicians such as Natalie Merchant, Zucchero, Sting, Michael Bolton, and Alanis Morissette.
Her songs climbed to the top of the charts just about everywhere in Latin American, European, and U.S.' Hispanic markets. Her first single "Suddenly/De Repente" reached #1 in Billboard Latin Pop listings, with the English version receiving some mainstream Adult Contemporary airplay. Her second album, Torre de Marfil / Wall of Smiles, titled after a song co-written with her idol Carole King was released in late 1997, and helped her attain worldwide recognition.
Unfortunately, in 2000, she was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer, shortly after the release of her third album "Cuerpo y Alma / I'm Yours" — just days before she was about to tour and promote it. She took time off to fight this deadful disease.
Feeling healthy and in remission, Soraya returned to the music scene in 2003 with the release of her fourth and self-titled album "Soraya". The songs reflected her struggles, beliefs, and love for life. She composed, produced, and arranged this Latin Grammy winner for "Best Album by a Singer-Songwriter" and once again - Soraya was at the top.
She created one more successful album - "El Otro Lado de Mí", before she finally succumbed to the disease in 2006.
Soraya died of breast cancer on May 10, 2006, aged 37. She was first diagnosed in 2000, at the age of 31, after finding a lump while conducting a routine self-examination. She was diagnosed at Stage III and had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction as well as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In addition to her own death, Soraya lost her mother, a grandmother, and a maternal aunt to breast cancer.
Breast cancer advocateSoraya was a breast cancer advocate for support and education, especially of Hispanic women. Soraya became the first Latin spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, touring the Americas to raise awareness. During September and October, she took a break from her music career to focus on breast awareness.
In order to encourage other women like herself, Soraya wrote and recorded "No One Else/Por Ser Quien Soy", a song that reflects her experience in fighting breast cancer. Both tracks can be downloaded on her official website. All proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
"I know there are many questions without answers, and that hope doesn't leave with me, and above all, that my mission does not end with my physical story" were Soraya's last words to her fans and the media before her passing.
Casi
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Con almohadas de sueños en una cama de ilusiones
Desde niña me imaginé esta vida
Cruzando retos para llegar a mi cima
En un instante perdí toda la certeza
Las dudas y el rencor se marcaron en mi esencia
Será una pesadilla, no puede ser verdad
Empiezo a deslizar
Casi se me acaba la fe
Casi se me escapa el amor
Casi se me quiebra la inocencia
Se me agota toda la fuerza para luchar un día más
Casi me rendí hasta que pensé en ti
Casi me rendí pero pensé en ti
Veo en mi reflejo un rostro traicionado
Frente al fantasma de un cuerpo cansado
Por qué hoy, por qué yo, por qué esto?
Preguntas con respuestas que vendrán solo con el tiempo
Será una pesadilla no puede ser verdad
Me despierta un derrumbe
Empiezo a deslizar
Casi se me acaba la fe
Casi se me escapa el amor
Casi se me quiebra la inocencia
Se me agota toda la fuerza para luchar un día más
Casi me rendí hasta que pensé en ti
Casi me rendí pero pensé en ti
Cuando solo escuchas el latido de tu corazón
Encontrarás entre su ritmo y el silencio la razón
Casi se me acaba la fe
Casi se me escapa el amor
Casi se me quiebra la inocencia
Se me agota toda la fuerza para luchar un día más
Casi me rendí hasta que pensé en ti
Casi me rendí pero pensé en ti
The song "Casi" by Soraya conveys a message of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The lyrics express the singer's struggles and doubts, indicating that she almost gave up and lost faith, love, and innocence. However, she found the strength to continue fighting when she realized that someone else believed in her.
The first verse sets the scene of the singer's dream world, encapsulated by clouds and pillows full of dreams, representing her ambitions and aspirations. The second line portrays this dream world as a bed of illusions, highlighting a sense of unreality or fantasy. The following two lines reveal the singer's lifelong pursuit of her dreams and her willingness to take on challenges to reach her goals. Despite the hardships, she remains determined and persistent. However, a sudden loss of certainty and an influx of doubts and resentment almost cause her to falter. The chorus repeats the word "casi" (almost) thrice, emphasizing how close she was to giving up, but the thought of her loved one lifts her spirit and prevents her from surrendering.
The second verse depicts the singer's struggle to reconcile her present reality with her past expectations. She feels betrayed and tired, questioning why she has to go through this turmoil. Nevertheless, the lyrics suggest that time will reveal the answers to her queries, and she must hold on until then. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the significance and impact of the song's message.
Overall, the song expresses a common human experience of encountering difficulties that almost cause one to lose sight of their goals, but ultimately finding the strength to persevere, with the support and inspiration of loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Anoche me dormí abrazando las nubes
Last night, I fell asleep embracing the clouds
Con almohadas de sueños en una cama de ilusiones
With pillows of dreams in a bed of illusions
Desde niña me imaginé esta vida
Since I was a child, I imagined this life
Cruzando retos para llegar a mi cima
Crossing challenges to reach my peak
En un instante perdí toda la certeza
In an instant, I lost all certainty
Las dudas y el rencor se marcaron en mi esencia
Doubts and resentment marked my essence
Será una pesadilla, no puede ser verdad
It must be a nightmare, it can't be true
Me despierta un derrumbe
I wake up to a collapse
Empiezo a deslizar
I begin to slide
Casi se me acaba la fe
My faith is almost gone
Casi se me escapa el amor
Love is almost escaping me
Casi se me quiebra la inocencia
My innocence is almost broken
Se me agota toda la fuerza para luchar un día más
I am running out of strength to fight for another day
Casi me rendí hasta que pensé en ti
I almost gave up until I thought of you
Veo en mi reflejo un rostro traicionado
I see a betrayed face in my reflection
Frente al fantasma de un cuerpo cansado
Facing the ghost of a tired body
Por qué hoy, por qué yo, por qué esto?
Why today, why me, why this?
Preguntas con respuestas que vendrán solo con el tiempo
Questions with answers that will only come with time
Cuando solo escuchas el latido de tu corazón
When you only hear the beating of your heart
Encontrarás entre su ritmo y el silencio la razón
You will find the reason between its rhythm and the silence
Casi me rendí pero pensé en ti
I almost gave up, but I thought of you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SORAYA LAMILLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesus Fernando
A quienes estén pasando por momentos difíciles, les prometo que con las decisiones, personas y en los momentos correctos, pasarán. Solo que hay que ser fuertes. ¿Porque tú? Porque posiblemente necesitabas recordar que eres humano, que no eres invencible, que también necesitas de los demás.
¿Porque hoy? Todo llega a tiempo, cuando debe pasar. Porque no debiste adelantarte tanto al futuro, ni pensar tanto en el pasado. Porque hoy, justamente hoy, necesitabas plantar los pies en la tierra.
¿Porque esto? Porque de a cuerdo a tu realidad, necesitas algún aprendizaje muy puntual, y es la manera en que la vida te lo está dando. Solo que tienes que ser muy fuerte para poder quitar toda la mierda que cubre ese precioso tesoro que estás a punto de descubrir.
El amor existe, y si estás aqui escuchando esto, es porque en el fondo sabes que necesitas ayuda. Búscala. No te dejes vencer tan fácil.
Te mando mi amor hasta donde estés.
Jess Wal.
2022 quien más escuchando esta hermosa canción ... un himno de batalla para muchos cuando casi ya nos sentiamos muertos
CARNEN CARREÑO
Yo todavía en la lucha contra ésta enfermedad
Emma Hernandez
Presente, escuchando. Saludos desde la Ciudad de México... Abrazo enorme a Soraya hasta dónde se encuentre... 😍🥰😘💕🌟✨🌟👏👏👏🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽
Emma Hernandez
@CARNEN CARREÑO te mando un beso y un fuerte abrazo solidario. 🌟✨🌟😍🥰😘💕🌻🇲🇽
Johana Taborda Beltran
@CARNEN CARREÑO ¹¹¹¹¹¹1¹1¹
Jairo Africano
Yoo9oo en este noviembre
GYNNA QUINTERO @gynna_quintero
me identifico tanto con esta cancion, desde mi diagnostico de cancer de mama con metastatis en hueso de pelvis, el año pasado (junio 2021) inicio mi pesadilla con los tratamientos, ya llevo 18 meses, y a veces siento que se me agota toda la fuerza.. pero pienso primero en Dios y la oportunidad que me dio de seguir aqui, y tambien en todos mis familiares que se han ido de este mundo a causa del cancer y por ultimo en este bella mujer que con esta cancion me da mas fuerza..y como ella dice casi me rendi, pero pense en ( en mi caso en mis sueños por cumplir). Dios bendiga y le de fuerza a todos los que sufren esta enfermedad, no olviden que el sol siempre sale.
Josue Chapalbay
sigue adelante
Suzy Figueroa
Aveces no entendemos las batallas de la vida, pero de algo estoy segura que pasan por una razón de ser, todos tenemos diferentes propósitos de vida. Vive este día en amor y agradecimiento.🙏✨️
Aquiles Leon
Fuerza y Fe ❤