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.
Dreamer
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It don't matter where I'm ***
I got a fever that can't be broken
I'm burnin' up with love
What is gonna be is gonna be, don't stop me now
Cause I'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality, don't mess with me
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eo
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eo
Don't need a doctor, I got the remedy
Got no illusion, I'm where I wanna be
Yes, I'm a junkie, this magic potion
Is burnin' up with love
(Burnin' Up, Burnin' Up)
What is gonna be is gonna be, don't stop me now
Cause I'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality, don't mess with me
Cause I'm a dreamer
What is gonna be is gonna be, don't stop me now
Cause I'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality, don't mess with me
Cause I'm a dreamer
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eo
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eo
Close your eyes
Breathe in
Say goodbye
What is gonna be is gonna be, don't stop me now
Cause I'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality, don't mess with me
Cause I'm a dreamer
What is gonna be is gonna be, don't stop me now
Cause I'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality, don't mess with me
Cause I'm a dreamer
The lyrics in Soraya's "Dreamer" express a desire for freedom and escapism from the mundane reality of everyday life. The feeling of longing for adventure and excitement is reflected in the lines "It's just a feeling comin' over me, It don't matter where I'm at." The singer of the song feels an insatiable "fever" within that cannot be broken, as they declare that they are "burnin' up with love."
The lyrics strive to communicate an unshakeable conviction that nothing can hold them back, as the refrain repeats the statement that the singer is a "dreamer," alluding to the idea that they are constantly imagining and creating new possibilities for their future. The repetition of the phrase "What is gonna be is gonna be, don't stop me now" strengthens this message, painting the singer as a force to be reckoned with, unwilling to let anyone interfere with their dreams.
Overall, "Dreamer" is an anthem for anyone feeling stuck in a rut or held back by their circumstances. Soraya portrays the sentiment of carving one's own path towards a better life and not letting anyone come in between that journey.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a feelin' comin' over me
Soraya is being overwhelmed by a feeling she cannot explain
It don't matter where I'm at
Her state of mind is not affected by her surroundings
I got a fever that can't be broken
She is consumed by passion and desire
I'm burnin' up with love
Her love is so intense it feels like it is consuming her
What is gonna be is gonna be, don't stop me now
She is determined to follow her dreams, regardless of what the future holds
Cause I'm a dreamer
Soraya is a person who dreams of achieving great things
Had enough of your reality, don't mess with me
Soraya is tired of people dismissing her dreams as unrealistic or impossible
Whoa-ah-oh / Eo, eo
A joyful exclamation of her positive outlook and confidence in her dreams
Don't need a doctor, I got the remedy
She doesn't need help or guidance, she has her own solutions to her problems
Got no illusion, I'm where I wanna be
She has no delusions about her life, she is exactly where she wants to be
Yes, I'm a junkie, this magic potion
She is addicted to the feeling of love and passion, which is like a magical potion to her
Is burnin' up with love (Burnin' Up, Burnin' Up)
Her passion and desire is so intense, it feels like she is on fire
Close your eyes / Breathe in / Say goodbye
Perhaps a call to let go of fears and doubts, and embrace her dreams wholeheartedly
Contributed by Elijah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pipingmaker
Dreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamerIt's just a feelin' comin' over me
It don't matter where i'm have sick
I got a fever that can't be broken
I'm burnin' up with loveWhat is gonna be
Is gonna be
Don't stop me now
Cause i'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality
Don't mess with me
Cause i'm a dreamerDreamer, dreamer, dreamer
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eo
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eoDon't need a doctor, i got the remedy
Got no illusion
I'm where i wanna be
Yes, i'm a junkie
This magic potion
Is burnin' up with love
(burnin' up, burnin' up)What is gonna be
Is gonna be
Don't stop me now
Cause i'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality
Don't mess with me
Cause i'm a dreamerWhat is gonna be
Is gonna be
Don't stop me now
Cause i'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality
Don't mess with me
Cause i'm a dreamerDreamer, dreamer, dreamer
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eo
Whoa-ah-oh
Eo, eoClose your eyes
Breathe in
Say goodbyeWhat is gonna be
Is gonna be
Don't stop me now
Cause i'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality
Don't mess with me
Cause i'm a dreamerWhat is gonna be
Is gonna be
Don't stop me now
(don't stop me now)
Cause i'm a dreamer
Had enough of your reality
Don't mess with me
(don't mess with me)
Cause i'm a dreamerDreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamer
Dreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamer
Dreamer, dreamer, dreamer, dreamer
@emesegura8551
Alguien en 2022 ? Es un temazo 🔥!!!
@juanlorenzonolascorodrigue7205
soraya, lo electronixco es lo tuyo, tu voz da para eso, eres grandiosa
@nosoloporno69
se echa de menos la Soraya Dance !!
@user-yc3jp6bn9t
Wonderful Soyara fantasy album TOP BEST ONE is Dreamer
@deasys3064
La magia de Roger Sánchez , gran DJ
@TurfSurf
still so beautiful!!!
@Bosika_1975
Всегда хотел эту крошку!!!!
@MauricioBrodkamusic
temazo!! saludos desde venezuela soraya!! 😍
@AleRodMor85
Fue, es y será siempre UN TEMAZO!!! 😍😍
@anatoliifedotcenco6835
Superb mersi mult din Moldova