Soraya (born Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas; March 11, 1969 – May 10, 2006) w… Read Full Bio ↴Soraya (born Soraya Raquel Lamilla Cuevas; March 11, 1969 – May 10, 2006) was a Colombian-american singer/songwriter, guitarist, arranger and record producer.

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.

Give Me Your Love
Soraya Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lo quiero hacer... Iré a por él...
Ya no hay más tiempo que perder.
No sé quién es, me acercaré
Y hacerle exclavo de mi piel...

¿Por qué esperar?, no es casualidad...
Tú quieres, yo también.. Rindete!

Give me your love, give your heart
And... Nara nana nana na...
I guess you don't know, you're under control
And... Nara nana nana na...

Give me your love, give your heart
And... Nara nana nana na
My senses are down, into the grow
And.. Nara nana nana na
I Wont let go

Te seguiré, te buscaré,
hasta que caigas a mis pies.
Ven rindete, no hay más que hacer
ya no hay salida no lo ves...

Acercate, bailame otra vez
Tú quieres, yo también... Sigueme!

Give me your love, give your heart
And... nara nana nana na...
I guess you don't know, you're under control
And... Nara nana nana na...

Give me your love, give your heart
And... Nara nana nana na
My senses are down, into the grow
And.. Nara nana nana na
I Wont let go

Give me your love, give your heart
And... nara nana nana na...
I guess you don't know, you're under control
And... Nara nana nana na...

Give me your love, give your heart
And... Nara nana nana na
My senses are down, into the grow

And.. Nara nana nana na
I Wont let go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Soraya Arnelas' song, "Give Me Your Love" suggest a passion for someone, the intense longing to be with that person and to make them your own. The singer of the song seems to have found someone she desires but doesn't know much about, and like a predator, she is determined to make that person hers. The lines "Lo quiero hacer... Iré a por él... Ya no hay más tiempo que perder. No sé quién es, me acercaré, Y hacerle esclavo de mi piel" speak of her intent to go after the object of her desire and make them her slave. She implores the person to "give me your love, give your heart," and she seems to have the upper hand in the situation as she sings "I guess you don't know, you're under control."

The lyrics read like a seduction manual, and the singer's determination becomes even more evident as she sings "Te seguiré, te buscaré, hasta que caigas a mis pies. Ven rindete, no hay más que hacer, ya no hay salida no lo ves..." telling her love interest that there's no point in trying to resist her charm over them. She lures him with her body and dancing, making an offer that seems hard to refuse. The repetition of "Nara nana nana na," creates a catchy hook that ties the enticing storyline together, making listeners feel the singer's desperation for their love.

The song reflects sweet love obsession, and the backstory behind the lyrics may reveal why Arnelas wrote about such an intense desire. Overall, "Give Me Your Love" is a fantastic dance-pop tune that's perfect for club play or a late-night drive with your partner. Its fast-paced and upbeat melody will get you dancing and singing.

Line by Line Meaning

Lo quiero hacer... Iré a por él...
I want to do it...I'll go for it

Ya no hay más tiempo que perder.
There's no more time to waste

No sé quién es, me acercaré
I don't know who he is, but I'll approach him

Y hacerle exclavo de mi piel...
And make him a slave to my skin

¿Por qué esperar?, no es casualidad...
Why wait? It's not a coincidence...

Tú quieres, yo también.. Rindete!
You want it, I want it too...Surrender!

Give me your love, give your heart
Give me your love, give me your heart

And... Nara nana nana na...
And... Nara nana nana na...

I guess you don't know, you're under control
I think you don't realize, I have control over you

My senses are down, into the grow
My senses are numb, lost in the moment

I Wont let go
I won't let go