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.
High Energy
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoh-oh-oh-oh, high energy, your love is lifting me
Lifting me hiiiiiiiiiigher, hi-hi-hiiiiiiiigher
It was only last week that we first met
When I was a-walking' down the street
You came up from behi-ind me and I knew
That our eyes were gonna meet
That's when I fell, into your arms
Ima-agine my surprise
I thought this only happened in fairytales
Lo-ove hit me right between the eye-eyes
Oh yeah, high energy, your love is lifting me
Woh-oh-woh-oh-oh, high energy, yeah
Your love is lifting me
Lifting me hiiiiiiiiiigher, hi-hiiiiiiiiigher
When you call me on the phone
You make my spirits rise
I'm glad the others didn't last
It's a blessing in disguise
Everytime your touchin' me
It gives me such a thrill
When I look deep into your eyes
My heart just can't keep sti-i-i-ill, oh no
High energy, yeah, your love is lifting me
Woh-woh-woh-woh-woh, high energy, woh yeah
Your love is lifting me
Lifting me hi-i-i-igh (high energy)
Oh-high-high, (your love is lifting me)
Wooooh-hooo-hooo-hoo (high energy), high-yeah-yeah-eah
(Your love is lifting me) Lifting me hiiiiiiiiiigher, hiiiiiiiiiigher
In Soraya's song High Energy, the lyrics are celebrating the power of love and its ability to lift someone up. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "high energy" multiple times and emphasizes that the love being experienced is lifting the singer up and making her feel alive. The first verse describes how the singer and her lover met, with the moment being so powerful that it felt like something out of a fairytale. The second verse describes how the lover's touch and presence makes the singer feel alive and thrilled.
Overall, the lyrics can be interpreted as a celebration of the joy and euphoria that comes with being in love. The singer seems to be reveling in the feelings that her lover is giving her and is grateful for the experience. The use of the phrase "high energy" is meant to convey the intensity and passion of the love being experienced, and the repeated emphasis on how it makes the singer feel "lifted" is meant to convey the transformative power it has over her.
Line by Line Meaning
High energy, your love is lifting me-ah
Soraya feels invigorated and energized by the love of her partner, who lifts her up both physically and emotionally.
Hoh-oh-oh-oh, high energy, your love is lifting me
Soraya is overcome with excitement and joy, expressed through the exaltations of 'Hoh-oh-oh-oh' and 'hi-hi-hiiiiiiiigher.'
Lifting me hiiiiiiiiiigher, hi-hi-hiiiiiiiigher
Soraya emphasizes how her partner's love lifts her to new heights, both in terms of physical sensations and emotional states.
It was only last week that we first met
Soraya reflects on the freshness and newness of her relationship with her partner, which is still in its early stages.
When I was a-walking' down the street
Soraya sets the scene of how she met her partner, which was a chance encounter while she was going about her daily life.
You came up from behi-ind me and I knew
Soraya recalls the moment when she first saw her partner approaching her, which made her realize that something special was about to happen.
That our eyes were gonna meet
Soraya foreshadows the moment when she and her partner locked eyes for the first time, indicating an instant connection and attraction.
That's when I fell, into your arms
Soraya describes how she felt swept off her feet by her partner's love and how she literally fell into their arms as a result.
Ima-agine my surprise
Soraya expresses how unexpected and surprising it was for her to meet someone so special.
I thought this only happened in fairytales
Soraya acknowledges how her relationship with her partner feels like a dream come true, like something out of a fairytale.
Lo-ove hit me right between the eye-eyes
Soraya uses a playful but impactful metaphor to describe how head-over-heels she was for her partner, feeling like love had hit her square in the eyes.
When you call me on the phone
Soraya shifts the focus to how her daily interactions with her partner continue to lift her spirited mood and fill her with happiness.
You make my spirits rise
Soraya reinforces how her partner's love and attention continue to lift her up and make her feel good inside.
I'm glad the others didn't last
Soraya reflects on past failed relationships and how they pale in comparison to her current love, which she feels truly blessed to experience.
It's a blessing in disguise
Soraya recognizes how other failed relationships have ultimately led her to her current partner, which she sees as a true blessing in disguise.
Everytime your touchin' me
Soraya describes ongoing physical and emotional sensations of being with her partner, which continue to uplift and excite her.
It gives me such a thrill
Soraya reinforces how her partner's touch and presence continue to make her feel exhilarated and excited about their relationship.
When I look deep into your eyes
Soraya describes how the simple act of looking into her partner's eyes makes her feel deeply connected and in love.
My heart just can't keep sti-i-i-ill, oh no
Soraya expresses how deeply she feels for her partner, to the point where her heart can't help but overflow with excitement and passion.
Woh-woh-woh-woh-woh, high energy, woh yeah
Soraya reiterates how her partner's love makes her feel energized and excited about life, responding with another exaltation of 'Woh-woh-woh-woh-woh, high energy, woh yeah.'
Oh-high-high, (your love is lifting me)
Soraya expresses more excitement and euphoria around her partner's love, indicated by the repetition of 'oh-high-high' and '(your love is lifting me).'
Wooooh-hooo-hooo-hoo (high energy), high-yeah-yeah-eah
Soraya continues to feel awestruck and joyful about her partner's love, responding with another set of exaltations around 'high energy' and 'high-yeah-yeah-eah.'
(Your love is lifting me) Lifting me hiiiiiiiiiigher, hiiiiiiiiiigher
Soraya concludes the song by emphasizing once more how her partner's love continues to lift her up and make her feel incredible, both physically and emotionally.
Contributed by Luke E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
guscotte
Una pasada este tema y las producciones de soraya en sus cover de los 80 . Fantásticos
maria lopez gago
energia pura esta chica cad mejor
Patricia Solano
yooo quiero que vuelvas esas épocas y vestir con pantalones ancho jejeje felicidades soraya ... ya era hora que vuelvan salir estas canciones de grandes existo
A drián
Fantastic cover
Leigh Barber
Awesome...thanks from Chi-town!
RemyMetal
La cantante que la canta joerr que llevo 1 semana y media buscandoooo!!!
guscotte
La versión original es interpretada por evelyn thomas ( 1983)
JAVIER FUENMAYOR
evelyn thomas
Mare Pallase
:)