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.
Love Is All Around
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you knew every though that I had
My wish broken my heart
like a in heaven
your flowers already died.
But know I’m looking to your eyes
I’m not mad about it.
Baby, baby, it’s not a love thing.
I’m not mad about it.
Suddenly I see what you mean to me
Getting nasty first will make the
love is all around
boy, you’re going down.
can you hear the sound
love is all around
I’m armed and dangerous.
Shoot you with my little black dress
On the rebound rebound.
I’m hear to rub it in.
It’s gonna end where I begin. Rebound.
On the Rebound.
Suddenly I see what you mean to me
Getting nasty first will make the
love is all around
boy, you’re going down.
can you hear the sound
love is all around
Get you back on the rebound.
You think you got me but I got you beat.
Getting nasty first will make the
last word taste so sweet.
Gonna burst your bubble,
boy, you’re going down.
Pop, Pop, the sound.
Get you back on the rebound.
The lyrics of Soraya Arnelas's "Love Is All Around" tell a story of revenge and empowerment. The singer of the song had been in a relationship with someone who knew her every thought, but their wish had broken her heart "like a knife in heaven." But instead of wallowing in sadness or bitterness, the singer is now looking into her former partner's eyes, hoping to get even with them. She makes it clear that this isn't about love anymore and that she's armed and dangerous, seeking revenge on the rebound.
The chorus of the song reinforces the themes of empowerment and revenge. The singer sees what her former partner meant to her, but she's not going to let that stop her from getting revenge. She's getting nasty first, letting love surround them before bringing them down. The sound of the pop when the bubble bursts is a metaphor for the end of the relationship, but it's also a sign of the singer's triumph over her former partner.
Overall, "Love Is All Around" is a song about the power of self-love and empowerment. The singer has been hurt by someone she loved, but instead of giving up, she decides to take control and seeks revenge on her own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
We were always together
We spent a lot of time together.
you knew every thought that I had
You were very familiar with my thoughts and feelings.
My wish broken my heart
My wish didn't come true and that hurt me deeply.
like a in heaven
I was on top of the world before everything came crashing down.
your flowers already died.
Your good intentions didn't last.
But know I’m looking to your eyes
Despite all that has happened, I'm still searching for clarity in your eyes.
I’m not mad about it.
I'm not angry, just disappointed in the outcome.
Just getting even on it.
I'm seeking revenge for what's happened between us.
Baby, baby, it’s not a love thing.
This is not about love.
Suddenly I see what you mean to me
I've realized the true value of our relationship.
Getting nasty first will make the
Being aggressive won't help the situation.
love is all around
Love is present in every situation.
boy, you’re going down.
You will not win this battle.
can you hear the sound
Listen closely for the sound of love.
I’m armed and dangerous.
I'm ready to fight back with everything I've got.
Shoot you with my little black dress
I will use my personal style as a weapon against you.
On the rebound rebound.
I'm bouncing back and ready to fight.
I’m here to rub it in.
I'm going to remind you of your mistakes.
It’s gonna end where I begin. Rebound.
This is where I will take control of the situation.
Get you back on the rebound.
I'm going to make you regret what you've done.
You think you got me but I got you beat.
You may have thought you won, but I have the upper hand.
last word taste so sweet.
Winning this battle will be incredibly satisfying.
Gonna burst your bubble,
I will pop your illusions.
boy, you’re going down.
You will not win this battle.
Pop, Pop, the sound.
The sound of defeat is imminent.
Get you back on the rebound.
I'm going to make you regret what you've done.
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LEBIRDOL
En 1:24 la voz pone los pelos de punta.*****
Estreletes
me gustaaa! =)
Soley411
@Lenamind la original no es de arashi, es de Agnes Carlsson "Octubre de 2006", personalmente me gusta muchicimo mas en ingles y esta version me encanta!. Saludos.
neskipom
pues yo me quedo con "We can make it!" de Arashi, ésa sí es positiva! (ya con el título te alegra =P)
stanley2076
the new voice for Steps ...(Shhh)
stanley2076
this is my belove d Steps :)
Lenamind
@Petete181 La canción de Rickie Lee no es ni la original xD La originial es We can Make it! de Arashi ;) No me gusta la versión americana y mucho menos la de Soraya xD