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.
SWEET LOVE
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
follow your instincts, let them set you free
The way your eyes wander and settle on my lips
moves my inner river baby, pushes my limits
Sweet, sweet love, I will be the one
Sweet, sweet love, to help you to come undone
conquer your hesitations, what are your fearful of
I can see in your eyes, desire's on your mind
I'm in no hurry baby, time is on your side
Sweet, sweet love, I will be the one
Sweet, sweet love, to help you to come undone
The lyrics in Soraya's song Sweet Love are about taking a chance on love and allowing oneself to be vulnerable by following their instincts. The opening lines "Take a chance and kiss me, lay your love on me" encourage the listener to take a risk and be open to the possibility of love. The lyrics suggest that by doing so, they will feel free and liberated.
The second verse describes the tension between two people who are attracted to each other. The line "The way your eyes wander and settle on my lips moves my inner river baby, pushes my limits" suggests that the attraction between the two people is powerful and has the ability to arouse strong emotions. The lyrics encourage the listener to conquer their hesitations and not let fear hold them back from pursuing their desires.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Sweet, sweet love, I will be the one/ Sweet, sweet love, to help you to come undone". This reinforces the idea that love can be intense and liberating, and that it is worth taking a chance on. The lyrics suggest that by allowing oneself to be vulnerable and open to love, they can experience a deep connection with another person.
Overall, Soraya's song Sweet Love explores the themes of vulnerability, desire, and liberation. The lyrics encourage the listener to take a chance on love and to be open to the powerful emotions it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a chance and kiss me, lay your love on me
I want you to take a risk and show me your love through a kiss. Show me your passion with your actions.
Follow your instincts, let them set you free
Trust your gut and don't hold back. Embrace what you feel and let it guide you.
The way your eyes wander and settle on my lips
I'm aware of your attraction towards me, specifically my lips, and I find it alluring.
Moves my inner river baby, pushes my limits
Your gaze and attraction towards me is overpowering and electric. It's making me feel things I haven't before.
Sweet, sweet love, I will be the one
I want to be the one to experience the sweet love with you. I'm willing to take a chance with you.
Sweet, sweet love, to help you to come undone
I will help you let loose and fully embrace your desires with sweet love.
With each passing moment, the tension grows and grows
The attraction between us is building with every moment and it's getting harder to resist.
Conquer your hesitations, what are you fearful of
Don't let your hesitation hold you back. Face your fears and let yourself feel the sweet love we could have.
I can see in your eyes, desire's on your mind
I can feel the longing in your gaze, and I know it's there where you want to take this.
I'm in no hurry baby, time is on your side
We don't need to rush. We have all the time in the world to explore this sweet love and where it can take us.
Contributed by Elizabeth H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Franco J
Esta canción me recuerda los clásicos de los 80's
sorayaforever
Soraya Vive! a tres años de su nacimiento a la vida eterna. Enciende una veladora este 10 de mayo, por ella y por todas las mujeres del mundo
Henry Alexander Hamilton
just found this singer Colombiana/Americana and she's already gone. How many other beautiful things are there in the world that I'll never know in the short time left.
Henry Alexander Hamilton
just found this singer Colombiana/Americana and she's already gone. How many other beautiful thins are there in the world that I'll never know in the short time left.
Ana Franco
@hope8224 UN ANGEL ENAMORADO ES EL NOMBRE DE LA PELICULA