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.
Sin Miedo
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se ha esfumado mi temor porque nunca quise irme
Fuiste tú quien se empeñó en jugar
Sin compasión con mi humildad
Y no voy a despreciarte
Ni un minuto más
Ahora eres tú quien no escuchó
Y volveré a ser yo otra vez
Ya no sé quien soy desde que te encontré
Voy a vivir sin miedo
Voy a quererme otra vez
Quiero sonreír lo que por ti lloré
Voy a vivir sin miedo
No me daba cuenta perdí la ilusión
La tristeza me cegó y llegué a perder el rumbo
Ahora he vuelto a ver por fin la luz
De pronto brilla cuando no estás tú
Y me siento más libre
La vida es un lugar para aprender
No tengo tiempo que perder
Voy a vivir sin miedo
Y volveré a ser yo otra vez
Ya no sé quien soy desde que te encontré
Voy a vivir sin miedo
Voy a quererme otra vez
Voy a sonreír lo que por ti lloré
Voy a vivir sin miedo
Sin miedo,
Sin miedo,
Sin miedo,
Voy a vivir sin miedo
Y volveré a ser yo otra vez
Ya no sé quien soy desde que te encontré
Voy a vivir sin miedo
Voy a quererme otra vez
Voy a sonreír lo que por ti lloré
Voy a vivir sin miedo
Voy a vivir sin miedo
The lyrics of Soraya Arnelas's song 'Sin miedo' talk about overcoming fear and taking control of one's life. The singer is no longer afraid to speak her truth and is not apologizing for it. She recognizes that someone had played with her humility and tried to bring her down. However, she has decided to let go of that fear and is going to live without it. The singer seems to have lost herself in the process of being with this person, but now she is taking charge of herself and wants to love and smile again. She has realized that life is too short to waste any more time on things that hold her back. She is going to live without fear and be herself again.
The song seems to be about moving on from a toxic relationship or situation and embracing oneself again without hesitation. It encourages the listener to let go of any fears and doubts and live life without any inhibitions. It is an anthem for self-love and self-acceptance.
Overall, the message of 'Sin miedo' is empowering and encourages the listener to take control of their lives, let go of their fears, and be true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoy voy ha hablarte claro sin pedir perdón
Today, I am going to talk to you clearly without apologizing
Se ha esfumado mi temor porque nunca quise irme
My fear has disappeared because I never wanted to leave
Fuiste tú quien se empeñó en jugar
You were the one who insisted on playing
Sin compasión con mi humildad
Without compassion for my humility
Y no voy a despreciarte
And I am not going to despise you
Ni un minuto más
Not even for a minute longer
Ahora eres tú quien no escuchó
Now it is you who did not listen
No me daba cuenta perdí la ilusión
I did not realize that I lost my enthusiasm
La tristeza me cegó y llegué a perder el rumbo
Sadness blinded me and I lost my way
Ahora he vuelto a ver por fin la luz
Now I have finally seen the light again
De pronto brilla cuando no estás tú
Suddenly it shines when you are not here
Y me siento más libre
And I feel more free
La vida es un lugar para aprender
Life is a place to learn
No tengo tiempo que perder
I do not have time to lose
Voy a vivir sin miedo
I am going to live without fear
Y volveré a ser yo otra vez
And I will be myself again
Ya no sé quien soy desde que te encontré
I do not know who I am since I met you
Voy a quererme otra vez
I am going to love myself again
Voy a sonreír lo que por ti lloré
I am going to smile for what I cried for you
Sin miedo,
Without fear,
Sin miedo,
Without fear,
Sin miedo,
Without fear,
Voy a vivir sin miedo
I am going to live without fear
Contributed by Tyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LEZGISTAN
Песня просто бомба🥰🥰
Barbara Solarczyk
Beautiful song. Amazing performance 💖
Nick Aguilera
Observo en cada video de ésta canción en vivo, su gran evolución vocal: canta cada vez mejor!!.Te amo bella Soraya, idola!!!! 😍❤
Luiz Torres Pinheiro
O POVO BRASILEIRO TE AMA❤
ELEKTRARE
Your talent is real & powerful voice , beautiful Soraya , lots of luuuuuvvvv , without fear , awesome song xoxo 😘
Nick Aguilera
Qué bella es por Dios!!.Y qué gran voz, puro talento ésta chica!!.Te amo Soraya!!! ❤😍
ROBERTO JOSÉ MACHADO
FESTA PARA A NOSSA VIDA - PARABÉNS SORAYA
Johan van der Westhuizen
What a song so much energy in this performance , Soraya 1 of the most beautiful female singers, simply stunning
Don Ross
This woman is number one in my books, there's some others clothes but she has the feeling that makes you feel good she's 100% professional and beautiful I love this song and I love d u e l e, both show her forcible voice and her good looks
vitor Machado
Muito bom Soraya. Um tema fantástico. Parabéns