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 Dreams
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
I wanna use you and abuse you
I wanna know what's inside you
(Whispering) Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Movin' on!
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
I'm gonna use you and abuse you
I'm gonna know what's inside
Gonna use you and abuse you
I'm gonna know what's inside you
The lyrics to Soraya's song "Sweet Dreams" speak about the idea that everyone in the world is searching for something, whether it be love, power or fame. The lyrics "Everybody's looking for something" encapsulate this idea perfectly. The chorus is an invitation to dream and explore the world - "Travel the world and the seven seas", but despite this, it acknowledges the fact that people can be both users and the used in the quest for their goals. "Some of them want to use you, Some of them want to get used by you" - this speaks to the idea that in the pursuit of their goals, some people may use others, while others may be using them for their own personal gain.
The outro of the song with the lyrics "I wanna use you and abuse you, I wanna know what's inside you" is a reflection on the idea that in order to truly know a person, we must first their potential to be either a victim or a villain. The entire song explores the darker side of human nature and how it can manifest in these searching pursuits. The line "Some of them want to be abused" suggests that for some people, the idea of being used or abused in a relationship may bring them a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction. Ultimately, the song makes a statement on human desire and the lengths that people will go to in order to achieve satisfaction.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet dreams are made of this
Everyone has their own idea of what their perfect life would look like
Who am I to disagree?
I don't have the authority to tell someone what their ideal life should be
Travel the world and the seven seas
Explore and experience everything the world has to offer
Everybody's looking for something
Everyone is searching for their own version of happiness
Some of them want to use you
Some people will try to take advantage of you for their own benefit
Some of them want to get used by you
Other people may be willing to let themselves be used for the benefit of someone else
Some of them want to abuse you
Some individuals may want to mistreat or harm you
Some of them want to be abused
Some people are willing to subject themselves to mistreatment or abuse
I wanna use you and abuse you
I may be willing to take advantage of you and cause you harm
I wanna know what's inside you
I want to understand who you really are
(Whispering) Hold your head up, movin' on
Stay strong and keep moving forward, despite any obstacles
Keep your head up, movin' on
Continue on with courage and perseverance
Movin' on!
Continuing forward without looking back
I'm gonna use you and abuse you
I am determined to take advantage of you and cause you harm
I'm gonna know what's inside
I want to fully understand your personality and emotions
Gonna use you and abuse you
I plan to take advantage of you for my own benefit and cause harm
I'm gonna know what's inside you
I want to fully understand and see through your exterior to your true self
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-gw5ib2gd5d
Это действительно есть что слушать. Супер!!!!
@user-mt4qs6li6n
Вы не с Одессы?
@AJFantocii
@@user-mt4qs6li6n – Таки-да!
@user-od7pz7vz6w
Отдельный привет Одесситам.Челябинск с Вами!!!
@igorivanekin6127
Как ей подходит, весь репертуар,не сразу узнал знакомые вещи,браво,большая работа.
@user-oh1xm1me3z
Девочки мне одежда а то что в ней находится С уважением Игорь
@civisukr3924
Как она прекрасна!
@ABDOUL-nk7qt
Les femmes russes sont très belles
@jesusroman7633
Creo que aparte de Annie, es la MEJOR interpretación que he visto de esta melodía. Gracias Soraya por transmitir esa emoción y ese estilo 😘
@joserivasguerrerro7786
Es. Una. Estrella