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.
Tehran In Love
Soraya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must remind myself that it's real as
I stroll through the memories of that day
I smile as I recall everything you said
Didn't think I would find it
Wasn't sure if it was there to be found
But I turn and see the love in your eyes
I've been swept off my feet
Don't ever want to touch the ground
You have raised me high above
Any love that I've ever found
Any love that I've ever found
Tonight as I watch you sleep
Your serenity makes me weak
How you fought your way through the dark
To plant your love deep within my heart
I've been swept off my feet
Don't ever want to touch the ground
You have raised me high above
Any love that I've ever found
I've been swept off my feet
Don't ever want to touch the ground
You have raised me high above
Any love that I've ever found
Only death will us do part
Even then our love will remain
The lyrics of Soraya's song "Love In Your Eyes" express an overwhelming feeling of love and appreciation towards a significant other. The first verse highlights the disbelief of being in such a wonderful relationship and the nostalgic feeling of reminiscing about the happy moments shared together. The chorus describes how the love in the significant other's eyes gives the singer a sense of comfort and safety, making them feel as if they are floating on air. The second verse reveals the depth of the significant other's love and the struggles they went through to reach the singer's heart, making the singer weak in the knees. The final chorus expresses the strength of their love, which will withstand even after death.
The lyrics of Soraya's "Love in Your Eyes" reflects the journey of finding true love, be it after being lost in relationships or not believing it exists. The song's lyrics weave together that through love, an ultimate sense of comfort and elation can be found. The lyrics also emphasize the sheer power of love and how it is worth fighting for, even when things get tough. The final lyric summarises this by stating that their love will remain even after death.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you ever imagine being here
Reflecting on the surreal nature of the current moment.
I must remind myself that it's real as
Acknowledging the reality of the present moment.
I stroll through the memories of that day
Taking a mental walk through the past, adoring pleasant memories.
I smile as I recall everything you said
Remembering sweet moments and feeling joyful while thinking of them.
Didn't think I would find it
Not anticipating to discover the kind of love experienced.
Wasn't sure if it was there to be found
Doubting the existence of such intense love.
But I turn and see the love in your eyes
Recognizing the depth of the love expressed by someone special.
Warm as the sun and gentle as the night
Describing the love seen as calming yet powerful.
I've been swept off my feet
Emphasizing the excitement and overwhelming nature of the love experienced.
Don't ever want to touch the ground
Desiring to remain in the blissful state of the current moment forever.
You have raised me high above
Acknowledging the transformative and uplifting effect of the special person's love.
Any love that I've ever found
Comparing the love experienced to any previously encountered love, and finding it superior.
Tonight as I watch you sleep
Reflecting on the present moment, admiring the sleeping loved one.
Your serenity makes me weak
Being overwhelmed by the peace and contentment brought by the loved one's peaceful slumber.
How you fought your way through the dark
Appreciating the development and struggle that the loved one experienced prior to meeting.
To plant your love deep within my heart
Understanding the depth and strength of the love expressed by the loved one.
Only death will us do part
Expressing a commitment to never leave each other's side as long as they live.
Even then our love will remain
Promising an eternal love for each other, even beyond death.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SORAYA LAMILLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind