Soraya Arnelas

Soraya Arnelas
Soraya Arnelas in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Soraya Arnelas Rubiales
Born	(1982-09-13) 13 September 1982 Valencia de Alcántara, Extremadura, Spain
Genres	Pop, eurodance, dance
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Santander Records (2005) Vale Music / Universal (2005-2009) Sony Music (2010-present)

Soraya Arnelas Rubiales (born 13 September 1982), better known by her stage name Soraya, is a Spanish singer. Soraya represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia with the song "La noche es para mí" finishing 23rd with 23 points.

Biography

Early life

Arnelas was born in Valencia de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain on 13 September 1982. At the age of 11, she left for Madrid. She wanted to study drama but soon started working as a flight attendant for Iberworld,^[1] where she travelled around the world. She speaks three languages (English, Portuguese — she has some Portuguese origins — and Spanish) and is a Real Madrid C.F. supporter.

2005: Operación Triunfo and Corazón De Fuego

Soraya participated in the fourth series of the Spanish television series Operación Triunfo in 2005 where she came second overall. Her début album "Corazón De Fuego" was released on 5 December 2005 produced by Kike Santander. The album got Platinum status.

2006: Ochenta's

On 21 November 2006, Soraya released her second album. It was her first English language album. The first single was a cover of Laura Branigan's "Self Control". The remainder of the album was a mixture of 1980s cover versions and new songs. The song reached Gold Status in the Promusicae Digital Songs charts and peaked at number 1 on the Spanish Cadena 100. The second single from Ochenta's was a cover of Spagna's "Call Me". 'Ochenta's' is one of the most successful albums of 2007 in Spain and achieved platinum after many weeks charting in the top ten albums chart.

2007: Dolce Vita

Soraya released another album with more 1980s hits. The lead single was "La Dolce Vita". The album includes 1980s hits, in the likes of Kylie Minogue's "I Should Be So Lucky", Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", Eurythmics's "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", Modern Talking's "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" and the lead single, "Dolce Vita", a cover from the Italian singer Ryan Paris. The album shot straight inside the Spanish Top 5 Albums Chart, peaking at No.5, and getting Gold certification in the following weeks.

The album was released in the United Kingdom via iTunes UK and 7digital.^[2][3]

2008: Sin Miedo

Sin Miedo was Soraya's fourth released album. Leaving the 1980s covers behind, this album contains 12 original tracks; nine in Spanish and three in English.^[4] The album was produced by International DJ DJ Sammy^[5] and includes a duo with Kate Ryan (the song Caminaré).^[6] The first single of the album was Sin miedo (Without fear).

The album debuted on the Spanish Albums Chart at a low #21, becoming her worst position for a studio album. The album has spent 22 weeks on chart so far. However, the album saw a Top 40 reentry at #32 thanks to a brand new edition of Sin Miedo.

2009: Eurovision and other television projects

By the end of 2008, she submitted one of the songs from her latest album, Sin Miedo. 1La Noche Es Para Mí became a frontrunner in the Spanish preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Russia, being considered the early favourite to represent the country.^[7] She was finally chosen to represent Spain on 28 February 2009.^[8] Soraya's Eurovision team consisted of a Swedish songwriting team. She heavily promoted in Sweden in the months leading up to the contest. Being an automatic finalist representing Spain, she performed in the 25th position on Final night, finishing sencond to last.^[9][10] However, juries and televoters did not vote for the song, and it finished in the twenty fourth place. Arnelas referred to the score as a punishment from Europe, for Radio Television Española's late airing of the second semi-final where Spanish televoters and jury members were to vote.

Previously to her Eurovision experience, she participated in the reality talent contest La Batalla de los Coros, the Spanish version of Clash of the Choirs.^[11]

Controversy came in late June 2009, when her label, Vale Music, did not want to pay the video for her single "Caminaré". Soraya stated on her official Facebook that she will make the video on her own, without the support of Vale Music".^[12][13] However, as of September 2009, no news about the release of the video has been made. As well, the single release has been cancelled by her label.

After visiting more than 20 cities, Soraya ended her Sin Miedo Spanish Tour 2009 on 13 September 2009. In an interview, Soraya had stated that she did not want to branch out into North American continent and would prefer to stay in Europe. However, she will be heading to New York to study and to keep training professionally herself. Also, she toured and promoted her music around South America in October.^[14]

2010: Dreamer

After leaving her label Vale Music / Universal in late 2010, Soraya signed a record deal with Sony Music^[15] and has been in the recording studio for the past six months recording new songs for her forthcoming fifth studio album. The first single to be released from the album is "Live Your Dreams", an electronic-dance-pop song, produced by French DJ Antoine Clamaran. The video for the song was filmed in Paris on March and was released on June 2010.^[16]

The single peaked at #8 on the French Club Chart,^[17] while it peaked at #13 on the airplay chart and #47 in the download chart.^[18] The CD-Single debuted and peaked at #11 in the French Singles Chart, staying a total of 7 weeks into the Top15. It also reached #20 at the Russian Airplay Chart. This is Soraya's first entry in both France and Russian charts. In Belgium it peaked at #51.^[19] While in Poland the song reached #16 in the airplay chart. In Spain, the song was #18 in the airplay chart.

The album was released on September 28, 2010 in Spain, reaching number 1 on iTunes the same day it was released.^[20] The album peaked at #8 on the Spanish Albums Chart. Dreamer has supposed the return of Soraya to the Top10, achieving more success than its predecessor so far. The promotion of the album is supported by a tour through some European countries.

2013: Con Fuego & Universe In Me

On 19 February Soraya released an electronic/dance track in co-operation with Aqeel. This was the first song she released along with her own company label, Valentia Records. The song topped the iTunes Spanish Chart, it also made a top thirty (#29) official debut in PROMUSICAE only with downloads but a top ten (#7) in the physical singles chart due to the CD Single release.

Discography

Studio albums

As lead artist

As featured artist

References

External links

• Soraya Official Site

Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Artists 1960s Conchita Bautista Victor Balaguer José Guardiola Nelly, Tim & Tony Conchita Bautista Raphael Raphael Massiel Salomé 1970s Julio Iglesias Karina Jaime Morey Mocedades Peret Sergio y Estíbaliz Braulio Micky José Vélez Betty Missiego 1980s Trigo Limpio Bacchelli Lucía Remedios Amaya Bravo Paloma San Basilio Cadillac Patricia Kraus La Década Prodigiosa Nina 1990s Azúcar Moreno Sergio Dalma Serafín Zubiri Eva Santamaría Alejandro Abad Anabel Conde Antonio Carbonell Marcos Llunas Mikel Herzog Lydia 2000s Serafín Zubiri David Civera Rosa Beth Ramón Son de Sol Las Ketchup D'NASH Rodolfo Chikilicuatre Soraya Arnelas 2010s Daniel Diges Lucía Pérez Pastora Soler El Sueño de Morfeo Ruth Lorenzo Edurne Barei
Songs 1960s "Estando contigo" "Llámame" "Algo prodigioso" "Caracola" "Qué bueno, qué bueno" "Yo soy aquél" "Hablemos del amor" "La, la, la" "Vivo cantando" 1970s "Gwendolyne" "En un mundo nuevo" "Amanece" "Eres tú" "Canta y sé feliz" "Tú volverás" "Sobran las palabras" "Enséñame a cantar" "Bailemos un vals" "Su canción" 1980s "Quédate esta noche" "Y sólo tú" "Él" "¿Quién maneja mi barca?" "Lady, Lady" "La fiesta terminó" "Valentino" "No estás solo" "La chica que yo quiero (Made in Spain)" "Nacida para amar" 1990s "Bandido" "Bailar pegados" "Todo esto es la música" "Hombres" "Ella no es ella" "Vuelve conmigo" "¡Ay, qué deseo!" "Sin rencor" "¿Qué voy a hacer sin ti?" "No quiero escuchar" 2000s "Colgado de un sueño" "Dile que la quiero" "Europe's Living a Celebration" "Dime" "Para llenarme de ti" "Brujería" "Un Blodymary" "I Love You Mi Vida" "Baila el Chiki-chiki" "La noche es para mí" 2010s "Algo pequeñito" "Que me quiten lo bailao" "Quédate conmigo" "Contigo hasta el final" "Dancing in the Rain" "Amanecer" "Say Yay!"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Spain did not compete)