Soraya Arnelas Rubiales (Spanish pronunciation: [soˈɾaʝa aɾˈnelas ruˈβjales]; born 13 September 1982), better known mononymously as Soraya, is a Spanish singer. Soraya represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow with the song "La noche es para mí", finishing 23rd with 23 points.

Soraya Arnelas
Soraya in 2015
Soraya in 2015
Background information
Birth nameSoraya Arnelas Rubiales
Born (1982-09-13) 13 September 1982 (age 42)
Valencia de Alcántara (Cáceres), Spain
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active2005–present
Labels

Biography

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Early life

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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 an airline stewardess for Iberworld,[1] where she travelled around the world. Apart from her native Spanish, she is also fluent in English and Portuguese.[citation needed]

2005: Operación Triunfo and Corazón De Fuego

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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

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On 21 November 2006, Soraya released her second album, Ochenta's. It was her first English language album. The first single was a cover of Italian singer RAF's song "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 was 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

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Soraya released another album with more covers of 1980s hits titled Dolce Vita. The lead single was "La Dolce Vita". The album includes covers of 1980s hits, including 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

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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

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By the end of 2008, she submitted one of the songs from her latest album, Sin Miedo, "La noche es para mí" to the Spanish preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, 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 second 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]

After visiting more than 20 cities, Soraya ended her Sin Miedo Spanish Tour 2009 on 13 September 2009.

2010: Dreamer

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After leaving her label Vale Music / Universal in late 2010, Soraya signed a record deal with Sony Music[12] to record her fifth studio album Dreamer. The first single to be released from this album was "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 in June 2010.[13]

The single peaked at #8 on the French Club Chart,[14] while it peaked at #13 on the airplay chart and #47 in the download chart.[15] 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 was Soraya's first entry in both France and Russian charts. In Belgium it peaked at #51.[16] 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.[17] The album peaked at #8 on the Spanish Albums Chart. Dreamer supposed the return of Soraya to the Top10, achieving more success than its predecessor so far. The promotion of the album was supported by a tour through some European countries.

2013: Con Fuego & Universe In Me

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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.

Personal life

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Since 2012, Soraya is in a relationship with male model Miguel Ángel Herrera. Soraya gave birth to the couple's first child, Manuela Grace, on 24 February 2017.[18]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
SPA SPA DVD
Corazón De Fuego 13 SPA: Platinum
Ochenta's 5 SPA: Platinum
Dolce Vita 5 SPA: Gold
Sin Miedo
  • Released: 14 October 2008
  • Re-released: 5 May 2009
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Label: Vale Music / Universal
21
Dreamer 8
Universe In Me 31

Live albums

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List of live albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
SPA SPA DVD
Akustika 97 3

Singles

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As lead artist

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Year Title Peak chart positions Certification Album
SPA SPA DL SWE FRA FRA DL BEL
2005 "Mi Mundo Sin Ti" Corazón De Fuego
2006 "Corazón De Fuego"
"Self Control" 10 SPA: Gold Ochenta's
2007 "Call Me" 14
"La Dolce Vita" Dolce Vita
2008 "Words"
"Sin Miedo" 32 Sin Miedo
2009 "La Noche Es Para Mí" 9 25
2010 "Live Your Dreams" (feat. Antoine Clamaran) 41 4 47 51 Dreamer
"Dreamer"
2011 "Stick Shift" (feat. Antoine Clamaran)
2012 "Feeling You" (feat. Antoine Clamaran & Vince M.) 47 183 non-album singles
2013 "Con Fuego" (feat. Aqeel) 29
"Plastic" 25 Universe In Me
2014 "Neon Lovers / Amantes De Neón"
"El Huracán" (feat. Vega) 21
2015 "You Didn't Do It" 16 non-album singles
2016 "Long Time" 24
2017 "El Pretendiente" (feat. Mister Mimon) 13
2018 "Qué Bonito" 18
2023 "La Botella"[19]
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Year Title Peak chart positions Certification Album
SPA SPA DL
2006 "No Debería" (with Antonio Romero) Antonio Romero
"Fruto Prohibido" (with Santa Fe) Fruto Prohibido
2008 "Tonight We Ride / No Digas Que No" (with Kate Ryan) Free
2014 "You And I" (with Marien Baker) non-album single

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 Operación Triunfo as herself Contestant, Runner-up
2006 Mira quién baila as herself Special episode contestant
2006-2007 El Club de Flo as herself Contestant
2009 La Batalla de los Coros as herself Choir leader
Eurovisión 2009: El retorno as herself Contestant; Winner
Eurovision Song Contest 2009 as herself Spain's representative
2009-2010 Canta si puedes as herself New Year's Eve special episode, contestant
2010 Generación de estrellas as herself Judge
Adivina quién viene a cenar esta noche as herself Guest appearance
2011 Juntos as herself
Tu cara me suena as herself Guest performer
Atrapa un millón as herself Guest appearance
2012 Pasapalabra as herself Guest contestant
2011-2013 Cabaret Olé as herself Co-host
2013 Pasapalabra as herself Disney special, contestant
Mira quién salta as herself Finale episode, guest
Así nos va as herself Guest appearance
Tu cara me suena as herself Guest performer
2014 ¡A bailar! as herself Contestant
2014 ¡Vaya fauna! as herself Judge
2017 Tú sí que sí as herself Judge
Tu cara me suena as herself Guest performer
2018 as herself Contestant
Trabajo Temporal as herself Contestant
2021 Celebrity Bake Off as herself Contestant
2022 Sálvame Mediafest as herself Artist and guest Judge
¡Viva la fiesta! as herself Guest artist
2023 Drag Race España as herself Guest judge

References

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  1. ^ "Soraya Arnelas biography". imeem.com.
  2. ^ "Soraya Arnelas - Dolce Vita UK release". apple.com.
  3. ^ "Soraya Dolce Vita at 7 Digital store". 7digital. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16.
  4. ^ "Soraya impregna de la mejor música de los 80 el bulevar del metro de Manises | Diario Crónica Local ed. Digital". cronicalocal.info. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011.
  5. ^ "Soraya Visitara La Academia El 14 De Julio". blogia.com (in Spanish). 23 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Vale Music- Soraya Presenta en Concierto Su Álbum "Sin Miedo" en Exclusiva Para Terra". valemusic.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 15, 2009.
  7. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest Moscow 2009 | News - Spain: Soraya bids to represent TVE". ESCToday. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008.
  8. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2022 news by esctoday - Turin Italy". ESCToday. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009.
  9. ^ "El fiasco de Soraya | elmundo.es". elmundo.es (in Spanish). 2009-05-16.
  10. ^ "Batacazo de Soraya en Eurovisión". El País. 2009-05-16.
  11. ^ "Cuatro inicia "La batalla de los coros" el miércoles 7 de enero" (in Spanish). Vertele. 2008-12-15. Archived from the original on 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  12. ^ "Soraya Arnelas official Twitter". twitter.com.
  13. ^ * Video on YouTube[dead link]
  14. ^ "French Club Chart". chartsinfrance.net (in French).
  15. ^ "Disque en France". Disque en France. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  16. ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts" (in Belarusian). Ultratop. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  17. ^ "Soraya Official Facebook". facebook.com.
  18. ^ "Soraya Arnelas da a luz a su primera hija". Semana (in Spanish). 2017-02-26.
  19. ^ "New music this week: Songs from ALIKA, Salvador Sobral, Tamta and more". Wiwi Bloggs. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
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Preceded by Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
2009
Succeeded by