The stylistic range of left-field pop artist Kali Uchis is reflected in the variety of her collaborators – an extensive genre-crossing list that includes Tyler, the Creator, Gorillaz, Daniel Caesar, Juanes, and BadBadNotGood. A singer, songwriter, and producer, as well as a video director, Uchis truly arrived on her own with the self-released Por Vida (2015), an EP that led to a deal with Virgin EMI. By the time Uchis released her lively debut full-length, the Top Five Billboard R&B/hip-hop hit Isolation (2018), she had already been nominated for Grammy awards through her featured appearances on Daniel Caesar's "Get You" and Juanes' "El Ratico."
Kali Uchis experienced the majority of her upbringing in Virginia and also spent time in her parents' native Colombia. As a teenager growing up in Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C., she learned to play piano and saxophone and also developed a deep interest in visual arts. Her recorded debut was made in 2012 with the self-released mixtape Drunken Babble. Within three years, she had several singles to her credit, including "Know What I Want" and "Lottery," typically promoted with videos she directed, as well as collaborations with Snoop Dogg, GoldLink, Tyler, the Creator, and Major Lazer. Following the 2015 independent release of Por Vida, a free digital-download EP with tracks produced by Diplo, Kaytranada, and Tyler, Uchis started releasing her material through major-label Virgin EMI. A DJ Dahi-tweaked version of Por Vida's "Ridin Round," issued that November after a move to Los Angeles, was the artist's first single for the major label. "Only Girl," a relaxed Kaytranada production featuring Vince Staples and the Internet's Steve Lacy, followed in April 2016. She was also featured that year on Daniel Caesar's "Get You."
Throughout 2017, Uchis added to her discography of featured appearances via tracks by Juanes, Gorillaz, Tyler, Bootsy Collins, and Miguel, and she previewed her debut album with the singles "Tyrant" (featuring Jorja Smith) and "Nuestro Planeta" (featuring Reykon). By the end of the year, "Get You" had been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Performance, and Juanes' "El Ratico" made Uchis a Latin Grammy nominee when it was up for Record of the Year. January 2018 saw the release of the BadBadNotGood-produced single "After the Storm" (featuring Tyler and Bootsy). Uchis released her debut album, Isolation, three months later. It debuted at number 32 on the Billboard 200 and entered the R&B/hip-hop chart at number four.
http://kaliuchis.com
Just a Stranger
Kali Uchis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dollar bills
Dollar bills
Dollar bills
Dollar bills
Dollar bill
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She don't want love
She wants my hundred
Love
She wants my hundred
She's a hurricane, feel the Earth shake
If the devil was asleep she'd knock him wide awake
And if you were her, you'd never know
I think you'd do it too
But if it takes one to know one
You must not have a clue
So, come on
And I don't ever judge
Just wanna have a little fun (yeah, come on)
No, I won't be here for long
Some will say I'm on the run
Go and say what you want
You are just a stranger
Watching from the bleachers
'Cause you can't take the danger
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She don't want love
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She don't want love
She wants my hundreds
She only want if it's worth it and she want it when she want it
She wants my hundreds
She only want if it's hundreds and she want it in abundance
No you never know me then
And you'll never know me now
When bellies are hungry, but there ain't no money you get it and don't care how
Be the one that everyone likes, just approval 'til hey die
I'm the one they love to hate
I'm the one who will survive
Go and say what you want
You are just a stranger
Watching from the bleachers
'Cause you can't take the danger
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She don't want love
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She don't want love
She wants my hundreds
She only want if it's worth it and she want it when she want it
She wants my hundreds
She only want if it's hundreds and she want it in abundance
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She don't want love
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She don't want love
She wants my hundreds
She only want if it's worth it and she want it when she want it
She wants my hundreds
She only want if it's hundreds and she want it in abundance
Dollar bills
Dollar bill
Dollar bills
Dollar bill
Dollar bills
Dollar bill
Dollar bills
The lyrics of Kali Uchis's song "Just A Stranger" seem to be about the artist's experiences with people who are only interested in her for her money and status. Throughout the song, Kali repeats the phrase "She wants my hundred dollar bills, she don't want love", implying that the people she encounters are not interested in genuine relationships with her. However, the chorus also suggests that Kali is not willing to judge these people, and is simply looking to have fun while she can.
In addition to the themes of financial and emotional exploitation, the song also touches on the idea of identity and perception. Kali sings, "Be the one that everyone likes, just approval 'til hey die / I'm the one they love to hate / I'm the one who will survive", indicating that she is aware of how she is perceived by others and is willing to embrace her own identity despite criticism. The bridge of the song introduces the idea of hunger and the lengths that people will go to in order to satisfy their needs, both material and emotional.
Overall, "Just A Stranger" is a complex meditation on the nature of relationships and identity, and suggests an artist who is willing to embrace her own truth and experience despite societal pressure.
Line by Line Meaning
She wants my hundred dollar bills
She desires my money and material possessions, not emotional attachment or love.
She don't want love
She is not interested in romantic love, but rather seeks financial gain.
She wants my hundreds
She is only interested in large sums of money.
She only want if it's worth it and she want it when she want it
She will only engage in a transaction if she feels that it is profitable, and will do so at her convenience.
She wants my hundreds
She has a specific desire for hundreds of dollars, and not other denominations.
She only want if it's hundreds and she want it in abundance
She craves large amounts of money in the hundreds, and desires an abundance of it.
She's a hurricane, feel the Earth shake
She is an intense and powerful force, capable of causing major disruption and upheaval in people's lives.
If the devil was asleep she'd knock him wide awake
She is so formidable and powerful that she could even wake the devil if he was sleeping.
And if you were her, you'd never know
If you were in her position, you would not truly understand the extent of your own power and influence.
I think you'd do it too
You would likely act in a similar manner if you had her power and influence.
But if it takes one to know one
If it requires a person with a similar level of power and influence to recognize another one, then you may not be able to see the extent of her power and influence.
You must not have a clue
You likely do not understand the true extent of her power and influence due to your lack of similar experience.
So, come on
Encouraging the listener to join in and partake in the same type of behavior.
And I don't ever judge
She does not pass judgement on others with similar desires and behavior.
Just wanna have a little fun (yeah, come on)
She sees her actions as a form of amusement or entertainment, and encourages others to join in on the fun.
No, I won't be here for long
She sees her current behavior and lifestyle as temporary.
Some will say I'm on the run
Others may see her behavior as running away from something or someone, but she sees it as temporary and part of her current lifestyle.
Go and say what you want
Telling others to say whatever they want about her behavior and desires.
You are just a stranger
Others do not truly know her or understand her desires and behavior.
Watching from the bleachers
Others are simply observing her behavior from a distance, without actually participating in it.
'Cause you can't take the danger
Others are not able to handle the risks and potential consequences of engaging in similar behavior.
No you never know me then
Others did not truly understand her power and influence in the past.
And you'll never know me now
Others do not understand her current lifestyle and behavior.
When bellies are hungry, but there ain't no money you get it and don't care how
When someone is desperate for basic necessities like food, they will do anything to get money regardless of their own morals.
Be the one that everyone likes, just approval 'til hey die
Choosing to prioritize being well-liked by others and seeking their approval over living life for oneself.
I'm the one they love to hate
Although not always well-liked, she accepts and embraces this fact.
I'm the one who will survive
She sees herself as being able to thrive and survive despite any obstacles or hatred towards her behavior and desires.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Karly Marina Loaiza, Romil Hemnani, Steve Lacy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EliteStudio
kali got a catalog of bangers
@dehjhunaeday5743
Don’t she!
@propanenightmaresgograndpa5359
Editor: say no more
Kali: i didnt say anything
@makatiea
LMAOO
@MariaContreras-pe9hz
Allia • kali : *breathes*
Editor : say no more
@mariamiguel7244
LMFAOOO btw W for rico
@DanielRomero-wt7cs
He Went for all!!
@hanakohana333
lmfaoo
@gia444_
ugh so underrated it hurts
kali deserves so much recognition
@fart3795
ikr,, i love her so much