Our Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs list will look at a popular singer and songwriter who was inspired by old school r&b and doo-wop music. She also enjoys jazz music. Her musical influences are Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Curtis Mayfield, Loose Ends, Celia Cruz, La Lupe, Shakira, Selena, Ivy Queen and Mariah Carey. She has won a variety of awards throughout her career. She has worked with different artists throughout her career. She has worked with Tyler the Creator, Daniel Caesar, Bootsy Collins, Juanes, Kay Tranada, Don Toliver, Snoop Dogg, Amaarae, as well as others. Some of her hits include “After the Storm,” “Telepatia,” “Fue Mejor,” “Lottery,” “Speed,” as well as others.
Kali Uchis was born Karly-Marina Loaiza on July 17, 1994. She learned to play instruments in high school. She was in a jazz band in high school. Her parents kicked her out for skipping classes and missing curfew. She lived in her car and wrote songs. The songs turned into mixtapes. She was a writer, so she didn’t intend to sing. She wanted to work behind the scenes instead of being in the spotlight. This feeling changed once she released her first mixtape. She released Drunken Babble in August 2012. It was praised for her ability to blend r&b, doo-wop and reggae. In 2014, she worked with Snoop Dogg.
She released Por Vida EP in February 2015. She worked with Diplo, Tyler, the Creator, Kay Tranada and BadBadNotGood. The EP features the singles “Know What I Want,” “Lottery,” “Loner,” “Ridin’ Round,” “Call Me” and “Speed.” Her star continued to shine because she went on tour with Leon Bridges in October 2015. She released Isolation in April 2018. The album peaked at number 32 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “After the Storm,” “Dead to Me,” “Tyrant,” “Nuestro,” “Planeta” and “Just a Stranger.” The album sold over 500,000 copies. She released the EP To Feel Alive in April 2020. It peaked at number 94 on the Current albums charts. It features the singles “Angel” and “To Feel Alive.”
Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) was released in November 2020. The album peaked at number 52 on Billboard 200 and three on the Latin charts. It features the singles “Solita,” “Fue Mejor,” “Vaya con Dios,” “Que Te Pedi” and “Telepatia.” Red Moon in Venus was released in March 2023. The album peaked at number four on Billboard 200 and two on the r&b charts. It features the singles “I Wish You Roses,” “Moonlight,” “Worth the Wait,” “All Mine” and “Fantasy.”
Kali Uchis is a creative singer and songwriter. She has made a name for herself through her work as well as with other artists. She has been able to survive in the music industry while other artists have come and gone. Kali Uchis has staying power. Our Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs list will feature some of her best work.
# 10 – See You Again – Tyler the Creator ft. Kali Uchis
The 10th song on our Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs list is “See You Again” from Tyler, the Creator’s album Flower Boy. “See You Again” was released in August 2017. The song is a mystical story about a man and his ideal lover. They are only together in his fantasies and when he dreams. Whenever he wakes up, the person is not there anymore. He doesn’t want to wake up because he will lose the lover.
The song opens with Tyler the Creator talking about his lover living in his dream. He says the person only exists when he is sleeping. He wishes that he never had to wake up. He wonders if the person feels the same way about him. Kali Uchis joins Tyler the Creator. She wants to kiss him. She doesn’t know if she is going to see him again. She wants their time to last forever.
This is a melodramatic masterpiece about fantasizing about your partner. They don’t have the person in real life, but they can have each other in their heads. This is a different type of love song. Most artists talk about being with their partner. They don’t talk about their fantasy partner. This is a gut-wrenching song if you are only able to see the one you love in your mind. You wouldn’t want to wake up if you are having fun with them in your dreams. This is especially sad if the person you love is no longer here with you.
The music is melancholy and matches the theme of the song. Tyler the Creator and Kali Uchis have vocal chemistry with each other. Their voices complement each other well. His baritone vocals are a nice parallel to her soprano vocals. This song gives Tyler the Creator a chance to sing and rap. He has a good singing voice. Kali Uchis has the voice of an angel. She makes the song come alive.
# 9 – I Wish You Roses
The ninth song on our Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs list is “I Wish You Roses” from the Red Moon in Venus album. “I Wish You Roses” was released in January 2023. This song is about the end of a relationship. She never thought she would lose him. She wishes him love and the best. She wants him to have flowers while he can still smell them. She knows flowers come with a bee sting. She never thought she would be without him. She was a flower in an area full of weeds. Her petals are soft and silky, so she doesn’t want a man to be afraid to get pricked by her thorns. She feels she is someone to honor. When she is gone, she is worth mourning. Her love is as deep as the ocean. Any love she gives is his forever.
This song will bring back memories of loss in your life. This song isn’t just about the loss of a romantic partner. It could be any type of loss. It is also about moving on with your life while you still think positively about your ex. This song is different because people don’t usually wish their ex the best when they break up. It teaches you not to seek revenge when you break up with someone. The lyrics shows Kali Uchis’ mature side. It is hard to love someone who hurt you, but she chose to move on instead of making him pay for breaking her heart. The song will teach you that you can do the same thing with your ex. The music has a cool and chill r&b vibe. The synths and drum patterns are impressive. You can get lost listening to the music. Kali Uchis’ voice sounds angelic. She goes up an octave and matches the synthesizer in the hook. This is a song you can listen to on repeat.
# 8 – Call Me
The eighth song on our Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs list is “Call Me” from the Por Vida EP. “Call Me” was released in 2015. The song is about a woman who wants a man to call her. He is taking his time while she is ready to move on with her life. She would give him all of her if he would just call her. She is offering herself to the guy if he wants her. She wants him to come to her place so they can escape from everything. The narrator assures him that when he is feeling down, he can rely on her. She will stick by his side like rubber and glue. She knows he wants her and she wants him too. She lets him know no one will please him the way she can. She lets him know if he is feeling bad, he can call her.
This song is a romantic story about a woman who wants to be there for her man. She shows that she is there for him more than just intimately. She wants to find out what is bothering him and make him feel better. It is a beautiful thing to see a woman offering to make a man feel better. Men get insecure the same way women do so it is good for them to hear that someone will be there for them.
The tender lyrics will resonate with anyone who wants to be there for the person they love. The music has an old school r&b sound. You may feel as if you are in a time machine because of the old school vibe. The snare drum keeps it from sounding like old school music. Kali Uchis’ vocals slay in this song. You can get in a trance listening to the tone of her voice. She has different vocal changes throughout the song. Whenever the music changes, her voice adapts to the change.
# 7 – Know What I Want
The seventh pick on our list is “Know What I Want” from the Por Vida EP. “Know What I Want” was released in 2014. The song is about being independent. The narrator hopes that the saying “one door closes another one opens” is true. When she is about to walk away, it feels as if she is being pulled back. She must remind herself that she chose this life. She rushed into the relationship and wasn’t sure how to get out of it. She tries to act like she doesn’t know what is happening, but she sees it. Her man refuses to call her when he is out late. She is tired of the way he is acting. She realized she should have left him in the friend’s zone. She is tired of the way he is acting. It is five in the morning, but he won’t call her or come back home. He checks her phone when he wants to, but she wants him to leave her alone.
This song tells a story about independence. She has had enough of her man’s antics and doesn’t want to put up with them anymore. This song will teach you how to stand on your own instead of relying on someone else. It will encourage you not to put up with anyone disrespecting you. The music is a mix of r&b, reggae and hip-hop. The music has a smooth and cool vibe. The instrumentation is flawless. There is a good mix of bass, keyboards and percussion. The track veers away from the reggae roots towards the end of the song. Kali Uchis sounds like she is channeling her inner Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Kali Uchis has an old soul and it shows in this song. When she sings, “know what I want,” we know what we want. We want to hear this song as much as possible.
# 6 – Only Girl ft. Steve Lacy and Vince Staples
“Only Girl” is a non-album single. “Only Girl” was released in 2016. The song is about a woman who demands respect from a man. Steve Lacy wonders why his partner has been acting weird lately. She is not taking his calls and he wants to know why she isn’t answering. He knows she won’t talk to him, but he wants her to think about what she is doing by ignoring him. He insists there is only one girl for him and she knows it. He wants her to give him another chance. He promises he won’t blow it.
Kali Uchis says she told herself to leave him alone and to stop answering the phone when he called. She wants him to show her that he wants her. Actions speak louder than words. She is going to make him work for her love. He must ask her permission before they can go out. She wants him to tell the other women to mind their business. She believes they are not competition for her. Vince Staples talks about what he did wrong in the relationship. He knows his actions hurt her. He wishes that what he did was a dream. He would give anything not to have hurt her.
This song tells the story of regret. The song is about what happens when someone messes up in a relationship and must deal with the consequences. The lyrics will make sense to you if you have been betrayed by your partner. You can also understand if you were the one who betrayed your partner and you want to make it right. The music has an old school vibe with a new school flare.
The keyboard gives the song an old school sound while the snare drum makes it sound like today’s music. Kali Uchis and Steve Lacy’s voices are made for each other. She is like a vocal chameleon. She can sing any type of song and sounds incredible. She can sing any type of music. She always hits a vocal home run. She manages to sound different in each track. Steve Lacy’s baritone vocals blend well with Kali Uchis’ vocals. Vince Staples does a good job with his verse. He raps his verse. He slows down his rhyming skills enough so you can understand what he is saying.
# 5 – Speed
The next song on our Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs list is “Speed” from the Por Vida EP. “Speed” was released in 2015. This song is about a relationship that is moving too fast for her. She tries to let her man know that he doesn’t know what he is getting himself into. She wants him to read between the lines and slow things down. She feels like he is rushing her to do something she is not ready to do. The narrator talks about how she feels alive when she is in his car. She feels like she can do anything. She wishes that she had the same kind of drive that she has when she is in his car. She wants to do more and experience life with him. The problem is she is scared something will happen. She doesn’t want to take the risk of something bad happening, so she wants him to slow down.
Kali Uchis uses metaphors to describe a relationship that is moving too fast. This is an inspiring song for anyone who is afraid to tell their partner no. This song will teach you that you don’t have to go faster than you want to go. The song is told from a female perspective, but men can relate to it as well. Men may not like their partner rushing them to do things they are not ready to do. This song is an updated version of Janet Jackson’s hit song “Let’s Wait Awhile.” The music has an 80s r&b and pop sound. Musically the song doesn’t sound like anything else on the radio. The music has a beat change. When the song starts, the drums drive the beat. The keyboard drives the second half of the music. Kali Uchis is channeling Erykah Badu in this track. Her voice is stacked because she sounds as if she has a double in the chorus.
# 4 – Lottery
“Lottery” is from the Por Vida EP. “Lottery” was released in January 2014. The song is about a woman who wants to get back together with an ex. She knows she is trying hard to keep him. She thinks he is an angel and she is blessed to have him. She wants him to know that she enjoyed meeting him. The narrator spent time searching for something she could call hers. She doesn’t want a phony person. She wants someone who is real with her. She knows that their past is tainted.
She is willing to give their relationship another try if he wants to. She asks him to take a chance on her. Love is like the lottery. He is the only man she sees. They have their issues, but she wants to forget about them. She doesn’t expect him to forget what she did, but they won’t move forward if he doesn’t get over it. What happened between them hurt her like a gunshot wound. Until the day she dies, she is going to roll the dice on their relationship. She has learned her lesson and won’t mess up again.
This is an apology song between a woman and a man. She is idealistic that they can get back together. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make things right with him. She is honest about her feelings and she is not afraid to be vulnerable. She could have blamed him for the relationship, but she chose to be the guilty party. There aren’t too many songs where the woman will admit that they cheated.
Kali Uchis took a chance to make herself the bad guy in the song and we must respect that. Most people talk about their partners cheating on them. The twinkling music will put a smile on your face. The music is what you would expect from the talented singer since she likes to blend genres and styles. Kali Uchis sounds pretty in this track. She is singing in a higher octave. She sounds like a combination of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The chorus is magical and is easy to remember.
# 3 – Fue Mejor (It Was Better) ft. SZA
Coming in at number three on our list is “Fue Mejor” is from the Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) album. “Fue Mejor” was released in January 2021. The song is about the pain and betrayal that can come from a bad relationship. Kali Uchis opens the song talking about a man who betrayed her. She tells him that he doesn’t deserve her. She felt like someone could love her if they knew her. She told him that he didn’t know her. The weight of the world is off her shoulders because life is treating her well now.
He has moved on with someone else and is doing the things she taught him to do to please her. He wasted his time moving on because he called her right after being with another woman. He let her know that he missed everything about her and she was his favorite woman. She was the one he needed. The narrator lets him know that she is gone so their relationship won’t be repeated. SZA is going off on her man. She lets him know that he was never hers in the first place. She knew he could never get enough of her intimately. She informs him that it makes him feel good to treat her badly.
This is not an anthem that paints men in a good light. This is a women’s anthem about getting over men. Women will be able to salute Kali Uchis and SZA as they talk about their story with their men. You may find yourself clapping while they are singing. This is a steamy track where Kali Uchis and SZA are allowed to spread their wings.
They sing their verses as if they are looking at the faces of the men who hurt them. The music has a slow r&b and Latin flavor. The ladies sing this song in Spanish. Kali Uchis sounds sensual and hypnotizing. This is a throwback to her roots. SZA sounds natural singing in Spanish. She sounds just as good singing in Spanish as she does in English. Kali Uchis and SZA are vocal match made in heaven. They need to record more songs together.
# 2 – After the Storm ft. Tyler, the Creator and Bootsy Collins
“After the Storm” is from the Isolation album. “After the Storm” was released in January 2018. The song is about trying to get through a rough patch to get to good things. Just because you may be losing doesn’t mean you have lost yet. The storm may be scary now, but beautiful things can grow from it. Paradise is within your reach. Whatever goes around will come back around so you must be careful. She wonders what he is dealing with even though she is dealing with problems of her own.
She is told to think about the demons he is facing on his own. She can’t stand that she can’t go home. She believes everyone must go on with their lives. Kali Uchis and Bootsy Collins urge you to look in the mirror when you need a hero. They believe no one will save you so you must save yourself. Everyone is hurting so you are not alone. You can’t give up on life.
This is a song for anyone who is dealing with a tough time. If you are dealing with depression or sadness, this song will help you get through it. The artists wrote a motivating and moving song about surviving storms. This is a subject that will never get old because people are always going through something and will need to hear these comforting words. The trio did a great job collaborating on this track.
No one stepped on anyone’s toes to shine in the song. Everyone brought something different to the table. Kali Uchis sounds amazing. Hearing her sing the lyrics is like getting good advice from a friend who is going to let you know that everything will be okay. Tyler, the Creator raps in this song. His rhymes hit home. You will feel his verses as if he is talking to you. Bootsy Collins does a masterful job on the bass and rhythm. He is also at home with his ad libs throughout the song.
# 1 – Telepatia (Telepathy)
The number one song on our Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs list is “Telepatia” from the Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) album. “Telepatia” was released in February 2021. The song is about a long-distance relationship. She wants to make love to her man telepathically. The couple has been apart. She wonders if their relationship is strong enough that they can communicate their emotions and desires without being physically there for each other. She believes their connection is powerful that they can be intimate without touching. She is aware that her bed is technically empty, but she wants to embrace the presence of their mental connection. The narrator doesn’t believe the distance will make a difference to their mental connection. She believes they can feel each other’s thoughts and desires in a telepathic way.
The song talks about the power of an emotional connection. The physical part of a relationship is easy. She wants to explore new territory and talk about the emotional connection. She wants to know that she can feel her partner with her even when they are apart. This song is perfect for people who are in a long-distance relationship. They know they can still be connected to each other even though they are far away from each other. This song is for everyone because anyone can relate to it. The music has a laid-back vibe. The instrumentation is dreamy and relaxing. You can listen to this while you are chilling with the one you love. The song has an infectious chorus that stands out. It will stay in your head even when the song is done. Kali Uchis’ vocals are outstanding. She sings this in English and Spanish. She sounds sexy in both languages. She commands your attention with her seductive tone.
Top 10 Kali Uchis Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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