djzyonseven
I don’t even have to think twice about this one.
I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) was my jam. 🎶❤️
Back in the early ’90s, when I was DJing clubs and parties, this was definitely one of my go-to records.
It didn’t matter if it was a teen party, a skating rink, or a grown folks set.
The second that Teddy Riley beat dropped, the dance floor was already moving.
Even today, this song still has a permanent home on a couple of my Spotify playlists. 🎧
That’s how much I still love it.
Some songs get old after you’ve heard them a thousand times.
This one never has.
At least not for me.😎
Released in 1991 as the second single from Hi-Five’s self-titled debut album.
The song was written by Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, and Dave Way, with Teddy Riley producing the track.
By then, Teddy Riley had already become the architect of New Jack Swing, blending R&B, hip-hop, and pop into a sound that completely defined the early ’90s.
And talk about a hit…💽
The song spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart.
It even climbed all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Hi-Five’s biggest crossover hit.
It also earned a Gold certification in the U.S.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Hi-Five was how effortlessly they blended smooth vocals with youthful energy.
They were singing about young love, first crushes, butterflies, and that innocent excitement of wanting to be around somebody all day.
The music video is another little piece of history.
It was directed by Antoine Fuqua, years before he’d become the acclaimed Hollywood director…
Behind movies like Michael, Training Day, The Equalizer, and The Magnificent Seven. 🎥 🍿
Listening to this today instantly takes me back to carrying crates of records, setting up speakers, watching packed dance floors, and waiting for that perfect moment to drop this record.
Before streaming, before playlists were created with a click, DJs had to know what song would keep people dancing.
This was one of those records that rarely missed.
Thirty-five years later, it still feels just as smooth as it did the first time I heard it.
Now excuse me while I go hit replay one more time. 🎧🔥
djz7
#TheSoundtrackOfWhoIBecame #HiFive #ILikeTheWay #TheKissingGame #TeddyRiley #NewJackSwing #90sRNB #ClassicRNB #OldSchool #DJLife
