Released: January 2, 1991

Songwriter: Teddy Riley Bernard Belle Dave Way

Producer: Teddy Riley

[Intro: Hi-Five, Tony Thompson, India]
[Harmonizing]
I
You know what game I wanna play?
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
I wanna play the kissing game
I wanna play the kissing game
I wanna play the kissing game
I wanna play the kissing game

[Verse 1: Tony Thompson]
All summer long
We've been together
And I never felt so good
'Cause when I'm with you
It's such a good time - yes, it is
And when you get next to me
You make my heartbeat fast
You throw me back when you smile
And when we're alone
I know we're in love
'Cause I can't get enough
'Cause I

[Chorus: Hi-Five, Tony Thompson, India]
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
You kiss me when we're playing the kissing game
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
You keep me looking forward to another day

[Verse 2: Tony Thompson, Hi-Five, India]
We've got it good
We have it all it seems
We're living dream, yeah
This is our time
This wasn't meant to be (I like)
Just you and me (I like)
(I wanna play the kissing game)
This is still new
We're still young in heart
Can break in two
But I know our love will always be there

[Chorus: Hi-Five & Tony Thompson]
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
You kiss me when we're playing the kissing game
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
You keep me looking forward to another day, baby

[Bridge: Tony Thompson, Hi-Five, India]
Yeah, ooh
(I like the)
(I like this game)
Keep me looking forward to another day
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
(I like the)
Another day
(I like the)
Oh, I...
I like, I like, I like, I like the way
I like, I like, I like
I like, I like, I like, I like, I like, I like
Oh, I like it (I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
The way you make me feel, baby, oh oh oh
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
I like the way, the way you love me, baby
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
You kiss me when we're playing the kissing game, oh no
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
Oh oh oh, you keep me looking forward to another, 'nother, 'nother day
(I wanna play the kissing game)
(I like the way) Oh, I like it, ooh no
You kiss me when we're playing the kissing game
(I like the way)
I like it, you keep me looking forward to another day
(I like the way)
The way you love me, baby
(I like the way)
I love the way you hold me in your arms
(I like the way)
Honey, I like it (I like the way)
Baby, I love it, love the way you kiss me, baby
(I like the way)
I like the way, I like the way, yeah
(I like the way) Oh no
You and me, yeah, oh oh
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
I just like the way you kiss me
Girl, baby
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
I wanna hold you (I like the way)
Let me touch you and squeeze you, hey
(I like the way)
(I wanna play the kissing game, I wanna play the kissing game)
That's all I got to say, I like the way

[Outro: India]
Can we play this game again?

Hi-Five

Hi-Five is an R&B group from Waco, Texas, originally consisting of lead singer Tony Thompson, Russell Neal, Roderick Clark, Marcus Sanders, and Toriano Easley, who was later replaced by Treston Irby. They released their self-titled debut album in 1990, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart and was certified Platinum. This album featured the #1 R&B/Top 10 Pop hit “I Can’t Wait Another Minute,” and “I Just Can’t Handle It,” which peaked at #3 on the R&B Singles chart, as well as their biggest hit, the Teddy Riley-produced “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game),” which hit #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles chart.

Their follow-up album Keep It Goin' On was released in 1992 and featured the hit songs “She’s Playing Hard To Get,” which peaked at #2 on the R&B Singles chart and #5 on the Pop chart, as well as the R. Kelly-produced single “Quality Time,” which peaked at #3 on the R&B Singles chart. Their third album Faithful was released in 1993 and contained the hit singles “Unconditional Love” and “Never Should’ve Let You Go”, which were also featured on the soundtracks to Menace II Society and Sister Act 2, respectively.

The group disbanded in 1994 and Tony Thompson went on to release his solo album Sexsational in 1995. Thompson re-formed Hi-Five with four new members and released the album The Return independently in 2005 but he was issued a cease-and-desist order by the original members of the group to halt sales of the album. As discussions of putting the original group back together were taking place, Tony Thompson passed away on June 1, 2007 in his hometown of Waco, Texas. Treston Irby and Marcus Sanders have carried on with the Hi-Five name, continuing to make music and tour.