# I Like the Way You Kiss Me

"I Like the Way You Kiss Me" is a song by English singer-songwriter Artemas. It was released independently on 19 March 2024, as the first single from his sophomore mixtape Yustyna (2024).
"I Like the Way You Kiss Me" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. The song topped the charts in Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland, peaked within the top ten of the charts in various countries including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway, and the top 20 in Italy and the United States.

## Background

Following the release of his debut mixtape Pretty in February 2024 and having hosted two shows at The Lower Third in London, Artemas returned to the recording studio and created "I Like the Way You Kiss Me". Artemas announced the single on 15 March on his social media.

## Composition

Musically, "I Like the Way You Kiss Me" is a darkwave and alternative pop song, fueled by "moody 80s and pulsating synths" featuring a "dark, retro-futuristic sound collage".
Artemas lends his "crooning, gloomy" vocals on the chorus as a counterpart to the "kinetic energy" of the whole track. For Allmusic, Marcy Donelson regarded the vocals as "shape-shifting" and "manipulated through either pitch-shifting or varied playback speed".
Lyrically, he presents a story of a strained relationship, being unsure of where he and his partner stand. Eventually, he confesses that he favours sex over feelings "by pushing harder for the physicality".

## Reception
### Critical reception

New Wave Magazine praised the song: "...it’s evident that Artemas has honed his sound, delivering sharp and infectious vocal performances that leave a lasting impression." For Clash, Robin Murray was also laudatory: "Deeply catchy, ‘i like the way you kiss me’ bubbles with the coy thrills of attraction."
Daniel Dylan Wray of The Guardian had a more mixed viewpoint, calling it "pulsating, icy synth-pop" but criticising the songwriting as "unabashed, unpolished lyricism".

### Commercial performance

On 4 April 2024, "I Like the Way You Kiss Me" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at no. 13. On 25 April, the single peaked at no. 3 on the UK Singles Chart; as of the 8 August chart, the single has been on the UK Singles top 100 for 19 weeks.
In the US, "I Like the Way You Kiss Me" entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at no. 70 on 6 April 2024. On 27 April, it peaked at no. 12.
By the end of April 2024, "I Like the Way You Kiss Me" had nearly 2.5 billion views on TikTok and topped the Spotify "Daily Top Songs Global" and Billboard Global Excl. US charts.

## Certifications

Certifications for "I Like the Way You Kiss Me" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 4× Platinum | 280,000$^‡$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | 2× Platinum | 80,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 2× Platinum | 160,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Diamond | 333,333$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Platinum | 100,000$^‡$ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | Platinum | 140,000$^‡$ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Platinum | 93,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 30,000$^‡$ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Diamond | 250,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | 2× Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Platinum | 30,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Sweden (GLF) | Platinum | 12,000,000$^†$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||