PHOTOGRAPHY BY D2 / Johannes Worsøe Berg
Russian Kiss
Annie and Bjarne Melgaard take on the Sochi Olympics
You know what I’d rather watch more than alpine bobsledding, or competitive luging? Hot same-sex, semi-naked, American Apparel-esq young Norwegians making out with each other in a music video for Annie‘s new song Russian Kiss. Released to coincide with the opening of the Russian Winter Olympics, the video, directed by Richard Kern, is more than just a hot-and-heavy voyeuristic boner inducer, it’s also a protest song aimed at homophobe Vladimir Putin and his country’s anti gay laws. Annnie collaborated with New York-based artist Bjarne Melgaard for the song, and we’re so glad she did.
The video places both Annie and Melgaard in a fantastic blend of attractive same-sex couples gyrating, dancing, and making out to the song’s catchy, pulsing electro beat (provided by frequent Annie collaborator Richard X). In a note on her website, Annie describes the video as a “short movie about the right to kiss one’s beloved — regardless of sexual orientation — wherever one likes.” Preach it, Annie.
Part of the proceeds from the song go to All Out, a gay rights advocacy group, and is supported by Fritt Ord, a Norwegian free-speech foundation, so be sure to grab the song from iTunes today to help keep queer voices heard in the midst of these mostly egregious winter games.
Russian Kiss is available on iTunes now. Watch the video below: