In early December, New York-based visual artist Bjarne Melgaard joined forces with Norwegian pop artist Annie to send President Putin a message concerning his anti-LGBT legislation.
The result was a song celebrating "the universal right to kiss the one you love wherever you like – regardless of sexual orientation."
The "Russian Kiss" video, produced by Richard X, was released to coincide with the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics.
In the video, same-sex couples kiss while Annie sings: “Show your love for the lovers / the others, the fighters, outsiders / people like you.”
"Don’t give up / maybe then they can understand / it is right that you fight for your love demands."
The dance track's vocals also feature two Russian men groaning, recruited by Annie herself.
And, yes! There is a lot of kissing.
Double-couple couch kisses.
Playful bite kisses.
A few "almost-knocked-you-over" kisses, for good measure.
And some more couch kissing.
Sensing a pattern here?
Even Melgaard himself gets in on the action (with his boyfriend).
Annie says of the video, which was directed by Vice photographer Richard Kern:
The Winter Olympics are also deep emotions: interpersonal, national, and global. Millions of TV-viewers are witness to these emotions. Usually, they find their expression in embraces and kisses. You can observe this at the finishing area and during the medal ceremony — teammates embracing each other, winners kissing their partners.
A portion of the proceeds from the song, available on iTunes, will go to the LGBT non-profit All Out.