Morning:
9°c
Kissing with confidence in front of 130,000 people takes skill and daring. The image of newly elected US President Barack Obama embracing his wife, Michelle, in Chicago's Grant Park is arguably the first great romantic kiss by a politician.
Study the body language. He is gently brushing her nose with his lips. As she leans in, their brows, nose and chin fit perfectly. Both hands support the small of her back. With her eyes closed, she is grasping his shoulder. Their pelvises are locked. Isn't this the kiss we all dream of? The underlying message is this couple is hot - despite being married for 16 years, with two children.
Public displays of affection in your forties are never easy. It's all very well when you're young and hormonal. But woe betide the older couple caught embracing in an alleyway. It tends to horrify the twentysomethings.
And the dangers of "spinning" a long-term relationship are legion. So many power kisses fail. Sam Cameron, a modern working woman, often ends up having to throw herself diagonally at David. Sarah Brown embraces Gordon like a beloved aunt. Cherie tends to graze Tony's chin (when she can stop talking). Even French lothario Nicolas Sarkozy and his supermodel wife Carla are mismatched, height-wise.
Kissing is a complex behaviour that requires significant muscular co-ordination; 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles are used during a kiss. No wonder it so often goes wrong. And it's not just politicians. Prince Charles, no stranger to passion, always manages to grip Camilla's shoulder ("Well done, you!") so she ends up exhaling his shirt. If you look back at the pictures of Princess Di, he's doing the same thing. And there is no greater indication of a failing relationship than the kiss-grimace. Just ask Madonna and Guy.
Psychologists tell us that kissing is so important to us because we can't see our own faces. So we fixate on the beloved's lips - in a bid to find our mirror image. To reclaim our lost self.
The great thing about the Obama stadium kiss is that nothing about it screams "get a room!" It's hugely intimate but unsqueamish. I can't help wondering if their friend, the film director Spike Lee, had a hand in staging it. I, for one, would happily watch the full-length Hollywood movie.
Reader views (7)
This is so a beautiful couple. at least they can so their affection for each other in public. It is touching to see this.
- Democrat2345, New York City, NY
these are the perfect couple but Barack is such a good boy not that there is anything wrong with that. I mean he always kisses Michelle on the lips, not on the cheek or the NOSE. come on barack you can do better than that. turn michelle on
- Tjd, Memphis,TN
All I can think of is love songs like "kiss of life" by Sade or "Sunday kind of Love" by Etta James. It looks too GOOD to be TRUE!
- Queen, Buffalo,USA
Here's a couple who are comfortable with themselves and totally with each other. Just perfect! Can't wait for the movie!
- Rocky, Arima, Trinidad W.I
Is there anything that this pair CAN'T do???!
- Jo, Essex
I don't even think most Hollywood couples have passion like Barack and Michelle except for maybe Snoop and Shante
- Tiffani, Chicago, USA
eeeuuwww.
- Squiz, Islington
