“And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch of holy bread.”
- William Shakespeare "As You LIke It"
The Spanish Hit Parade
- “Kiss” by Prince
- “This Kiss” by Faith Hill
- “Kiss The Girl” by Brent Morgan
- “Your Kiss Is On My List” by Daryl Hall & John Oates
- “Kiss You All Over” by Exile
- “Kiss From A Rose” by Seal
- “Suck My Kiss” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat,
- “One Kiss” by Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa
- “Good Kisser” by Oddball Observations
- “Kiss The Girl” by Samuel E. Wright
- “Kiss Me” by Dermot Kennedy
- “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?” by Thompson Square
- “I Kissed A Girl” by Katy Perry
- “Last Kiss” by Taylor Swift
Last Sunday - it should have been the greatest day in the history of women's football in Spain. The national team had just beaten England in the final of The World Cup. But the celebrations were spoilt by one arrogant, entitled man - the head of The Spanish Football Association - a 46 year old fellow called Luis Rubiales.
At the medal ceremony, he grabbed one of the senior members of the squad - Jenni Hermoso. He rocked her up in his arms and clamped her head in his hands before kissing her full on the lips. If he had kissed her on the cheek there would have been no pushback but he crossed a line with that lip smacker.
With Trumpish arrogance, Rubiales first refused to apologise in an appropriate manner and as the heat of criticism has built up in Spain, he has angrily refused to resign. Incredibly, he has even claimed that the kiss was "consensual" when nobody saw him asking.
That simple stolen kiss has sparked much debate about the Spanish patriarchy in general and very sadly, it continues to distract attention from what Jenni Hermoso and her teammates achieved a week ago. They should be basking in the sunny glow of national pride having deservedly won the coveted trophy. Instead they are at the centre of a massive row.
Rubiales has got to go.
The hands forcing her head towards his lips is what really puts this over the top for me.
ReplyDeleteHe may have been elated about the victory but he had no right to do that.
DeleteWhen Louis Kissed Jenni.
ReplyDeleteA most inappropriate kiss as you say. Abuse, really.
As for sweet kisses, how about ...
* Louis Armstrong - A Kiss To Build A Dream On (1951.) *
YouTube. Classic Mood Experience.
Gordon Jenkins, the master arranger, wrote a small number of songs.
His Goodbye had the haunting line, 'Kiss me as you go.'
This is the moody break-up song.
*Frank Sinatra - Goodbye.* YouTube. 28 October 2021.
The orchestra used to play Goodbye when Sinatra walked off stage and left
an empty space.
* 2019 A Kiss To Build A Dream On.
DeleteJoan Chamorro, Alba Armengou, Elia Bastida, Carla Motis, Scott Hamilton.*
YouTube.
Joan Chamorro runs a jazz school for young people in Barcelona
and does not charge them tuition fees.
They make money from concerts.
The singer is Alba Armengou.
The great sax player is Scott Hamilton.
Joan is the man on double base.
As usual - interesting tangents John.
DeleteNot much sanctity in that one!
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the song "French Kissing in the USA"
I have not heard that one before Kylie.
DeleteWrong, of course but I am a little surprised by the Spanish reaction. It pleases me that it has been condemned there.
ReplyDeleteYes, In his excitement he crossed a line. With a humble, full-blown apology he might have got away with it.
DeleteI'm so tired of men treating women as objects and not people. As my young coworker says, fuck the patriarchy!
ReplyDeleteUnlike Rubiales, all of my working life was alongside women who I saw as my equals. They were not objects - they were fellow workers, colleagues.
DeleteAnd his crotch clutching during the game. If this is what he does overtly I shudder to think how bad his abuse is behind closed doors.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what his wife, his mother and his daughters have thought about this episode in private.
DeleteThis was big news on German TV, too. Somehow I find Jenni Hermoso‘s voice strangely missing from the public debate, or maybe it was there but not reported as widely as the act itself. One could argue that things can get a bit out of hand (!) in the heat of a celebratory moment like that, but a kiss full on the mouth is definitely a line you do not cross with a person you are not already romantically involved with.
ReplyDeleteIf Rubiales had said sorry and meant it, he could probably have got away with a celebration that was over the top and inappropriate. However in his alpha male arrogance, he refused to do that.
DeleteI saw that kiss on the TV news here and know if I had been there and got grabbed for a kiss I would have smashed my fist into his nose. I think she should have too, but it's probably better that she restrained herself.
ReplyDeleteRubiales meets Elsie River! Sounds like a boxing match.
DeleteHe does seem like an arrogant sort of chap.
ReplyDeletePuffed up like a peacock.
DeleteIt is the hands clamped round her head that make this a whole different story. Forced, rather than natural or spontaneous exuberance after the spectacular win.
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish do a lot of casual kissing - mostly when they meet and say goodbye - it's part of their culture, but this is too far. Unless they are in a relationship?
Casual kissing - yes - far more than in England but as you say Rubiales went too far and refused to apologise.
DeleteShe should have head butted him as hard as possible when he grabbed her head. A bloody nose would have served him right.
ReplyDeleteIn Britain that is known as a "Glasgow kiss"!
DeleteMade the news here. Not being able to acknowledge why it was out of line, reveals a deeper issue.
ReplyDeleteSelf-importance can be a terrible cross to bear.
DeleteOne more example of a man thinking that any kiss he decides to plant on a woman is consensual. It's his right as a man. MEN HAVE NO IDEA how horrifying that can be. Which does not excuse them in the least. Just believe us- the women- who have always been the ones to suffer through such grotesque indignities.
ReplyDeleteThat kiss has caused a lot of self-reflection and debate in Spain so I suppose that some good has come of it.
DeleteThe arrogance of power.
ReplyDelete