Paulchard kiss-evolution (2019 - 2024)
I think several users have already done something similar, but I just love talking about and analyzing Paulchard, so here are my two cents on their evolution of endearments or, in other words:
The kiss-evolution (2019 – 2024)
2019
Their stage kisses started in 2019, I think in Barcelona on the 1st of June – pride month. They repeated it a couple of times, but definitely not on every concert. The kiss in Moscow got quite a lot of attention, because it was seen as (and surely also meant to be) a protest against the oppression of LGBTQ-people in Russia.
So it started out as a political statement, with the personal relationship of Paul and Richard not being the focus of this action. And their kisses definitely looked like that.
Shy, timid, with pursed and tighly closed lips. Their faces and bodys being as far away from each other as possible (not everytime, but quite often), their body contact being very quick and short. There was eye contact and also some smiles but after the kiss either Paul or Richard retreated quickly, turning around, walking away. No lingering hands or glances.
Some of their kisses were also with open or just half closed eyes and overall just quick pecks like here (if not stated otherwise, GIFs by @mrsfitzgerald ):
The following is probably my favourite 2019 kiss, for several reasons:
they are standing closer together for a longer time, that kiss is so innocent somehow and so sweet – probably of that little hesitation from both of them – and also because of Schneider in the background <3 I LOOOVED that reaction!!
Kissing with open eyes:
There was the picture from the Moscow-kiss on the official Rammstein-Instagram page and that photo also got released on a t-shirt that is still sold in the Rammstein shop :)
2022
Finally the tour could continue after the two year long break because of the pandemic. I had the feeling the whole band was relieved and happy they were allowed to play again. I had become a die hard Rammstein and Paulchard fan in the meantime, so I was reaaally curious if they will keep the kissing – and they did!! To me, this was a surprise, as the whole „getting attention to get a political statement across“ was kind of worn off by then...but they kept it, this time more as a show-element. The kisses were staged - or at least it was clear, that they had these 2-3 minutes in the Ausländer outro, where they would be in the spotlight and could do whatever shenanigans they were up to... there wasn't a kiss at every concert, but almost.
They were getting much more comfortable with kissing, especially Richard! I often had the feeling that he was celebrating and tasting (ha!) the moment in the spotlight with Paul. Richard more than once played with the audience, sometimes Paul was teasing Richard and they were both having lots of fun – that was obvious! They weren't running away right after the kiss anymore or were immediately averting their gaze - Richard at least.
I had the feeling, that for Paul, Richards intense (eye) contact was sometimes still too much, he almost always backed away first or broke the eye contact. With Richard, this was never the case as far as I remember – Richard often gave his everything into the kiss, which brought us some of the most amazing slow-mos up to this day! <3 Like this one here:
Rammstein - Ostend, Belgium - 03.08.2022
There were a few kisses that were definitely NOT pecks anymore, look at this:
There were double kisses, they both weren't kissing with pressed and pursed lips anymore, but even (almost) open mouthed or were closing their lips just at the last second, like here:
They were also much more hands on (on necks and cheeks), and hugs, so many hugs...!
And then of course that absolute favourite kiss of mine, that last kiss in Mexico – that heart-wrenching and movie-like kiss which I have watched god-knows-how-often...but just look at it and tell me they are just good buddies...naah... (video by humberto_king_of_angmar on Instagram)
2023
Then there was the 2023 tour, which had an overall different vibe than the 2022 tour, and I think everyone knows why. It didn't start out with many cute interactions between Paul and Richard, let alone kisses. Then we had what should be the last ever „classic Ausländer-outro“ kiss during one of the concerts in Munich – both of them were kneeling and when they kissed, Till rushed forward and made fun of it. Together with my overall gloomy mood this was just too much :(
They started kissing again – but at different times and not for show. I had the feeling during this tour it was mostly Paul supporting Richard on stage through small caresses, hugs and kisses (which were often initialized by Paul). I remember that absolutely unexpected and overwhelming „Puppe -kiss“ in Bern (because I saw it with my own eyes, heh :) (Original video by rebeccaxmuller on instagram)
In 2023 the kisses were not for show, not for the audience – but only for them. There was no „teasing the audience“ anymore, no „scream louder and I might kiss him again!“. It was all about seeking and giving comfort. For example here (original video by heatliedave on Insta):
The tour went on and the atmosphere between the band members relaxed again. There were hugs and kisses behind the drums and in the dark, giving each other a peck when returning to their places – they were definitely not doing that for the audience, because only eagle eyed fans saw that... and there were other, more subtle caresses:
And of course there was that kiss in the rain during „Ohne dich“ where a kiss on the neck wasn't enough – for both of them:
2024
2024 was a continuation of 2023 – the scripted kisses during „Ausländer“ were history and also not attempted anymore, but we had a lot of „natural feeling“ kisses – this year it seemed to me that Richard was more often the initiator:
Neck kisses (come on, who doesn't do this to their colleagues? :D GIF by sechsherzen)
Casual hand kisses (original video by anwiel13)
Another proof, that kisses with tightly shut and pressed lips are past (original video by conny_tanzlehrerin)
their most romantic kiss (by far!) with a little „stargazing“ beforehand:
frankfurt 🥹 13.07.24
and we had this insane picture (and the one with the hearthands!):
-with the caption „Thank you, Italy, I am impressed, so hot but still so energetic and so much love“ on Richards official Instagram and I would bet my right arm that he was WELL aware of that double meaning!
The whole atmosphere was very relaxed, they had so much fun and their kisses and caresses seemed to be so naturally and spontaneously. The sexyness, which some of their kisses from 2022 had, was (mostly) gone, but replaced with a warm feeling of trust and authenticity. Which is maybe even better than sexyness :)
Thanks for scrolling and reading!
