The Evolution of Bey & Jay's Music Video PDA

Remember when the rumor mill was flush with the story that Beyoncé and Jay Z were getting a divorce? Are people still theorizing that or did Beyoncé finally shut them up with her 2014 Video Music Awards performance? The fact of the matter is that Beyoncé and Jay Z's relationship, like any relationship, could end at any time but for right now it seems to be as rock solid as it has ever been. After Jay Z and Solange's elevator fight, the rumors of trouble in paradise reached a fever pitch, but Beyoncé might have finally, finally, finally put them to rest.

When it comes to examining Beyoncé and Jay Z's music videos, we probably should have known that the King and Queen weren't breaking up any time soon. After all, we've watched their relationship form over the course of the many, many times they've collaborated on songs together, from "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" to the Beyoncé album. If you compare where Beyoncé and Jay Z are now to where they were the first time they were on a music video set together, you can seriously see the progression of their relationship as it develops. In fact, I went to the trouble of chronicling it for you. You're welcome.

2002: "'03 Bonnie & Clyde"

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was their first collaboration and it definitely showed. Jay Z and Beyoncé didn't really touch each other more than was strictly necessary and spent most of the video just standing side-by-side or smiling over at each other like a happy couple rather than an affectionate one.

2003: "Crazy in Love"

By "Crazy in Love" a year later, Beyoncé and Jay Z were still in the standing next to one another stage, but Beyoncé did grind against Jay Z briefly and Jay Z did gesture toward her behind in that typical rapper way. They were definitely getting closer, but still not that close.

2006: "Deja Vu"

Look, you guys! She's finally touching him! In fact, during Jay Z's entire rap, Beyoncé was either cozying up to him like this or grinding against him as he leaned against the wall, showing more physical affecting in a music video than they have together before.

2007: "Upgrade U"

In "Upgrade U," the couple takes a bit of a step backward. Jay Z spent his entire appearance sitting in that chair while Beyoncé sat on the arm of the chair, both making serious faces at the camera. They're practically touching, but nowhere to "Deja Vu" levels.

2013: "Drunk in Love"

After Beyoncé's hiatus and then her triumphant rise to queen status, she and Jay Z were on a level of affection that the world had never seen before. She went from hardly touching him in "Upgrade U" to biting his ear in "Drunk in Love," and I'm not complaining at all.

2013: "Partition"

"Partition" was... well, you only see the side of Jay Z's face throughout the entire video and it was still the most intimate thing in the world. Considering the subject matter, this was completely unsurprising.

2014: "On the Run"

By the time of "On the Run", Beyoncé and Jay Z had taken us through their first steps toward each other, their sweet displays of public affection, and their intimate (on screen) sex lives and had come out the other end as affectionate bandits ready to take on the world together. And we thought they were going to divorce? No way.

Editor's Note: This article originally incorrectly reported that the music videos for "Deja Vu" and "Upgrade U" came out in 2009 and 2007. It has been updated with their correct release dates.

Image: YouTube