This is an archived blog from when I ran Conscious Public Relations Inc. from 2008-2018. Excuse the potential outdated-ness!
Thank God for the Grammy Awards. I didn’t watch them, but they provided some juicy content for this week’s PR tip:
Act according to your values!
Beyonce and I are about the same age. She’s far more talented than I am in the realm of performing and motherhood. I have to say, her performance with husband Jay-Z was hot like a griddle in desert heat.
Photo credit: News.com.au
I was surprised to read in the 24 Hours Newspaper yesterday that many were offended by her performance, since there have been many more raunchy and borderline offensive awards show performances in the past. While there were no clothes taken off and no nipples accidentally exposed, I wonder if the fuss is because Beyonce has largely shared a wholesome image, from Destiny’s Child crooner in the ’90’s and 2000’s to an icon of female empowerment. Despite her becoming a mom, her song lyrics have gone from the safe “Crazy in Love” to “Drunk in Love”, the lyrics telling of waking up in the kitchen after a drunken night of sex. Also, she was in a somewhat see-through bodysuit while husband Jay-Z looked classy in his suit & tie.
This seems to have changed some opinions of her, and is an example of what can happen when a brand goes from expressing or acting out one value to another of opposite nature. I don’t think any less of Beyonce because of her performance; I am just pointing out her inconsistency.
Photo credit: HollywoodReporter.com
Exhibit #2: Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Madonna, and Queen Latifah’s headline-winning “Same Love” ensemble in which 33 same-sex couples were married.
Nothing to do with the Grammy Awards, but so much to do with music: more than half of songs written are about love and relationships. I don’t know how you could perform a song like this without believing in gay rights, so the ensemble’s performance is a big demonstration of performing according to their values. I haven’t explored much of Macklemore’s music, but I heard recently that he is a socially conscious rapper, which is unheard of these days. So I am glad he and Ryan Lewis won 4 of the awards they were nominated for.
Have you considered the values that your brand is expressing to those you interact with?
