By now you’ve heard all about Formation. Don’t worry, this is not another think piece about the song. I’ve read my share of those. And trust me, I’m just as over them as the rest of the world.
I’m not going to analyze the dance moves, hairstyles or messages. I don’t want to talk about how Red Lobster dropped the ball on its response that took hours on a Saturday to the “shout out” within the lyrics. Personally and professionally speaking, I don’t think they should have responded at all. Perhaps the reluctance to do so was intentional. In fact, Red Lobster sales jumped 33% on the Sunday after the mention over the same Sunday last year.
What I do want to call attention to is the ending of the song where Beyonce (essentially) says who knew one woman would start all of this conversation. That’s a powerful line. See Beyonce hasn’t done an interview in forever. That’s not her strength. This song was her way of using her craft to respond to critics and frustrations with the world we live in as she sees it. I watched the video and felt something. While that something is not unique to only me, it isn’t the same something that every person got from watching. I understand and respect that. So now it’s started a fire. A fire in terms of conversation. If it takes a song with a video that has meaning behind it, some impactful lyrics mixed in with some nonsensical parts as well to do that then so be it. It’s got people offended, empowered, fearful and moved. It has people feeling something and talking about it.
Everyone is talking about Beyonce.
{source: Instagram}
Everyone is talking about what Formation is and what’s she trying to say.
And that’s what she wanted. That’s what she said would happen.
Isn’t that the best type of response to marketing?
