By Ronn Torossian
In what was clearly a great Super Bowl half-time show, Madonna did a great job of entertaining the millions watching the game – and in doing so scored a PR coup in reaching a new generation of fans, with guest appearances with today’s stars including LMFAO, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.
Madonna has always been a marketing genius – a lightening rod for controversy, her songs through the years, including "Like a Virgin", "Papa Don't Preach", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", and others – and clearly this Super Bowl performance continued that marketing genius.
The hot looking 53-year-old opened with an amazing remix of the classic “Vogue” (One wonders did Madonna/NBC pay a licensing fee to Vogue magazine), the tight-rope walker/jumper, and simply amazing Like A Prayer, where the backup singers and dancers quickly turned into a gospel choir, as Madonna, Cee Lo and the choir finished up the show with her 1989 single.
Who would be better than a living legend like Madonna to perform on such a world stage? She kept it tame for her – and realized she didn’t need to push the envelope – and with kudos to her she respected the boundaries.
For me, it was a time warp back to the 1980’s, and explaining to my kids that these songs were made when I was near their age – and how Madonna predates Lady Gaga contributed to the experience.
And that’s another mark of Madonna’s greatness and legendary status – bridging generations. And to think I remember my mother in 1983 disapproving of me listening to Madonna.
As a Madonna and pop culture fan, it was a special moment recognizing as she’s been called by Time Magazine one of the "25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century" performing flawlessly on this stage.
As a PR agency owner, and professional marketer I recognize the sheer marketing genius she has even at the age of her mid-50’s. Kudos Madonna.
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Ronn Torossian is founder and CEO of NYC-based 5W Public Relations, a top 25 independent PR firm. He is on Twitter at @rtorossian5wpr and can be reached at rtorossian [at] 5wpr.com. He wrote the best-selling PR book“For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations.” |