Imperial phase
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The imperial phase is the period in which a musical artist is regarded to be at their commercial and creative peak simultaneously.[1][2] The phrase was coined by Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys to describe the group's feelings on their career circa "Domino Dancing" (1988).[3]
Usage[edit]
"Imperial phase" has been applied by pop music critics and fans to the creative output of artists.[4] While its original usage implied that an imperial phase was a one-time occurrence for a single artist, artists have been referred to [5] as having multiple imperial phases.[6] The term may also be applied to non-musical entities, such as film studios.[7]
Critic Tom Ewing described three criteria for defining an artist's imperial phase: "command, permission, and self-definition". He defined "command" as an artist's ability to push the boundaries of their medium in a way that produces lasting change. "Permission" is the public's goodwill toward and interest in the artist's work. Finally, "self-definition" is the concept that the imperial phase defines the rest of the artist's career; future works will be compared to those from the imperial phase.[1]
Examples[citation needed][edit]
- Led Zeppelin (Early 1970s)
- Fleetwood Mac (Late 1970s)
- Michael Jackson (1980s)
- Madonna (1980s and late 1990s/Early 2000s)
- Oasis (Mid 1990s)
- Beyonce (2010s)
- Taylor Swift (2010s and 2020s)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Ewing, Tom (May 28, 2010). "Imperial". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 15, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ^ "Ariana Grande rediscovers her Midas Touch with new album". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys Please & Actually & Introspective: reissues". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (1 December 2014). "Why Is Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" No. 1?". Slate. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ Ewing, Tom (27 May 2010). "Imperial". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Macpherson, Alex (10 January 2019). "Ariana Grande's Imperial Phase As A Pop Star Began In Earnest With 'Thank U, Next'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (8 February 2019). "With Guardians Of The Galaxy, Marvel made household names out of interstellar second-stringers". AV Club. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
External links[edit]
- Griffiths, George (15 June 2017). "Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and the End of the Imperial Phase". TMRW Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
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