Defined and popularized by The Pet Shop Boys when discussing their Actually era compared to the reception towards their lead single "Domino Dancing", the imperial phase is an era in which a musician seemingly levels up and becomes a central force in both music and society. Typically discussed in terms of pop music, some of the most famous examples include...

 

MADONNA: Like A Virgin - Vogue, Ray of Light - American Life 

MICHAEL:  Off The Wall - Bad/ Dangerous 
JANET: Control - Janet. 

MARIAH: practically most of the 90s until Glitter (perhaps Rainbow depending on the person), TEOM(? although this might just be a comeback era) 

PRINCE: 1999 - Batman

WHITNEY: Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love 

 

and more recent examples include: 

 

 

BRITNEY: BOMT - In The Zone

BEYONCE* : (in the traditional sense, DIL - Run The World, ST - present, I would make the argument that she's always going to be in her own unique imperial phase for the time being)
GAGA: The Fame - Born This Way

KATY: Teenage Dream - Dark Horse

TAYLOR: Red/1989 - Look What You Made Me Do, Midnights probably marks the beginning of a second imperial phase 

ARIANA:  Sweetener - Positions(s)

THE WEEKEND:  After Hours

BAD BUNNY: El Verano Sin Ti - Present 

 

I also think Olivia might be entering hers and SZA could be very well in the middle of hers 

I would also love to see how imperial phases would play out in international markets since being global isn't a necessary marker (Given that the Pet Shop Boys' imperial phase was pretty much contained to the UK). For me, I would argue that ROSALIA, Bad Bunny, BTS, and Blackpink are the best examples of international counterparts. Some more contained examples could be Angele and Aya Nakamura (Belgium and France) and The Spice Girls obviously. 

 

And to add something new, what about alternative acts? Despite them not selling, I have always throughout about making the imperial phase applicable to them (probably more acclaim based rather than sales). I think in this regard, Kate Bush would be the alternative act that experienced a traditional imperial era with Hounds of Love.  Using my proposed definition, an imperial phase for someone like Bjork might look like Debut - Vespertine. 

 

Enough of my rambling, I would love to read some of your thoughts and please correct me if I made any mistakes

 

Here are some really great sources for a depth in understanding: 

 

Pop Pantheon Podcast [x]
Tom Ewing's Pitchfork Article [x]

Gaga’s imperial era is best defined as the time between Poker Face’s release in September 2008 to the last BTWBall tour date in early 2013. 

Madonna’s is 1985-1986 for sure. She was EVERYWHERE in those years.

 

Dua’s is 2021-2022, 2021 was her best selling year and the FN Tour was immensely popular

 

 

 

Even the performances screamed imperial.

Lana - BORN TO DIE 

For P!nk it might be Missudaztood, but also her 2008-2013 run with Funhouse/GreatestHits/TTAL was also huge for her

 

For Demi, the nearest she got to an 'imperial' phase was the Tell Me You Love Me era, her biggest album, her biggest tour and her biggest hits, starting with No Promises, going on with Sorry Not Sorry and then statching Échame La Culpa and Solo

Kylie's was from 8 September 2001 till 17 November 2003, between the global release of Can't Get You Out of My Head and the release of Body Language. An album that went 6X platinum in the UK and 7X platinum in Australia (her two main markets), a global smash hit that spent 16 weeks at number one on the European Hot 100 and topped the charts in 30+ countries, three other huge worldwide hits, critical acclaim, wins at BRITS, Grammy's, and ARIAs, and a massive arena tour to top it all off. Her global profile was never bigger 

I would say Madonna’s run from 1984-1993. Most people cut it off at 1991, but I think the Erotica era should still be included. She was still everywhere despite “flopping”, which was only due to the book controversy. The lead single broke first week records, album sold a decent amount in its first month (then fell), and the book sold a historic amount of copies in its first day alone. And the Girlie Show is the highest (or 2nd) grossing female tour of the 90s with only 39 dates, and only 3 stops in the United States. 

Beyonce during the entirety of the 2000’s decade I’d say. 
 

She had nothing but smash hits almost every single year, and she finished off the decade with a mega global album. 
 

She did amazing in the 2010’s too 

Rihanna's run from 2010-2013 is kinda underrated. She was pumping out hit after hit and her album sales were always consistent 

Despite people often thinking it's 2013, I think Miley's imperial phase was 2009.

- Hannah Montana: The Movie smashing & the soundtrack going #1, hitting multiplatinum and spawning top 5 classic The Climb

- the series itself also peaked in popularity during season 3

- The Time of our Lives EP going #2 and platinum, and PITUSA becoming one of the biggest hits ever

- Hannah Montana 3 soundtrack going #2 and spawning a top 10 single (her first & only as Hannah)

- smash world tour 

 

 

She was absolutely inescapable.

Edited September 15, 20233 yr by Aaron

2022-2023 for taylor

From Shakira is definitely Laundry Service. Two international smashes and Objection was also big. Her best tour ever. Magazines and accolades everywhere
Songs played everywhere in Latinoamerica. Her popularity was all-time high here. She was in japan. Australia,europe......The pepsi promos. 
A new shiny exotic rockstar popstar from latinoamerica with arabic touches mesmerized the planet

I feel like Beyoncé is a visionary on a different level, in which she’ll remain in her ‘imperial’ era for at least this current trilogy era.

15 hours ago, UseYourIllusion2002 said:

I would say Madonna’s run from 1984-1993. Most people cut it off at 1991, but I think the Erotica era should still be included. She was still everywhere despite “flopping”, which was only due to the book controversy. The lead single broke first week records, album sold a decent amount in its first month (then fell), and the book sold a historic amount of copies in its first day alone. And the Girlie Show is the highest (or 2nd) grossing female tour of the 90s with only 39 dates, and only 3 stops in the United States. 

2009 - 2015 for Girls' Generation. The Female Symbols of Kpop that paved the way for global expansion of the genre. 

 

1. 2008/09

2. 2014/15

3. 2022/23(and 24?)

 

Dua: NR until DTN (for now)

 

Rihanna: Umbrella until LOTB