*reads replies*
..*sighs*
"Epic" is a noun meaning "Work of grand stature." If a song is known as an epic, that means, by definition, it is of grand stature. It is long. To use it as an adjective, it would still refer to works of grand stature. It's not impossible for a not-lengthy song to be an epic, but it would take something quite remarkable.
And don't give me that "Common usage" bull, because common usage still uses this definition. Some people just happen to mistake it for "awesome."
"Breaking All Illusions" may or may not be an epic, depending on how long you'd consider "grand stature" to be. To me, it's not. To me, if the song was around the twenty-minute length, I'd probably listen to it a lot more. Thank you, and please have a nice night.
To be "epic" by your definition, the work needs to be of "grand stature". I didn't see anywhere where the exclusive definition of grand stature=long or even defined that way at all. Grand stature could just refer to superior emotional or historical quality, maybe large or big, which doesn't necessarily mean long. There are epic stories, epic works of art, epic battles, etc. these are usually epic for their historical or emotional significance, so I'm not convinced. I don't consider SDOIT epic by any means and it's massively long To me BAI is definitely "epic" by it's emotionally soaring guitar solos and instrumentation sections, classic foundation, and sheer power.
Epic "can" be long, but doesn't have to be to meet the definition only IMO and it's accepted definition.
ep·ic (pk)
n.
1. An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
2. A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
3. A series of events considered appropriate to an epic: the epic of the Old West.
adj.
1. Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic: an epic poem.
2. Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: "A vast musical panorama . . . it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice" (Tim Page).
3. Heroic and impressive in quality: "Here in the courtroom . . . there was more of that epic atmosphere, the extra amperage of a special moment" (Scott Turow).
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[From Latin epicus, from Greek epikos, from epos, word, song; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.]