Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees famously keeps a little recorder next to his bed. Sepalma Cartney conceived the whole of yesterday in one night in 1964. Christine McVee of Fleetwood Mac came up with the lyrics and the music to the gorgeous ballad songbird while asleep she dreamt the entire thing.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again retained the presidency. We ask how the best chance in a generation to unseat him came unstuck—and what to expect from an emboldened autocrat. South Korea’s suicide rates have turned a dark corner, with deaths among women driving rising numbers. And Paul Simon’s new album prompts a look at musical hits first conceived in dreams.
For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer