Beautiful Decline

Popular music resonates with listeners by speaking to the spirit of the time. It’s a vibe. Bubbly dance songs with synthetic accompaniment and nonsensical lyrics spoke to the optimism and energy of the mid ’80s. Gentle, naïve folk songs advocating social change and peace spoke to the hippies and free spirits of the late ’60s. The most successful bands have mastered the craft of songwriting and showed great sensitivity to a moment’s prevailing mood; David Bowie’s career spanned five decades because of these two qualities.