NEW YORK. Six decades after the world first succumbed to Beatlemania, and with two of the legendary quartet no longer with us, a groundbreaking achievement in artificial intelligence is set to give fans the gift of one last “new” Beatles song.
The upcoming track, titled “Now And Then,” is scheduled to be released on Thursday, November 2nd, and will be part of a single release, alongside “Love Me Do,” the very first Beatles single that graced the airwaves in 1962 in England, according to the announcement made on Thursday.
The origins of “Now And Then” date back to unreleased demos written by the late John Lennon. These demos were previously used to create the songs “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” both released in the mid-1990s. This time, it was Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, who were originally involved in the same recording sessions, working to complete “Now And Then.”
However, technological constraints of the time prevented its completion. Director Peter Jackson, with the aid of artificial intelligence, managed to overcome these challenges by isolating Lennon’s original vocals from a late 1970s piano recording. This newfound clarity enabled McCartney and Starr to finalize the song last year.
The surviving Beatles each contributed their talents to this track. Harrison’s nearly three-decades-old guitar recording was incorporated, while Starr added a fresh drum part. McCartney enriched the song with his bass, piano, and a slide guitar solo, paying homage to Harrison, who passed away in 2001. McCartney and Starr also provided backing vocals.
McCartney collaborated with Giles Martin, the son of the late Beatles producer George Martin, to create a string arrangement for the song. To add an extra layer of authenticity, backing vocals from the original Beatles recordings of “Here, There and Everywhere,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Because” were seamlessly woven into the new track.
In an emotional announcement, McCartney marveled at hearing John’s voice once more, “crystal clear.” He added, “It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s quite an exciting thing.”
Olivia Harrison, George Harrison’s widow, noted that her late husband had felt the technical limitations of the 1990s made it impossible to release a song that met the band’s standards. With the recent improvements, she believes “he would have wholeheartedly” joined Paul and Ringo in completing the song today if he were still alive.
A 12-minute film recounting the story behind the new recording will be made public on the day before the song’s release, providing fans with a glimpse into the creation process.
Additionally, later this month, extended versions of the Beatles’ compilations “1962-1966” and “1967-1970” will hit the shelves. Surprisingly, “Now And Then,” despite its release long after 1970, will find its place in the latter collection.
The surviving Beatles have consistently treated fans to new projects over the years, from album remixes featuring studio outtakes to Peter Jackson’s “Get Back” film. These releases have usually been timed to resonate with nostalgic fans during the holiday season. This year, it’s the grand finale with a new Beatles song.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Ringo Starr expressed the significance of this release: “This is the last track, ever, that you’ll get the four Beatles on the track. John, Paul, George, and Ringo.”
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
