The Beatles, the legendary British rock band, has released a new song titled “Now and Then” after 60 years since the advent of Beatlemania. This fresh release showcases the voices of all four original Beatles members, with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the surviving members, completing what was initially an old demo recording by John Lennon. The track incorporates the iconic style of the group and features an emotional chorus where McCartney and Lennon’s voices harmoniously sing, “I miss you.” You can listen to the official audio of the song by clicking on this link: The Beatles – Now And Then (Official Audio).
The original version of “Now and Then” was recorded by Lennon over 40 years ago and belonged to the same set of demo recordings that his former bandmates utilized to create the songs “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love” in the mid-90s. Written by Lennon in 1978, the song was completed by McCartney and Starr last year. It also includes the guitar sounds of George Harrison, the band’s late guitarist, using segments from one of his studio recordings in 1995. Additionally, McCartney added a new string guitar part with assistance from Giles Martin, the son of the late Beatles producer George Martin, according to a report by the Associated Press last month.
The process of creating a new Beatles song like “Now and Then” involved using artificial intelligence to extract Lennon’s original vocals and incorporating McCartney and Starr’s musical additions in the studio last year. A short documentary film detailing the making of “Now and Then” was released on The Beatles’ official YouTube channel, preceding an upcoming music video that is set to be released approximately 24 hours after the song’s debut.
The YouTube description of the documentary film emphasizes the extensive journey of “Now and Then” spanning five decades, characterized by ongoing conversations and collaborations among the four Beatles members. The original John Lennon demo, which acquired mythical status, was first worked on in February 1995 by McCartney, Harrison, and Starr as part of The Beatles Anthology project. However, it remained unfinished due to the technological challenges of working with Lennon’s recorded vocals on tape from the 1970s. The description further explains that although it seemed unlikely for the song to ever be completed, a stroke of serendipity occurred in 2022.
In the documentary, both McCartney and Starr express their astonishment at the clarity of Lennon’s voice in the newly-packaged version of “Now and Then.” McCartney reflects on the flood of memories that resurfaced, appreciating the privilege of having those four individuals in his life and the opportunity to continue working on Beatles music in 2023. Starr adds that the completed song brought them as close as they will ever be to having Lennon back in the room, describing the experience as mind-blowing.
Out of the original four Beatles members, only McCartney and Starr remain alive. McCartney, who played bass guitar, shared songwriting duties, and provided lead vocals alongside Lennon, is currently 81 years old. Starr, the band’s drummer, is 83 years old. Both have continued to pursue solo music careers and collaborate with other artists over the years. Lennon, the co-lead songwriter, vocalist, and rhythm guitarist for The Beatles, tragically passed away in 1980 at the age of 40. He was fatally shot multiple times by Mark David Chapman outside his New York City apartment building on December 8th of that year. Lennon’s assassination remains one of the most infamous celebrity murders in history. Harrison, the original lead guitarist of The Beatles, died on November 29, 2001, at the age of 58 after battling cancer.
For fans of The Beatles, this new release is a testament to the band’s enduring legacy and the everlasting impact of their music.
