In a surprising and highly-anticipated move, The Beatles are set to release a final song titled “Now and Then.” What makes this release extraordinary is that the song was completed with the aid of artificial intelligence. With its release scheduled for Thursday, 2 November, here’s a breakdown of this remarkable development.
John Lennon wrote Now and Then after The Beatles split in 1970. After his passing in 1980, his wife Yoko Ono gave the song to Paul McCartney. The Beatles attempted to re-record it in 1995 for their Anthology project, but they encountered a roadblock. The quality of the recording was, in the words of George Harrison, ‘rubbish,’ leading to the shelving of the project.
[Image Creds: Ringo Starr]
AI’s Crucial Role in Restoring the Song
The real game-changer in this project is the implementation of AI technology. With the help of advanced AI tools, the team was able to extract John Lennon’s vocals from the original cassette recording. They have also included the guitar parts George Harrison recorded when they originally attempted to release the track making it a true Beatles project.
This process presented significant technical challenges but ultimately delivered Lennon’s voice with astonishing clarity. Paul McCartney remarked on the experience, saying,
“There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear. 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 an exciting thing.”
Ringo Starr, too, shared his emotional connection to the project, stating,
“It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room so it was very emotional for all of us, it was like John was there, you know. It’s far out.”
This project opens up exciting possibilities for the music industry and the legacies of other artists. It serves as a testament to the seamless fusion of past recordings with cutting-edge technology, showcasing a new avenue for artists to revisit and refine their legacy works.
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[Feature Image Credit: Rolling Stone]
