One of the most anticipated singles of the year has just been released, and it’s not from Taylor Swift or Beyonce. It’s from a little group called The Beatles. Even though the legendary band broke up back in 1970, and two of the members, John Lennon and George Harrison, have sadly left us, thanks to new technology and some old recording demos, all four Beatles were able to reunite on one final song.
The track, titled “Now and Then,” was written by John Lennon and recorded as a home demo in 1977. However, Lennon never got the chance to finish the song as he was tragically shot and killed in 1980. But in the 1990s, the three surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, reunited to record new tracks together based on John’s old demos, effectively bringing the four Beatles back together for the first time in decades.
“To hear John’s voice again is something we should cherish, and I’m sure he would’ve really enjoyed that opportunity to be with us again,” said George Harrison in the new documentary “Now and Then: The Last Beatles Song.” Ringo Starr added, “It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room.”
This collaboration resulted in two singles, “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” which were released as part of the Beatles Anthology project. The band also attempted to record “Now and Then,” but they encountered difficulties isolating John’s vocals and piano track from the decades-old recording. They eventually “ran out of steam,” as Paul McCartney mentioned in an interview.
Unfortunately, in 2001, George Harrison passed away due to lung cancer, leaving Ringo and Paul as the only surviving Beatles. While they have continued to tour and keep the Beatles’ music and legacy alive, there hasn’t been another true “Beatles reunion” without John and George.
However, recently, the musicians found a way to produce a genuine “final Beatles song” by revisiting “Now and Then.” While collaborating with Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson on the documentary Get Back, they realized that music technology had advanced enough to effectively isolate John’s vocals from the demo using AI. Additionally, since George Harrison had recorded guitar tracks during a 1995 session, it became possible to bring the four Beatles together again for a new song.
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr recorded new vocals and instrument parts, and everything came together to create one true final Beatles song. It is a testament to the band’s longstanding incorporation of cutting-edge technology in their music, dating back to the days of Revolver and Sgt. Pepper. John’s son Sean Lennon believes his father would have approved of the use of technology to bring his unfinished song back to life.
For Paul and Ringo, the process of creating this final Beatles song was an emotional experience that brought back memories of their departed bandmates and their heyday as the world’s biggest rock band. Paul expressed his gratitude, saying, “All of those memories come flooding back. How lucky was I to have those men in my life, to work with them so intimately, and to create such a body of music.”
After months of anticipation, the long-awaited song has finally been released, and the reaction from Beatles fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Many fans have expressed their emotional reaction to hearing the Fab Four back together again. This final track, “Now and Then,” is a fitting and poignant tribute to the most legendary band ever. If you are a Beatles fan, please share this remarkable story!
Listen to the new song here:
And enjoy a new mix of “Love Me Do,” the band’s first single from 1962, from the upcoming re-release of their “1967–1970” compilation album (aka the “Blue Album”)
