The Beatles released their final song, “Now and Then.”
Thanks to new advancements in AI technology, the Beatles recently released what is likely to be their final collaborative project, the long-awaited song “Now and Then,” on Nov. 2. The song is the final single released by the band, first recorded as a demo in 1977 by former lead singer John Lennon.
“Now and Then” comes from various demo songs written by John Lennon in the 70s, which were given to his former bandmates by Yoko Ono, wife of John Lennon. They used the tape to construct the songs “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” both released in the 90s. However, there were technical limitations to finishing “Now and Then.”
With the use of AI, the band members were able to separate Lennon’s vocals from the background noise in his demo. Just last year, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and producer Giles Martin finished the song, leaving only Lennon’s original vocal recording and George Harrison’s 1994 guitar tracks. This produced three separate segments of “Now and Then,” spanning over 45 years.
The song is a slow-burn, and discusses the idea of time passing, being friends and having mutual love for one another. Some say it also alludes to the significance of The Beatles’ career in pop culture and music history.
Some claim that the lyric, “Now and then, I miss you. Now and then, I need you to be there for me,” could refer to Lennon thinking about his relationship with the other members and the band’s relationship with their fans.
With the release of this single, the Beatles broke the record in the music industry for the longest period of time between #1 hits with their songs, spanning 54 years apart, and once again breaking records. The band also earned numerous other achievements throughout its career. After the separation of the band and the passing of two of its members, The Beatles continued to get tens of millions of monthly listeners.
With the release of this song, their extensive music careers seem to end. However, many say that the impact their music made is timeless. Many fellow award-winning and chart-topping stars said that they were greatly influenced by the Beatles, including the band Bee Gees, whose biggest hits include “Stayin’ Alive” and “How Deep Is Your Love.”
