How the Beatles’ Last Song ‘Now And Then’ Comes With an AI Twist

Close enough to the future: ‘Now And Then’ sets the bar incredibly high for AI-revamped music

Love it or hate it, AI is making waves all around the music industry. Being a fan of The Beatles, I have been eagerly anticipating the announcement of a song by the band.

In my opinion, this excitement arises from a combination of nostalgia and creativity, showcasing the remarkable advancements in technology.

I’ve always looked at the Beatles as pioneers in pushing the boundaries of music.

So seeing the Beatles at the forefront of generative AI seems only natural to me.

In the past, we’ve witnessed AI’s attempts to mimic the sound and style of iconic bands like Oasis, but they often fell short of capturing the essence of the original.

AI has been “bringing back to life” all these renowned voices from the past.

In April 2021, AI helped create a new Nirvana song 27 years after Kurt Cobain died at age 27 in 1994.

It was only thanks to the algorithm that we got Nirvana’s ‘Drowned in the Sun.’

Since then, Krist Novoselic, Nirvana’s bassist, has come forward and shared how the remaining band members used AI to revamp the original live recordings taken from the “In Utero” tour and included in the 30th anniversary release.

After listening to the remastered version, I have to say AI did a terrific job mixing all those 53 songs.

So if we have all these analogic master tapes just lying around collecting dust, it makes sense to let AI have a go and bring them back to life in digital quality.

Recently, the most astonishing example of AI and music collaboration was when Paul McCartney performed a “virtual duet” with John Lennon at Glastonbury on June 25, 2022.

This feat was made possible by an AI processor isolating John’s voice from the original recording.

It’s this same technology that we can now experience in the new and final Beatles song, “Now And Then.”

Let me provide some context.

Back in June, when I first learned that Paul McCartney had revealed the astonishing news about AI resurrecting John Lennon’s voice from an ancient tape, I was overjoyed and actually wrote a story about it. You can read it here.

“Now And Then” was originally written by John Lennon and recorded on a cassette tape at his home in 1979.

Unfortunately, John never got to finish the song before he passed away.

So, tucked away in the records of time, lay an old cassette tape labeled “For Paul.”

Dust and the cobwebs of time settled upon this relic of a bygone era, patiently biding its time for a chance in the spotlight.

Destiny had other plans.

It was Yoko Ono who handed over a cassette to Paul with rough demos of four John Lennon songs, including “Now And Then,” “Free As A Bird,” “Real Love,” and “Grow Old With Me.”

In 1995, the surviving Beatles were considering a reunion. “Now and Then” first emerged out of the shadows as an anthem for their comeback.

Sadly, the project was put on hold.

Guitarist George Harrison wasn’t satisfied with the result of “Now And Then,” leading to its indefinite shelving.

Until now.

Emile de la Rey trained algorithms to identify and separate all the individual music lines on the old tape, including instruments. Peter Jackson then managed to isolate John's vocals from the rest.

You can get a better picture of the whole process in the video below.

Upon watching the video, you’ll realize how the entire process resembles solving a puzzle.

The algorithm meticulously scanned the overall soundscape, identifying each layer, and then deftly unraveled all the elements to seamlessly blend them into a new mix.

There’s no denying that Sir Paul McCartney has been enthralled by the possibilities of AI in the music industry.

So he decided to revisit “Now And Then” from the archive and leverage the latest technology to put the finishing touches on the song.

Paul McCartney has been quite enthusiastic about this new release. He considers this to be an actual Beatles song.

He is probably right, as every note on the recording was played by one of the Beatles.

Apparently, AI also did a new recording of his vocals, so AI could also have a go at Paul’s voice to make him sound like his younger self from the 1980s.

George Harrison, who, as I explained, had initially dismissed the song in the ’90s, got his guitar lines revamped.

Ringo also returned to the studio for another take at the drums, hence giving the algorithm more data to work on.

What’s the result? This is for you to say, as I eagerly await your comments down below.

Closing thoughts

The ongoing discussion about the validity and usefulness of AI in the field of music has been a trending topic in all corners of the metaverse.

Its potential to revolutionize everything is both exhilarating and slightly unsettling, and opinions span across the full spectrum.

Get ready for the goosebumps.

Time to listen to “Now and Then.”