New Beatles single "Now And Then" released!

[Vampiro138]

I know theres a few Beatlefreaks on this board with me, surprised there isnt a topic about this yet!

The technology Peter Jackson's team created for Get Back, that was later used to give Revolver a actual remaster/remix has been used to bring out John's voice from the tape of Now And Then, so the work Paul, George and Ringo did back in 94/95 could be used to finish the track with Paul and Ringo adding some things recently. This sounds absolutely fantastic! I hope sometime they remix Real Love and Free As A Bird as well with this technology.



And heres a little documentary about the making of the song

[animaniac]

The AI technology they used to clear John's voice is amazing...but man I do not like this arrangement.

Surprised they didn't use the "I don't wanna lose you" part. I think that's the best part of it.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

I’ve been meaning to listen to this, huge Beatles fan, but kinda nervous to listen

[Perd]

I’ve listened to it a few times. It’s not something I’ll seek out too much in the future. But it’s really cool that it exists. And it’s definitely emotional knowing that this is the last one. 

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

I was going to be cynical about this, even though it always bothered me they couldn’t finish this and include it on Anthology 3. But watching the short film yesterday, I audibly gasped and even welled up when John’s voice was revealed. Then I got chills when 2023 Paul started laying down the bass.

I think it’s the loveliest of the three posthumous reunion songs. Having the Giles Martin-arranged string session on there makes it feel way more Beatles-esque than the Jeff Lynne-produced tracks from 1995. And I’m honestly glad we got it now versus then (heh). The ethereal tone and tenor makes it a bit more haunting but more reassuring, in a weird way. John’s been gone over 40 years. George has been gone over 20. Paul and Ringo are in their final decades. The Beatles arguably have less mainstream impact now than at any point in the last 64 years. All things must pass.

And yet nothing is ever really gone. Sometimes we just have to be open to listening for it.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Listened like 2 minutes after it was out, because we can do that now. It's fine. We lost whatever John would have done from 1980 until today and George from 2001 until now, I hoped it would crush Taylor Swift George Lucasing herself throughout her career and I wanted to be apart of that, if it happened.

It's what happens when dead people release music, if they had thought it was any good, they'd have released when they were alive.

[Lizuka #BLM]

It's definitely a technical marvel, though as a song I think it's a bit meandering and aimless.

[Ganon83]

Nov 2, 2023 23:44:54 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

It's definitely a technical marvel, though as a song I think it's a bit meandering and aimless.

I think it’s got all the makings of a great Beatles track, but it feels a little half baked and thrown together. Which makes a bit of sense, considering this is a song that took 45 years to make and with half the band being represented by decades old recordings.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Nov 2, 2023 23:44:54 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

It's definitely a technical marvel, though as a song I think it's a bit meandering and aimless.

Seconded. I'm blown away by the wizardry that has gone into making the song, but the song itself isn't anything remarkable.

[James Fabiano]

Nov 2, 2023 22:56:41 GMT -5 Cry Me a Wiggle said:

I was going to be cynical about this, even though it always bothered me they couldn’t finish this and include it on Anthology 3. But watching the short film yesterday, I audibly gasped and even welled up when John’s voice was revealed. Then I got chills when 2023 Paul started laying down the bass.

I think it’s the loveliest of the three posthumous reunion songs. Having the Giles Martin-arranged string session on there makes it feel way more Beatles-esque than the Jeff Lynne-produced tracks from 1995. And I’m honestly glad we got it now versus then (heh). The ethereal tone and tenor makes it a bit more haunting but more reassuring, in a weird way. John’s been gone over 40 years. George has been gone over 20. Paul and Ringo are in their final decades. The Beatles arguably have less mainstream impact now than at any point in the last 64 years. All things must pass.

And yet nothing is ever really gone. Sometimes we just have to be open to listening for it.

That's the beautiful thing about being an entertainer. Your work can make you immortal.

[XIII]

Nah, this ain’t it. It sounds like exactly what it is: a cobbled together mishmash of outtakes thrown together and blended with new technology. The arrangement isn’t great, the lyrics are meandering, there’s no build, and the mix could be better. It’s cool that it they can do this but it’s just not for me.

[Gunhaver]

Nov 2, 2023 23:24:19 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

It's what happens when dead people release music, if they had thought it was any good, they'd have released when they were alive.

I believe the Prince estate would have some thoughts on this. 
I read something recently in regards to Bowie demos getting released (on vinyl, for some reason) that it needs to be done to retain copyright and prevent it from entering the public domain. But I don't know anything about this song. Was any part of it floating around the public sphere as a bootleg?

[Tenshigure]

Nov 3, 2023 7:46:12 GMT -5 XIII said:

Nah, this ain’t it. It sounds like exactly what it is: a cobbled together mishmash of outtakes thrown together and blended with new technology. The arrangement isn’t great, the lyrics are meandering, there’s no build, and the mix could be better. It’s cool that it they can do this but it’s just not for me.

I don't know if it's my experience in sound mixing coming to haunt me or something, but good lord they should've at least ATTEMPTED to match the fidelity with the vocals. Sounds EXACTLY what you'd think an amateur mashup would come off from someone attempting to do a cover of an older song. I would not be surprised in the slightest if someone with a keener ear turns around and releases a fan-made version that is leaps and bounds better than that "arrangement".

[Gunhaver]

Finally listened to it. I don't have the technical knowledge to understand what went into this, but the mix still sounds super rough to my ears. 

[DZ: WF Legacy]

I love this song, both the haunting demo and this more fully realized version. It's got that melancholic touch that I love with Porcupine Tree's music. They did a great job using AI in a tasteful way to enhance Lennon the best they could. It sounds much better than his vocal mix in "Free as a Bird", which is to be expected since that was done in the 90s. There is actually a good unofficial AI version on YT that enhances Lennon's voice better than the official one.

It's a good last song to go out on. Nothing too crazy, but it has a pleasant string arrangement and an overfall feeling of longing that I'm sure many older fans have for times gone by. The music video just got released, and it's....uhm....I wish I liked it more, but it is distractingly cheesy at times and has some dodgy AI conglomerating going on with the faux-green screen footage. Some parts of it are nice, and it ends really well, but a little too far in my opinion.

[ace]

I appreciate the effort and time that went into doing it. It’s a passion project more than a novelty or cash in. But the song is kind of whatever.

[James Fabiano]

It reminded me more of a solo Lennon song. The official video does put it over the top.

[Hit Girl]

For me, Free As A Bird will always be their last song.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Interesting tech demo, but it's pretty obvious why the song was left on the cutting room floor. Should have left it at Free as a Bird.

[sasqwatchers]

It was, just fine for me when I heard it.