Emerging in the spotlight once more, The Beatles are set to unveil what is being announced as their “final song.” Poignantly titled ‘Now And Then’, the track is a testament to time, spanning 45 years in the making. John Lennon penned the first bars back in 1978, with the song finally reaching completion last year.
‘Now And Then’ is a significant tapestry woven with contributions from all four Beatles, marking the last song credited to the legendary quartet—Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr. Tracing the arc of their career, the song is set to be released as a double A-side single with their 1962 debut ‘Love Me Do’. This memento could indeed symbolize the end of an era for what can be argued as the most influential band in rock history.
On Thursday, the UK will be the first to experience ‘Now And Then’, with its maiden broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music at 14:00 GMT. The song will simultaneously debut on popular streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Prime Music. Physical copies on CD, vinyl, and cassette will be made available subsequently, and from the 10th of November, ‘Now And Then’ will grace the newly remastered and expanded versions of The Beatles’ Red and Blue greatest hits albums.
Drawing anticipation into speculation, curious minds wonder about the sound of the final bow. The original demo, circulating for years as a bootleg, reveals an empathic love song, reminiscent of John Lennon’s solo work of the 1970s. Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr completed the song in the studio last year, featuring George Harrison’s posthumous rhythm guitar parts recorded in 1995. Producer Giles Martin’s new string arrangement completes the piece. Those fortunate enough to have heard the finished track attest to its poignant and touching reflection on the band’s enduring friendship.
Turning the clock back to 1978, Lennon laid down the blueprint for ‘Now And Then’. He recorded a demo, filled with vocals and piano melodies, at his home in New York. Post his passing, his widow Yoko Ono passed the recording, also containing demos for ‘Free as a Bird’ and ‘Real Love’, to the remaining Beatles. These two songs saw completion and release as singles in 1995 and 1996, marking a resurgence of The Beatles’ “new” material after quarter of a century.
However, an early attempt at recording ‘Now And Then’ was abandoned due to its undersized structure and subpar quality. Despite these setbacks, Paul McCartney clung to the idea. In a revolutionary move, artificial intelligence was employed to complete the song. Devised during the making of The Beatles’ ‘Get Back’ documentary, a software was able to ‘de-mix’ muddled recordings of overlapping sounds, giving clarity to Lennon’s voice from the original cassette recording.
As the curtain falls on this chapter of The Beatles’ journey, the anticipation grows, with a music video adding to the fervor. Premiering at 14:00 GMT on Friday, the video boasts previously unseen footage, including valuable clips of The Beatles’ earliest recorded performances provided by original drummer Pete Best. These moments in time serve to remind us not only of the Beatles’ extraordinary journey but of the timeless vastness of their influence.
As we appreciate and honor the contributions of these four men to music and cultural history, we encourage you also to embrace the passions that inspire you. Our curated selection of top online casinos for the month, listed on our site, is a testament to our dedication and passion towards providing readers with top-level entertainment. All details can be found here.