The Beatles, one of the most influential bands in music history, released their final song, “Now and Then”, in 2023—more than 50 years after they last recorded together. What made this extraordinary event possible was not just the band’s enduring legacy but also groundbreaking advancements in audio and video technology. Through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, producers were able to extract and restore John Lennon’s original vocals from a rough demo, allowing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to complete the track with contributions from George Harrison that had been recorded decades earlier.
This achievement was not merely a technical exercise but a demonstration of how modern innovation can bridge past and present, reviving music that once seemed lost. The release of “Now and Then” was a testament to the power of technology to preserve and enhance cultural history, giving fans an emotional and historic farewell to one of the greatest bands of all time.
The Origins of “Now and Then”
“Now and Then” was originally recorded as a demo by John Lennon in the late 1970s at his home in New York. Following his tragic death in 1980, Yoko Ono gave McCartney a cassette labeled “For Paul,” which contained some of Lennon’s unfinished songs. In 1995, the remaining Beatles—Paul, George, and Ringo—attempted to work on “Now and Then” during the sessions for the Anthology project, alongside the posthumous releases of “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.” However, technical difficulties made it impossible to complete the track at the time.
The primary issue was the poor quality of the original recording, which featured Lennon’s vocals buried under a loud piano accompaniment. At the time, there was no available technology that could isolate and clean up his voice without losing significant audio fidelity. The band ultimately abandoned the project, believing it would never be possible to create a polished version.
However, in the years that followed, technological advancements changed what was once thought impossible.
AI-Powered Audio Restoration
The major breakthrough that allowed “Now and Then” to be completed came from machine learning technology, developed by Peter Jackson’s team at WingNut Films. This same technology was previously used in Jackson’s 2021 documentary, The Beatles: Get Back, where AI was employed to isolate individual instruments and voices from decades-old recordings, significantly improving sound quality.
For “Now and Then,” AI was used to separate John Lennon’s voice from the original cassette, removing background noise and isolating the vocals in pristine clarity. Once the AI successfully extracted Lennon’s vocals, McCartney and Starr were finally able to complete the track. Additional recordings were made, including McCartney’s newly recorded bass and guitar parts, Starr’s drumming, and an orchestral arrangement that enriched the final production. Crucially, George Harrison’s guitar recordings from 1995 were also incorporated, ensuring that the song remained a true Beatles collaboration despite being recorded in different decades.
The Role of Technology in the Music Video
The song was accompanied by a visually stunning music video, directed by Peter Jackson, which seamlessly combined archival footage, restored video clips, and digital enhancements. Jackson’s team used AI-powered video restoration techniques to enhance and refine footage of the band from various points in their careers. This allowed Lennon and Harrison to be included in a way that felt natural and cohesive, as though all four Beatles were together again.
By blending historical clips with newly filmed footage of McCartney and Starr, the video created an emotional experience that spanned generations. It was not only a celebration of The Beatles’ enduring legacy but also a heartfelt farewell, visually and musically uniting the band one last time.
Ethical and Artistic Considerations
While the release of “Now and Then” was widely celebrated, it also sparked debates about the ethical implications of AI in music production. Some critics questioned whether it was appropriate to use AI to extract and enhance Lennon’s vocals decades after his passing, raising concerns about authenticity and artistic integrity. Others, however, saw the project as a faithful continuation of Lennon’s work, particularly since it was McCartney and Starr themselves who spearheaded the completion of the song.
Unlike deepfake technologies that can artificially recreate voices without consent, the AI used in “Now and Then” served a restorative rather than a generative purpose. It did not create new vocals but rather rescued and clarified existing recordings, ensuring that the final result remained true to Lennon’s original intent. The involvement of the surviving Beatles and their careful approach to the song reassured many fans that this was not a case of technology being used to fabricate music, but rather to complete an unfinished piece of history.
A Fitting Farewell
“Now and Then” stands as an extraordinary example of how technology can preserve and celebrate musical history. Through the combined efforts of AI-driven audio restoration, advanced video editing, and digital preservation techniques, fans were given a final Beatles song—something that would have been impossible just a few years ago.
Yet, beyond the technological achievement, the song’s true magic lies in its emotional resonance. It is not just a product of modern advancements but a timeless reflection on memory, legacy, and the enduring bond between musicians and their fans. The release of “Now and Then” was not merely a technical triumph; it was a moment of history, nostalgia, and love, ensuring that The Beatles’ music continues to inspire for generations to come.
The Harrywell Report
Photo by Neil Martin on Unsplash
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