The Final Beatles Song, 'Now and Then,' Featuring All Four Members and AI, Released 63
More than 50 years after the Beatles broke up, John, Paul, George and Ringo are back together, reunited for one final track that was released Thursday, officially closing the final chapter in the band's musical output and legacy. From a report: The song, titled "Now and Then," was played on BBC radio just after 2 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET) and simultaneously released on streaming platforms. With the help of digital technology, it features both John Lennon, who was shot dead in 1980, and George Harrison, who died from lung cancer in 2001. With new contributions from Paul McCartney, 81, and Ringo Starr, 83, the song will be the final music released by possibly the most influential and bestselling musical group of the 20th century.
No AI (Score:4, Insightful)
There was no AI as we think of it these days where an AI created parts of John's vocals. The (remaining) Beatles put that to rest quickly.
Paul McCartney says there's nothing artificial in new Beatles song made using AI. Paul McCartney has clarified how artificial intelligence has been used to create a new Beatles song, saying that âoenothing has been artificially or synthetically createdâ
Re:No AI (Score:5, Informative)
They did this on this last track from John, recorded in his home in the 70's on an old cassette deck with him singing to a piano.
When the 3x remaining Beatles tried the same thing with Free As a Bird and Real Love...they did the best they could, but this tech didn't exist then.
They started on Now and Then but just couldn't get it separated out enough...but they DID play some parts to it...including George Harrison.
His new parts from the old attempts is part of what they used on this final version.
Interesting little BTS film about the new song here [youtube.com].
Re:No AI (Score:5, Informative)
There WAS AI used to generate this song, although it's subtle. There was a demo recording of John Lennon of him accompanied by a piano. The audio quality was garbage, however and it was all on a single track. They used AI to separate Lennon's voice from the piano part, and then kept just his voice. Machine Learning was used to ensure that his vocals matched Lennon's voice.
So some amount of generative AI was used to subtly fill in his vocals when they conflicted with the piano in the demo. But it's not like they used AI to generate Lennon vocals wholesale. It was just used to extract his vocals from a crappy demo tape.
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final? (Score:4, Insightful)
Come on, I am sure that this song, along with the entire back catalog will be remastered and refactored a thousand more times to keep money flowing into the estates of their descendants...
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Yes, last, new original song release...new song to catalog.
Re:final? (Score:4, Insightful)
Well, Ok, but since they needed AI to complete it, what makes you think that this is the last time that AI will ever be involved?
It's only going to become better at creating new content and the temptation to create new stuff with their voices and play styles is going to be irresistible...
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They didn't use AI to simulate John, they used AI to extract his voice from an existing recording of this song and clean it up.
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It's only going to become better at creating new content
New content wasn't created. AI was used to separate tracks, nothing more.
Just because you can doesn't mean she people agree to it, and there's no reason to believe the estate of the Beatles will do so.
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"We all live in the zombie submarine..."
That reads like old Science Fiction (Score:2)
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ML used to isolate the tracks (Score:5, Informative)
Peter Jackson's team, which had produced the earlier Beatles documentary, had developed a ML-based technique to isolate any single voice or instrument from an analog recording. "Now and Then" existed only as a practice tape that John had recorded at home, with voice, piano, and guitar. The piano part in particular was reportedly very rough (according to Paul and Ringo), not suitable for use as-is. Such a "scratch" recording is very common, even to this day -- I myself have hundreds of them. Like notes on scraps of paper.
But, since Jackson's team was able to separate the scratch tape into individual tracks, Paul and Ringo was able to record a fresh take on the rest of the parts. They then hired a string arranger to orchestrate a string section that would have been typical of the time when John wrote the song, and they hired a guitarist to write a Harrison-esque slide guitar lead.
The end result truly is so very, very Beatles. Such a unique sound!
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I thought they also had some Harrison guitar parts laid down when the 3 of them originally tried to do work on it, back when they were working the Anthology project and did Real Love and Free As A Bird...?
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Pretty sure that isn't Harrison on the guitar. Wouldn't surprise me, however, if they had some other material from him from the same time just as you say, and used that to come up with the final solo in his very unique style.
Re:ML used to isolate the tracks (Score:4, Insightful)
He'd laid down the rhythm track and some guitar 'flybyes' - little extra melodic fills in between the vocals to provide some counterpoint. But at they time they hadn't gotten to the point of deciding whether or not to put in an actual solo break - the inability to improve John in the mix stopped the project. Paul finally decided it needed the break and he and Ringo laid down the baseline and the synth, and then worked out a slide solo which I want to say used George's sampled slide guitar sound but I believe was actually played by Paul on a sampler keyboard - the documentary video on youtube and D+ isn't totally clear on that last bit.
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I'm 70 years old and the Beatles were a big part of my youth. Their music was so varied and powerful.
Sadly, this latest track is nothing but a cynical attempt to squeeze more blood out of a stone.
It lacks so much of the *real* Beatle's music and I find nothing of merit in it.
Back to my original vinyls and the trove of MP3s I've ripped from them I guess.
Hmm (Score:4, Interesting)
Or the classic rock station since it is from The Beatles.
Hmmm
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"Instant Classic" station, I should think. :0
John is back? (Score:5, Funny)
Ono!
Yokonator (Score:2)
I always felt with smart use of reverb and other effects, Yoko's voice would make for some cool psychedelic pop tunes. Voices are that are intense and scratchy raw often make great inputs for effects widgets. She just never found the right producer.
I mentioned this in a music forum, and an anti-fan replied, "Try contacting Pluto!"
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I always felt with smart use of reverb and other effects, Yoko's voice would make for some cool psychedelic pop tunes.
The only effect that improves Yoko Ono's voice is mute.
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They oughtta feed some Yoko Ono stuff to the AI, see if tries to kill itself.
"All four members and Al"? Who's Al? (Score:2)
I recall there being a Pete - Pete Best - who was the drummer before Ringo came along. But I don't remember any Al.
Re: "All four members and Al"? Who's Al? (Score:5, Funny)
Weird Al.
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That I might pay for..
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Maybe it's Paul Simon [youtu.be].
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It was probably Paul Simon. [youtube.com]
more exciting AI news (Score:2)
I have exciting news! Our firm has used AI to recreate the voices of the thieves on the crosses around Jesus back then.
Thief 1, Dismas: "Hey Jesus, I can see your house from up here!"
Thief 2, Gestas: "Go home, Dismas, you're drunk."
Roman soldier: "Hey, either of you guys Georgus Floydus?"
I listened to it (Score:2)
Kind of a strange as it sounds new and old at the same time. Not bad but not good enough to make it into my collection. I never cared for the earlier pop Beatles albums but Rubber Soul and everything after is good. Revolver is probably my favorite.
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Haven't heard it yet but I'm sure I will before the day is out. They were talking about it on the radio yesterday on my drive home.
I completely agree about Beatles albums though. I really like all of their later material, but they started out with the early equivalent of "bubble gum pop" genre music, really. It's interesting how that seems to be a recurring theme. A lot of artists make good money churning out pop hits, but the talented ones tend to morph their musical style into much more interesting and c
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Listening to Revolver the first time was an odd experience. I was familiar with the Chemical Brothers song Let Forever Be so when the last song, Tomorrow Never Knows starts playing that was a bit of a realization. Something that experimental recorded in the late 1960s is amazing.
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You tossed "Ticket to Ride" and "Yesterday" in the bin along with the rest. Both don't deserve it.
I thought (Score:2)
I thought this was released about 30 years ago as Free as A Bird.
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It doesn't really sound that much like "Free as a Bird." Were you trying to make a joke?
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My comment was more to the "this is the last Beatles song ever", which even this won't be.
calling BS (Score:1)
If your cereal doesn't have AI chips, you're holding the spoon wrong. Also, you're not wasting enough energy to do something that Non AI Chip Cereal doesn't.
I gave out AI Halloween candy.
Youtube Video on how it was made (Score:3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Now and Then Song on YouTube (Score:4, Informative)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Lousy, but I don't care for the Beatles (Score:1)
Before my time (Score:4, Insightful)
The Beatles were enormously influential in their day - and, arguably, still are - but they broke up when I was 9 years old. I'm 62 now. A lot has happened since then.
Like all modern recordings/reissues/remasters this one sounds more like a really good tribute band than the Fab Four themselves. Nor are they breaking any new ground: Now and Then sounds like a B side from Abbey Road or Let It Be.
...laura
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It's still better than most of their work, honestly - in terms of songwriting.
Audio quality is crash, and mixing was done poorly. Instrumentals crowd out vocals and levels are poor throughout.
Re: Before my time (Score:2)
Call back when you're 64.
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The Beatles are so yesterday.
Rough parts? (Score:2)
I haven't heard the AI-cleaned one yet, but I listened to John's original demo, and while it seemed like it had several catchy ideas just below the surface, it also sounded very unfinished and meandering. He even mumbled where lyrics weren't ready. I hope the new one did it justice. If not, I just might adjust it myself (as a hobby).
Please don't (Score:1)
They were smart this time... (Score:2)
...not letting Patsy Stone anywhere near the recording studio.
Voice at the end? (Score:1)
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Play it backwards.
Heard it on my local* station , and meh... (Score:1)
It was a song "by" the AI-resurrected Beatles, but not a "Beatles" song.
* CKUA.com is that station.
Beatles fan (Score:2)
I like the Beatles. Um, until about 1970. This is not a Beatles song, and who gives a shit if they can concoct something with AI just to squeeze more money from morons?