Paul McCartney Discusses Emotional Beatles' Song With John Lennon as the Last

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the only two surviving members of The Beatles, have collaborated to complete a song titled "Now and Then," originally written and recorded by the late John Lennon in 1970. The impact of hearing Lennon's immaculate voice on the final track proved to be deeply moving for McCartney and Starr.

"It's incredibly emotional. We all participate in it. This is an authentic Beatles recording," remarked McCartney on Thursday. He further expressed, "To be able to continue working on Beatles music in 2023 and to unveil a never-before-heard song to the public, I find it thrilling."

Starr shared his sentiments in a statement, stating, "Hearing Lennon's voice brought him as close as we will ever get to having him back in the room. It was an intensely emotional experience for all of us."

"Starr expressed, 'It felt as if John was present, you know. It's mind-blowing.'"

"The song was composed and recorded by Lennon in 1970, at his residence in New York City. In the mid-90s, McCartney, Starr, and the late George Harrison, who passed away in 2001, revisited and enhanced the song. Over four decades later, McCartney and Starr finalized it this year."

The track, nicknamed "the final Beatles song" by McCartney, showcases the original vocals sung by Lennon which were protected using artificial intelligence.

Filmmaker Peter Jackson, who worked on "The Beatles: Get Back," was enlisted in 2021 to revive "Now and Then" by implementing AI restoration methods similar to those employed in the groundbreaking documentary, as stated in a news release on Thursday.

Starr and McCartney aimed to finish the song by 2022, adding fresh instrumentation from both of them. Additionally, guitar recordings by Harrison from the 90s were incorporated to complement Lennon's vocals. The final version was enhanced by blending backing vocals from Beatles classics like "Here, There And Everywhere," "Eleanor Rigby," and "Because."

"Now and Then" will be released worldwide on November 2.