Paul McCartney Recounts the Emotional Journey of Completing the Final Beatles Song Alongside John Lennon
Paul McCartney reminisces on the profound experience of completing the final Beatles track, revealing that it felt as if he was collaborating with the late John Lennon once more, their creative synergy alive and palpable
Paul McCartney, John Lennon. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Paul McCartney found joy in creating the "last" ever Beatles song, which also served as a spiritual reunion with his late friend John Lennon. On November 2nd, The Beatles, consisting of McCartney, 81, Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, released "Now and Then." Marketed as their final single, the track features Lennon's vocals extracted from a demo he recorded in the late 1970s. This collaboration allowed McCartney to work with his friend again, who tragically passed away in 1980.
"When we were in the studio, McCartney revealed to BBC Radio 1, as reported by Billboard, it felt as though John's voice was right there with us. It was almost as if he was in a nearby vocal booth and we were collaborating once again. It was a truly joyous experience, especially considering that we hadn't had the opportunity in quite some time. Suddenly, we found ourselves working alongside our dear old friend, Johnny."
In an attempt to revive the song in the 1990s, Starr, aged 83, and Harrison (who sadly passed away in 2001 at the age of 58 after battling cancer for three years) made efforts to rework it. However, they faced difficulties in doing so. The original demo, featuring Lennon's vocals, had been recorded on a tape in the late singer's New York City apartment during the "Imagine" era. Unfortunately, the quality of the recording was too poor and the technology available at the time was not advanced enough to salvage Lennon's "lost" voice.
Enter Peter Jackson, the director of the Get Back documentary that chronicled the creation of the Let It Be album. Leading his team at WingNut Films, Jackson utilized the innovative MAL audio technology, powered by artificial intelligence, to extract the vocal tracks from the original documentary footage. Through this groundbreaking technology, Lennon's vocals were successfully separated from the demo and skillfully integrated into this new recording.
"It was a truly enchanting experience," McCartney revealed during an interview with BBC Radio 1. The composition showcases an exquisite string arrangement meticulously crafted by Paul, Ben Foster, and Giles Martin, the notable son of renowned Beatles producer George Martin. Additionally, the track features significant contributions from all four members of the iconic Beatles, hence earning its rightful title as the "final" masterpiece from the beloved Fab Four.
The use of AI to seemingly revive the late John Lennon has sparked concerns. The practice of replicating a musician's voice using technology has become a controversial topic, with notable artists like Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, and Drake expressing their opposition.
Nonetheless, McCartney clarifies that "Now and Then" primarily focuses on embracing new technology, which the Beatles were unafraid to explore.
"The initial occurrence of hearing a tape play in reverse unintentionally sparked our curiosity. Rather than dismissing it, we were intrigued and eager to incorporate that unique element into our recording. Unlike others who would simply dismiss it as a mistake and continue as usual, we always found joy in seizing these small, unexpected moments. Peter Jackson has skillfully arranged it in a captivating manner, making it truly magical. Reuniting with John and having the opportunity to sing together again holds great significance to me."
