"Now and Then": The Beatles resurrect their timeless magic with a splash of AI

The Beatles, one of the most iconic and influential bands in the history of music, have once again left their mark on the industry with a groundbreaking new song titled "Now and Then." What makes this song particularly remarkable is that it was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), an innovation that has the potential to reshape the way music is composed and appreciated. This blog is my humble attempt to explore the fascinating journey of about a quarter century that the last surviving Beatles embarked on to bring us "Now and Then."

Before we dive into the creation of this song, let's take a moment to appreciate the enduring legacy of The Beatles. From their formation in Liverpool, England in 1960 to their disbandment 10 years later, The Beatles left an indelible mark on music, culture, and the world at large. Their timeless classics like "Yesterday," "Let It Be," and "Here Comes the Sun" continue to resonate with generations of music lovers. However, this unparalleled legacy started to slow down after the shocking murder of John Lennon in 1980, and finally ended with George Harrison passing away in 2001.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the only surviving members of the band, attempted to finish recording "Now and Then" for several years, but they faced a major technical issue that was preventing them from piecing together a finished track from on old tape of Lennon's lo-fi demo of this song. While working with the technology of the time, they were unable to separate Lennon's vocals from the louder piano piece that dominated his original recording. This prevented them from creating a high quality version of this song, forcing them to virtually abandon their efforts to recreate it.

After waiting for almost 25 years, hope came in the form of a new machine learning tool developed by director Peter Jackson and his team for the Disney Plus documentary Get Back. This tool enabled them to split the different components of any piece of music (including old demos) into separate tracks, which helped McCartney and Starr to finally give "Now and Then" the attention it truly deserved. While McCartney recorded the bass track for this song, Starr added drums, and producer Gilles Martin recreated his father's string arrangement to provide the much-needed closure to this song!

The song's release has divided fans and industry observers alike, with some praising the band's efforts to embrace state-of-the-art technology and others saying it dilutes their music's true essence. However, McCartney and Starr may have opened the Pandora's box for other bands who might have similar recordings that never saw the light of day. With this track separation technology, they could breathe new life into those songs and bring back the nostalgia for old fans, while also reaching out to a brand new audience. After all, isn't eternal fame and glory what every artist (heck, every human) aspires to achieve?

The Beatles' "Now and Then" is a shining example of how AI can collaborate with human creativity to breathe new life into the world of music. It reminds us that new innovations can enrich the future rather than diminishing the past. As we continue to witness the union of art and technology, we can look forward to more exciting creations and the evolution of music as we know it. Meanwhile, The Beatles' timeless magic lives on, now and then, and into the future.

(Note: This blog post was drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT 3.5. However, the content it generated has been reviewed for accuracy and edited by me, with additional perspectives based on factual research)