Beatles- Now and Then released

[Aristotle Pickett]

Released 45 mins ago. You can hear it in this link. Filmclip comes about this time tomorow.

The Beatles: Now and Then review – ‘final’ song is a poignant act of closure

Lennon’s demo was abandoned in the 90s due to technical difficulties. With a little help from AI – and subtle new vocals from Paul McCartney – it becomes an affecting tribute to the band’s bond

www.theguardian.com

I like it, they've done a good job with what they had and Paul's added middle eight sounds fitting for the song.
Great to hear John's voice so clearly.
I give it 4.5/5 stars.

 

[Gough]

Lyrically it's very late Lennon, it would have sounded at home on Double Fantasy.

 

[Mootsy]

I mean yeh, y'know, it sort of completes the 95' era stuff now, which is good. The song itself, very cool, i dig it! I wonder if they could just plonk it all onto an E.P. or something. Not sure. If they record 5 more songs like that, they'd almost have an album.

I think from the demo to studio version, they've done a really well rounded effort to make it sound fresh. in my humble opinion.

 

[sherb]

I've listened to it a few times and I think it's wonderful.

The fact that a "new" Beatles song can command such attention in 2023 really is a testament to their greatness.

As an aside, it was fascinating to see the mix of people at the McCartney concert in Sydney. There were a LOT of people in the younger age brackets. Based on that, I think the Beatles' popularity isn't dwindling any time soon.

 

[revo333]

Very good.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

Video here

 

[wagstaff]

Even before the music video was released, have been listening to this constantly. Feels like something that would've been on 'The White Album'.

Music video impacted me emotionally, especially realising that even the footage from the Anthology sessions (which I remember watching back in the day on Ch 7) are now over a quarter of a century ago.

A great farewell.

 

[Mootsy]

Feels like something that would've been on 'The White Album'.

Oh for sure, speaking of which, am i hearing that there is countless hours of white album session pro footage in the hands of Peter Jackson, or is that unsubsantiated, not so sure. Perhaps yet another documentary in the works.

 

[revo333]

They tried to release it in the 90's but they didn't have the technology to isolate Lennon's vocals to sound good enough.

McCartney has said that Harrison didn't like the song at all.

I wonder if now for legal reasons, artists will need to give permission for demos and unfinished tracks to have further work done on them once they pass on.

 

[wagstaff]

Official music video almost at 10m views well within 24 hours.

In fact, the music video and the audio only version are the top two trending videos on YT. Pretty remarkable all these decades later there's still such massive interest.

 

[screech]

I like what they have done, and John's voice sounds better and fuller than Free as a Bird and Real Love. Would be good to see those two remastered using similar technology to improve John's voice.

This probably opens the door for Giles Martin to do proper stereo remasters of the early mono releases, which would be fascinating to see if they can be enhanced.

 

[1990crow]

Shows most modern music is trash when a song can be released with original audio and idea originating almost 50 years is wayyyyy better.

 

[JimmyBC]

It's a pedestrian song with weak lyrics.

 

[1990crow]

It's a pedestrian song with weak lyrics.

Don't agree at all.

 

[HalloweenJack]

It's a pedestrian song with weak lyrics.

I agree.

This song should have been left in the vault. I think there is a reason it wasn't included on any album. It is very ordinary. Reading this thread and the YT comments we must be the only people that don't like it.

 

[JimmyBC]

I agree.

This song should have been left in the vault. I think there is a reason it wasn't included on any album. It is very ordinary. Reading this thread and the YT comments we must be the only people that don't like it.

Feels like shooting bambi while all the boomers gently weep.

 

[sherb]

Comparison of the finished song to the original demo.

 

[mr bagcroft]

Forgettable, bland, kinda like your first song you write when you have an idea, and nothing to elevate it, so you just repeat things.
Its what I expected.
In my opinion, it should never have seen the light of day.
There is a reason it just sat on a cassette and was never used by JL.

 

[LeakyValve]

Forgettable, bland, kinda like your first song you write when you have an idea, and nothing to elevate it, so you just repeat things.
Its what I expected.
In my opinion, it should never have seen the light of day.
There is a reason it just sat on a cassette and was never used by JL.

A comment was made on the Guardian BTL that it has "no hook".
Someone replied: "plenty of sinker though".

 

[ElectricG]

Growing on me

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

It's a great song. Much better than 90% of todays songs on the charts.
The video clip is a mess though imo.

 

[Mootsy]

Is this the coolest entrance to a recording session, then i don't know what is, lol. "Nice Motor"..

 

[Richard Cranium]

Lyrically it's very late Lennon, it would have sounded at home on Double Fantasy.

Song written by Lennon three years before his death sounds very late Lennon. Stop the presses.

I'm not a Beatles fanatic, but hadn't listened to this because the whole thing seemed... uncouth. But I gave in and listened.

It's fine. That's probably the best way to describe it. Fine. Like someone trying to write a Beatles-like ballad and not really getting there so deciding to put in way too many strings to give it some depth. Which really doesn't justify its existence.

Hopefully Paul is satisfied and this sort of thing never happens again.

(Bloody hell just watched the video clip. Who thought that was a good idea??)

 

[revo333]

(Bloody hell just watched the video clip. Who thought that was a good idea??)

Yep, very awkward viewing for me and I thought it would have got more backlash but most people seem to enjoyed it.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

Yep, very awkward viewing for me and I thought it would have got more backlash but most people seem to enjoyed it.

I didn't like the video. It was a case of playing with technology to make a mess. It tried to incorporate every era and made John look like a clown.