In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Sir Paul McCartney revealed the completion of an unfinished song by the Beatles, using artificial intelligence (AI). The specific title of the song remains undisclosed, but insiders speculate that it dates back to 1978 and is known as “Now And Then,” a composition attributed to John Lennon.
The song in question holds a significant place in the band’s history, as it is considered their “final” song. Lennon initially wrote it in 1978, and McCartney joined him in recording a demo, but the piece remained unfinished. Tragically, Lennon passed away in 1980, leaving the song incomplete.
Following Lennon’s death, McCartney received the demo from Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. In recent years, McCartney has employed AI technology to extract Lennon’s vocals from the demo and integrate them into new music. This innovative approach allowed McCartney to collaborate with his late bandmate once again, albeit in a unique and digitally enhanced manner.
McCartney had previously attempted to finalize the “Now And Then” demo with his fellow Beatles, Ringo Starr and the late George Harrison, during the mid-1990s. However, their collaborative efforts proved unsuccessful, as Harrison expressed dissatisfaction with the composition, and the democratic nature of the band prevented its completion.
The completed song, featuring McCartney’s and Lennon’s vocals, both synthesized by AI, is set for release later this year. McCartney expressed his excitement, stating that the final result sounds as if Lennon were physically present in the studio alongside him, resurrecting the magical chemistry that defined their legendary partnership.
The sources for this piece include an article in Huffpost.