Paul McCartney Reveals A Final Beatles Song Is Happening Because Of AI
Paul McCartney is utilizing AI driven tech to give fans a long shelved unreleased Beatles song.
It’s been 43 years since John Lennon passed away, which means that the legacy of the legendary singer, songwriter, and frontman for the most famous rock band of all time, The Beatles, has gone on longer than he was alive on this planet. Thanks to Sir Paul McCartney, Lennon’s fellow Beatles bandmate, and advancing technology, it seems that Lennon’s legacy will continue to live on forever. According to BBC News, Paul McCartney has used the help of AI to release a new Beatles song sung by Lennon.
Sir Paul McCartney has announced that he is utilizing artificial intelligence to create what he refers to as “the final Beatles record.” During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, McCartney shared how AI tech has been instrumental in extracting John Lennon’s voice from an old demo, enabling McCartney to complete the song. Although he did not disclose the title of the track, it is speculated to be “Now And Then,” a composition by Lennon from 1978 that has never been released.
The story behind this collaboration between McCartney and AI traces back to a cassette tape given to him by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, a year after Lennon’s passing in 1980. The tape, labeled “For Paul,” contained lo-fi and embryonic recordings made by Lennon as he sat at a piano in his New York apartment. Among the songs on the tape was “Now And Then,” which Paul McCartney says the Beatles had considered as a possible reunion song during the compilation of their Anthology series in 1995.
Producer Jeff Lynne cleaned up the tracks from the tape, leading to the completion and release of two songs, “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” in 1995 and 1996, respectively. These releases marked the Beatles’ first “new” material in 25 years. However, despite Paul McCartney’s wish for “Now and Then” to be released as part of the collection, the Beatles’ recording session for the song was abruptly abandoned as George Harrison thought that the shoddy recording of Lennon’s voice from the demo was not good enough to use for the single.
Paul McCartney recalled that because the Beatles are a democracy and since Harrison didn’t want to record the song, the project was abandoned.
Over the years, McCartney has expressed his desire to finish “Now And Then.” The opportunity to realize this ambition came through Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary, where AI was employed to separate the Beatles’ voices from background noises and instruments, creating clean audio. This breakthrough allowed Paul McCartney to “duet” with Lennon on his recent tour and facilitated the creation of new surround sound mixes for the Beatles’ Revolver album in the previous year.
Describing the process for this new mystery song (that is probably “Now And Then”), McCartney explained that AI was used to separate Lennon’s voice from the original demo, providing a pristine audio track. With the isolated vocal, McCartney and his team could mix the record in a conventional manner, granting them total creative freedom. This innovative application of AI technology has breathed new life into a long-awaited project, giving Paul McCartney the opportunity to collaborate with the Beatles’ iconic frontman John Lennon once again, albeit in a different way than anyone had ever anticipated.
While McCartney is enthusiastic about the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence, he also acknowledged concerns about its potential misuse. He expressed unease about the existence of tracks claiming to feature Lennon’s voice when they are actually AI-generated renditions. McCartney believes it is a testament to the power and potential of AI while also recognizing the need for caution and vigilance in its application.
As fans eagerly anticipate the release of this final Beatles song, Paul McCartney’s revelation serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Beatles and their ability to adapt to the advancements of technology. The melding of AI with old Beatles demos not only rekindles the spirit of the legendary band but also opens up new frontiers in music creation. The release of this record marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of not only the Beatles, but also in music history, and highlights the boundless possibilities that lie ahead in the intersection of music and technology.
In conjunction with this exciting announcement, Sir Paul McCartney is also launching a new book and accompanying photography exhibition titled Eyes Of The Storm. The project features Paul McCartney’s own portraits taken between December 1963 and February 1964, capturing the period when the Beatles skyrocketed to global fame. The exhibition will be showcased at the National Portrait Gallery, providing fans with a visual journey through one of the most iconic eras in music history.
