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Now And Then music video The Beatles via YouTube

New Beatles music video shows late bandmates playing alongside McCartney and Starr

AI was used to show Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr playing alongside their late bandmates.

THE BEATLES HAVE released the music video for what they say is their final song, and with the power of modern technology, they get to perform alongside their late bandmates once more.

The iconic rock band, that continued to make music after the deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison, has used technological advances to bring back their old friends – in audio and now visual form.

The cover art for the song shows Harrison and Lennon aged by AI to blend with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who are now in their 80s.

Harrison’s son Giles helped produce the song and Peter Jackson directed the music video, which came out today.

Jackson described the video, which incorporates unseen candid footage of the Beatles at the height of their fame, as “pretty nutty” and providing a “much needed balance between the sad and the funny”. 

It was a software system developed by Jackson and his team, used throughout the production of the Beatles documentary series Get Back, that made possible the uncoupling of Lennon’s vocal from his piano part. The original recording could then be brought to life and worked on anew with contributions from all four Beatles.

Now And Then is based on a demo by Lennon that the remaining Beatles had begun working on after his death. However, it is only in recent years that Starr and McCartney have been able to finish the song, thanks to artificial intelligence.

One clip in the music video shows present-day McCartney singing beside a Sgt. Pepper era Harrison, and the pair appear to acknowledge each other.

In some other not-so-well blended shots, a present-day Starr sticks out among the late bandmates, ruining the illusion that they are in one room together.

‘Biblical’

In a post to X yesterday, Pattie Boyd who was once married to Harrison, said she was “looking forward” to hearing the song.

Yoko Ono, Lennon’s second wife, also reposted the song.

Fans flocked to X to share their opinions, most of which were resoundingly positive, as the song has provoked both sadness and nostalgia. 

Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame described it as “absolutely incredible biblical celestial heartbreaking and heartwarming” all at once.

McCartney spoke to BBC Radio 1 about the “magical” process of producing Now And Then.

“Before John died, he was working on some songs and Yoko spoke to George Harrison and said, you know, ‘I’ve got a cassette with some John songs on that he never got to finish. Would you be interested in finishing them off?’”

“We thought yeah it would be great because, in a way, we’d be working with John again, which we thought we’d never be able to do,” said McCartney.

The remaining band members finished two of Lennon’s demos, but “didn’t get around” to the third one until now.

“I ended up talking to Ringo and we asked him if he’d fancy putting the drums on again,” he said.

“I put the bass on again. We already had George playing guitar and we had John on vocals, so it was kind of magical.”

In a poll by The Journal this week, the public opinion on which Beatles song is best was split, but Hey Jude, Let It Be, Yesterday and A Day in the Life were among the top favourites.

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23 Comments
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    Mute Cliona O'Connell
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:04 PM

    Random my a*se!!!

    196
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    Mute Cian Martin
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:43 PM

    If the tickets are random then why do I need to write an essay to apply?

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    Mute Mr KnowitAll
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:44 PM

    Wouldn’t it be great if one of the kids got overtired and pucked the head of Tubridy !

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:50 PM

    RTE is one big club run for the benefit of themselves unfortunately.

    75
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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:10 PM

    Does anyone know one of these mythical creatures who have happened to be selected at random?

    98
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    Mute Steven Talbot
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    Oct 15th 2016, 11:21 PM

    I got them last year. And I’ve no connection to the kip

    39
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    Mute Jonathan Kerr
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:41 PM

    Applied online. Told them if they chose me id buy my first tv licence ever.

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    Mute john
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:55 PM

    I was just wondering if I’d need to prove I had a to license. Haven’t had one for over 10 years so if I was fined the 1000 euro for not having one I still saved money since 10 years of tv license costs more than a grand

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    Mute Robin Basstard
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    Oct 15th 2016, 8:15 PM

    @john: Good stuff John keep up the good work :-) I haven’t had a TV scam licence since 1993.

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    Mute TehJurolan
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:29 PM

    My inlaws went a few years back but they have a relative who has worked at RTE since the 70s so that might have had something to do with it.

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    Mute Congress Tart
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:21 PM

    lol – pretending members of the public actually get tickets.

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    Mute Peter King
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:50 PM

    Knew someone who went. Said they felt strange there because they seemed to be the only ones not related to someone in rte.

    56
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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Oct 15th 2016, 7:37 PM

    at least the kids with the toys &appear on screen are absolutely positively in no way related to anyone in RTE.. ..

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    Mute Philip King
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    Oct 15th 2016, 9:32 PM

    As long as ticketmaster ain’t in charge you might be in with a chance.

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    Mute jay
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    Oct 15th 2016, 8:14 PM

    Only person I know who was at Toy show is related to someone who works in RTE. looks like that’s the only way to get tickets

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    Mute Vincent Wallace
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    Oct 16th 2016, 12:35 AM

    Hahaha if you think your going to get a ticket and your not related to Montrose. Your dreaming.

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    Mute Caroline Reid
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    Oct 15th 2016, 11:03 PM

    I entered. For awhile at least I can imagine I have a chance

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    Mute Daniel Fontaine
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    Oct 15th 2016, 9:23 PM

    Got a pair myself last year. I tore them up. Felt really good.

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    Mute James Brown
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    Oct 16th 2016, 8:12 AM

    Is that you Pat?

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    Mute ChiyoSanDesign
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    Oct 16th 2016, 10:07 AM

    I have tried to sign up so as I can apply for toy show tickets..Not sending back the link…If I try to reapply it says email already exists…if I try to sign in it says no account??
    When I try to email signup@rte.ie for help it won’t send ?? Like what the hell??
    Joan

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Oct 16th 2016, 10:19 AM

    Same

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    Mute Liam John Bradshaw
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    Oct 16th 2016, 9:20 AM

    Random & suddenly there’s a family of 7 up the back looking into the cameras & waving to everyone at home.

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    Mute Liam John Bradshaw
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    Oct 16th 2016, 9:17 AM

    You can give mine away guys,.

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