Sir Paul McCartney has announced that a new and final Beatles recording, created using artificial intelligence, will be released later this year. McCartney revealed that he had utilized new technology to “extricate” John Lennon’s voice from an old demo and complete a decades-old song. Although McCartney did not disclose the song’s name, it is believed to be a 1978 Lennon composition called “Now and Then.”
The demo, recorded on a boombox as Lennon played the piano in his New York apartment, featured lyrics that were characteristic of the apologetic love songs Lennon wrote during the latter part of his career. The idea to employ AI in reconstructing the demo came from Peter Jackson’s documentary “Get Back,” where custom-made AI was employed to recognize the Beatles’ voices and separate them from background noise.
This process allowed McCartney to “duet” with Lennon during his recent tour and enabled the creation of new surround-sound mixes of the Beatles’ Revolver album. McCartney expressed his gratitude for this AI technology, stating that it provided some leeway in mixing the record while maintaining the purity of Lennon’s voice.
“Now and Then” had been previously considered for a Beatles reunion in 1995 but was abandoned during the recording session. The song lacked verses, had technical defects from the original recording, and was criticized by George Harrison. However, McCartney’s desire to release a complete version of the song persisted over the years.
The use of AI in music creation has sparked controversy, with high-profile fakes of popular artists receiving significant streams before being removed. Despite the concerns, McCartney sees AI as both scary and exciting, acknowledging its potential to shape the future of music.
As the release of the new Beatles recording approaches, fans eagerly anticipate hearing the collaboration between McCartney and Lennon, made possible by the fusion of AI technology and the legendary Beatles sound. The final Beatles record will serve as a testament to the band’s enduring legacy and the endless possibilities offered by artificial intelligence in the realm of music.