The Beatles are one of the most iconic bands in the history of music. Their music has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world for decades. Recently, a new song called “Now and Then” has been released, which features all four members of the band. What makes this song unique is that it was created using AI technology. The song was written and sung by John Lennon in the late 1970s, and it was completed by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison using AI-assisted software developed for Peter Jackson’s documentary “Get Back”.
Main part:
The technology was used to help separate Lennon’s original vocals from the piano music that backed it. McCartney and Ringo Starr recorded the backing instruments, with existing recordings of the late Harrison woven in. The song was released on November 2, 2023, and is dubbed as “the last Beatles song”. The song appeared on a double A-side single, paired with a new stereo remix of the band’s first single, “Love Me Do” (1962), with the two serving as “bookends” to the band’s history.
AI has been used before to restore The Beatles’ music. In the 2021 Peter Jackson-directed documentary series “Get Back,” AI was used to recognize The Beatles’ voices and separate them from background noise. However, archiving recordings of famous singers has been a practice long before AI or computers. Paris Smaragdis, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who consulted on AI software used by The Beatles, gives the example of audio engineers who, in the early 20th century, worked on recovering the recording of Italian opera singer Enrico Caruso in order to extract his voice and use it with a live orchestra.The use of AI technology is not limited to restoring recordings. It can also be used to autotune the voice to adjust the pitch or replace the real voice with a synthetic one. However, the latter method raises concerns that the technology will replace real musicians. Technology and music have a close relationship, and music has always been about taking new stuff and incorporating it to expand its horizons. Musical instruments like the piano or the flute are examples of how technology has been used to create new sounds 2. In that sense, music created by or enhanced with new technology is a natural step and perfectly in line with what we expect.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, “Now and Then” is a remarkable achievement that showcases the power of AI technology in music production and how it can make possible to expand horizons and opportunities in different industries, help to develop and restore them, as in this case, the hole history of a legendary group was renovated! Once again this shows that intelligence must be developed as its possibilities are limitless. The song is a beautiful tribute to the legacy of The Beatles and a testament to their enduring popularity. It is a must-listen for fans of the band and anyone who appreciates great music 🙂
Sources: 1. Bing
2. Article: https://qz.com/new-beatles-song-now-and-then-ai-john-lennon-1850981701
4. https://www.billboard.com/lists/ways-ai-has-changed-music-industry-artificial-intelligence/
5. https://www.shaip.com/blog/training-data-for-music-ml-models/
6. https://www.mi.edu/in-the-know/ai-music-production-enhancing-human-creativity-replacing/
Really interesting article!
So needed honor to the greatest rock band ever. It’s amazing that AI helped create such a beautiful song. That is a must-listen indeed.
Amazing post, it is quite amusing how ai can be implemented even in such industry as music!
Extremely motivating video and incredibly cool song!
AI is capable of the impossible. The song is delightful. Thanks for the post!
AI is insane. Amazing article