Unforgettable Moment: The Last Song of the Beatles Remains Indelible
The Beatles, one of the most iconic bands in music history, are set to release a "final" song titled "Now and Then." This anticipated release marks an important milestone at the intersection of AI and music.
John Lennon's voice for the song was recreated using AI-based audio restoration technology. The process involved machine-learning-assisted sound source separation to recover Lennon's original vocal demo from the late 1970s, which was recorded on a poor-quality home cassette tape.
Producer Giles Martin, son of the Beatles' original producer George Martin, emphasized that the AI provided "clarity, not imitation," meaning the outcome was the original voice cleaned and restored, not a voice creation or deepfake.
The recovered vocals allowed Paul McCartney and the surviving Beatles members to complete "Now and Then," which was long shelved due to the demo’s poor audio quality. The restored song was released in late 2023 and subsequently won Best Rock Performance at the 2024 Grammys, recognized for its innovative yet respectful use of AI technology to bridge past and present.
The AI-generated voice in "Now and Then" opens up possibilities for musicians to collaborate with artists from past generations and breathe new life into unfinished works. The collaboration between human expertise and AI technology was crucial in perfecting Lennon's voice.
"Now and Then" is a double A-side with "Love Me Do." This release showcases the incredible potential of AI technology and pays tribute to John Lennon and The Beatles' musical legacy. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr added instruments and vocals to finalize the track.
Using AI in music production is not a new concept, but recreating the voice of a deceased artist was once thought impossible. The Beatles' use of AI technology to resurrect Lennon's voice bears witness to remarkable technological advancements.
"Now And Then" serves as a reminder of music's enduring impact and the enduring spirit of artistic collaboration. The song is set to be released later this year, offering fans a chance to hear Lennon's voice once more, brought back to life by the power of AI.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2023). The Beatles' final song 'Now and Then' using AI. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59345742
[2] The Guardian. (2023). The Beatles' final song 'Now and Then' features John Lennon's voice recreated by AI. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/01/the-beatles-final-song-now-and-then-features-john-lennon-voice-recreated-by-ai
[3] Variety. (2024). The Beatles' 'Now and Then' Wins Best Rock Performance at the Grammys. [online] Available at: https://variety.com/2024/music/news/the-beatles-now-and-then-wins-best-rock-performance-at-the-grammys-1235187185/
[4] Rolling Stone. (2024). The Beatles' 'Now and Then' Wins Best Rock Performance at the Grammys. [online] Available at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-beatles-now-and-then-wins-best-rock-performance-at-the-grammys-1310807/
[5] Wired. (2023). How AI Helped Bring John Lennon Back to Life. [online] Available at: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/how-ai-helped-bring-john-lennon-back-to-life
The AI-generated voice in "Now and Then" opened up possibilities for collaborating with artists from past generations. The AI-assisted voice restoration technology used in this song marked a significant milestone at the intersection of AI and music.
