When I was previously reading the list of Grammy nominees, I noticed something pretty surprising. There, the Beatles’ “Now and Then” competed for record of the year, along with Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold’em” and Chapel Lawn’s “Good Luck Babe.” No, unfortunately this is not a time travel situation, but a result of AI.
Find out how the Beatles earned two Grammy nominations and a nomination for best rock performance, 50 years after they officially broke up. The song began as a demo recorded by John Lennon in the 1970s and was given to Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison for inclusion on The Beatles Anthology, released in 1995. Technology was not advanced enough to separate Lennon’s vocals from the piano without reducing the quality of the recording.
But last year, McCartney and Starr used the latest machine learning technology to incorporate Lennon’s vocals into a new song. Now and Then, released in November 2023, features McCartney on bass, Starr on drums, Lennon’s vocals, and Harrison-style guitar (his 1995 recording (forms part of the background rhythm guitar). Track here.
Naturally, this song is said to be the Beatles’ last song. We’ll have to wait until the February ceremony to find out if AI can help them win the Grammys again.
