The Beatles, Archival Music, & The AI Concern

[@patriotpizzaman]

It's absolutely a Beatles song. It's not the greatest thing they ever did but, it's a nice little easter egg for their fans. I've a Beatles fan my entire life. I grew up hearing them from the first days on this earth and I appreciate the gift of one last song from them. I have no interest in arguing about how it was assembled or who was or wasn't alive when it was done. I'm also not interested in forcing you guys to accept it as the holy grail of the fab four. It's just a song. Do with it what you will. I've listened to it and enjoyed it about as much as Real Love and Free As a Bird. They're quaint tips of the cap to a bygone era and I am thankful to have been able to be here to hear them. Thursday 11/23/23.

[@rogersokell3976]

A quote from ringo Starr : In a recent interview with AARP, Starr took a moment to dispel rumours about the song’s creation. “There were terrible rumours that it’s not John, it’s AI, whatever bullshi t people said,” he said. “Paul and I would not have done that. It’s a beautiful song and a nice way to finally close that door.” The musician reaffirmed previous comments he made to Variety. “It’s not down to AI,” he said. “It’s not like we’re pretending anything. That is actually John’s voice, Paul’s voice and bass playing, George [Harrison] on rhythm guitar and me on drums.”

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yes it’s John’s voice but with out the software program from Peter Jackson, it wouldn’t exist. The software had to extract his vocal from the demo and infill the parts where the piano had been. That means there is some amount that is computer generated. I’m not saying that diminishes it. I’m just saying that’s the reality of it. It’s not like John’s vocals were clean and pristine prior to the use of the software. Listed to the original demo and compare it to the final vocal. There is a change.

[@rogersokell3976]

@@BrendonSnyder I’ll let Ringo know your reply.

[@BrendonSnyder]

No need, it came from what Ringo and Paul said, so they already know 👍

[@juliosanchez95]

@@BrendonSnyder You don't understand the AI software that was used. It did not "infill" parts. It simply separated his vocal from the demo. It completely removed everything from the demo except his voice. It is not a computer generated voice. It just isolates his voice.

[@thomasmarthinussen8978]

I think its most definitely a Beatle song at this point. They all contributed something and Im loving it!

[@philchelmsford5748]

Firstly... The Beatles are the most iconic, influential, innovative and legendary band ever!! They will, probably, never be surpassed... I think most music fans can agree on that. Regarding Now & Then, its a good song, not their best, that was started by Lennon & finished by the rest of the band... so effectively a Beatles song. The song itself, though, I think is less iconic than the music history created by its release. Its been No1 here in the UK which shows real music, by a real band, can still top the charts as opposed to the manufactured image driven pop drivel (IMO) that normally occupies the charts 🤘 Regarding the use of technology in music, I can see the benefits and pitfalls. In this case I agree with the Technology as it couldn't be done any other way. If it was a current working artist, then its cheating. There is no other band more important to music than The Beatles so I say... 'Let it Be' 😊 and lets concentrate on today not 'Yesterday' 😊 AI in music though is a whole new discussion topic and it needs to be looked at as a whole to be used for positive and negatives... watch this space I suppose. Love your discussions.

[@ericmiller1881]

Im looking at it quite simply being a huge Beatle fan. They did one more song with all 4 Beatles on the track. I say call it a Beatles song. Free as a bird and Real love were done the same way. If technology helped finish this track im ok with that. I like song and hadn't heard it previously. Its music, have fun out there ❤

[@BrendonSnyder]

That’s the spirit…enjoy it for what it is!

[@ericmiller1881]

@@BrendonSnyder i feel like there's always rumors and opinions. Which ones are actually true? Im not paying much attention 🤣. Have a great holiday 💿💿

[@douglasweston126]

Agree totally

[@lexpeters735]

Anything Beatles these days is just a cash cow! The price for that single is absolutely laughable, but as you guys pointed out, the collectors will shell out for it! I'd love them to re-release some remastered Badfinger albums from the Apple label. That would be something to get excited about.

[@EE-td8fq]

How is what they did to make this recording any different than what bands did during Covid? Each band member performing remotely from their home/studio and then piecing it all together to create a finished product.

[@theheavydoorband]

Death Angel - The Ultra Violence that album rips. Would love to own the original wax.

[@christopherklinck]

This episode had me rolling! Thanks, Anthony.

[@michaeltocker2817]

I’m like you guys, I like The Beatles music a lot but was never a huge fan. I also like certain Lennon solo records a lot too. I mean can you “Imagine” life without “ In My Life” and all the other classics that are part of music staples that we unintentionally take for granted. Yes this new song is a Lennon solo song w/the others adding on later. There was some studio trickery yes, but variations are also used on most records anyway. I take it for what it is, a good song with all the guys playing on it . When Ringo comes in, it takes you back, his style is his own. It must have been a project of love to complete this. What bothers me though most, and what is wrong with the record biz imo, is the pricing and variations. It’s ridiculous, more about the collector than the music. I know I sound like a “ kids, get off my lawn” guy but this might be the worst gouge case yet. $20 for 2 songs, all the color variations. Come on!

[@lumpygravy52]

The Great Rock and Roll Swindle!

[@ccarney1126]

I’m telling the Bakery next door to cut off the coffee supply to Anthony. 😂

[@heavychevy4616]

the only band More Over Rated than the Beatles is Kiss ...both these bands should receive lifetime achievement awards for "The Band That Has Done The MOST With The LEAST" ...thank u gentlemen

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

Actually the new Beatles single is a tape of John Lennon that was low quality that they enhanced by separating the vocal from the piano. And this comment is based on the thumbnail I saw. Other songs besides the new Beatles song example Freddy Mercury if they came out with a new song that wouldn’t be cool because we know how long Freddy is gone.

[@tigger3565]

For 2 songs. They should had just made a 3 inch CD and drop the price for it. And stop right there. Just think how much space is left over on a 7 or 12 inch. I think the price is so much as paying for all the left over space too.

[@purpletemple1]

Anthony, it's NEVER the actual voice that we hear. It's always the voice through a microphone, cables, tape, wax (or more depending on when it was taped). Here it's through a computer program too... Anyway, I'm cool with that song, but it's certainly not the greatest thing ever released. It's a nice cash-grab that many people will like (and I do to). Nice discussion, guys! Cheers.

[@MetalFriscoDude79]

Happy Thanksgiving Brendan and Anthony! Don't eat too much and enjoy yourselves

[@jpcastrianni]

They just used AI to separate the vocal and piano. That’s all John’s voice.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Actually it’s not. And if you watched the documentary about the song on Disney+ then you know they discuss that the reason the song wasn’t able to be completed back in 1994 was due to the piano burying John’s voice at times. The software extracted his voice and had to fill in the missing parts that the piano obscured. Thereby part of it, no matter how small, is computer generated. I’m not saying that takes away from it, but that is the reality.

[@matsetizar65]

@@BrendonSnyder what if we say the AI did not add anything, it merely removed the piano?

[@PetterPousar]

The AI used is just wonderful tool to separate the bounce. Absolutely no problem in this case. No problem it was recorded after 1970 and not intended for the Beatles @@BrendonSnyder

[@juliosanchez95]

@@BrendonSnyder You just don't understand the software.

[@willietrotter6530]

I agree 100% with u guys 👍🤙

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

I did purchase digitally the most recent EP by the Pet Shop Boys called “Relentless”

[@Algabatz]

Nope, you're looking at it the wrong way, they removed the piano, they didn't create the vocals. But I do agree that autotune is an abomination.

[@johnbramley9037]

If people (collectors) will buy this kind of stuff then the record companies will release it & charge a premium. They're business' & they are in it for the money. See the Record Store Day preview from earlier this week!

[@georgearnold8573]

...HI..Great video......How much is that boy George LP.... UP ON THE WALL IN THE RECORD SHOP CHEAPNESS AND BEAUTY I THINK THE LP IS CALLED Kind regards George 🙂

[@simonblack301]

Welcome my son Welcome to the machine Where have you been? It's all right we know where you've been

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

9:46 I am definitely “old school” recording so I am in agreement with Anthony. I don’t care for auto tune at all yes back in the day for an effect for a line in a song cool!! But NOT the full song.

[@matsetizar65]

What bugs me more is that it's not really a new song heard for the first time. Many have already known of it's existence (for decades!) and even how it sounds from the 'anthology' thing. In fact that version is even longer in duration (sorry if any of this is incorrect, I'm recalling from a handful of youtube videos I've watched since the song came out). It's only a Beatles song if John wanted it to be (will we know?) but seems like Yoko gave the tape to Paul so maybe there's a case for that. Remind me again how George's guitar got added to this?

[@jldraw]

Georges guitar part was part of the original backing track that was laid down by The Beatles but ultimately abandoned in February of 1995.

[@jimmycampbell78]

Paul, George and Ringo originally worked on this in the mid 1990s. Basically there was a Beatles mini reunion in the mid Nineties, but without John of course. The three Lennon demos they had to work on were Free as a Bird, Real Love and Now and Then. Free as a Bird and Real Love were released in the 1990s on the Beatles Anthology but Now and Then was abandoned due to poor source quality as the other commenter said. Not sure what you are referring to by Now and Then being on ‘the anthology’. The Beatles Anthology was released in the 1990s. They worked on those three Lennon demos for it but only the first two songs were completed and were included on it. (Free as a Bird and Real Love) Do you just mean the existence of the Lennon demo for Now and Then being known and heard.

[@amateurmusicresearch1972]

better off buying the Blue album best of remixed, which comes with Now and then included

[@danaeloucaidou4991]

am just zooming on the death angel LP!

[@irishflink7324]

Good Show Guys

[@DarthPizza777]

The only album that i like from the Beatles is Abbey Road..i love Antony and his passion for music..

[@ChrisNorwood3]

I wonder if they discussed making it into a John Lennon solo song, but thought people wouldn't like that other Beatles were writing and performing on it. Or maybe calling it something else altogether, but determined a new Beatles song would be the biggest financial drawl possible.

[@jldraw]

The entire concept is based off of an idea put forth by George Harrison in 1994 that if John Lennon wasn’t involved in Beatles recordings then it wasn’t The Beatles. There were contemporary reports in the press at the time that while Paul McCartney was interested in recording contemporary music with Harrison and Ringo Starr, Harrison refused to participate unless Lennon was brought back into the fold and the only way of doing that was to convert these unfinished demos of his into “new” Beatles recordings. Also due to current agreements with Apple any recording that features more than one member of The Beatles on it has to meet with unanimous approval to be released under the name “The Beatles”. This may be why “Carnival Of Light” a sound collage assembled by Paul McCartney in 1967 has yet to see the light of day. McCartney has mentioned off/on that he’s keen to release it but the collage does feature contributions from the other three Beatles requiring him to get unanimous approval from Ringo Starr and the Lennon and Harrison estates to actually issue it.

[@FotogInkArt]

Hi Brendon. Great work on the latest AI discussion. I see the argument. Bought it anyway...lol.. I see the record store - is it Sound Exchange? I see records on the wall...in the past few videos and they have remained. I was wondering how I contact the store and see if I can buy some...been looking for those HELLA releases. Again,love your work and any help is appreciated! - Christopher Chouinard, Midland Texas

[@lorenzoferguson7055]

Maybe we can get a new GnR album with a 1988 Axl voice....😅😂🤘

[@melprophet1936]

We're fast approaching a point where we music fans are going to have to decide how much technology we're willing to allow into making music before we say it's too much and deem the music "Made By AI" rather than human made. The answer to that will vary greatly by person in my opinion. For this song, IMO, it's not really a Beatles song because as I understand it, the song couldn''t have been made without AI......Perhaps it's better classified as a song made by "AI Beatles". I think we're heading sort of in that direction. As AI evolves, it will be used to make complete albums by artists that are fully technology generated, and even complete original albums that include musicians that are dead.

[@Uploadedimages]

Brendon said it.. "this is the start of it" So, i think this track falls somewhere in a gray area.. it's kind of a beatles track.. but also not entirely one either.. 🤨

[@bgmchrisc]

What bothers me the most is that we can't all hear things the same way. I hear the vocal on the song, and I can absolutely hear that it sounds 'off', because of the AI filling out the parts of the sound waves the piano overlapped. Plenty of other people talk about how amazing the vocal sounds. It's bizarre to me, much like how many people are impressed by the big CGI movies that don't look real to me for even a second.

[@stevebiesiadabada6669]

Brendon, to me it is John Lennon masterpiece, it brought the Beatles together for him, and I think they should have did the Red and Blue without the dates, I don’t mind the inclusion of Now and Then, without dates it fits, , Brendon I am up in the air about AI what will happen to others, the realness of the artist will create doubts, I’m saying Johns song and his voice are fantastic AI did wonders, it is John, Brendon the future of AI and what it brings , I just don’t know, Thank You, Steve

[@Stephen1164]

Ok it’s not a Beatles Track maybe a Lennon, McCartney, Start & Harrison Track. I have no issues with what Paul did with AI, but yes there’s a concern with the future of AI. Don’t forget they pulled the Doors track “Paris” from a tape that Ray Manzerk kids recorded over and they pull that song out.

[@sjbang5764]

Nice video, only The Beatles can elicit such a vehement response from a 54-year-old demo.

[@BrendonSnyder]

The demo was originally recorded in 1977…so 46 year old demo

[@nottssundayvinyl4064]

It isn't a Beatles' song, I'll give you that. And it isn't very good either, so we're in agreement there. However, I think that it's been created by AI is a bit of a stretch. Yes, software has been used to extract the vocal but real vocals and real instruments played by real people have been used. And I think the thing with Harrison back in the mid-90s was more to do with they didn't have the technology, at that time, to be able to extract a clear vocal from the cassette, which is when he told them to leave it alone. A word on the reissues; I think every track in every Beatles' album will be remixed and released in that form, with the originals being withdrawn to get around the 70-year copyright law. And one more thing: can we have Skye back for a Christmas treat please? With love from the UK 🤘🏻✌🏻

[@AndDeathForAll82]

I’m kind of ok when it’s done like this, even thought it still feels a little wrong… but eventually, AI music will be indistinguishable from music made by real musicians. I am not looking forward to that. I hope artists will keep their integrity, but the easy way out will be tempting for many, and we just won’t be able to tell.

[@sergefernandez3395]

Hello brendon, it's OK for me. When i l listened this song for the first time, i'm thinking myself, it's not john lennon who sings, it'a voice of computer😂😂. Excuse-me for my bad english 😂( in France when you aren't talk very good à foreign language, we said you talk english, italian or german like à spanish cow😂😂😂). See you later brendon😊.

[@tapanim6576]

😎👍

[@joet6434]

The song is fine but it isn't a Beatles song as they all weren't in the room at the same time, weren't a band at the time, half the band gone. John recorded the demo & it is not what the song would have sounded like considering it's author wasn't alive to finish it, he may never have finished it or tried again from scratch, scrapped it, who knows. I doubt he would have condoned Paul taking charge on the project as it was something he hated when they were still a working band & yet again McCartney does his best to make sure he puts his stamp on a song of Johns which would never have happened had John still been with us. It's like the changing of Lennon & McCartney to McCartney & Lennon, that was a thing if i remember correctly.

[@whiskeyomega]

Oh man The Weezer Blue album finally sold i see.

[@jesses.9843]

I would rather listen to my favourite artist sing slightly off key on a shitty bootleg than anything autotuned or AI made.

[@lewiscarty5517]

As much as I had been growing up with the music from the Beatles, 'Now And Then' is not anything special in my opinion, I find the song a bit boring, and in my opinion, it has some nice parts, but I find that it's not done authentically, there is no authenticy to it, it just doesn't do it for me, whether if it's done by AI or not. It's like if you have a new Take That song that doesn't originally feature Robbie Williams on it, and they add Robbie Williams to it, when it's not done by him, it will just not work for me.

[@andrewmachado6988]

So basically this new Beatles song is a cash grab.

[@Madjack32]

2 pac is next

[@BrendonSnyder]

Oh they’ve already done that on multiple posthumous albums released

[@BeatUpRecordsCDs]

Songs, lyrics and music is made in the moment in the studio. This is a Lennon solo song and they are passing it off as a .Beatles new track'. Because the name The Beatles sell in droves and are double the price on other releases. On a separate note the Now & Then cover is garbage.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Since all 4 band members appear on the song I’m still willing to call it a Beatles song. That said I would rather the surviving members had worked on an actual Beatles demo, a song they started together but never finished instead of using a John Lennon demo that was written without the others and recorded after The Beatles breakup.

[@BeatUpRecordsCDs]

@@BrendonSnyder I agree

[@jldraw]

@@BeatUpRecordsCDsThe problem is there isn’t one unless you want to reference an unfinished jam from the “Let It Be” sessions. All of the wholly unreleased songs that The Beatles properly recorded in the sixties were brought to completion at that time and later issued on the “Anthology” project. There is unfortunately no “great lost Beatles song” in the can.

[@Andy-bz7ow]

New Rolling Stones > Then the new Beatles

[@BrendonSnyder]

It’s hardly an equivalent to compare an entire newly written album to an archival song from 1977 that was finished in 2023. Now if you wanted to say that Angry > Now And Then, then perhaps ok.

[@JohnWerner-r5z]

But wait… can it core an Apple… yes it can core an Apple 😂

[@douglasweston126]

It is NOT AI - its John Lennon's voice !! Get your facts right.

[@BrendonSnyder]

All I can say is….🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@amateurmusicresearch1972]

Anthony should go into libertarian politics 😁

[@christianhaynes1954]

Beatles are my favorite band . Having said that , now and then is a mediocre tune .

[@bazjed5881]

Nonsense

[@BrendonSnyder]

On which side?

[@bazjed5881]

I definitely agree with you Brendon 👌

[@pcon]

it was a money grab

[@chrisbritt5288]

🤷‍♂️

[@MetalFriscoDude79]

Either you record the album or song with the artist without the studio bullshit or you don't do it at all. That's where I stand on it.

[@sjbang5764]

Not all music, but most of what passes for popular music isn't even made by real instruments any longer.

[@michaell8320]

It's not even a great Lennon song. tired of the slurping.

[@paulweaver]

Why do they keep releasing old beatles songs again & again 🤔

[@stevendavid5370]

The Beatles were done once Lennon and Harrison passed away. Their legacy in history was set in stone. This stunt is a slap in the face to their greatness and legacy. I can't believe Ringo and Paul agreed to do this. I will NOT buy this song, hear this song, or give it any credence whatsoever.

[@topographic1973ify]

There are a lot of Beatles songs I like a lot better. I wasn't impressed with it. I was never a big fan of John solo.

[@manofmiracles]

I'm a Beatles fan but this kind of stuff doesn't interest me its only a money grab their is better music for me to spend my money on

[@BrendonSnyder]

But I bet you still listened to it…and with that, they got you 😂

[@philchelmsford5748]

I think it's worth pointing out that The Beatles, and their legacy, is fundamentally, a business. As a business thier goal is making money. This is a good way of doing that and satisfying the, albeit unexpected, need for new music. Liking it or not is obviously a personal choice, but appreciating their reasons, both artistically and monetary, isn't really subjective 🙂 It's also shot a hole through much of the current day chart releases and that has to be a good thing 😃 (IMO) 😃

[@sergefernandez3395]

Hello from France brendon, i don't understand! You say now and then , it's not a song of beatles , you say 10 bucks , it's too much for 2 songs and you say, i'm not a fan of beatles, so why did you buy this cd? 😂😂😂😂. See you later brendon😊.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I didn’t say I’m “not” a fan. I said I’m not the biggest fan. Meaning I don’t think The Beatles are the be all end all. But I do like The Beatles. However I’m more a fan of Paul McCartney than The Beatles. And yes I spent $10 for the single but it is The Beatles and I wanted it in my collection. I can both like something and still take issue with it. It’s a catch-22 as I say in the video “we want the new music, but is it really the band or just studio trickery”.

[@1beatlemann]

Man, you gotta stop using this dude in your videos. Once he drops the f word, which is usually within the first 20 seconds, I’m out

[@gizzy2403]

A bit sensitive, are we??

[@briankessler3501]

Bet you a dime for a dollar it took you longer than twenty fucking seconds to type your complaint. Don't watch, I love Anthony and his take.

[@jordonlane7120]

Beatles are so Overrated don't like them 🤘🇬🇧

[@BongJabbar]

This was good