The Beatles “Now And Then” My Reaction & Breakdown

[@brianhansen106]

I think Now & Then is not meant to compete with the Beatles history but is really a gift to all of us Beatle fans IMHO. For me, it's like finding a photograph or video recording you didn't know existed of an old friend or family member that is no longer with us, and feeling the joy of seeing or hearing them again. Nothing short of amazing what they were able to do with the new technology. I love the sound of John's voice.

[@John_Locke_108]

That's how I look at it as well. I'm not going to revisit it much but I'm glad it's hear.

[@bolder2009]

​​@@John_Locke_108I don't visit Yellow Submarine much. This is a worthy addition to their songbook and a fitting finale, as they are once again on the cutting edge of music production in the 21st century.

[@sjduges67]

@brianhansen106, that is a perfect analogy.

[@GaiaCarney]

‘Now And Then’ is bringing so many people together, which is something I feel John would love 💗☮️🥰

[@jennifersmith9841]

Well stated!

[@sebastiangronkvist3897]

I see this song as 2 older men paying homage, remembering their old friends and celebrating their friendship through this song. And that thought is so strong for me. That verse is amazing.

[@GoldwaterB]

That's a wonderful perspective.

[@ResidentWiseacre]

I love Paul and Ringo’s “old” voices on this track. They’re the Now, John and George are the Then.

[@jessedubay5964]

Love this

[@DonSchenck]

EXCELLENT point! Thank you.

[@chrisrj9871]

NOW is about the AI which we have now, and THEN is about the band and song.

[@MayisArelis]

best comment so far! ❤

[@mikehiggins946]

Thank you for saying THEN and not THAN.

[@selineey]

My dad loved the Beatles. He passed unexpectedly this summer. When I heard this song, the sadness was immense. He would have loved it.

[@led.zepper]

May your father rest in peace. I'm sorry for your loss 🙏.

[@johnrogers9481]

selineey. I hear you! A special thought if I may…I once had what was the deepest sadness of my life. I lay on the floor of my shower and drops of water were hitting my forehead. I dropped deeply into this overwhelming sadness of emotion. And then it suddenly shifted. I moved into, like out the other side, the perception of how amazing it was that I (we) have the ability to feel so deeply, so intensely. I then soon was able to stand, stand with a great feeling of joy at how deeply we can FEEL! And, that we can feel at all! I was able to then smile, and carry on. The deep sadness we can feel is equal to the level of joy we can feel. Aloha, from three miles north of Lahaina Town.

[@cheezyridr]

i don't know you, and yet, it stings to read it. on some level, i kinda relate. r.i.p. to your dad, my condolences to you and your family

[@joeycurr1]

im sorry to hear that my dad passed sept before it was released he would have loved it too

[@NoDice594]

May he rest in peace 🕊️

[@eduardorajabally28]

To hear John's voice in a NEW Beatles song in 2023 is just priceless and sooo emotional. In the end it turned out that "Now and Then" is much more than a song. It's a poem of love from Paul and Ringo to the other two and to all of us. In the video, John stares at the sunset and we hear his voice singing "...and if I make it through it's all because..." - ... than Paul appears on the screen looking right at him and says "...of you..."! Beautiful to think of all the history behind this band. So many different times and personalities brought together almost by magic. And it worked for me!

[@BlokHeadAnim]

I personally liked how the song sounded like a mix of modern, 70s, and 90s recording styles. It's literally called "Now and Then". The song feels like trying to remember something that happened to you a long time ago and you don't quite get all the details but you remember how it made you feel.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Yep. Agree. It’s a wonderful way to reconcile the past and the present. But Mr Beato has to tell us how genius it is then tell us it shouldn’t have been done. WHaat? Which is it, Beato? Is it a genius work of art forever (as you seem to imply in 98% of your video, gushing about Lennon’s chordal choices)… or is it something that should have been left on the shelf?, as he states with no personal conviction at the end, so that people who disagree with him don’t unsubscribe? I’m unsubscribing now because if this now-proven Boomer can’t have the cojones to have an opinion, i don’t want to hear what he thinks. This entire video reads as disingenuous. Gross. I’m out.

[@kyliemadison5426]

Yes, it’s truly timeless

[@Vivi_9]

@@sub-jec-tiv go and hug someone you love then come back and resubscribe when you're ready

[@mg-sj3ug]

@@sub-jec-tivYou’re conflating his critique of the song, the recording, and his feelings as a fan about where the band’s canon should end. They’re three different things. If he had divergent views on any one of those things that wouldn’t be disingenuous either. Have you had a good day (meal, movie, childhood, relationship, etc) or a bad one?

[@silasprins3861]

What a wonderful of way of wording the feeling. Hits home.

[@Lona_Chess]

The Beatles still disbanded at the top of their game. This song doesn’t change that for me. Now & Then, and the other two songs from the Anthology, are simply bonuses for fans who want a little more. Or folks like me who were born after 1970 and never got to live through the excitement of a new Beatles release. This track is a beautiful swan song for the group. It fits as a solid bookend. And for that I’m grateful.

[@louispacetime1576]

Very well said

[@philippberry4900]

Swan Song. I like that.

[@breft3416]

One really had to be there to appreciate the weekly barrage of new and revived music of the 60's and early 70's. The Beach Boys, Beatles and on their heels, the Stones were cranking out 3 or 4 albums a year. Dylan went from solo acoustic to electric in a heartbeat. When I read fan retrospectives of what songs came first on what albums, it must be realized that the differences were weeks or a couple of months, not from lost archives. These guys were prolific. If it wasn't about the dough and exhaustion, I think the Beatles had another decade in them of high quality stuff.

[@rvfiasco]

I'm onboard with that sentiment. It's weird to think that they ended before I was even born.

[@pablodiaz8946]

They did it for separate ways.

[@davewarren3594]

That " time travel" across 5 decades IS why it's such a beautiful tune!

[@glantont]

The sound of 80 year old Paul harmonising with a 40 year old John has moved me to my core. I think it's absolutely beautiful. Maybe I'm just hearing what I want to hear but that lyric sounds to me like John was missing and appreciating his old mate. I can imagine Paul loved it and that he would have really wanted to get this song done. What a gift this technology is. Not that it doesn't scare me too. I worry that before we know it we'll be listening to AI Elvis singing advertising jingles, K Pop and Baby Shark. But this first step, what a beautiful thing. John and Paul, and a piece of music that perfectly encapsulates the forty years tragically stolen from John. Beautiful. Oh, and McCartney's slide guitar solo absolutely slays.

[@MasseyVF]

Well said. And yes, Macca on slide - brilliant ✨️

[@alrivers2297]

This is 34 year old John from 1974

[@davidherman564]

Absolutely on point.

[@MrJohnjellis]

I think they used AI to make Paul's (recent) vocals to sound (age-wise) the same as John's. I think they did a great job!!!

[@deangallagher4847]

@@MrJohnjellis No, McCartney’s vocal was not made to sound younger.

[@stefanocatalano1501]

We live in such an amazing time where we can witness Rick Beato commenting a "new" Beatles song ❤️

[@Marcus_C51]

Yes, it's wonderful!

[@luizricon]

That is the MOST dope thing ever!!

[@TheAuteurist23]

Like many, I cried on the first few listens. I felt grateful to Paul for wanting to get this done. They've done a wonderful job, and you're right Rick, it sounds very modern in terms of production but it still sounds like The Beatles. Giles did a great job of balancing that very fine line. What a great time to be a Beatles fan!

[@whateverwhocaresgoaway]

@@tonymaner5510 Yeah, that's a little weird to think about. They took what was technically a John Lennon solo piece, added (maybe a little too much of) their own instrumentation and production, and said "WE made this new Beatles song." I wonder what John would've really thought about the whole concept. Then again, there are plenty of Beatles songs that were essentially solo works by an individual Beatle before they even split up...

[@sathira_anuk5179]

​@@miguelwcye

[@Darbobski]

@@miguelwc Nostalgia can be a very powerful impetus for emotion. Having compassion is also something important for empathizing with those expressions of such emotion, even if we don't feel it ourselves in the moment.

[@jaerivus]

​@@miguelwc ​Personally, no joke, I lost my composure while driving. Yes, that is when I first chose to give the song a listen. Mind you, I knew full-well what I was getting into... I knew that I was navigating suburban traffic *and* that I was in a more emotional place than the average care-free listener when I began it, but man, did that track deliver what I expected emotionally. But there are several other contributing factors (besides my own predisposition to shed a tear on that particular day) that could possibly drive one to an emotional response: 1) We have the only two surviving members of The Beatles *officially* issuing a "NEW Beatles track" in the year 2023 (!!!)-- the first time in arguably 53 years (okay, maybe 25-ish if you count Anthology releases)-- blindsiding us *all*, especially when we all suspected "Free as a Bird" & "Real Love" were the absolute finale/easter-eggs of their discography. 2) The fact that we heard two "voices" from beyond the grave (albeit one as an instrument and one as an actual vocal performance). I can't speak for others, but just knowing that ALL Beatles, both living and deceased, had a role in this track was enough to give me goosebumps. 2) The phrase "now and then" pretty much implies present+past, and when you make that a song title from a band who's touched as many hearts as The Beatles and whose membership is presently half-populated by members deceased, those lyrics are bound to elicit real emotion. I'd liken it to "In My Life"... The emotional feelings of nostalgia and mourning are veritably baked into the song. 3) The lyrics about "it's all because of you / if I make it through" could strike some (like me, for instance) as John speaking from beyond the grave that the only reason his voice can now reach the living is because of the surviving members, Paul & Ringo -- maybe even Peter Jackson, unbeknownst to the then-living/-singing Lennon-- addressing all facilitating participants as "you" in his song. And 4) maybe anti-climactically? .. The fact that so many notable parties were involved in the two surviving members' Winter years to aid in releasing this song (i.e. a string section who didn't realize they were making history because the fact that it was a Beatles track was kept secret from them; a producer besides George Martin with whom they also had history; the very *son* of George Martin-- their legendary producer-- Giles Martin, scoring their signature string accompaniment). *** To me there were many layers of complexity as to why this song might have jerked some tears, and I thought maybe you might have needed this perspective to fully understand.

[@NathanDowdyMedia]

​@@jaerivusThis is so perfectly stated. I felt the exact same way, I cried listening to it for the reasons you said. It's a love letter from John, yes, but I cried at the fact that Paul uses it to tell his friend one last time that he loved him, and it's all because of him. That is a beautiful story of humanity, enduring creativity and love, and so much heart: everything the Beatles represented.

[@kakikukeko78]

For a song called "now and then" , I think having this juxtaposition of modern production and vocals from the 70s is perfect... I personally found this song, its lyrics, and all it represents so touching..I'm really glad it's out there.

[@jonathanalfred9847]

The video they made for the song is more special then the song by itself. It just makes you miss John and George. And makes you appreciate what the Beatles gave us all these years. Personally it really reached me in an emotional way. And last night i found myself suddenly humming the song in my head. Like it was already part of me and ive only heard it maybe three times.

[@martinohara7136]

I felt exactly the same. Without the video the song itself is a bit anaemic.

[@prouddaughterpublishing]

The video behind the scenes was so touching. Honestly, it made me cry. It made me miss them as a group - their interactions, their comedy, their music.

[@richardhopkinson7931]

Same for me, too.

[@toddthomas6593]

The beatles could not read nor write music and had no musical theory knowledge. Do you really think they were just that gifted to pen all these Lennon/McCartney compositions? Not saying this to downplay fandom as I was a huge beatles fan too, but I'm almost positive they had outside songwriters just like everyone else at the time.

[@sathira_anuk5179]

​@@toddthomas6593shut up brh 😅😂

[@Markyboyzx6r]

The video genuinely cut me in two. I love The Beatles, and seeing them bowing for the last time, and the neon sign going dark, properly showed us that this is it, it’s finished. I don’t know why I cried, but I did.

[@atendriyadasa6746]

Crying is the secret song of the soul, Mark.

[@samulitolonen3022]

I was bawling my eyes out. Never has music done that to me like that. That Beatles magic

[@RockandRollWoman]

I cried too. I didn't expect it to be so moving. 💙🎶🎸🎶💙

[@briandonovan5687]

It hit me a few minutes after the first listen I started balling 😊 I didnt know why but it was like remembering how much they were part of my lifes soundtrack. So it was like remembering my own life while they looked on. It hit me right in the heart 💔. But still in an amazing way. 😊

[@jakekeys88music]

That was such a fitting end to the music video. And it feels like it truly IS done now. What a treat for us to hear a "new" Beatles song now. Bittersweet because there will always be that wonder about what John would think if he were to hear this and to tell us all what he would think of this finished work.

[@kenangerstein3561]

Like it has been said in the comments previously, this is a gift to us from Paul and Ringo. But, from what I heard in the video, they felt like, for the last time, they were together. This is their "farewell" and I say THANK YOU to Paul and Ringo. Also thank you to John and George, Yoko, Sean, Julian and Dhani.

[@mikeevans4585]

And Olivia!

[@lightningbolt4419]

Yoko? Really?

[@bundangkorea]

@@lightningbolt4419 She allowed them to use the original demo tapes, so I'd say yes, really.

[@AnicetChvt]

Not yoko

[@jackquarantillo5192]

And Giles!

[@brunokrause]

I usually hate when artists dig up lost material, as it usually sucks. But this song and its official video brought tears to my eyes. Amazing work.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Agreed, there are differing interpretations as to who---John was addressing, in this song. Yoko? Cynthia? his children? May Pang ? or Paul? Seeing as the Cassette cover was maked by John ''For Paul''. I think that says enough. Had he intended it for Paul to re-record it in a Studio, he would have made that clear. I hope you agree.

[@coleparker]

@@MrDaiseymay We will never know, will we?

[@nakumininja]

Beatles is treasure

[@jmparchem]

I am 69. one can imagine the impact the Beatles had on me. I grew up while the Beatles were growing musically. I was blown away when She Loves You and I Want to Hold Your Hand came out; The Beatles became a part of my and my older sisters life. I watched my Dad first dismiss them and then waited in the car with him until Yesterday finished on the radio. This is a beautiful song and I am glad they did it. The video with the song brought tears to my eyes. I do not mind hearing modern production, anything else would sound contrived. I love that you covered this song. Thank you.

[@MrTasouli]

Yes…..every word resonates with me. Thank you.

[@RockandRollWoman]

I'm 68, and come on down to my boat, baby! (Do you remember that tune?) The Beatles are the backbone of the music that has taken me from Ed Sullivan to Steven Colbert. I'm happy that they gave us both the demo and a more finished version. The video was corny, but who cares. I was wiping away tears when the song finished. I didn't expect that, though I probably should have. Aren't we fortunate to have experienced the lads in real time? 💙🎸🎶💙

[@ScratchedWinter]

nice

[@johndewitt54]

I'm 69 as well. We were fortunate to see the Beatles evolve rapidly over a six-year time period. So many sub-genres of rock created in such a short period of time, which back then seemed like a hundred years.

[@davidk7324]

@jmparchem You nailed this. Well done, sir.

[@leonlafreniere2125]

Two old men were able to revisit and make music with their departed band mates. The son of the their late arranger and collaborator added to the magic. I loved this. And it’s a lovely song besides. The video ending with the Ed Sullivan performance that people of my generation saw first hand. Magical! ❤

[@Tom_McMurtry]

Agreed

[@5roundsrapid263]

The video took it to another level. They were reminiscing, and thanking the fans one last time.

[@JD-eq4dp]

The ending of the video when they take a bow and then fade is from A Hard Days Night film.

[@timhays332]

Having grown up with the Beatles, this is a perfect way for the story to end. Yes, I cried cause it made me think of my parents passing. "... Because of you" is us, the ones who listen. The Beatles are saying goodbye.

[@alukuhito]

The story hasn't ended. They've opened up the acceptability of using AI in popular music. That's a big can of worms. "Well, if the Beatles did it..." We will be hearing new Beatles music in the future, if you consider this to be the Beatles. Where do you draw the line between what is a Beatles song and what isn't?

[@oliverjackson5070]

........Without the pain of breaking up!

[@theinstrumental8090]

@@alukuhito nothing about the song is AI generated they just separated John's voice from the original piano, I don't think they would ever allow anything beyond that

[@NathanDowdyMedia]

​@@theinstrumental8090Exactly. This is the last true offering by the Beatles, and we're so lucky to have it. It's a perfect end to the story.

[@5roundsrapid263]

It’s just like Johnny Cash and “Hurt”. They’re going out on a good note.

[@as3284]

The fact that the song climbed to top ten 53 years after the band stopped playing together and about 25 years after the last reunion proves that they are the best band ever.

[@rebecalinares5393]

not the greatest feat to climb to top 10 when todays music is absolute garbage.

[@WarMachine-ml5xi]

​@@rebecalinares5393it's hard considering modern priorities and tastes.

[@Art-is-craft]

I think it is more of a demonstration of how bad modern music is. And the decline of pop music over the last 40 years.

[@carlgemlich1657]

I'll be the guy who responds with a positive comment. Having watched them on The Ed Sullivan show in 1964, I've always felt that way about them, and I agree with you.

[@johnnyenglish9622]

Ha ha. Yes it's kind of easy to see that say A Day in the Life is better than garbage like Justin Bieber lol. @as3284 said the Beatles are the best band ever. I would say it's very close for me but I will say hearing John's crystal clear voice on this track has put me back on a Beatles phase. "it's been too long since we took the time, no one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly"@@rebecalinares5393

[@erikdahl3825]

I can only speak for myself, but as someone turning 60, who grew up waiting for my favorite band’s next album, sitting in my bedroom,reading the liner notes, hoping the lyrics were there, this song brings such nostalgia for me. The Beatles were ‘THE” band for me. I bought “The Beatles Complete” song book so I could attempt to play their songs on guitar. I was so proud of myself when I mastered Norwegian Wood. There was no KZbin, Spotify and the like. Only the 45s going round and round. The crackle of dust under the stylus. This song made me feel young again, that teenage boy in his bedroom, who put the record on the turnstile, dropped the stylus onto the vinyl and waited for the sound of a new song. I can’t recall having such anticipation for a song. It did not disappoint.

[@Luis.Barrueta]

Couldn’t have liked a comment more than yours!

[@BarryBirther]

Well written, fellow Beatle-fan, Well written!👏👏

[@steviox]

My story to the letter...❤

[@markvickers5283]

Played here there and everywhere and long and winding road at my grans funeral and here comes the sun at my dad's and hearing this can't stop Crying

[@thegenerators]

I'm confused - if you're turning 60 you would only have been 6 or 7 when then split up!?

[@therealjohngalaxy]

I never witnessed a new single release of the Beatles. So this was my first premiere of a Beatles song. And it absolutely blew me away! I love it and the fact that it is like time travel. The production sounds great. It fits the tone and the emotions of the song. Plus the music video is so powerful and emotional! Thank you! ❤

[@Chasing72]

Imagine back in the day how we waited with even greater anticipation for every single and album to drop. That feeling added to their huge cultural impact may give you some idea of how they affected those of us who grew up back then. My only complaint, and it really doesn’t rise to that level because I like his work, is Jeff. Lynne’s clear impact on the production and arrangement.

[@VinnyDrysdale]

@@Chasing72 Lynn had no involvement with the string arrangement, even though it sounds like ELO. Of course, ELO was heavily influenced by the Beatles. So, it's hard to say whether Jeff influenced Paul, Giles Martin, and Ben Foster or not. Jeff's only involvement was producing the 1995 sessions of the song that fell apart. I think the only things on the record left from those were George's guitar parts.

[@413smr]

Every single release was an event. They never repeated themselves.

[@therealjohngalaxy]

​@@Chasing72I can't imagine how it was. Just getting blown away by each release! I'm so glad these songs are so timeless! 😊

[@UnderDarkSkies]

Even with their last song they did something which never one did before: The first band who time-travelled. Love that song 💟

[@MrStarchild3001]

It's funny. Your reaction is exactly like my reaction the first time I listened to this song end to end. I said "ah, ok, fine, old vocals & melodic style combined with all the modern sounds... sounds interesting and somewhat disjointed." A week later, I listened to it again. This time around I didn't listen to the sound or individual instruments. I listened to the song, emotions, melancholy, all the feelings in it... and I was blown away. Now I've listened to it maybe 20 times. I LOVE it. I simply LOVE it. Music from a bygone era. Still brilliant. Completely brilliant. And very emotional. Many youtubers cry to this song. And now I get that kind of emotion. I'm just blown away. A new classic. Timeless.

[@paulg123]

This song is a technological marvel. This song, followed by its video is a treat for the eyes and ears. At first, I thought the song was overproduced. A little too clean and rich compared to the mono-sounding cassette of John Lennon's voice. But after a couple of listens, I grew fond of the song and fell in love with it and what it represents. A song 45 years in the making was well worth the wait. It's The Beatles!

[@Flashfyre-p1k]

I thought the same thing, it sounded too modern but thats what would have happened had they recorded it today. They would have went with what was available. I would like to hear a mono version though.

[@mikeadams2351]

it's "Lennon", sounds exactly like something he did AFTER the Beatles.

[@thesuncollective1475]

They made a big deal out of AI but I think it was a marketing ploy, the tech been around for along time. The vocal sounds phased, it would have been impressive if they cleaned it up. Like the song it's a good one

[@paulg123]

@@mikeadams2351 Hmmm I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. I love how he was recorded on Double Fantasy, especially on Watching the Wheels. His voice may have been doubled on that track. (don't quote me on that). It's difficult to take a cassette recording, with its limited recording capabilities, and match it with a modern voice recording. But I honestly can't compare his cassette demo with his later recordings.

[@loosilu]

Hearing John's younger voice and Paul's older voice, still harmonizing so easily, with 45 years in between, made me gasp. It's poetic.

[@OutontheRanchwithDrLee-xb4lo]

At 70 y/o, I'm so thankful I was alive in this one, unrepeatable era to witness the Beatles from start to finish. They're like a dear old friend to me, and I just got to see that friend one last time. Thank you to all who had a hand in this heartfelt reunion. For this old man, it was that one last smile and one final tear before we go.....

[@virginiaf.5764]

74 and right there with you ... well put.

[@ComicAcolyte]

You are still young hope you live till your 100s

[@RoeLuv1]

Well said my friend

[@noelroberts8199]

I agree, it was a magical time then waiting for the next Beatles single and album to be released knowing you were going to get music that was so new and creative that left other bands for dead, not like the crap of today, long live the Beatles.....🎼🎼🎼🎼🎵🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎹🎹🎹🎹

[@007KayElleKay]

Da capo al fine - “ from the beginning to the end “ .

[@calle68]

This song is like a ray of light in today’s music. It reminds us what we are missing. We have to thank Paul and Ringo for this gift, like something kept away for the holiday.

[@eltorpedo67]

I have to disagree. This was a rough work by Lennon that likely would never have survived lyrically if he had finished it. It's like taking a sketch from a great master, and having someone else paint it.

[@cesarchirinos-garcia2880]

I wouldn’t say today’s music but like in the last two decades music.

[@Igor_Vinicius]

@@eltorpedo67As long as it's not sold as a painting from the great master, I would be fine with it. They have always made it very clear what this song was, where it came from, and what would be made of it.

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

eh? 'today's music' is a lot of different genres including people making 'clean' music. To be fair, the piano is very Adele.

[@davidgriffin79]

Can't really agree with this; sounds very "moon in June" to me; at best it would be used as an album "filler".

[@pt2k645]

John was taken, George is gone, and Paul and Ringo both have more long and winding roads behind them than in front of them. I think this is an exquisite way for both Ringo and Paul to stop, reminisce, and give a proper goodbye not only to sections of their own lives but also to sections of the lives of Beatles fans everywhere. It’s one last piece of love made to balance out all the love that has been taken throughout the existence of The Beatles. It is truly The End. Congratulations, lads, you certainly passed the audition.

[@zitabraun1176]

I love the way you put that. Thank you.

[@gmb858]

Well said.

[@johnnyenglish9622]

Ringo's Theme (This Boy) I hope That Boy lives over a 100 too. "Oh and this boy would be happy just to love you" @@user-oc8no5jc2r

[@InstantKaarma]

Nice but Paul keeps rocking around the world

[@johnnyenglish9622]

Yes and he is great but John could sing @@InstantKaarma

[@KathySandru]

You know what’s so wonderful about this song? It’s the subtle use of technology that makes this feel as if it’s not technologically enhanced. This truly sounds like a new Beatles track & so refreshingly beautiful. A moving swan song & tribute to the artists of our generation.

[@loosilu]

I burst out crying. I can't even count the number of people who said the same This pushed a major emotional button for many people. I LOVE that Paul stood all the way back. He didn't speak for John and George. Instead, he gave them the space. His guitar solo was simple, but I heard George, and I FELT George in it. This is NECESSARY. The Beatles taught us how to love each other. This is Paul and Ringo teaching us 45 years later how to love each other. The contrast between John's younger voice and Paul's old man voice, while still blending perfectly, is poetic.

[@Kcutthth]

I love your channel and everyone is entitled to their opinion and take. Here’s how I look at it: it would have been disingenuous to try and make their new parts sound like they were recorded long ago. I view this song as a love letter across time. John singing about how now and then he thought of his friends. How now and then Paul and Ringo miss him and George and through time and space they are able to be together in a way until one day they will be again. I think it’s a beautiful creation and it’s a bittersweet reminder of the void that won’t be ever filled when they are all finally gone.

[@annmarie3573]

Beautifully said!

[@richardlopez4318]

Well said!

[@gwencioffi3128]

Well said

[@DDuna-kj9bf]

Perfect reply

[@sammyhill93]

There is no better view of it than yours, wonderfully stated. Thank you.

[@theupcman]

As a lifelong Beatles fan, I am glad this song came out. Regardless of how it was recorded, I consider it a special and unexpected gift from the Fab Four. May their music live on through eternity.

[@advancedink]

I really wish my dad had lived long enough to hear this song. He passed away last year and the Beatles music and history was his absolute favorite. It's an amazing song, it doesn't diminish what the Beatles were and is a fitting final curtain call to all the fans.

[@celesteheilbrunn2619]

So emotional for me as a 70 years young Beatles fan. I cried, I smiled...I must have listened to it 20 times yesterday. It's an ear worm now...but a good one. Beautiful and haunting. Thank you my beloved Beatles.

[@magalirodriguez7830]

I feel you! It was emotional I did have tears also and then found myself smiling watching the video of the 4 together. It was beautiful

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

I HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@anthonyD2365]

@@DaleRC75lol

[@keithwaynejones]

dear rick beato, you absolutely deserve to have paul and ringo on your channel. you’re amazing at what you do and they’d be fools for turning it down. love, all of us

[@TonyMouawad]

I experienced a deep emotional connection to the song. Especially when I heard John's voice, I was in tears. Rick it would be epic if you could get the remaining Beatles with you in a room for an interview. Amazing!

[@LORDY_GAGA]

That would be a dream come true! For Rick, and us! 😎

[@timhodson368]

I thought Johns voice sounded so honest..even vulnerable..I still miss him and George. I cried a little too.

[@TimSeburn]

The song has been playing in my head ever since it came out. For me one of the most contagious Beatles songs to ever be released, and certainly one of their best.

[@lindaross783]

You surprise me. I loved it. It isn't all about dissecting notes. Our hearts are involved here. I loved these guys for sixty years. I cried all the way through for all they gave us. I agree with Brian Hansen below. Its a gift to all of us. What a gift. They left us a treasure. It is called Now and Then, not Then and Then. Yesterday and always , we love them.

[@RockandRollWoman]

Perfectly expressed! 💙🎶💙

[@ritacorrieri9172]

I agree. When he was saying part of it sounded old and part sounded new from 2023 I said out loud "Exactly. Now and Then."

[@Jinkabel]

After my Dad passed away from cancer in the 70's, my Mom never erased his voice on the answering machine (look it up, kids.) Written words and photos are one thing, but to hear a lost one's voice is next-level powerful. This release is like a voice from the past.

[@stevenaustin8274]

I agree my Dad has been gone for twenty one years since then all I've had is photos to remember him by until recently I discovered a DVD taken from old VHS film and to see him and hear his voice again is extremely emotional

[@petersparrow5321]

Yeah, you're absolutely right, I wish I'd recorded my parents' voices before they were gone😢

[@ritahunterlafavorita]

I agree with you here completley. My Mother was an opera singer and my Dad recorded everything she sang. I am in the process of saving it all. It is so important!

[@charliecoutts3003]

Lovely story mate❤

[@charliecoutts3003]

Spot on as always with your appraisal ❤

[@wisamh1976]

My opinion as someone who was born after the Beatles disbanded is that I’m grateful to experience a new Beatles release. Once in 1995 1996 and now in 2023. I love the nostalgia. The video the music and John Lennons voice with Paul and ringo. So happy to get one more Beatles song.

[@mandyjoymusic]

Love that Paul is still going & embracing everything NOW / a legend that lives and was and is!!!

[@raguilo1]

I'm 72 now. I became a drummer BECAUSE of Ringo and The Beatles. After having been exposed to so much frenetic drum and instrument playing from so many bands, where having chops and shredding abilities trump musicality, this song gave me goose bumps and its "simple", outrageously beautiful composition brought tears to my eyes. Modern sounding or not, the playing FOR the music, and not for the usual "let me show off now" made my day. The PERFECT farewell song for a timeless band: The Beatles, and a perfect, more than well deserved tribute to John Lennon.

[@iandaniel2153]

Beautiful words .. thank you

[@larrymiller4]

Ringo the perfect Beatles drummer. Nothin' flashy, just ... perfect. I never tire of watching and listening to him.

[@jonnywoolnough]

Lovely comment

[@paulmackey2691]

@@larrymiller4agreed. Much under rated.

[@MatteoPrezioso]

I couldn't agree with your post more. What a gem (the song and the post.)

[@robinsareolas]

I not only love it because it’s a beautiful song, I love the whole backstory, the journey and timeline that it took to get here, and the fact that technology had to catch up with what they wanted to achieve. I love it!

[@sandyhammond]

I couldn't have said it better.

[@loosilu]

YES!!!! The INSTANT Paul knew the technology was there, he did this.

[@acmejia]

Precisely!! I am obsessed with the song and the video!

[@gregb91401]

An interview with you, Paul McCartney and Ringo would be amazing! Also in regards to technology and innovation, what other group has assembled performances from their band mates spanning almost 50 years? It’s an amazing feat which has probably never been done. If it’s actually “the last Beatles song” I think it’s fitting in every way. It’s a wonderful goodbye.

[@quirkessence9446]

Exactly, the perfect goodbye. Gives me the chills.

[@derekjuliano1298]

Pink Floyd did this on The Endless River album. Some of the keys/organ/piano were actually old recordings of Richard Wright from as far back as the 60's

[@VinnyDrysdale]

Given that Rick essentially trashed their record by saying they should have left it alone, I doubt that will be happening.

[@randy1979]

I was already quite familiar with the demo and was initially disappointed they omitted the first part of the bridge, which is maybe the best part of the song. I’m sure they had their reasons. My first reaction in hearing the final version was that it was just okay. But after listening a few more times, it has really grown on me. I think it’s beautiful, especially when paired with the new video. It’s the f--ing Beatles. There will never be another. I thank them for this gift to us all.

[@jayclarke9611]

It’s all the for,er Beatles piecemealed on a recording. it s a pleasant fantasy coupled w nostalgia…and a clever tech video. It has no Beatle magic

[@andyallan2909]

The Beatles were always like that with new releases, they always 'grew.' I remember from about, "Rubber Soul" onwards, the tracks used to sound okay, or interesting, but with each play they grew and grew, 'til you couldn't stop listening to them (until the next release came along).

[@husbandofbecca]

I haven’t had this emotional of a reaction to a song in YEARS. Watching the music video and seeing how this song was put together was super special. Feels like a haunting “last act” that we never expected 🙌

[@artkane6546]

I like the song. I LOVE the video. 💖

[@sprezzatura8755]

How gracious of Paul and Ringo to honor their dearly departed bandmates. A beautiful tribute that they shared with the world.

[@guitarslim56]

How gracious of Paul and Ringo to cash in on their dearly departed bandmate's legacy. A beautiful tribute that they shared with their accountants. I'm glad that Paul can no longer complain, "You never give me your money."

[@allbottledup9513]

@@guitarslim56Oh, to be as ignorant as you. It must be blissful. Paul McCartney is the fifth richest musician in the world, as of September 2023. He’s a billionaire. He doesn’t need this money. He loved John, and I’m sure he loved George as well.

[@whateverwhocaresgoaway]

@@guitarslim56 Whether or not money was the motivation, you have a point. It's not like they were releasing some long-unfinished song from the Beatles era, John recorded that demo seven years or so after the band had split up. If anything it would have been on a John/Yoko album. For the surviving members to finish and release it and say "this is a Beatles song that WE made" without John having any say in the matter, it just rubs me the wrong way. Plus, in my opinion, it's just way too overproduced. Sometimes less is more.

[@sterlingmarshel6299]

@@guitarslim56 it's a Beatles record that goes to all of them. you obviously don't know how royalties work. It's an Apple Corp so it's divided equally between Paul's, Ringo, John's, and Georges heirs

[@VincentWehren]

All I can say is that it moved deeply me when I heard it. What also moved me is that my 11-year old told me that “yeah, the Beatles have a new song out!”. They always loved the Beatles songs I put on the car stereo for them and they always enjoyed it, and having them connect in this way to something new coming out is in my mind, just incredible. ❤

[@33114567]

Got the same response from my 10 year old son. Love to see how the love for Beatles' music is passed on to new generations!

[@aponcapone]

Just this morning my 9 year old said that to me to. Great stuff❤❤❤

[@andrejz8954]

to me too*@@aponcapone

[@akadros310]

Sounds like we all raised are children correctly. My 17 year old daughter liked it too. I had always played them for her while she grew up and like me it is one of those bands that she will always come back to.

[@petraverdigris4634]

My $.02- I absolutely love the juxtaposition of a vocal and piano recorded in the 70s, a guitar played in the 90s, and the finishing touches including background vocals of men in their 80s, all made possible with the AI of today. Now… and then, INDEED. How more perfectly could anyone encompass the double entendre The Beatles were so famous for? I am thrilled we got just one more, and hope this is their 21st #1. Peace and love☮️❤

[@jaredcorbin2212]

And it is indeed a new number 1!!❤

[@blurredlenzpictures3251]

Totally agree

[@jayclarke9611]

Nostalgia?…yes…Beatle magic ? No.

[@MS-ph7un]

They also used outtakes from "Because" that were recorded in the 60s 🙂

[@jayclarke9611]

@@MS-ph7un Now Because, that's a grest song

[@babadavis1]

"Now and Then" is a beautiful epilog. It's not the main story, and the tale is complete without it, but it certainly belongs. It's a Christmas present that would have seemed unremarkable at the appropriate time but gives a little extra joy for being found while the ornaments are being packed up.

[@Jacob.Improvises]

Your comment is so perfectly worded it almost brought a tear. I might make a lyric out of it.

[@gildardorivasvalles6368]

You found the exact correct words to describe it. You express what I feel better than I could have put it myself.

[@roywydeman7017]

Well put. Thank you.

[@We-to9gp]

I think that it would have been a big hit if released in their hay day.

[@lejames5987]

"The tale is complete without it, but it certainly belongs" My gosh that is wisdom. Please allow me to keep that.

[@davidhuggins16]

I’m amazed at how good the isolation is on John’s vocal. Really remarkable use of the MAL system.

[@danielfisch389]

Yes, that software would have made the work on Real love and Free as a bird easier back then.

[@billyalford7305]

Completely agree with you.

[@loosilu]

Move to nominate Peter Jackson as the fifth Beatle.

[@jordancooperlalala]

@@danielfisch389 I for one like the haunted, weird quality those songs have due to the limits of technology. In fact I think technology having limits is a fantastic recipe for unpredictable, human, fascinating art.

[@curtziggler5865]

Also John recorded that with a Boom box all they had was a Cassette.. technology today is amazing! I embrace this.. like time travel

[@josecorisco1]

I cannot separate my personal emotions from this. I just love the song and love the fact that it has been recorded and showed to as all. I got emotional when earing the isolated John's voice in the Peter Jackson's video. I take this as a fareweel to the Beatles that we, the fans, were hoping for. The Beatles will remain in our hearts and will remain in times to come.

[@emailvonsour]

shown

[@maxg1836]

It really is a final farewell. the reunion that never got to happen, the last years of the living Beatles before time will forever have to remember them. it is truly one of the most beautiful ends I’ve experienced

[@AnonOmous-lj1qn]

You can with AI

[@lindaross783]

I agree!

[@vaughantaylor5477]

I think Now and Then is magical. Theres something so Wonderful about their melodies and although its a modern makeover on an old song I felt transported back to a lovelier time. When I first heard it on the radio in my car I was welling up and wanted to hear it again and again, which I did that evening. I felt my heart coming out of my chest. What is it about that era of music that resonates on an emotional level like nothing I hear today. What a beautiful close to their lives together.

[@willbill6449]

What I love about Rick Beato is his authenticity. Obviously his knowlegde and skill when it comes to music are extraordinary, but his authentic persona, his honesty is what makes me like him so much. Thank you Rick for this video! Thank you for not putting on some idealised persona, thank you for taking us through the track like this, with vocal imperfections in your own demo and all your brilliant thoughts about this last Beatles song.

[@HolgerRuneFan]

Yes, he has such "extraordinary knowledge" he misidentifies Giles Martin in this video and shows the string conductor instead. Shameful.

[@MartyLoose]

I think it's as much of a Masterpiece that it can be, based on circumstances. However, hearing John's pure voice again, aside from making me cry, made the whole endeavor worth it. Thank you Rick for sharing your thoughts with us and as always, you are a Blessing!

[@stephenagosto6198]

The song immediately took its place in my soul and filled me with a wide range of emotion. They’ve been my companions in life ever since the first Ed Sullivan moment. I have no problem with the modern sound because if they were still playing, this is exactly how they would sound. I hate seeing it come to an end, but if it has to, this is how you do it.

[@Robd07]

I listened so many times a cover on youtube of this song. This official version was nice

[@sambtrashee8430]

Rick, I love the enthousiastic and loving way you always talk about the Beatles and especially about John. The Beatles ARE the best band of all time. Period. ❤

[@dmrryan]

As a life long Beatles fan, just hearing John's vocals again turned me into a babbling crybaby. It was wonderful. What I love about this the most is 1) it is SO "Beatles" to capitalize on technology and be one of the first, if no THE first, to make good music, and 2) the fact that they WON'T make music UNLESS it is THEM to me is a sign of respect of each of them to each other. I love this, truly.

[@tablethome3653]

First time in 45 years of my life, I had such a deep emotional response to a new song. This experience alone is something absolutely unique that only Beatles fans can experience. This made me think that The Beatles is one of best things happened in my life

[@KrystofDreamJourney]

Yes Bro. In my life too. And in the lives of millions and millions of Beatles fans across the globe, across several generations... Timeless. Classics forever.

[@paulmartos7730]

At 76 I'm a leading-edge Baby Boomer. I was "just seventeen, if you know what I mean" (a Beatles fan would!) when the band exploded across the US and the world. I saw their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, bought all their albums (and wore out a few) and watched all their movies. I wasn't a screaming kid but I really loved their music and still do. Earlier today I watched the video for the new song and had to wipe away tears.

[@danoblue]

I see it as a swan song, a last song from the past transformed into the present without losing its beauty. I'm personally glad they did it.

[@ralphgross4370]

I absolutely love the song. It's beautiful. The video is sublime. Everything about it draws emotion from me. I'm old enough to have bought Beatles records while they were still together. I have melancholy feelings that we'll never hear any more music from them. I wish they had archives of unreleased material like Prince and Springsteen has, that we might hear someday, but I guess that wasn't how the Beatles did things. I'm happy they finished this song. Long live John, Paul, George and Ringo.

[@englewoodmusic]

This song hits different. The past year I've lost one best friend to suicide, the other best friend murdered, and lost my amazing pup (who has helped me so much after war) to cancer. So I appreciate this truly.

[@stephenmichael7576]

I am so sorry, my friend. 😔

[@AudiophileTommy]

Bless you !

[@hughesy8411]

Bless you buddy, stay strong

[@secularZoo]

Hang in there. So sorry for your losses

[@bluehawk777]

Sorry for all your heartache, please read Psalm 55:22, may the Holy Spirit comfort Your heart.

[@mtbhk44]

I think this is a gift from The Beatles to the world. And we should treat as that. The fact that there are parts from two different centuries spanning 50 years as a final goodbye is incredible. I feel honored to be able to experience a brand new Beatles song with my kids who adored the Beatles as they grew up. I never thought this would be possible.

[@kleocrow]

Absolutely!!!

[@marysweeney7370]

The video made me feel as thought this whole undertaking was really Paul's labor of love for John and George and the memory of tte Beatles, for what they once were. The video made me cry for a lot of reasons. One was when I reflected on the Beatles happier times when Paul and John were as close as brothers. This really showed in the video and so in the interpretation of the song.

[@Daniel-Strain]

I just love that, one day long ago, John was sitting at home and dreamed up this tune. And now I can whistle it, like a little piece of John is in my head and we have just a bit more of him back. It's just magical and I'm so appreciative. And if John's son and friends say he would have liked it, that's gospel to me.

[@virginiahall4036]

This was so beautiful. Thank you so much Ringo and Paul for finishing this song and offering it to the world.

[@mattdrase7493]

I heard this song one time and haven't been able to get it out of my head. Another nice gift to the music world from The Beatles!

[@kentroskelley1389]

As an immense admirer of the Beatles , their music, and solo accomplishments, I’m grateful for the technology that allowed this reunion. The lyrics are so poignant to the occasion. Four lads from Liverpool who experienced so much together, and had the talent to affect the whole world and its cultures.

[@Jnday]

I found it quite emotional, especially hearing John’s isolated vocal. Is it one of their best songs? No. Did I expect it to be? No. Am I glad it happened? Definitely yes!

[@notreyf]

Excellent comment, my sentiments exactly.

[@Charles.Wright]

Do I ask myself dozens of questions each day? No.

[@Jnday]

@@Charles.Wright ???

[@BarryWarne]

Yes, and there is this Then and Now feel from the production. The Then is the seventies flavour of Lennon - the melody and chord changes are his … which then meets the Now production - which together conjures a beautiful sentiment: I feel my whole life from the seventies until now. I feel that life filled with Beatles music and all of that is coming to an end in a looming future not so far away. Without saying a word, this song lets us all feel how we want to feel … and that’s always been what Beatles songs do. This is a Beatles song. Gloriously imperfect and wonderfully brimming with life. And the song underlines how singularly unique Lennon was as a songwriter. Those chord changes under his melody are so unique.

[@richardsorrentino3110]

Good, bad, or indifferent, thank you, Paul and Ringo, as well as to Yoko and Sean. It's time in a bottle, such a tender bit of bittersweet nostalgia, fifty years captured in three minutes of music. And what a tribute to John.

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

how is it a tribute? it's yet another rip off!

[@stevet7487]

And Thank you to George as well for his guitar part included from the work he did in 1995.

[@heiner71]

@@donaldcarpenter5328 , please elaborate...

[@timjacobs1299]

I cried listening to it for the first time; realizing how much of a true legacy John left us with his voice, and that Paul and Ringo worked so hard to honor that legacy one more time.

[@RockandRollWoman]

Exactly. What a gift. I didn't expect the water works, but given how big a role the lads have had In My Life, I should have. 💙🎶🎶🎶💙

[@ratpH1nk]

It’s a thoughtful and reflective song that really pulls on the heartstrings and feels like a goodbye. The documentary is heartbreaking to see Paul and Ringo remembering the days long gone with friends that are no longer with them in life but clearly still in their hearts, minds and thoughts.

[@zeraus.w.0512]

I remember when Free as a Bird and Real Love were released, some people commented that both sounded more like ELO than Beatles. But John once said, commenting about ELO in the 70s, that that was probably how the Beatles would have sounded like if they continued till the 70s. If Now and Then sounds modern it's because it came out in 2023. If it ended up sounding like it's from the 60s then I think it crushes the very heart of the Beatles' approach to song-making, and that is always to move forward. They could not have leaped from 'From me to you' to 'Something' in just a few years if they decided to stick to their original sound.

[@gregschultheis]

Not to mention I believe it was Jeff Lynne that produced those two songs. Still doesn’t change the fact that the Beatles acknowledged ELO picked up where they left off, but I’m sure that also contributed to the similar sound.

[@tygrefyfe]

That's the version I like better.

[@zeraus.w.0512]

It was George who brought Jeff in as their producer, and it might have been due to George's awareness of what John said about the Beatles evolving into that ELO sound back in the 70s. Speaking of George, Now and Then seems to me like a constant reminder of George's absence rather than John's. The unmistakable inflection and tone of his slide playing came into being only after they disbanded. Both FaaB and RL may have sounded ELO-ish, but the two were remarkable glimpses of how the band might have sounded like had they pushed on for at least even before the mid-70s- that period when George was already a full-blown slide player. George can say a lot in just a few bars, and Now and Then could have been texturally better if it had Harrison manning the lead.

[@klyvemurray]

@@zeraus.w.0512 💯

[@WhatMeeWorrry]

That was the first thing I listened for - the Jeff Lynne "sound"... I'm glad it wasn't there! And I do like Jeff's work. No offense to him, just he was not a Beatle.

[@douglasdog1]

I like that you said haunting. Thats how I felt hearing it. All of it, the music, the lyrics, the melody. I think it’s an incredible song. Just a great song with no over production. Modern, without being modern. The lyrics are very touching, and haunting, especially if you’ve just lost someone special or are far away from an important friend, it hits.

[@Robd07]

I wonder what other tapes are in yokos possession we dont know about

[@RowlandBTV]

I agree and I did just lose someone very special to me and this song touched me in ways none other can.

[@daniellavaladez7820]

I cried like a baby listening to the song for the first time. Just goosebumps and tears everywhere, hearing 40-year-old John's vocals, George's playing from 1995, and 80-year-old Paul harmonizing with his deceased old friend. I'm so glad that they chose to finish John's demo and it sounds absolutely gorgeous IMO. It is so amazing that they were able to make this happen and such an emotional experience being able to listen to a beautiful swansong from my favorite band ever.

[@LALALAI]

Thank you so much for your kind words about our service We really appreciate your support and find your content incredibly inspiring. Keep up the great work, and thank you again! 💛

[@kingoftheseamusic]

Give Rick free subscription 🎉

[@LALALAI]

We already contacted Rick! More than happy to do it!@@kingoftheseamusic

[@PiotrBuczek]

He just gave you a free promo in a competitive space worth a lot of money. Congrats! 😎

[@gpincus4718]

Very cool software!

[@justlookingaround9834]

Bloody amazing software that I find difficult to comprehend.

[@sherry3099]

I cried the first time I listened to it, it was really emotional. I’m glad they did it. I think the song has an emotional message that goes beyond the technical aspects of the music production. To me, it is Paul and Ringo paying homage to their friends and band mates who changed their lives and together they changed the history of music. Like this was the chance for one final Beatles’ gift to the world. ❤

[@Mikinct]

It's bittersweet & sad. One thing that comes to mind is many of us have tons of old pictures of loved ones. But not to many have actual "audio" of their voice. John Lennon recorded that while in the present moment back in 1970s & Paul & Ringo recorded their parts still in the present back in 1994 & 2023. Even though decades in-between, "The Present" is timeless.

[@ScottEgan69]

Not only am I moved by the haunting minor melody, but the lyrics are lovely. I feel like most modern music doesn't really hit that sentiment anymore, a nostalgia for missing somebody who helped create who you are. I found it quite touching as it was released on All Souls day (or the day of the dead), a day when many are remembering lost loved ones.

[@miguelsuarez8010]

I had an eerie feeling listening to John's voice sounding like if it was coming from the very core of his soul that it took me back to my youth when they were all together. I must confess I was deeply moved.

[@susicake]

The time travel element is why I love this so much! This song is eerily beautiful and put together with such gentleness, talent and love.

[@pendigging]

I think in holding on to and finally reviving this last last opportunity for a "new" Beatles song Paul, in particular, was looking for a fitting capstone to the band's ouvre. This is it. The minor moodiness, the strings, the harmonies -- it all fits to put a suitable coda the band, the era. Especially if you watch the accompanying video. Really tugs at the heart strings. Bravo Paul and Ringo for honoring your bandmates and the Beatles legacy in such fine fashion.

[@yuan_yuan275]

It really feels like time travel. The four of them created music together across time and space. What's more, it's amazing that they can play with a sense of breath and still get the groove without any click sounds. I was also impressed by the wonderful arrangement of the strings, similar to George Martin's.

[@bigaesthetic]

His son Giles Martin scored them ✌

[@eggnbaconful]

This right here sums up this whole venture. What's really weird, at least for me, is that I hear 60 years in this one song, if that makes any sense.

[@Andrea-xs4ny]

All these places had their moments With lovers and friends, I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living. In my life, I've loved them all. I've loved them all. Thank you for the insightful and very knowledgeable video, as always, Rick. There's no one like them.

[@slakethesnake]

I’m 72 years old and a musician and huge Beatles/Lennon fan! I get emotional every time I hear this song. I love it

[@newfreenayshaun6651]

It's the deepest and classiest farewell I've ever experienced from the greatest band to ever rock the world. Thank you Rick, I couldn't wait to hear what you have to say about this song. My face was wet the other day, I heard it first thing in the morning when it released on yt. Thank you Beatles and farewell. We will always love you!

[@timmotel5804]

Yes. I started playing drums in1964 because of them. I still play. Greatest Band Ever.

[@simonnormand2813]

❤🎉

[@FrancisMaxino]

As a trained sound technician this seems like some sort of magic. I can not even begin to imagine how they are separated, especially when the piano is actually playing notes congruent to the vocal at the same register.

[@lumpytapioca5062]

It all comes down to pure sine waves at differing pitches and amplitudes. The audio isn't filtered as much as extracted, quantized, and re-synthesized with new sine waves. It can hold or smear the stepped-on parts to fill in the drops.

[@larken558]

The s/w finds and saves tone samples of just the piano and just the voice to use as reference waveforms and harmonics spectrum . Then with digital processing it can compare and determine which part of the wave is from the piano and vocal and subract those from the base waveform ,copying them them to a new track.

[@juliemcknight5293]

Lifelong Beatles Fan. I’m so very happy that Paul, Giles Martin and Ringo decided to complete this. That with technology they are finally able to isolate John’s voice is miraculous. It’s a gift for us all. I heard the song first and listened a few times, but I must say that when I saw the video with the song is when it really hit me what a beautiful sentiment this is. It’s a love letter to his friends. The type of friends that you went through everything with…the good, the bad and the ugly. And years later when life is different, you still think of them. And you hope and pray that they do the same. You hope they’ll come round again in the future, perhaps in a more mature way. You will reminisce, laugh and have a great time putting perspective on your youth. The bond is always there. You mentioned it “sounding like it was from two different eras” and that’s okay with me. It’s even okay that Paul’s vocals sound like an older man. He is older. And has been reflecting a lot on his life in the past few years. The song is complete this way. Bringing the younger Beatles, the middle aged Beatles and the Old Beatles together in one song…genius. I for one, love it. It brought tears to my eyes when I heard their familiar harmonies and saw the video images. Bravo!

[@in2gadgets]

Well said, Julie - I agree entirely 🙂

[@juliemcknight5293]

@@in2gadgetsthank you. I kept thinking how I would feel if I’d gone through all of that and then they were just gone from my life. I gotta hand it to John. He nailed it.

[@almostbeatlessongs]

Julie gets it.

[@newtrackrecord]

It is a most beautiful, haunting song and a marvellous addition to The Beatles catalogue.

[@Earlywinters09]

What a gift. Like it was meant to be their last song. It's almost as if John deliberately created it to take decades to finish, just so it could be the last song. The lyrics are bitter sweet, and as if it was written about their relationship together. Perfect.

[@seanbedell4667]

"Now and Then" gives one last glimpse into the genius of The Beatles. It is time travel. It feels real, and there are elements of the old Beatle chemistry in it. It's a perfect final chapter to their incredible story. How wonderful!

[@bertnase9933]

It's a lennon solo track!

[@bjam27]

Time travel, yes...

[@andreabarnes992]

I enjoyed this as a new, modern, Beatles song. It needs to be listened to a few times to be fully appreciated, without being compared to their classic songs, which make us nostalgic. The bridge and the arrangement are beautiful. This "Lennon cover by the Beatles" made me appreciate Lennon's composing.

[@denisefreitas6727]

Well said!

[@Rkw772]

I had to listen to it a few times to appreciate it as well. I never think of Real Love or Free As A Bird as real Beatles songs. It’s still nice they exist.

[@julieholland9639]

I'm glad they did this, I had tears watching the video, it kind of makes you realise life is too short and you don't know what's around the next corner. I am sad a lot of people online are bagging it. As Ringo said, "Its still a beautiful song, Its touching, because there are four of us and we will never be again"

[@RHP9898]

It's a beautiful song, the lads signing off. John's vocals make you shiver. God bless all 4.

[@MartinHarris-z6n]

To be able to hear a 'fresh' song with John's voice coming through so beautifully, even perfectly, slays all the other considerations - valid as some of them may be - in my opinion. What a gift. So many of us shed a tear - joy and sadness combined.

[@EmilyTienne]

Finial song, appropriately in the minor key, and felt every bit like a funeral. Not just the end of the Beatles, but kind of the end of our generation. It’s a powerful testament that Paul and Ringo went on to have amazing solo careers with barely a mention of the Beatles, but decades later, they have come full circle. They’ve returned home.

[@philcurryandjeannieclarke]

Nice comment, Emily, and I understand what you mean about it possibly signalling the end of 'our' generation although we're still alive and kicking and in my case, still making music. However, remember that Keef is still with us and the Glimmer Twins have just made a great new album. ;-)

[@mikespearwood3914]

Ringo never had much of a solo career, did he???

[@akikarvonen7045]

Whose 'our' generation lol?

[@philcurryandjeannieclarke]

@@akikarvonen7045 Yeah, quite. I always thought it was the one Pete Townsend talks about.

[@EmilyTienne]

@@mikespearwood3914 That’s actually not true. Ringo produced a number of fine singles that have held up quite nicely over the decades.

[@71jvf]

Thank you, Rick. I am of the age to have been there at the beginning and have always had their music as the soundtrack of my life. My time is coming to an end; this wrapped it all up. I became a musician because of them.

[@serinaelizabeth4126]

The whole song title and chorus ties so well into John & George’s part from the past (then), and Ringo & Paul’s recent parts (now). It’s like a full circle moment. Such a beautiful gift to hear a new Beatles song that is basically time traveled 🩷 Very touching and emotional to hear! Definitely a favorite 🥹

[@joeterp5615]

Great point! I’m sure Paul had that in mind too - and that adds a whole other level of emotional depth to this!

[@tomhand1070]

I like that they haven’t tried to make the song sound old. The Beatles were always about moving forward and evolving. It’s great to hear how they might have sounded if they were all still around today. Love the song!

[@gyoungphd1]

Rick, I think he has an important point here. I know John sounds "older" than the others, but I'm not sure he would have sounded very different if he'd recorded with them live. He has that faraway, haunted sound on many of his personal songs; think of his deliberate audible breathing on "Girl," for example. I may be crazy, I don't know. But I love being in the same room with all four of them.

[@YouCantUnhearThis]

In a time filled with so much chaos, releasing this song now feels like a posthumous gift from John - and Paul, George, and Ringo - to the world. Kudos as well to Peter Jackson and the teams that made this technically possible - it sounds fantastic. 🎧

[@edlloyd976]

When I first heard the track a few days ago I stood still for a moment and tears came to my eyes, how truly amazing and beautiful, thank you Rick for your thoughts and rendition as well, beautiful indeed.

[@adrianopimenta5523]

Spot on, Rick... This is time-travelling! This is 'Now and Then'! Not to mention that they just did what they always did, which is to push the boundaries of production, meshing new ideas and technologies and delivering good songs and feelings. The dream was not over after all, and I am glad I am here to see this in my lifetime.