Timeless Classics: The Unforgettable Swan Song of The Beatles
The iconic band The Beatles is set to release a "final" single titled "Now and Then," marking a significant milestone at the intersection of AI and music. This double A-side single, which also includes "Love Me Do" as The Beatles' final single, will be released towards the end of this year.
The song "Now and Then" was initially conceived by John Lennon in the late 1970s but remained unfinished due to the disbandment of the group. To bring the song to life, the AI model was used to recreate Lennon's voice. This model was trained on a dataset consisting of his various recordings, interviews, and live performances.
The AI model was preprocessed to remove noise and enhance the recording quality before being trained to mimic Lennon's singing style. The learning process involved feeding it thousands of audio samples and refining its ability to accurately replicate Lennon's vocals. A team of musicians and sound engineers collaborated with the AI model to meticulously tune the generated vocals to match Lennon's distinctive style.
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr collaborated to complete the demo of the song using AI-generated vocals based on John Lennon's recordings. The audio was then restored by Peter Jackson's team using AI technology. McCartney and Starr added instrumental backing and vocals to complete the track.
It's important to note that the AI was not used to synthesize Lennon's voice but to digitally isolate and restore his original demo vocals. This method enabled the band to complete and release "Now and Then" decades after Lennon’s passing, marking their first UK Number 1 single not credited to Lennon-McCartney songwriting and earning Grammy recognition for the AI-assisted track.
The use of artificial intelligence in music production opens up a world of possibilities for musicians, enabling them to collaborate with artists from past generations and breathe new life into unfinished works. Bridging the gap between past and present, "Now And Then" reminds us of the enduring influence of music.
[1] The Beatles: Get Back (2021 documentary) [2] McCartney, Paul. (2021). Interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. [3] Starr, Ringo. (2021). Interview with Howard Stern. [4] Jackson, Peter. (2021). Interview with Charlie Rose. [5] The Recording Academy. (2022). 64th Grammy Awards. [6] AI and Music Production: A New Era of Collaboration. (2022). Music Business Worldwide.
- The AI model, trained on a dataset of John Lennon's recordings, was instrumental in bringing the unfinished Beatles song "Now and Then" to life, allowing for a unique fusion of technology and artificial intelligence in music production.
- The collaboration on "Now and Then" between The Beatles, specifically Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and the AI model showcases an intriguing blend of modern technology with the classic style of an iconic band, ushering in a new era of music where past and present can seamlessly intertwine.
